Logo courtesy of the City of Live Oak 

LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - At the Nov. 5 meeting of the Live Oak City Council, they considered updating the city code to allow more flexible timing options for the collection of development impact fees. 

The fees are imposed on new developments to cover the resulting increase in public services costs. City Manager Ben Moody explained that typically the fees are collected at the time of building permit issuance. However, for some projects, the fee timing be challenging if developers already have substantial upfront costs. 

Offering a more flexible fee schedule — in which fees can be collected either prior to building permit issuance or prior to certification of occupancy — could encourage more development within the city. And more development would spur more revenue for the city through additional property taxes and sales taxes from new residents. 

Council had previously requested this change as one way to address the city’s structural budget deficit and improve the long-term financial position. 

Moody said this change is a “business friendly” initiative. 

The council voted 4-0 to approve the change, with Councilmember Nancy Santana absent. 

During City Manager Updates, Moody said the city had recently completed the recruitment process for an in-house finance director. The selected applicant, Ethan Gutierrez, worked for Yuba City and Sutter County.  

“I think he’s going to be a great team member, a good fit for the city,” Moody said.  

The employment agreement is still being finalized, but Moody said the expected start date is December 1.

 Moody met with Sutter County’s sheriff, fire chief, and chief administrative officer to discuss an upcoming public safety informational meeting on Dec. 1 at Live Oak High School. 

“There’s definitely a consensus that we need to have a strategic plan…and the goal is that, really, we want to provide good service for the community. And how do we get there, and how do we fund it?” Moody said.

He said the public meeting will include information about call volumes and legal requirements of service.

“And then…we get with the ad hoc committee and we kind of continue to strategize the goals for revenue options and also levels of service that we can work through. Everybody’s on the same team,” said Moody.  

Moody also addressed a prior council request to review the possibility of selling city-owned properties. He’s been working with a consultant experienced in the legal requirements of the surplus land act, and next steps will include bringing on an appraiser and realtor. 

But Moody cautioned, “high level, there’s no silver bullet there. When we really look at those properties, most of them are remnants, or dedicated road right-of-way, or something that doesn’t have a lot of value.”

Moody said there are four or five parcels on Richards Road adjacent to a development that might have some value on the market, as well as some miscellaneous properties that could be viable with lot line adjustments and other work. 

The main parcels under consideration are on Pennington Road and Larkin Road. However, they are deed restricted for public use, and subject to the surplus land act. But Moody said he’s working to bring the council official recommendations at a future meeting. 

The next meeting of the Live Oak City Council is scheduled for Nov. 19.