
The new Culver City Council met on Jan. 13, 2025 at their temporary meeting site at the Senior Center. The work currently being done on the Mike Balkman Council Chambers at City Hall means that city meetings will be held at alternative venues; the Senior Center will be where upcoming council meetings will happen until the systems upgrade is completed.
While many agenda items were discussed at the first meeting of the year, among the most significant to residents and businesses will be the change in ‘Citywide User Fees”
The council unanimously approved a resolution adopting new fees.
The study by the consulting firm NBS identified an estimated $24.6 million in eligible costs for recovery from fees for service compared to approximately $13.4 million the City is currently collecting each year from fees.
From the City “The intent of the proposed fee schedule is to improve the City’s recovery of costs incurred to provide individual services, as well as adjust fees to align with the average costs of service calculated in the study, where the fees charged exceed the average costs incurred.
“NBS assisted with modeling the “recommended” or “target” level of cost recovery for each fee, established at either 100% or any amount less than the calculated full cost of service. Targets and recommendations reflect discretion on the part of the City based on a variety of factors, such as existing City policies and agency-wide or departmental revenue objectives, economic goals, community values, market conditions, level of demand, and others.”
For example, a sign permit for businesses has a current fee of $202. It will now increase to $589, which is a 39% cost recovery. Some fees went down, like curb painting, which was $204, now lowered to $50 to reduce financial burden on residents and businesses.
These fee rates will begin in the new fiscal year starting July 1, 2025.
The fee changes can be found throughout departments and can be found on the City’s website.