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Home My WebLink About2002 05 20 Regular Q Special Exceptions for Signs and Other Permits ": ,....-'t 051302 Regular Q Special Exception Signs,doc COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM Q Consent Informational Public Hearin Re ular x .)0 Ma~,.2002 eetmg REQUEST: City Manager requesting direction from the City Commission regarding special exception for signs and other permits. PURPOSE: This agenda item is needed for Commission direction regarding special exceptions from signs since the City Manager does not have authority to waive fees. CONSIDERATIONS: Weare constantly approached by the schools, churches and not for profit organizations for exemption from signs and other forms of permits. The City Manager does not have authority to set or WaIve permit fees unless expressly authorized by the Commission. In a recent example the high school requested a banner permit fee to be waived for their concert. We do not waive fees, nor do we believe it is good policy to permit waivers for the obvious reason of where do you draw the line; how do you say yes to one and no to another? Some cities have a policy that allows sign permits to be waived for organizations whose primary funding comes from a tax or fee authorized by a governmental body under the theory that the tax payer is the end payer anyway. In short, public entities don't charge other public entities for permits. There are two problems with this. First, the public tends to hold the entity levying a tax accountable not a secondary benefiting entity. Second, like Winter Springs, many cities are attempting to fund the expenses for regulation through user fees to reduce the need for property taxes and to direct the cost of the service to the person causing the need for the service. ,\ . .... 'It 051302 Reg Q Special Exception Signs FUNDING: The amount of revenue that would be lost would depend on what permits would be waived and how many organizations would be waived. This could range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Commission not waive permit fees to any organization for the reasons stated above. ATTACHMENTS: None COMMISSION ACTION: