Monday evening members of the Plymouth City Council had a page by page review of an ordinance to amend a variety of city fees as it was presented for second reading.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi described the changes ordinance. Some changes are minor; like in the Police Department…accident reports were $5 and would increase to $12. The same for videos and photos, they are set to increase from $5 to $10 and vin checks were free for city residents and $5 for non-residents. Those will increase to $5 for city residents and $10 for non-residents.
One proposed fee increase that could impact many is parking tickets. Currently the fine is $2 and if not paid within 24 hours it increased to $5. The proposed change makes the first offense $5 with an increase to $10 if not paid within 24 hours. Also added was if the ticket wasn’t paid within 72 hours it would increase to $25.
Increases were also put in for city trash service. Currently at $15.08 the council will consider a $1 monthly increase to $16.08.
Other increases are in the Plan Commission for re-zoning requests and in the BZA for appeals. Those both had fees of $10 but would increase to $100.
Rates in the Oak Hill Cemetery also saw increases. Lots will raise from $300 to $500. Grave openings will increase from $350 to $500 during the week and from $500 to $750 on weekends. Mausoleum entombments would also increase from $150 to $300.
While there were several increases there were also some deletions such as replacement costs for the old red recycling totes the city no longer uses. Surrisi also made minor revisions to some of the language.
The new amendment brings most of the city’s fees all together into one ordinance including the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning, Building Permits, Water, Sewer, Cemetery, Police, Fire and general regulations.
Councilman Gary Cook said, “I like what I see in this.” He then asked if there had been a calculation done to determine the increase in revenue the proposed rate and fee increases will raise.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xavertold the city council she will begin looking at the revenue impact as she prepares for the 2019 budget process.
The City Council passed the ordinance on second reading. They and department heads will spend the next two weeks reviewing the changes and consider the ordinance on third and final reading on July 9th. Once passed, the ordinance will be published and then go into effect 30 days later.
