Developer fees
For years, Fresno has charged its developers less than other cities do to carry out construction projects. Throughout the '90s, while other cities were raising their development fees to keep up with growth and inflation, Fresno's fees stayed put. Now, those fees aren't enough to cover needed public improvements like parks and street lights and fire stations, say some City Council members.
Last year, they started doing something about it. They increased fees to bring in money for streets, bridges and parks in July. Then in November, they upped the fees to pay for traffic lights. Recently, they've been looking at raising fees to fund parks and fire stations, a measure that was supposed to be discussed this Tuesday, but didn't make it onto the agenda. Council member Brian Calhoun is talking about placing a moratorium on new development until the fees are raised.
Bee columnist Bill McEwen has been talking about this issue for a while now; here's his April 14 column on the matter, and here's one from today. In June, the Bee's editorial board chimed in in support of the fee increases.
With Tuesday's publication of an L.A. Times story about the situation, local bloggers have also been getting into the fray, from Fresno Famous to Dorktown to Dyerama.
Update (8/26): On Friday, The Bee's editorial board delivered a strongly-worded piece on the topic:
The way this issue has unfolded makes the city's leadership look inept.Charging builders fair fees, which would be passed on to the homebuyer, is a proper strategy for providing services to the city's growth areas.
No more excuses. Get it done.
Comments:
If any sort of moratorium is imposed, I think that the slow pace of getting the fees raised and construction restarted would only add to the problem of overly-expensive Fresno housing. It would also push growth out to other areas. Is this something we can afford as a city at this time, with all the effort we're putting in to revitalize downtown and attract young professionals?
Posted by: Ralph at August 25, 2005 3:10 PM
Children are put in the care of two Christians. Of course they do not know they are two LESBIANS!! Claiming you are a Christian means you are not a Lesbian. It is a sin in the Bible to be homosexual. So why are we Christians sending are children to a Christian Daycare? We are being deceived, that's why!! The Director and Assistant director live together in the same bedroom, for the past few years. The Director Jackie Dugan, has a history of same sex relationships, she's a lesbian. Just ask her pastor, but then her pastor does not seem to have much dignity or ethics, being that he knows about Jackie's lesbianism and control, manipulations against weak women, such as Serena Perez. The only people suffering, Serena's kids. Jackie has one nephew, whom she addopted, after sueing her own parents for custody, after her sister was killed. Jackie has been known to "shake" children and mistreat them. She needs to be stopped. At the very least the parents need to know that their children are going to a daycare, preschool, run by lesbians!! Just ask the pastor of Jubilee Church, he knows. Christians, open your eyes, your kids are being taught by lesbians!!!
"The TRUTH shall set you FREE".....
Posted by: What about our Kids!! at April 21, 2006 7:45 PM
Jackie Dugan is a caring, loving, firm caretaker. I do not care who she falls in love with. As the mother of 3 children; 2 of whom were in daycare with Miss Jackie, my only regret is that she is now too far away for my youngest to be in school with her. These children adore her and ask when the next movie night with Miss Jackie is. Because they feel safe with her and they have fun and they learn.
My children love her and at a time when all other "Christian" daycares told me "No" they wouldn't be able to care for my disabled son; Miss Jackie welcomed him with open loving arms.
You who call yourself Christian should read the part in the Bible about he who is without sin cast the first stone. And please do not claim to be sinless - no one but God is.
What lovely little things go on in your life that you would like posted for the world to judge?
Grow up.
Posted by: pixel at January 23, 2007 1:03 PM
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