Proposed fee waiver tops city council agenda

The Nevada City Council will be considering a request from the Vernon County Commission to waive the estimated $24,782 building permit fee during a meeting set for 7 o'clock tonight in council chambers, inside the city's public safety building at 120 S. Ash. According to a memo, "The present staff is not aware that a waiver of building inspection fees has ever occurred. When city facilities that require a building permit are constructed, the fees are paid. Also, a waiver of fees could set a precedent that would have adverse effects in the future."

Nevada City Manager Bill McGuire confirmed yesterday, that a memo he submitted to the council stated, "city staff is not aware that a waiver of building fees ever has occurred and when city facilities requiring building permits are constructed, the fees are paid." He explained that when the city is required to obtain a building permit for new construction, the money for the permit is paid to the city's general revenue fund under the building permit category.

According to Vernon County Presiding Commis-sioner Bonnie McCord, talks in the past have brought up the possibility of a trade for the fee instead of an all-out waiver. However, she said that the city brought up the idea of a trade of the property on which the community center sits for the building permit fee. Upon further research, the county discovered the assessed value of this property was more than $1 million and saw no reason to trade it for the waiver of less than $25,000 in permit fees.

Asked about the council's meeting and McGuire's memo, McCord said, "we have a lot of joint projects we work on together and we hope they will give this due consideration."

McGuire said that what he stated in the memo and in other interviews, was only a comment and he has no say as to whether the council waives the fee or not. He also said that he is indifferent in this situation and believes that this is a small problem that the city and county will work out without any trouble.

In a second construction-related issue the city council will be considering an emergency ordinance to approve a change order for the new airport terminal. The change will add almost $20,000 to the cost of the project.

The council will also be considering for the second time an ordinance terminating the city's contract with Adams and Associates to develop a master plan for the city's parks.

Other items on the agenda include a special ordinance to allow a gourmet food store that sells liquor to operate on the Nevada Square, a special use permit for Mega Star Inc. for a trailer park at 603 E. Atlantic, a change in zoning from R-1, single family residential, to R-2 two family residential at 818 N. Clay St., a special ordinance approving the application for federal aid to cover part of the cost of the city's taxi coupon program, Resolution No. 1214 implementing an Adopt-A-Park program through the city's parks and recreation department and Resolution No 1215 approving depository services and authorizing check signers for various city accounts.

The council will also be giving the final consideration to a special ordinance amending the police department's budget to allow the department to use a grant to purchase new light bars for Nevada Police cars and a special ordinance approving the annual service agreement with the Nevada-Vernon County Chamber of Commerce for tourism and marketing services.