City raises fees

• City Hall

City Hall

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The City Council voted Tuesday night to create five new fees and increase eight other ones “to cover the city’s cost for providing services” said a memo from City Finance Director Julie Bergstrom.

She explained in the document that the fee schedule is modified as costs change, and that various department heads suggested the increases as the schedule was reviewed.

Other documents showed the city’s entire fee schedule, which includes several hundred different prices the city charges for various services -- from renting a park facility and removing snow to providing engineering assistance or utility infrastructure.

New fees include: $20 if staff members prepare an estimate of utility charges for an ‘outside’ party such as a title company; $150 for a planning-related appeal in the downtown district; $25 extra if a parking ticket goes to collection; $10 for a missed water-connection appointment during business hours, $20 if it’s after hours; and $25 per month penalty if paying permit fees late.

Fee increases from/to include these:

• $15/$20 for an insufficient check

• $5/$7 for a liquor-serving application

• $35/$50 for a home-occupation permit

• $62/$124 for no sign permit

• $10/$20 for a temporary sign permit

• $15/$25 for a traffic-related suspension

• $25/$40 for water reconnection during business hours; after hours costs $60

• $10/$50 for parking in a fire lane.

The council also voted to do away with a few obsolete fees for rural growers’ licenses; floppy disks, which aren’t used anymore; and rural fire calls.

Tags: river falls, government, wisconsin, money