AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation and hold a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Ordinance 2023-66, amending the rates for the Clean Community Fee, known as the Community Enhancement Fee, in accordance with Section 66.002 of the San Marcos Code of Ordinances; including procedural provisions; and declaring an effective date; consider approval of Ordinance 2023-66, on the first of two readings.
Body
Meeting date: September 5, 2023
Department: Neighborhood Enhancement and Finance
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: N/A
Account Number: N/A
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: At the August 15, 2023, Budget Workshop, City Council provided direction to make the proposed fee increase more proportionate across residential and commercial customers.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Quality of Life & Sense of Place
Public Safety, Core Services & Fiscal Excellence
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Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
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☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
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☐ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
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☒ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
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Background Information:
The Clean Community Fee (Community Enhancement Fee) was established to enhance the beautification and cleanliness of the City. Revenue from the fee is used for programs and services that include:
• Keep San Marcos Beautiful - Adopt a spot, environmental educational outreach, river cleanups, monthly and special litter cleanups, beautification maintenance and projects, as well as citywide certifications (e.g., Bird City, Scenic City, and Bee City).
• Contract services that provide roadway litter pickup, median maintenance, downtown sweeping, weekend/holiday litter pickup at river parks, neighborhood park mowing, and additional I-35 mowing.
• A two-person horticultural team that maintains 90,000 square feet of public beds, facilitates the Certified Habitat Stewardship Program, and creates pollinator beds.
• Addresses graffiti, illegal signs and flyers, dumping, and abandoned homeless camps.
• Funding two code enforcement officers that address unsafe structures and blight.
City Council provided direction to make the proposed fee adjustment more proportionate across residential and commercial customers. The initial proposed fee increase was $1 for both residential and commercial customers, resulting in the residential customer fee increasing from $1.50 to $2.50 (67% increase) and the commercial customer fee increasing from $5.50 to $6.50 (18% increase). The revised and more proportionate fee adjustment proposal is to increase the residential customer fee by $0.85 to $2.35 (57% increase) and the commercial customer fee by $3.50 to $9.00 (64% increase).
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
N/A
Alternatives:
1. Find additional funding through an alternative funding source for the programs and services provided by the fee.
2. Reduce the programs and services provided by the fee.
Recommendation:
City Council approve the ordinance amending the rates for the Clean Community Fee, known as the Community Enhancement Fee.