By Mary Weston
Oroville Mercury Register
Oroville City Council to address fire inspection fees
OROVILLE, Calif. — The City Council will discuss a contract for an interim city administrator, an amendment to fire inspection fees and look at an ambitious proposal for a championship golf course with a recreation center, commercial center and hotel at Lake Oroville.
The council has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday night to consider an amendment to fire inspection fees.
During a closed session at 4:30 p.m., the appointment or hiring of an interim city administrator, a director of parks and trees and a deputy city clerk will be discussed.
The public hearing on fire inspection fees heads the meeting.
In January 2012, the council approved a revised and updated fire inspection fee schedule.
The council instructed Fire Chief Charles Hurley to analyze the fee schedule and determine if modifications are needed.
Hurley analyzed the fees by looking at similar cities in the United States, according to his staff report.
The revision in January lowered fire inspection fees for apartments with fewer than 20 dwelling units.
However, the revision imposed a fees on businesses that had not been charged fees in the past, drawing business owners to City Council meetings to complain.
It’s unclear exactly what revisions are being proposed, but the fees would be revised based on square footage.
However, the staff report states Oroville’s fee’s were lower than other cities fees, although the names of the cities were not in the report.
The city Executive Committee approved the revision and recommended that businesses pay the fees on first inspections as outlined.
If a business had to be inspected three or four times to gain compliance, additional fees could be charged.
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