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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 Feedback from Impact Committee on Initially Recommended-Publisched Fee Proposal.pdf2017 Feedback from Impact Committee on Recommended Fee Proposal on 2/1/17: Troy Kartchner- You're getting rid of me first?? :) I've enjoyed meeting all of you and the association! Thanks Richard for involving me in the process and respecting my input! I enjoy working with the City of Rexburg and Staff! I don't have a good answer whether to go with the increase. Is this increase in perpetuity? At what point does there need to be an impact fee study? Should the City of Rexburg be more competitive or in line with other markets? Has the City of Rexburg reviewed its development code with an eye toward lowering future maintenance and replacement costs? I am seeing city's updating there old development codes and saving money now and in the future on maintenance and replacement costs. Recently I have seen city's requiring narrower streets in residential communities instead of the wider streets that codes currently require. These narrower streets meet all traffic, parking, and emergency vehicle requirements. The goal is to look for ways to lower costs, and a good portion of this could be, by lowering future maintenance costs. I'm sure Rexburg, like many city's are already looking at this. I'm never in favor of increasing costs until every other idea has been exhausted. It seems as if we are just supposed to say yes raise the rates, without discussion and without looking at alternatives. I believe the apartment communities are paying their share of what they impact if not a little more than their share. I don't suggest the MF is increased. I don't know about housing or commercial. I would need an expert to review all the numbers before I could answer. If You have to have an answer today. Raise commercial and Single Family to what you have recommended and not raise the MF. Judy Hobbs- First, I feel loosing Troy from this committee is an irreplaceable vacancy. Troy has the insight of being a developer/builder/owner in Rexburg and the insight of how these fees are handled in other aggressively growing area. I believe I served and was then re-appointed, so am uncertain of when my 5-year term may expire. I learn much more than I ever contribute to this committee, however, I would best serve Rexburg and the committee if I was allowed to transfer my remaining time to Troy rather than loose his valuable perspective on the committee. Second, fees/taxes seem to be on a run away, as are costs of providing services. At some point we will kill the golden goose if we continue to increase fees. At what point do the existing owners/users support the cost of maintenance and growth of the infrastructure? Is it logical/fair for existing owners/users to share costs of expansion in order to live, work and play in a vibrant and growing city which will attract more growth and opportunity? There must be some economy of numbers/growth in the calculations. Each year when we review these proposed increases we go thru the same agony of “NO” to more taxation thru fees. Then we have a well-organized and documented process of emails or meetings and concede, ‘I guess we have ta’. We do have-ta find a better way. The cost of construction and doing business in Rexburg for the single-student developers is a cost that well may drive private investors from Rexburg. If private industry does not provide the housing BYU-Idaho will, and off the tax rolls to do so. In addition to impact fees, the cost of property taxes on these student complex is much higher than comparably valued properties in our surrounding states. No one wants to pay more, and I question how long we can continue to pass increases on to one segment of our growth and expect continued growth. I do not find fault with anyone in this process, nor do I wish to abuse the messenger. However, I do feel we need to postpone these increases until every avenue is exhausted to find a better way. It needs to be more than justifying the number, I am certain you have put a lot of work into the proposal you have sent, we need to find alternatives to an increase each year. I am only one vote on the committee and don’t wish to hamper progress, I am certain you can move forward it you have a majority approval. Wayne Clark- I strongly agree with Judy and Troy, the impact fees are making it difficult on developers and their ability to make a project pencil out. The tax base that will come to Rexburg through continued growth will more than offset any impact fee. Please consider setting any increase on hold for this review period, outside development is important to Rexburg as noted and at BYU-Idaho we would sooner have private developers meet these needs instead of building more BYU-Idaho owned housing. Jared Kay- I stand with Troy and with Judy and with Wayne.