Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

Instead of going up as much as we thought before, Park impact fees will be going up half as much as previously thought, if the city council takes the advice of their staff next week.

For example, when you build your average single family home in Olympia, the park impact fee is $1,843. Under the original proposal that fee would have gone up to $5,793. But, under the new plan, its only going up to $2,896.

But, I assume the council is going to increase it again sometime. So says the staff report:

Subsequent to the November 13, 2007 Study Session in which the attached impact fee rate study was presented, Councilmember Hyer proposed adopting an interim fee with an approximately 50% reduction in the rates proposed in the Rate Study. According to Councilmember Hyer, this fee would remain in effect until the next update to the Park Plan is complete and the fee schedule is further adjusted to coincide with updated target outcome ratios or other factors.

Adopting an interim fee that is approximately 50% of the total fee proposed in the rate study will mean that during the interim period the City will not collect revenue sufficient to ensure that the current ratio of park acres to population will be met. However, due to the fact that the phased-in approach proposed by Councilmember Hyer will be of a relatively short duration, it is not likely that the ratio of park acres to population will decline significantly.

Staff is suggesting that any impact fee increase go into affect on March 1, 2008 so that staff will have sufficient time to give notice to the community and to undertake the processes to administer the new rate structure.

Here are all of the proposed changes:

Single Family
Current Fee (since 1998) $1,843
Proposed Fee (Rate Study) $5,793
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $2,896

Duplex
Current Fee (since 1998) $1,385
Proposed Fee (Rate Study) $3,503
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $1,752

Mutifamily
Current Fee (since 1998) $1,223
Proposed Fee (Rate Study) $3,503
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $1,752

Mobile Home
Current Fee (since 1998)$1,236
Proposed Fee (Rate Study)$3,503
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction)$1,752

Accessory Dwelling Unit
Current Fee (since 1998) $707
Proposed Fee (Rate Study) $1,977
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $990

Single Room Occupancy Unit
Current Fee (since 1998) $718
Proposed Fee (Rate Study) $1,977
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $990

Downtown Multi-Family
Current Fee (since 1998)$840
Proposed Fee (Rate Study)$2,003
Proposed Interim Fee (approx. 50% Reduction) $1,003

Here is the staff report (beware, pdf files)
Attachment One (the ordinance)
Attachement Two (responses to councilmember Joe Hyer from the consultant)