HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a: Direction Regarding customer Requested Property Address Changes V~ Ape, �t
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- ,n„y °t ° STAFF REPORT
Development Services Department
DATE: May 3, 2011
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director
By: Jim Kasama, Community Develo ment Administrator and
Don Stockham, Building Officia
SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING CUSTOMER
REQUESTED PROPERTY ADDRESS CHANGES
Recommended Action: Provide Direction
BACKGROUND
At the March 15 Council Meeting, the Council requested a report on the City's policy
related to proposed address changes. The Development Services Department stopped
processing customer requested property address changes approximately five years
ago. Addresses are still changed for corner lots when the orientation of a house is
changed to the other street, or for new subdivisions and lot splits. The customer -
requested address changes were stopped because of the volume of requests (20+ per
year) and the difficulties and confusion that it created for City record - keeping and for
other agencies required to be notified. In addition, address changes are very time
intensive and required substantial staff time. Customer requested address changes
generally had no purpose other than to change the number because it was considered
unlucky.
DISCUSSION
For many years, the City granted address changes for any reason, and requests were
rare. In the early 1990s, the number of requests increased significantly, and a fee of
$500 was imposed to cover the administrative costs associated with the process, which
is comprised of the following steps:
• Accept an application for an address change. This includes a review of records
to determine that a new address number is available
• Field verify that the address choice is available and sequential
• Process application, which entails circulating the request to other City
departments to verify that the new address is acceptable
• Prepare a form letter to inform other City departments and outside agencies of
the address change — at last count, 23 departments and agencies are notified
• Issue new address and change address in permit system and all related files;
paper as well as digital. It is assumed that all other City departments and
agencies also do this
In addition to staff time, there are the attendant material costs for office supplies,
photocopying, postage, and vehicle expenses for the field work. And, despite sending
written notifications to the various departments and agencies, there are frequently
problems because not all records are updated or a specific person (e.g., utility service
person or postal employee) does not receive the notice. These problems usually arise
soon after the address change, but in many instances they come up years after the new
number assignment. Confusion among the many agencies notified is common.
There are instances when an address change is warranted, or a new address number is
necessary, such as in the case of a corner lot or a subdivision. In such cases, not only
does the address number change, but the street name of the address also usually
changes. Other instances for a new address would be the addition of a unit; residential
or commercial.
In the 1990s, when the volume of requests for address changes increased significantly,
the requests were often not associated with any new development. Rather, the
requests were based on a desire by a buyer, seller or realtor to avoid the number 4,
which in many Asian cultures is considered especially unlucky or objectionable; much in
the way many Western cultures avoid the number 13.
The fee of $500 was imposed to cover the costs of processing address changes, and
was also intended to avoid the frivolous changing of addresses. However, because
there is a strong affinity for numerology in many Asian cultures, the fee did not dissuade
any address change applications. Anecdotally, realtors and developers would say that
the elimination of the number 4 from an address, or the inclusion of the number 8, which
is considered fortuitous, would substantially improve the attractiveness, if not the actual
value of a property.
A phone survey was conducted of the surrounding cities regarding their process and
fees for address changes. Monrovia and San Marino do not allow address changes.
Monrovia stopped due to clerical errors and confusion at outside agencies and San
Marino never allowed changes. Temple City, Rosemead and San Gabriel allow this
process and receive between 2 and 15 per year. Sierra Madre also allows the process
but rarely receives a request. It is estimated that Arcadia would receive 20 - 25 per year
if the process was reinstated. In terms of fees, San Gabriel charges $1180 and Temple
City charges $500, the same as Arcadia. Other cities charge a nominal fee less than
$200.
Address Changes
May 3, 2011
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FISCAL IMPACT
The elimination of address changes and the attendant $500 fee did not have a
noticeable effect on the City's General Fund. If address changes are to be re- initiated,
the Development Services Department recommends a thorough cost - allocation analysis
by all affected departments to be sure that the City recovers the costs of processing
address changes. Even if full cost recovery analysis is implemented, staff time will be
involved which could impact service levels depending on workloads.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Provide direction.
Approved: D es. Q Pe" )
Donald Penman, City Manager
Address Changes
May 3, 2011
Page 3