HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 01 24 Regular 504 waiver of permit fees due to the hurricanes in August and September of 2004. This agenda item
COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 504
Consent
Informational
Public Hearing
Regular X
January 24, 2005
Meeting
A-- Jff'
Mgr. / Dept.
Authorization
REQUEST:
The Customer Service Department requests the City Commission consider information about the
waiver of permit fees due to the hurricanes in August and September of 2004. This agenda item
will cover concerns expressed by commission on January 10t\ 2005 on the existing waiver of
permit fees for storm related damages.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide information and statistics on waiver of permit fees
for storm related damages.
CONSIDERATIONS:
. On August 16,2004 the commission passed Emergency Ordinance No. 2004-41 waiving
permit fees for storm related damages.
. On September 20, 2004 the commission extended the requirements for waiving of
building permit fees until January 31, 2005.
. The Customer Service Division since August 17,2004 has informed and continues to
inform all contractors and residents of the fee waiver provision for storm related
damages.
. Commission expressed concern during the January 10th, 2004 meeting on Informational
Agenda item 301 that waiver of permit fees were expiring the end 0 January and wished
staff to come back with suggestions on possibly extending the waiver provisions.
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January 24,2005
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 504
Page 2
. Since August the building department has issued 1,653 permits of which 950 were storm
related totaling $91,433 in permit fees that have been waived through January 18, 2005.
The majorities of the storm related permits have been for roofs, pool and screen
enclosures.
. The cities of Casselberry, Longwood and Sanford did not waive building permit fees for
storm related damages and Orange County stopped waiving such fees on November 19th,
2004. Seminole County is continuing to waive fees for storm related damages through
January 31,2005.
. The building division performed a second survey of hurricane damage to assess the
percentage of homes and businesses that still need to be repaired around the city. The
results are as follows: 15% Mt. Greenwood, The Terraces, Foxmore, Highlands,
Ranchlands and Seville Chase. Oak Forest 54.7 % of homes in Oak Forest, 25% in
Hacienda Village, 15% Tuscawilla PUD, 5% Parkstone, 5% Winding Hollow, 10%
Wildwood, 15% North Orlando, 15% Wood stream, 5% Gulf Terrace, 0% Barrington
Estates, 0% Courtney Springs, 5% Grand Reserve, 0% St. Johns Landing, 5% Tuscawilla
Trace, 3% Tuscawilla Trails, 25% West 434 and 17-92 commercial, 0% Creeks Run, 5%
Dunmar Estates and 5% East Tuskawilla.
FINDINGS:
The Customer Service Division performed a survey of contractors that due business with the city.
Specifically we looked at roofing and screen enclosure contractors since the majority of storm
related permits are in this category. What staff discovered is that the savings contractors are
experiencing are not being passed on to customers. Screen Enclosure companies are charging
permit fees ranging from $148.00 to $500.00 based on contract value. For commercial permits a
flat fee of$500.00 is being charged. Roofing companies (depending on the size of the company)
such as J. Norman Roofing are charging up to $150.00 to pull permits. Some roofing companies
incorporate the permit fees as part of their contract (based on a percentage of the total).
Most permits that have been filed since August are by contractors not residents, specifically for
roofs, screen enclosures and interior repairs. Permits generally filed by residents are mostly for
fences and some roofs.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff makes two recommendations to commission:
1. We strongly recommend that the waiver of fees end as of January 31 S\ 2005 as stated by
commission on September 20, 2004.
2. Extend the waiver of fees for storm related damages for 30 days with no further extensions.
COMMISSION ACTION:
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