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New Application Processing Fee <br />February 1, 2010 <br />Page 3 <br />At this time the most significant properties have received historic <br />status and further listings of self- nominated properties are primarily <br />for the purpose of receiving the Mills Act tax reduction. The <br />establishment of this fee, though it may result in a reduction of the <br />number of self- nominated historic properties, does not restrict the <br />City's ability to list properties through the City- initiated process. In <br />this way, historically significant structures that may be identified in <br />the future can still be listed without any cost to the property owner, <br />thereby ensuring the City's ability to preserve significant historic <br />properties. <br />Fee Establishment <br />While a fee already exists for Historic Property Preservation Agreements <br />(Mills Act), there is currently no fee associated with a request to be <br />added to the historical register. The lack of a fee results in the <br />applicant receiving a sizable subsidy from the general taxpayer due to <br />the great deal of time and materials required to process these requests. <br />Given the City's current and future projected budget status, the amount <br />of staff work required to place private properties on the Register, and <br />the current inventory of properties already listed on the Register, staff <br />believes that it is now prudent to institute a fee for private party <br />nominations of properties to the Santa Ana Register of Historical <br />Properties. The fee of $4,754 per application for private party <br />nominations to the Historical Register establishment is based on full <br />cost recovery fee for the staff services provided. It is also <br />recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution adding this fee and <br />its associated appeal fee to the Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />It is estimated that the proposed changes to the fee schedule will <br />generate an additional $118,700 to the general fund revenue annually. <br />This estimate is based on a maximum of 25 applications processed per <br />calendar year, a cap established by the City Council sub - committee and <br />approved at the City Council meeting held August 3, 2009. However, it is <br />anticipated that with the introduction of a fee for private party <br />nominations that this number will be markedly less in future years. <br />Trevino <br />Executive Director <br />Planning & Building Agency <br />MF:rb <br />mf \reports \Historic Registry RFCA <br />75A -3 <br />