HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08b - Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
DATE: May 2, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chen Suen, Fire Chief
By: Maria Lourdes Taylor, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7492 ESTABLISHING A FIRE PROTECTION
FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
On December 13, 2018, the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee (“CFAC”) published
their final report detailing its recommendations to the City Council for cost containment
and/or revenue enhancements. The report noted a study conducted by FM3 Research,
in which Arcadia residents identified, among other public safety priorities, that maintaining
local fire protection and paramedic services were vital to the community. As the City
continues to experience growth and new development, it must plan for the expansion of
facilities to add capacity to meet the needs of new development. Thus, the primary
objective of implementing a Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee (fire impact
fee) is to ease the financial burden associated with increased service levels resulting from
new development: the fire impact fee would help fund the infrastructure and capital costs
associated with this growth and alleviate the burden on other taxpayers.
Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing regarding the
establishment of a Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee and adopt
Resolution No. 7492 establishing a Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee.
BACKGROUND
The Mitigation Fee Act, contained in the California Government Code Sections 66000 et
seq., allows the City to establish development impact fees for public facilities projects that
will accommodate future growth if there is a reasonable relationship between new
development and the use of fee revenues. The City currently does not charge impact
fees to fund fire protection facilities. With the City forecasted to experience moderate
growth over the next 20 years, particularly in the downtown core, there will be an increase
in demand for public services and the public facilities required to deliver them.
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 2 of 8
On December 13, 2018, the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee (“CFAC”) published
their final report detailing its recommendations to the City Council for cost containment
and/or revenue enhancements. The report noted a study conducted by FM3 Research,
in which Arcadia residents identified, among other public safety priorities, that maintaining
local fire protection and paramedic services were vital to the community. As the City
continues to experience growth and new development, it must plan for the expansion of
facilities to add capacity to meet the needs of new development.
Thus, the primary objective of implementing a Fire Protection Facilities Development
Impact Fee (fire impact fee) is to ease the financial burden associated with increased
service levels resulting from new development: the fire impact fee would help fund the
infrastructure, capital costs, and related equipment associated with this growth within the
City of Arcadia and alleviate the burden on other taxpayers. This means that the City
plans to expand facilities to add capacity and purchase equipment to meet the needs of
new development, as opposed to providing maintenance on existing facilities. Using a
Capital Improvement Plan and equipment inventories can help the City identify and direct
its fee revenue to public facilities and equipment projects that will accommodate future
growth. By programming fee revenues to specific capital and equipment projects, the City
can help ensure a reasonable relationship between new development and the use of fee
revenues as required by the Mitigation Fee Act.
Comparatively, there are other related impact fees that are currently in place wherein new
development pays a fair share of the higher expenses that are incurred against the
impacts to their facilities or level of services. For instance, the City’s Park Facilities Impact
Fee assesses $2.85 per square foot for single-family projects and $3.73 per square foot
for multi-family projects. The Arcadia Unified School District charges a fee of $4.79 per
square foot for residential projects, and $0.78 per square foot for commercial and
industrial projects. Also, Transportation Impact Fees are calculated on a trip basis and
the use of the new project as related to traffic, which is $1.00 per square foot for both
residential and nonresidential occupancies.
DISCUSSION
During Fiscal Year 2022-23, Willdan Financial Services was hired to conduct a Fire
Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Study (see attachment, Exhibit “A”) within
the guidelines of the Mitigation Fee Act. The purpose of this study was to determine the
maximum justified development impact fee (or a fire impact fee) to impose on new
development to maintain the City’s existing facilities standards for fire protection facilities.
Based on projected growth, the fee analysis examined the City’s existing facilities, future
facility needs, and projected service demands. The methodology used in supporting the
proposed impact fee was based on the following six considerations:
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 3 of 8
• Estimate existing development and future growth: Identify a base year for
existing development and a growth forecast that reflects the increased demand for
public facilities;
• Identify facility standards: Determine the facility standards used to plan for new
and expanded facilities;
• Determine the facilities required to serve new development: Estimate the total
amount of planned facilities, and identify the share required to accommodate new
development;
• Determine the cost of facilities required to serve new development: Estimate
the total amount and the share of the cost of planned facilities required to
accommodate new development;
• Calculate fee schedule: Allocate the facilities’ costs per unit of new development
to calculate the development impact fee schedule; and
• Identify alternative funding requirements: Determine if any non-fee funding is
required to complete projects.
Preliminary Planned Facilities
A preliminary list of known facility projects to accommodate future service demands is
identified in the attached fee study report, totaling $3,870,000. The table below delineates
these capital projects. However, due to the continued increase in the cost of materials,
the cost to purchase the ambulance has increased by $251,600 or $731,600 since the
writing of this report. Thus, the total preliminary project has been updated, as listed below,
to $4,121,600. This change does not affect the calculation of the proposed fire impact
fee.
Preliminary Fire Protection Facilities Capital Improvement Plan
DESCRIPTION TOTAL
Shed For Vehicle Storage $ 140,000
Station 105 Reconfiguration $ 270,000
Station 106 Reconfiguration $ 290,000
Station 107 Reconfiguration $ 2,650,000
Fire Prevention Vehicle $ 40,000
Ambulance* $ 731,600
Total Project Cost $ 4,121,600
*Apparatus estimates were obtained during late 2022 and some items
might have increased in cost since the writing of this report.
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 4 of 8
Future facilities to serve development growth will be identified through the City’s annual
Capital Improvement and/or Equipment Acquisition Budget Plan process, and/or possible
completion of a new facility master plan.
Methodology Used in Calculating the Proposed Fire Impact Fee:
The existing inventory method is used to calculate the impact fees. The City of Arcadia
is currently served by three (3) fire stations with their accompanying vehicles, apparatus,
and equipment. The existing inventory method allocates costs based on the ratio of
existing facilities to demand from existing development, as follows:
Current Value of Existing Facilities = $/unit of demand
Existing Development Demand
Under this method, new development will fund the expansion of facilities at the same
standard currently serving existing development. This method is often used when a long-
range plan for new facilities is not available. Only the initial facilities to be funded with fees
are identified in the fee study. Future facilities to serve growth are identified through the
annual Capital Improvement and/or Equipment Acquisition Budget plan and process.
Growth projections are used as indicators of demand to determine facility needs and
allocate those needs between existing and new development. The projection of residents
is based on data from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Connect SoCal Demographics and Growth Forecast (2020). Fire protection facilities
serve both residents and businesses. Therefore, demand for services and associated
facilities is based on the City’s service population including residents and workers. It is
reasonable to assume that residential and nonresidential locations have varying amounts
of demand for these services.
Maximum Allowed Fire Impact Fee Schedule
Table A below shows the maximum justified fire protection facilities fee schedule (fire
impact fee) that the City can adopt.
Table A
Land Use
Fee
per Square Foot
Residential $ 0.35
Non-Residential
Commercial $ 1.91
Office $ 2.92
Industrial $ 1.04
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 5 of 8
For remodels or demolitions of residential units, a resident would only be charged for the
new net livable square footage. For example, a 2,500 square foot single family home that
would be demolished/remodeled and be rebuilt to 5,000 square feet would only be
charged for the additional 2,500 square feet added to the home at $0.35 per square foot,
or a total of $875 in fire impact fee.
Basically, the proposed fees above are calculated by taking the cost per capita and
converting that amount to a fee per unit of new development. Table B below shows how
the study arrived at the per capita cost (calculation of the existing per capita investment
in fire protection by the existing service population).
Table B
Fire Protection Facilities – Existing Standard
Existing Fire Facilities $50,314,547
Existing Service Population 102,572
Facility Standard Per Capita1 $ 491
Cost per Resident $ 491
Cost per Worker2 $ 879
1The standard is calculated by dividing the replacement cost of existing facilities by the existing service
population.
2The value per capita is multiplied by the worker weighing factor of 0.65 to determine the existing facility
standard per worker. The use of a worker demand factor in Arcadia is based on a comprehensive analysis
of fire department incidents, categorized by land use, in the City from 2019 to 2021. Further explanation is
explained in the attached study.
Finally, Table C outlines the breakdown of how the maximum justified fire protection
facilities impact fee was determined for both land use types: residential and non-
residential. The residential density figure below was derived from the U.S. Census
Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey; and the nonresidential density was from the
Institute of Traffic Engineers (“ITE”) Trip Generation Manual, which is a common source
of estimating density for fire impact studies.
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 6 of 8
Table C
Revenue Forecast from Today through Year 2045
It is estimated that the total fees collected will be $11,905,300 over the next 22 years
based on anticipated development trends. Referencing the total figure of $4,121,600 from
the “Preliminary Fire Protection Facilities Capital Improvement Plan” table above, a
balance of $7,783,700 would be available for unidentified additional facilities. According
to the Mitigation Fee Act, the fees collected could only be used for capital or equipment
expenditures related to expanding services associated with new developments. The
funds could not be used to address existing service levels or ongoing operating
expenditures.
The implementation of this new impact fee would ensure that new development would
pay their fair share of costs associated with the increased level of services and demands
resulting from such growth and development. Proposed Resolution No. 7492
Establishing a Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee (see attachment, Exhibit
“B”) satisfies all requirements of the Fee Mitigation Act.
Upon adoption of the Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee, this new fee would be collected
when building permits are issued, in addition to other existing development fees, such as
plan check fees, permits fees, school district fees, park fees, and transportation fees.
A B C = A x B D = C x 0.02 E = C + D E / Average
Cost Per Admin Fee per
Land Use Capita Density Base Fee1 Charge 1, 2 Total Fee 1 Sq. Ft.3
Residential Dwelling Unit 491$ 2.66 1,306$ 26$ 1,332$ 0.35$
Nonresidential - Fee per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Commercial 879$ 2.12 1,867$ 37$ 1,905$ 1.91$
Office 879 3.26 2,861 57 2,919 2.92
Industrial 879 1.16 1,018 20 1,038 1.04
1 Fee per average sized dwelling unit (residential) or per 1,000 square feet (nonresidential).
Maximum Justified Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee Schedule
2 Administrative charge of 2.0 percent for (1) legal, accounting, and other administrative support and (2) impact
fee program administrative costs including revenue collection, revenue and cost accounting, mandated public
reporting, and fee justification analyses.
3 Assumes an average of 3,836 square feet per dwelling unit in Arcadia, based on an analysis of building permits
from 2019 to 2021.
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 7 of 8
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICE
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 66016.5(a)(7), a Notice of Publication
for the rate study must be published at least 30 days prior to the public hearing on this
item. On April 3, 2023, the notice was posted on the City’s website and at the following
public facilities: City Council Chambers, City Clerk’s Office, Fire Headquarters Station
105, and Arcadia Public Library. Additionally, the adoption of the actual Fire Protection
Facilities Development Impact Fee requires public noticing for 10 days before the public
hearing. The 1st Notice of Public Hearing was posted on April 21, 2023, and the 2nd Notice
of Public Hearing was published April 27, 2023, at previously mentioned public facilities
and via the City’s website. As of writing this report, no public comments have been
received by staff regarding the proposed fire impact fee study.
A Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study Workshop was also
held on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. at Fire Station 106. Several prominent
stakeholders in the development industry were invited including, but were not limited to,
representatives from the Builders’ Industry Association, Assen Homes, Rodeo
Construction, WYF Architecture, HC Designs, and a few others. In attendance was Fire
Department staff, a Willdan representative, and Development Services staff. No
comments of note have been submitted in response to this workshop.
FISCAL IMPACT
A Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee will ensure that new development pays for the
infrastructure and capital costs associated from its growth. Without this impact fee, the
City’s ability to maintain the City’s existing level of services and facilities’ standards for
fire protection may be threatened.
During the fee collection period through 2045, it is estimated that the total generated
revenues from this impact fee would be approximately $11,905,300. This figure could
vary substantially depending on the amount of additional building activities happen over
the next 20 years in the community.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is, therefore, exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
Adopt Resolution No. 7492
Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee
May 2, 2023
Page 8 of 8
(“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7492 establishing a fire protection facilities
development impact fee.
Attachments: Exhibit “A” Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
Exhibit “B” Resolution No. 7492
CITY OF ARCADIA
FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE NEXUS STUDY
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MARCH 14, 2023
Oakland Office Corporate Office Other Regional Offices
66 Franklin Street 27368 Via Industria Aurora, CO
Suite 300 Suite 200 Orlando, FL
Oakland, CA 94607 Temecula, CA 92590 Phoenix, AZ
Tel: (510) 832-0899 Tel: (800) 755-6864 Plano, TX
Fax: (888) 326-6864 Seattle, WA
Washington, DC
www.willdan.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................... 1
Background and Study Objectives 1
Facility Standards and Costs of Growth 1
Fee Schedule Summary 1
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 3
Background and Study Objectives 3
Public Facilities Financing in California 3
Study Methodology 4
Types of Facility Standards 4
New Development Facility Needs and Costs 5
Impact Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units 6
Calculating Impact Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units 6
Organization of the Report 6
2. DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS ...................................................... 7
Land Use Types 7
Existing and Future Development 8
Service Population 8
Occupant Densities 8
3. NEXUS ANALYSIS ...................................................................... 10
Service Population 10
Facility Inventories, Plans & Standards 10
Facility Standard 14
Projected Revenue 15
Fee Schedule 15
4. AB 602 REQUIREMENTS ............................................................ 17
Compliance with AB 602 17
66016.5. (a) (2) - Level of Service 17
66016.5. (a) (4) –Review of Original Fee Assumptions 17
66016.5. (a) (5) –Residential Fees per Square Foot 17
66016.5. (a) (6) –Capital Improvement Plan 17
5. IMPLEMENTATION ...................................................................... 18
Impact Fee Program Adoption Process 18
Inflation Adjustment 18
Fee Accounting 18
Programming Revenues and Projects with the CIP 18
Reporting Requirements 18
6. MITIGATION FEE FINDINGS .........................................................20
Purpose of Fee 20
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Use of Fee Revenues 20
Benefit Relationship 20
Burden Relationship 21
Proportionality 21
APPENDIX ......................................................................................... 22
1
Executive Summary
This report summarizes an analysis of the need for fire protection facilities and capital
improvements to support future development within the City of Arcadia through 2045. It is the
City’s intent that the costs representing future development’s share of these facilities and
improvements be imposed on that development in the form of a development impact fee. The
facilities and improvements included in this analysis are classified as fire protection facilities.
Background and Study Objectives
The primary policy objective of a development impact fee program is to ensure that new
development pays the capital costs associated with growth. The primary purpose of this report is
to complete a comprehensive fee study and determine the maximum justified development
impact fee levels to impose on new development to maintain the City’s existing facilities
standards for fire protection facilities. This means that the City plans to expand facilities to add
capacity to meet the needs of new development, as opposed to providing maintenance on
existing facilities. The City should review and update this report and the calculated fees at least
every eight years as required by law to incorporate the best available information.
The City imposes development impact fees under authority granted by the Mitigation Fee Act
(Act), contained in California Government Code Sections 66000 et seq. This report provides the
necessary findings required by the Act for adoption of the fire protection facilities development
impact fees presented in the fee schedules contained herein.
All development impact fee-funded capital projects should be programmed through the City’s
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Using a CIP can help the City identify and direct its fee revenue
to public facilities projects that will accommodate future growth. By programming fee revenues to
specific capital projects, the City can help ensure a reasonable relationship between new
development and the use of fee revenues as required by the Mitigation Fee Act.
Facility Standards and Costs of Growth
This fee analysis uses the existing inventory approach to estimate future facility needs and
costs associated with new development. This approach is based on a facility standard derived
from the City’s existing level of facilities and existing demand for services. This approach results
in no facility deficiencies attributable to existing development. Only the initial facilities to be
funded with fees are identified in the fee study. Future facilities to serve growth will be identified
through the City’s annual capital improvement plan and budget process and/or completion of a
new facility master plan.
Fee Schedule Summary
Table E.1 summarizes the schedule of maximum justified fire protection facilities fees based on
the analysis contained in this report. The City may adopt any fee up to those shown in the table.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Land Use
Fee per
Square Foot
Residential Dwelling Units 0.35$
Nonresidential
Commercial 1.91$
Office 2.92
Industrial 1.04
Source: Table 3.9.
Table E.1: Maximum Justified Fire
Protection Facilities Impact Fee Schedule
3
1. Introduction
This report presents an analysis of the need for fire protection facilities to accommodate new
development in the City of Arcadia. This chapter explains the study approach and summarizes
results under the following sections:
Background and Study Objectives
Public Facilities Financing in California
Study Methodology
Impact Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units
Organization of the Report
Background and Study Objectives
The primary policy objective of a development impact fee program is to ensure that new
development pays the capital costs associated with growth. The primary purpose of this report is
to determine the appropriate development impact fee levels to impose on new development to
maintain the City’s facilities standards for fire protection facilities. The City should review and
update this report and the calculated fees at least once every eight years to incorporate the best
available information.
The City imposes development impact fees under authority granted by the Mitigation Fee Act
(Act), contained in California Government Code Sections 66000 et seq. Currently, the City of
Arcadia does not charge impact fees to fund fire protection facilities. This report provides the
necessary findings required by the Act for adoption the fire protection facilities development
impact fees presented in the fee schedules contained herein.
The City of Arcadia is forecast to experience moderate growth through this study’s planning
horizon of 2045. This growth will create an increase in demand for public services and the public
facilities required to deliver them. The City has decided to use a development impact fee program
to ensure that new development funds the share of facility costs associated with growth. This
report makes use of the most current available growth forecasts and facility plans to calculate a
development impact fee schedule for fire protection facilities, to fund new development’sfair
share of future fire facilities.
Public Facilities Financing in California
The changing fiscal landscape in California during the past 45 years has steadily undercut the
financial capacity of local governments to fund infrastructure. Three dominant trends stand out:
The passage of a string of tax limitation measures, starting with Proposition 13 in
1978 and continuing through the passage of Proposition 218 in 1996;
Declining popular support for bond measures to finance infrastructure for the next
generation of residents and businesses; and
Steep reductions in federal and state assistance.
Faced with these trends, many cities and counties have adopted a policy of “growth pays its own
way.” This policy shifts the burden of funding infrastructure expansion from existing taxpayers
onto new development. This funding shift has been accomplished primarily through the imposition
of assessments, special taxes, and development impact fees also known as public facilities fees.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Assessments and special taxes require the approval of property owners and are appropriate
when the funded facilities are directly related to the developing property. Development fees, on
the other hand, are an appropriate funding source for facilities that benefit all development
jurisdiction-wide. Development fees need only a majority vote of the legislative body for adoption.
Study Methodology
Development impact fees are calculated to fund the cost of facilities required to accommodate
growth. The six steps followed in this development impact fee study include:
1. Estimate existing development and future growth: Identify a base year for
existing development and a growth forecast that reflects increased demand for public
facilities;
2. Identify facility standards: Determine the facility standards used to plan for new
and expanded facilities;
3. Determine facilities required to serve new development: Estimate the total
amount of planned facilities, and identify the share required to accommodate new
development;
4. Determine the cost of facilities required to serve new development: Estimate the
total amount and the share of the cost of planned facilities required to accommodate
new development;
5. Calculate fee schedule: Allocate facilities costs per unit of new development to
calculate the development impact fee schedule; and
6. Identify alternative funding requirements: Determine if any non-fee funding is
required to complete projects.
The key public policy issue in development impact fee studies is the identification of facility
standards (step #2, above). Facility standards document a reasonable relationship between new
development and the need for new facilities. Standards ensure that new development does not
fund deficiencies associated with existing development.
Types of Facility Standards
There are three separate components of facility standards:
Demand standards determine the amount of facilities required to accommodate
growth, for example, park acres per thousand residents, square feet of library space
per capita, or gallons of water per day. Demand standards may also reflect a level of
service such as the vehicle volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio used in traffic planning.
Design standards determine how a facility should be designed to meet expected
demand, for example, park improvement requirements and technology infrastructure
for City office space. Design standards are typically not explicitly evaluated as part of
an impact fee analysis but can have a significant impact on the cost of facilities. Our
approach incorporates the cost of planned facilities built to satisfy the City’s facility
design standards.
Cost standards are an alternate method for determining the amount of facilities
required to accommodate growth based on facility costs per unit of demand. Cost
standards are useful when demand standards were not explicitly developed for the
facility planning process. Cost standards also enable different types of facilities to be
analyzed based on a single measure (cost or value) and are useful when different
facilities are funded by a single fee program. Examples include facility costs per
capita, cost per vehicle trip, or cost per gallon of water per day.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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New Development Facility Needs and Costs
A number of approaches are used to identify facility needs and costs to serve new development.
This is often a two-step process: (1) identify total facility needs, and (2) allocate to new
development its fair share of those needs.
There are three common methods for determining new development’s fair share of planned
facilities costs: the existing inventory method, the planned facilities method, and the system
plan method. The formula used by each approach and the advantages and disadvantages of
each method is summarized below:
Existing Inventory Method
The existing inventory method allocates costs based on the ratio of existing facilities to demand
from existing development as follows:
Current Value of Existing Facilities
Existing Development Demand
Under this method new development will fund the expansion of facilities at the same standard
currently serving existing development. By definition the existing inventory method results in no
facility deficiencies attributable to existing development. This method is often used when a long-
range plan for new facilities is not available. Only the initial facilities to be funded with fees are
identified in the fee study. Future facilities to serve growth are identified through an annual capital
improvement plan and budget process, possibly after completion of a new facility master plan.
This approach is used to calculate the impact fees in this report.
Planned Facilities Method
The planned facilities method allocates costs based on the ratio of planned facility costs to
demand from new development as follows:
Cost of Planned Facilities
New Development Demand
This method is appropriate when planned facilities will entirely serve new development, or when a
fair share allocation of planned facilities to new development can be estimated. An example of
the former is a Wastewater trunk line extension to a previously undeveloped area. An example of
the latter is a portion of a roadway that has been identified as necessary to mitigate the impact
from new development through traffic modeling analysis. Under this method new development
will fund the expansion of facilities at the standards used in the applicable planning documents.
This approach is not used in this report.
System Plan Method
This method calculates the fee based on the value of existing facilities plus the cost of planned
facilities, divided by demand from existing plus new development:
Value of Existing Facilities + Cost of Planned Facilities
Existing + New Development Demand
This method is useful when planned facilities need to be analyzed as part of a system that
benefits both existing and new development. It is difficult, for example, to allocate a new fire
station solely to new development when that station will operate as part of an integrated system
of fire stations that together achieve the desired level of service.
The system plan method ensures that new development does not pay for existing deficiencies.
Often facility standards based on policies such as those found in General Plans are higher than
the existing facility standards. This method enables the calculation of the existing deficiency
required to bring existing development up to the policy-based standard. The local agency must
= $/unit of demand
= $/unit of demand
= $/unit of demand
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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secure non-fee funding for that portion of planned facilities required to correct the deficiency to
ensure that new development receives the level of service funded by the impact fee. This
approach is not used in this report.
Impact Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units
The California State Legislature recently amended requirements on local agencies for the
imposition of development impact fees on accessory dwelling units (ADU) with Assembly Bill AB
68 in 2020. The amendment to California Government Code §65852.2(f)(2) stipulates that local
agencies may not impose any impact fees on ADU less than 750 square feet. ADU greater than
750 square feet can be charged impact fees in proportion to the size of the primary dwelling unit.
Calculating Impact Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units
For ADUs greater than 750 square feet, impact fees can be charged as a percentage of the
single family fire protection facilities impact fee. The formula is:
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ܲݎ݅݉ܽݎݕܴ݁ݏ݅݀݁݊ܿ݁ܵݍݑܽݎ݁ܨ݁݁ݐ ൈ ݈ܵ݅݊݃݁ܨ݈ܽ݉݅ݕܫ݉ܽܿݐܨ݁݁ ൌ ܣܦܷܫ݉ܽܿݐܨ݁݁
In the case of an 800 square foot ADU and a 1,600 square foot primary residence, the fire
protection facilities impact fees would be 50 percent (800 square feet / 1,600 square feet = 50%)
of the fee calculated for the primary dwelling unit on the parcel.
Organization of the Report
The determination of a development impact fee begins with the selection of a planning horizon
and development of projections for population and employment. These projections are used
throughout the analysis and are summarized in Chapter 2.
Chapter 3 is devoted to documenting the maximum justified development impact fees for fire
protection facilities.
Chapter 4 describes how this report complies with the recently implemented requirements of
AB602.
Chapter 5 details the procedures that the City must follow when implementing a development
impact fee program. Impact fee program adoption procedures are found in California Government
Code Section 66016.
The five statutory findings required for adoption of the proposed development impact fees in
accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act (codified in California Government Code Sections 66000
through 66025) are summarized in Chapter 6.
7
2. Demographic Assumptions
Growth projections are used as indicators of demand to determine facility needs and allocate
those needs between existing and new development. This chapter explains the source for the
growth projections used in this study based on a 2022 base year and a planning horizon of 2045.
Estimates of existing development and projections of future growth are critical assumptions used
throughout this report. These estimates are used as follows:
The estimate of existing development in 2022 is used as an indicator of existing
facility demand and to determine existing facility standards.
The estimate of total development at the 2045 planning horizon is used as an
indicator of future demand to determine total facilities needed to accommodate
growth.
Estimates of growth from 2022 through 2045 are used to (1) allocate facility costs
between new development and existing development, and (2) estimate total fee
revenues.
The demand for public facilities is based on the service population, dwelling units or
nonresidential development creating the need for the facilities.
Land Use Types
To ensure a reasonable relationship between each fee and the type of development paying the
fee, growth projections distinguish between different land use classifications. The land-use types
used in this analysis are defined below.
Residential Dwelling Units: All residential dwelling units including detached and
attached one-unit dwellings (Includes single family homes and townhomes) and attached
multifamily dwellings including duplexes and condominiums. Fees charged per square
foot.
Commercial: All commercial, retail, educational, and hotel/motel development.
Office: All general, professional, and medical office development.
Industrial: All manufacturing and warehouse development.
Some developments may include more than one land use type, such as an industrial warehouse
with living quarters (a live-work designation) or a planned unit development with both single and
multifamily uses. In these cases, the development impact fees would be calculated separately for
each land-use type.
The City should have the discretion to impose the development impact fee based on the specific
aspects of a proposed development regardless of the zoning designation where the project will be
located. Should the project be located in an area that is not zoned as any of the above stated
land use types, the guideline to use is the probable occupant density of the development, either
residents per dwelling unit or workers per building square foot, to determine which fee will be
charged. The fee imposed should be based on the land use type that most closely represents the
probable occupant density of the development.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Existing and Future Development
Table 2.1 shows the estimated number of residents, dwelling units, employees, and building
square feet in Arcadia, both in 2022 and in 2045. The base year estimate of residents comes
from the California Department of Finance. The projection of residents is based on data from the
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Connect SoCal Demographics and
Growth Forecast (2020).
Base year employees were estimated based on the latest data from the US Census’ OnTheMap
application and exclude local government (public administration) employees.1 Total projected
workers were also identified in the SCAG Connect SoCal Demographics and Growth Forecast.
Table 2.1: Growth Forecasts
Residents1 Workers2
Existing (2022) 55,934 26,055
New Development (2022-2045) 6,266 10,045
Total (2045) 62,200 36,100
Sources: California Department of Finance, Table E-5, 2022; SCAG
Connect SoCal Demographics and Growth Forecast, 2020; U.S. Census
Bureau, OnTheMap Application and LEHD Origin-Destination Employment
Statistics (2019); Willdan Financial Services.
1 Current population from California Department of Finance. Projection in
2045 from the SCAG Connect SoCal Demographics and Growth
Forecast.
2 Current estimates of primary jobs from the US Census' Bureau's
OnTheMap Application. Estimated by adjusting 2019 estimate to 2022 by
annual average growth rate needed to meet SCAG 2045 projection.
Excludes public administration employees. Projection in 2045 from the
SCAG Connect SoCal Demographics and Growth Forecast.
Service Population
Different types of new development use public facilities at different rates in relation to each other,
depending on the services provided. In Chapter 3, a specific service population is identified for
fire protection facilities to estimate total demand for these types of facilities. The service
population weights residential land use types against nonresidential land uses based on the
relative demand for services between residents and workers.
Occupant Densities
Occupant densities ensure a reasonable relationship between the increase in service population
and the amount of the fee. Developers pay the fee based on the number of additional housing
units or building square feet of non-residential development, so the fee schedule must convert
1 Local government employment is excluded from estimates of demand for fire protection
services and facilities because local government workers are only in the City to meet the demand
for City services from residents and other workers in the City. Consequently, demand for fire
protection services from local government workers, is actually driven by City residents and
workers, not from local government itself.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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service population estimates to these measures of project size. This conversion is done with
average occupant density factors by land use type, shown in Table 2.2.
The residential occupant density factor is derived from the U.S Census Bureau, 2021 American
Community Survey (ACS) Tables B25024 and B25033. Table B25024 provides total housing
units by land use designation. Table B25033 documents the total population residing in occupied
housing. Total residents are divided by total units to estimate average persons per dwelling unit
Citywide.
The nonresidential occupancy factors are derived from the latest data from the Institute of Traffic
Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition. The City does not track nonresidential
occupancy statistics, so the ITE data was used instead. Aside from its typical use in trip
generation studies, the ITE data is a common source for estimating nonresidential occupant
density for nexus studies, as it draws from a large, national, detailed database of land uses, trip
generation, site characteristics and employment counts.
Table 2.2: Occupancy Density Assumptions
Residential Dwelling Unit 2.66 Persons per dwelling unit
Nonresidential
Commercial 2.12 Employees per 1,000 square feet
Office 3.26 Employees per 1,000 square feet
Industrial 1.16 Employees per 1,000 square feet
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Tables
B25024 and B25033; ITE Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition; Willdan Financial Services.
10
3. Nexus Analysis
The purpose of the fee is to ensure that new development funds its fair share of fire protection
facilities. A fee schedule is presented based on the existing standard of fire protection facilities in
the City of Arcadia facilities to ensure that new development provides adequate funding to meet
its needs.
Service Population
Fire protection facilities serve both residents and businesses. Therefore, demand for services and
associated facilities is based on the City’s service population including residents and workers.
Table 3.1: Service Population shows the estimated service population in 2022 and 2045. It is
reasonable to assume that residential and nonresidential locations have varying amounts of
demand for these services. To calculate the service population for fire protection facilities,
residents are weighted at 1.00.
The use of a worker demand factor of 1.79 for workers in Arcadia is based on an analysis of fire
department incidents, categorized by land use, in the City from 2019 to 2021. Average annual
incidents at residential land uses were divided by the average residential population from 2019 to
2021 to yield an average annual incidents-per-capita factor. Dividing average annual incidents at
nonresidential areas by average annual employment in the City yielded a comparable per-capita
factor. The ratio of the worker per capita factor to the resident per capita factor is the worker
demand factor used in the analysis. See Appendix Table A.1 for a detailed worker weighting
analysis.
Table 3.1: Service Population
A B C D = A + (B x C)
Residents Workers
Worker
Demand
Factor1
Service
Population
Existing (2022) 55,934 26,055 1.79 102,572
New Development (2022-2045) 6,266 10,045 1.79 24,247
Total Development (2045) 62,200 36,100 1.79 126,819
1 See Appendix Table A.1 for calculation of worker demand factor.
Sources: California Department of Finance, Table E-5, 2022; SCAG Connect SoCal Demographics
and Growth Forecast, 2020; U.S. Census Bureau, OnTheMap Application and LEHD Origin-
Destination Employment Statistics (2019); Appendix Table A.1, Willdan Financial Services.
Facility Inventories, Plans & Standards
This study uses an existing standard approach to calculate fees for fire protection facilities. The
City of Arcadia is currently served by three fire stations, accompanying vehicles, apparatus, and
equipment. As more people live and work in Arcadia, new development will create additional
demand for fire protection services and the facilities needed to deliver those services. The
existing standard approach maintains the existing facility standards in terms of quantity of
facilities to service population as new development adds demand for facilities.
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Table 3.2 shows the existing building and land values by facility. The unit cost per acre of land is
based on an analysis of sales comparisons of undeveloped land in Arcadia since 2020 as
reported by CoStar. The assumed station replacement cost of $700 per square foot is
conservatively estimated based on Willdan’s experience with other clients in Southern California.
Storage tank and storage garage costs were sourced from the Fire Department’s asset inventory.
Table 3.2: Existing Facility Inventory - Land and Buildings
Unit Cost
Replacement
Cost
Fire Station #105 / Headquarters
Land 0.93 acres 4,472,400$ 4,159,332$
Fuel Storage Tank 1.00 tank 79,554$ 79,554
Building1 22,457 sq. ft. 700 15,719,900
Subtotal 19,958,786$
Fire Station #106
Land 0.65 acres 4,472,400$ 2,907,676$
Building1 12,557 sq. ft. 700 8,789,900
Subtotal 11,697,576$
West Orange Fire Station #107
Land 0.62 acres 4,472,400$ 2,772,888$
Building1 4,100 sq. ft. 700 2,870,000
Storage Garage 448 119 53,117
Subtotal 5,696,005$
Total Value Existing Facilities 37,352,367$
Sources: City of Arcadia Fire Department; CoStar; Willdan Financial Services.
Amount
1 Estimated replacement cost per square foot based on estimates from other recent Willdan clients
in Southern California.
Table 3.3 details the current inventory of vehicles and apparatus used for fire protection services.
The replacement cost of these vehicles and apparatus was provided by the Fire Department for
use in this analysis.
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Table 3.3: Existing Vehicle and Apparatus Inventory
Equip. No Description Replacement Cost
60108 1991 Pierce Pumper -$
60111 1992 Chevy 1 Ton Pickup 2/WD 62,853
60165 1994 Chevy 1 Ton Pickup 2/WD 65,553
60177 1994 Pierce Pumper 961,364
60182 1995 Spartan Ladder Pumper Truck 1,265,000
70043 Pumper 28,463
80174 2008 International Search & Rescue Truck 299,000
80209 2006 Pierce Pumper 961,364
80210 2006 Pierce Pumper 961,364
80226 2007 Pierce Pumper 961,364
80246 2008 HME OES Fire Pumper 961,364
80247 2009 Chevy Suburban 4X4 97,740
80273 2010 Pierce Ladder Truck 1,265,000
80286 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe 69,854
80306 2013 Chevy 4X4 Pickup 52,165
80348 2015 Chevrolet Ambulance 299,000
80352 2015 Chevrolet Ambulance 299,000
80361 2015 Chevrolet Ambulance 299,000
80368 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500 41,950
80374 Ford Explorer Interceptor 49,741
80376 2017 Chevrolet Volt 46,430
80382 Volt 46,430
80388 Arrow XT 961,364
80422 Silverado 52,166
80437 XT Pumper 961,364
Total All Vehicles & Equipment 11,068,890$
Sources: City of Arcadia Fire Department.
Table 3.4 lists additional fire protection equipment owned by the Department and used to provide
fire protection services to the City. The replacement cost of these capital assets was provided by
the Fire Department for use in this analysis.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Table 3.4: Fire Protection Equipment Inventory
Description Quantity Unit Cost
Total
Replacement
Cost
Truck Company - 6 Wood Ladders 2 31,600$ 63,200$
Engine Company - 3 Wood Ladders 4 9,300 37,200
Engine Company - 3 Aluminum Ladders 2 2,200 4,400
Subtotal - Ladders 104,800$
SCBA Equipment 1,148,800$
Fire Hoses 9 30,000 270,000
Turnouts 112 3,108 348,096
Helmets 59 366 21,594
Total Replacement Value - Equipment 1,893,290$
Source: City of Arcadia Fire Department.
Table 3.5 summarizes the total replacement cost of the existing fire facilities inventory, which
includes the total value of facilities, vehicles and apparatus, and equipment. The total
replacement cost of the fire facilities inventory is approximately $50.3 million.
Table 3.5: Total Value of Existing Fire
Protection Facilities Inventory
Description
Replacement
Cost
Land and Buildings 37,352,367$
Vehicles and Apparatus 11,068,890
Equipment 1,893,290
Total 50,314,547$
Sources: Tables 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.
Table 3.6 details the initial capacity expanding fire protection facilities identified by the Fire
Department to be funded through this impact fee. All planned facilities enhance the Department’s
ability to provide services to new development within the City. Projects were identified by the fire
department to meet short term and long-term capacity needs throughout the City. In the short
term an additional Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance will operate out of either Station 105
and/or 106. In the long term the Fire Department anticipates BLS ambulance operators for all
three transports, moving paramedics to fire engines and ladder truck, and keeping a transport in
each district paired with an Advanced Life Support (ALS) fire engine or truck. The vehicle storage
facilities and station reconfiguration at Station 107 allow for the Fire Department to meet these
long-term priorities.
The remodeling projects are not correcting existing deficiencies, rather they will allow the Fire
Department to house additional staff needed to maintain its current level service, and continue to
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
14
provide that same level of service to new development as it occurs. The improvements can
accommodate additional personnel as follows:
x Station 107 – projects accommodate two additional BLS ambulance operators and an
additional ambulance.
x Station 106 – project accommodates two BLS ambulance operators.
x Station 105 - two BLS ambulance operators, an additional Fire Prevention vehicle to
accommodate the adding of one additional fire inspector.
The fee calculation is driven by the existing facility standards used to determine the cost per
capita. Additional facilities will need to be constructed to maintain the existing facility standard
through the planning horizon.
Table 3.6: Fire Protection Facilities Capital Improvement Plan
Description Total
Station 107 shed for vehicle storage (Rescue Ambulance) 140,000$
Station 107 Remodeling – convert current apparatus floor into dorms,
office space and add new apparatus garage, exiting South.2,650,000
Station 106 Remodeling – remodel one large dorm to accommodate two
new employees. Rework floor plan in PM office to accommodate multiple
workstations and add additional computers.290,000
Station 105 Remodeling- remodel Fire Chief and Deputy Chief dorms into
one large dorm with lockers, two beds and workstations. As a result of
remodel, Fire Chief and Deputy Chief office will need new cabinets with
murphy bed. New lockers for administration shower area.270,000
Fire Prevention Vehicle 40,000
Ambulance 480,000
Total 3,870,000$
Source: City of Arcadia Fire Department.
Facility Standard
Table 3.7 shows the calculation of the existing per capita investment in fire protection facilities.
This standard is calculated by dividing the replacement cost of existing facilities by the existing
service population. The value per capita is multiplied by the worker weighting factor of 0.65 to
determine the existing facility standard per worker.
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Table 3.7: Fire Protection Facilities - Existing
Standard
Existing Fire Facilities 50,314,547$
Existing Service Population 102,572
Facility Standard per Capita 491$
Cost per Resident 491$
Cost per Worker1 879
1 Worker weighting factor applied to cost per resident.
Sources: Tables 3.1 and 3.5.
Projected Revenue
The City plans to use fire protection facilities fee revenue to construct improvements to add to the
system of fire protection facilities to serve new development. While the City plans to construct the
facilities in Table 3.6, additional facilities will need to be constructed to maintain the existing
facility standard through the planning horizon. Table 3.8 details a projection of fee revenue,
based on the service population growth increment identified in Table 3.1.
Table 3.8: Projected Fire Protection Facilities Impact
Fee Revenue
Existing Facility Standard per Capita 491$
Service Population Growth (2022-2045)24,247
Total Projected Fire Facilities Impact Fee Revenue 11,905,300$
Cost of Planned Fac ilities 3,870,000$
Additional Fac ilities to be Identified 8,035,300$
Sources: Tables 3.1 and 3.7.
Fee Schedule
Table 3.9 shows the maximum justified fire protection facilities fee schedule. The City can adopt
any fee up to this amount. The cost per capita is converted to a fee per unit of new development
based on dwelling unit and employment densities (persons per dwelling unit or employees per
1,000 square feet of nonresidential building space) shown in Table 2.2. The fee per dwelling unit
is converted into a fee per square foot by dividing the fee per dwelling unit by the assumed
average square footage of a dwelling unit.
The total fee includes a two percent (2) percent administrative charge to fund costs that include: a
standard overhead charge applied to all City programs for legal, accounting, and other
departmental and administrative support, and fee program administrative costs including revenue
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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collection, revenue and cost accounting, mandated public reporting, and fee justification
analyses.
Table 3.9: Maximum Justified Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee
Schedule
A B C = A x B D = C x 0.02 E = C + D E / Average
Cost Per Admin Fee per
Land Use Capita Density Base Fee
1 Charge 1, 2 Total Fee 1 Sq. Ft.3
Residential Dwelling Unit 491$ 2.66 1,306$ 26$ 1,332$ 0.35$
Nonresidential - Fee per 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Commercial 879$ 2.12 1,867$ 37$ 1,905$ 1.91$
Office 879 3.26 2,861 57 2,919 2.92
Industrial 879 1.16 1,018 20 1,038 1.04
1 Fee per average sized dwelling unit (residential) or per 1,000 square feet (nonresidential).
Sources: Tables 2.2 and 3.7.
2 Administrative charge of 2.0 percent for (1) legal, accounting, and other administrative support and (2) impact
fee program administrative costs including revenue collection, revenue and cost accounting, mandated public
reporting, and fee justification analyses.
3 Assumes an average of 3,836 square feet per dwelling unit in Arcadia, based on an analysis of building permits
from 2019 to 2021.
17
4. AB 602 Requirements
On January 1, 2022, new requirements went into effect for California jurisdictions implementing
impact fees. Among other changes, AB 602 added Section 66016.5 to the Government Code,
which set guidelines for impact fee nexus studies. Three key requirements from that section
which concern the nexus study are reproduced here:
66016.5. (a) (2) When applicable, the nexus study shall identify the existing level of service for
each public facility, identify the proposed new level of service, and include an explanation of why
the new level of service is appropriate.
66016.5. (a) (4) If a nexus study supports the increase of an existing fee, the local agency shall
review the assumptions of the nexus study supporting the original fee and evaluate the amount of
fees collected under the original fee.
66016.5. (a) (5) A nexus study adopted after July 1, 2022, shall calculate a fee imposed on a
housing development project proportionately to the square footage of proposed units of the
development. A local agency that imposes a fee proportionately to the square footage of the
proposed units of the development shall be deemed to have used a valid method to establish a
reasonable relationship between the fee charged and the burden posed by the development.
66016.5. (a) (6) Large jurisdictions shall adopt a capital improvement plan as a part of the nexus
study.
Compliance with AB 602
The following sections describe this study’s compliance with the new requirements of AB 602.
66016.5. (a) (2) - Level of Service
The fees calculated in this study use the existing standard methodology which assumes no
increases in the currently provided level of service. The fees are calculated such that new
development funds facilities at the existing level of service. The existing level service in terms of
the existing facility cost per capita is shown in Table 3.7.
66016.5. (a) (4) – Review of Original Fee Assumptions
This study is the first fire protection facilities impact fee nexus study completed in Arcadia, so
there are no prior fee study assumptions to review.
66016.5. (a) (5) – Residential Fees per Square Foot
Fees for residential land uses are calculated per square foot and comply with AB 602.
66016.5. (a) (6) – Capital Improvement Plan
The Capital Improvement Plan for this nexus study is comprised of the identified planned facilities
in Table 3.6. Adoption of this nexus study would approve the planned facilities identified herein as
the Capital Improvement Plan for this nexus study. Additional facilities will need to be identified to
maintain the existing standard of facilities through the planning horizon. Note that the CIP does
not drive the fee calculation. The fee calculation is driven by the existing facility standards used to
determine the cost per capita.
18
5. Implementation
Impact Fee Program Adoption Process
Impact fee program adoption procedures are found in the California Government Code section
66016. Adoption of an impact fee program requires the City Council to follow certain procedures
including holding a public meeting. Fourteen days mailed public notice is required for those
registering for such notification. Per AB602, this impact fee nexus study must be adopted by the
City Council with 30 days’ notice before the public hearing. Legal counsel can inform the City of
any other procedural requirements and provide advice regarding adoption of an enabling
ordinance and/or a resolution. After adoption, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period before
the fees go into effect. This procedure must also be followed for fee increases.
Inflation Adjustment
Appropriate inflation indexes should be identified in a fee ordinance including an annual inflation
adjustment to the fee schedule. The fees can be adjusted based on the City’s recent capital
project experience or can be adjusted based on any reputable construction cost index, such as
the California Construction Cost Index (CCCI). Inflationary adjustments to the development
impact fee schedule require adoption by the City Council.
Fee Accounting
The City should deposit fire protection impact fee revenues into a restricted account. Fee revenue
can only be spent on capacity expanding fire protection facilities. Fee revenue cannot be spent on
operations and maintenance costs.
Programming Revenues and Projects with the CIP
The City should integrate the fire protection facilities CIP from this study into its Citywide CIP.
That document should program fee revenue to specific projects. The use of the CIP in this
manner documents a reasonable relationship between new development and the use of those
revenues. Fee revenues can legitimately be used to fund system planning to further identify
needed facilities.
The City may decide to alter the scope of the planned projects or to substitute new projects. This
is acceptable if the modified or new projects continue to be for facilities necessary to serve the
needs of new development. If the total cost of facilities varies from the total cost used as a basis
for the fees, the City should consider revising the fees accordingly.
Fees collected must be spent or allocated to specific projects within five years. In compliance with
the requirements of the Act, the City should allocate existing fund balances and projected fee
revenues to specific projects in the CIP accordingly within the five-year time period. Note that the
City can hold funds in a project account for longer than five years if necessary to collect sufficient
monies to complete a project.
Reporting Requirements
The City will comply with the annual and five-year reporting requirements of the Mitigation Fee
Act. Table 5.1 summarizes the annual and five-year reporting requirements identified in the
Mitigation Fee Act.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Table 5.1: Mitigation Fee Act - Annual and Five-year Administrative Requirements
CA Gov't Code
Section Timing Reporting Requirements
1
Recommended
Fee Adjustment
66001.(d)
The fifth fiscal year following the
first deposit into the account or
fund, and every five years
thereafter
(A) Identify the purpose to which the fee is to be put.
(B) Demonstrate a reasonable relationship between the fee and the
purpose for which it is charged.
(C) Identify all sources and amounts of funding anticipated to
complete financing in incomplete improvements.
(D) Designate the approximate dates on which supplemental funding is
expected to be deposited into the appropriate account or fund.
Comprehensive
Update
66006. (b) Within 180 days after the last
day of each fiscal year
(A) A brief description of the type of fee in the account or fund.
(B) The amount of the fee.
(C) The beginning and ending balance of the account or fund.
(D) The amount of the fees collected and the interest earned.
(E) An identification of each public improvement on which fees were
expended including share funded by fees.
(F) An identification of an approximate date by which the construction of
the public improvement will commence.
(G) A description of any potential interfund transfers.
(H) The amount of refunds made (if any).
Inflationary
Adjustment
1 Edited for brevity. Refer to the government code for full description.
Sources: California Government Code §6601 and §6606.
20
6. Mitigation Fee Findings
Fees are assessed and typically paid when a building permit is issued and imposed on new
development projects by local agencies responsible for regulating land use (cities and counties).
To guide the imposition of facilities fees, the California State Legislature adopted the Mitigation
Fee Act (Act) with Assembly Bill 1600 in 1987 and subsequent amendments. The Mitigation Fee
Act, contained in California Government Code §§66000 – 66025, establishes requirements on
local agencies for the imposition and administration of fees. The Mitigation Fee Act requires local
agencies to document five statutory findings when adopting fees.
The five findings in the Act required for adoption of the maximum justified fees documented in this
report are: 1) Purpose of Fee, 2) Use of Fee Revenues, 3) Benefit Relationship, 4) Burden
Relationship, and 5) Proportionality. They are each discussed below and are supported
throughout the rest of this report.
Purpose of Fee
x Identify the purpose of the fee (§66001(a)(1) of the Act).
We understand that it is the policy of the City that new development will not burden the existing
service population with the cost of facilities required to accommodate growth. The purpose of the
fees proposed by this report is to implement this policy by providing a funding source from new
development to fund fire protection facilities to serve that development. The fees advance a
legitimate City interest by enabling the City to provide municipal services to new development.
Use of Fee Revenues
x Identify the use to which the fees will be put. If the use is financing facilities, the facilities
shall be identified. That identification may, but need not, be made by reference to a
capital improvement plan as specified in §65403 or §66002, may be made in applicable
general or specific plan requirements, or may be made in other public documents that
identify the facilities for which the fees are charged (§66001(a)(2) of the Act).
Fees proposed in this report, if enacted by the City, would be available to fund expanded fire
protection facilities to serve new development. Facilities funded by these fees are designated to
be located within the City.
Benefit Relationship
x Determine the reasonable relationship between the fees' use and the type of
development project on which the fees are imposed (§66001(a)(3) of the Act).
The City plans to restrict fee revenue to the acquisition of land, construction of facilities and
buildings, and purchase of related equipment, furnishings, vehicles, apparatus, and services used
to serve new development in the City of Arcadia. Facilities funded by the fees are expected to
provide a citywide network of facilities accessible to the additional residents and workers
associated with future residential and nonresidential land use development. The fees calculated
in this report will fund only the expansion of fire protection facilities like those currently owned by
the City and listed in Chapter 3 to maintain the current level of service for all future development.
Under the Act, fees are not intended to fund planned facilities needed to correct existing
deficiencies. Thus, a reasonable relationship can be shown between the use of fee revenue to
provide additional facilities and services to meet the service demands that will be created by new
residential and nonresidential land use classifications that will be subject to the fees.
City of Arcadia Fire Protection Facilities Development Impact Fee Nexus Study
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Burden Relationship
x Determine the reasonable relationship between the need for the public facilities and the
types of development on which the fees are imposed (§66001(a)(4) of the Act).
Facilities need is based on a facility standard that represents the demand generated by new
development for those facilities. The service populations are established based upon the number
of residents and workers, which correlate to demand for fire protection facilities.
For fire protection facilities, demand is measured by a single facility standard that can be applied
across land-use types to ensure a reasonable relationship to the type of development. Service
population standards are calculated based upon the number of residents associated with
residential development and the number of workers associated with non-residential development.
To calculate a single, per capita standard, one worker is weighted differently than one resident
based on estimates of the relative use demand between residential and non-residential
development.
Chapter 2, Demographic Assumptions provides a description of how service population and
growth projections are calculated. Facility standards are described in the Facility Inventories,
Plans & Standards sections of each facility fee category chapter.
Proportionality
x Determine how there is a reasonable relationship between the fees amount and the cost
of the facilities or portion of the facilities attributable to the development on which the fee
is imposed (§66001(b) of the Act).
The reasonable relationship between each facilities fee for a specific new development project
and the cost of the facilities attributable to that project is based on the estimated new
development growth the project will accommodate. Fees for a specific project are based on the
project’s size or increases in service population. Larger new development projects can result in a
higher service population resulting in higher fee revenue than smaller projects in the same land
use classification. Thus, the fees can ensure a reasonable relationship between a specific new
development project and the cost of the facilities attributable to that project.
See Chapter 2, Demographic Assumptions, or the Service Population section in Chapter 3 for a
description of how service population is determined for different types of land uses. See the Fee
Schedule section of Chapter 3 for a presentation of the maximum justified fire protection facilities
fee schedule.
22
Appendix
2019 2020
1 2021
Annual
Average
Annual Incidents
Residential 1,678 921 2,126 1,575
Nonresidential 1,491 559 1,676 1,242
Residents 2 58,891 56,894 56,240 57,342
Calls per Resident 0.028 0.016 0.038 0.027
Employees 3 24,970 25,327 25,688 25,328
Calls per Employee 0.060 0.022 0.065 0.049
Employee Weighting Factor4 2.10 1.36 1.73 1.79
1 Partial year of call data, due to a transition of the dispatch center's system
2 Estimates from CA DOF, Table E-5.
4 Calls per employee / calls per resident.
Appendix Table A.1: Fire Department - Worker Weighting
Factor
3 Annual jobs in Arcadia based on estimate of 24,970 in 2019, increasing by 1.428% annually,
as implied by SCAG 2045 projection.
Sources: CA DOF, Table E-5; OnTheMap Application, US Census Bureau; Arcadia Fire
Department; Willdan Financial Services.
Exhibit B