Bill Text: CA AB59 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mitigation Fee Act: fees: notice and timelines.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2022-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB59 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB59-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 59
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel |
December 07, 2020 |
An act to amend Sections 66013, 66014, 66016, 66019, and 66020 of, and to repeal Section 66022 of, the Government Code, relating to land use.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 59, as introduced, Gabriel.
Mitigation Fee Act: fees: notice and timelines.
The Mitigation Fee Act authorizes a local agency to establish, increase, or impose a variety of fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions for services, and in connection with the approval of a development project, as defined. Existing law prohibits a local agency from imposing fees for specified purposes, including fees for water or sewer connections, capacity charges, zoning variances or changes, use permits, and building inspections or permits, among others, that exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, unless voter approval is obtained. Existing law requires fees or service charges that create revenues in excess of actual cost to be used to reduce the fee or service charge. Existing law requires a local agency, before levying or increasing a fee or service charge, to hold at least one open and public meeting and requires that
notice of the time and place of the meeting be mailed at least 14 days prior to the meeting to any interested party who files a written request with the local agency for mailed notice of the meeting on new or increased fees or service charges. Existing law additionally requires the local agency to make available to the public, at least 10 days prior to the meeting, the data indicating the amount of cost, or estimated cost, required to provide the service for which the fee or service charge is levied and the revenue sources anticipated to provide the service, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the local agency to provide notice via electronic notification to those who specifically request it, and authorizes the legislative body of a local agency to establish a reasonable annual charge for sending notices based on the estimated cost of providing the service.
Existing law authorizes any party to protest the imposition of a fee, dedication, reservation, or other
exactions imposed on a development project within 90 or 120 days of the imposition of the fee, as applicable, and specifies procedures for those protests and actions. The act imposes the same requirements on a local agency for a new or increased fee for public facilities. Existing law, for specified fees, requires any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance, resolution, or motion adopting a new fee or service charge or modifying an existing fee or service charge to be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion. Existing law also provides that, if an ordinance, resolution, or motion provides for an automatic adjustment in a fee or service charge and the adjustment results in an increase in the fee or service charge, that any action to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the increase to be commenced within 120 days of the increase.
This bill would increase, for fees and
service charges and for fees for specified public facilities, the time for mailing the notice of the time and place of the meeting to at least 45 days before the meeting. The bill would require the local agency to make that information available to the public at least 30 days before the meeting. The bill would require a local agency to additionally make available to the public all of the data demonstrating the requisite relationship between the amount of a fee for public facilities and the need for the public facilities. The bill would require the data to also be made available to the public on the local agency’s internet website. The bill would authorize interested parties to file an electronic request to receive the notice of the meeting time and place, and would require the local agency to mail or electronically send the notice as requested by the party. The bill would prohibit the legislative body of a local agency from establishing a reasonable annual charge for sending electronic notices. The bill
would prohibit a local agency, when defending a protest or action filed for a fee or service charge, or for fees for specified public facilities, from using as evidence, or relying on in any way, data not made available to the public pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require revenues in excess of actual cost to be used to reimburse the payor of the fee or service charge.
This bill would also delete the provisions requiring a judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance within 120 days of the effective date of the ordinance or increase, as applicable. The bill would instead require a judicial action or proceeding to be conducted in accordance with other procedures that, among other things, require a protest to be filed within 90 days after the imposition of the fees and an action to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the imposition of the fees to be filed within 180 days after delivery of a specified notice
by the local agency.
By imposing new duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 66013 of the Government Code is amended to read:66013.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a local agency imposes fees for water connections or sewer connections, or imposes capacity charges, those fees or charges shall not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee or charge is imposed, unless a question regarding the amount of the fee or charge imposed in excess of the estimated reasonable cost of providing the services or materials is submitted to, and approved by, a popular vote of two-thirds of those electors voting on the issue.(b) As used in this section:
(1) “Sewer connection” means the connection of a structure or project to a public sewer system.
(2) “Water connection” means the connection of a structure or project to a public water system, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3) “Capacity charge” means a charge for public facilities in existence at the time a charge is imposed or charges for new public facilities to be acquired or constructed in the future that are of proportional benefit to the person or property being charged, including supply or capacity contracts for rights or entitlements, real property interests, and entitlements and other rights of the local agency involving capital expense relating to its use of existing or new public facilities. A “capacity charge” does not include a commodity charge.
(4) “Local agency” means a local agency as defined in Section 66000.
(5) “Fee” means a fee for the physical facilities necessary to make a water connection or sewer connection, including, but not limited to, meters, meter boxes, and pipelines from the structure or project to a water distribution line or sewer main, and the estimated reasonable cost of labor and materials for installation of those facilities bears a fair or reasonable relationship to the payor’s burdens on, or benefits received from, the water connection or sewer connection.
(6) “Public facilities” means public facilities as defined in Section 66000.
(c) A local agency receiving payment of a charge as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) shall deposit it in a separate capital facilities fund with other charges received, and account for the charges in a manner to avoid any commingling with other moneys of the local
agency, except for investments, and shall expend those charges solely for the purposes for which the charges were collected. Any interest income earned from the investment of moneys in the capital facilities fund shall be deposited in that fund.
(d) For a fund established pursuant to subdivision (c), a local agency shall make available to the public, within 180 days after the last day of each fiscal year, the following information for that fiscal year:
(1) A description of the charges deposited in the fund.
(2) The beginning and ending balance of the fund and the interest earned from investment of moneys in the fund.
(3) The amount of charges collected in that fiscal year.
(4) An
identification of all of the following:
(A) Each public improvement on which charges were expended and the amount of the expenditure for each improvement, including the percentage of the total cost of the public improvement that was funded with those charges if more than one source of funding was used.
(B) Each public improvement on which charges were expended that was completed during that fiscal year.
(C) Each public improvement that is anticipated to be undertaken in the following fiscal year.
(5) A description of each interfund transfer or loan made from the capital facilities fund. The information provided, in the case of an interfund transfer, shall identify the public improvements on which the transferred moneys are, or will be, expended. The
information, in the case of an interfund loan, shall include the date on which the loan will be repaid, and the rate of interest that the fund will receive on the loan.
(e) The information required pursuant to subdivision (d) may be included in the local agency’s annual financial report.
(f) The provisions of subdivisions (c) and (d) shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) Moneys received to construct public facilities pursuant to a contract between a local agency and a person or entity, including, but not limited to, a reimbursement agreement pursuant to Section 66003.
(2) Charges that are used to pay existing debt service or which are subject to a contract with a trustee for bondholders that requires a different accounting of the charges, or
charges that are used to reimburse the local agency or to reimburse a person or entity who advanced funds under a reimbursement agreement or contract for facilities in existence at the time the charges are collected.
(3) Charges collected on or before December 31, 1998.
(g) Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the ordinance, resolution, or motion imposing a fee or capacity charge subject to this section shall be brought pursuant to Section 66022. 66020.
(h) Fees and charges subject to this section are not subject to the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 66000), but are
subject to the provisions of Sections 66016, 66022, 66020, and 66023.
(i) Subdivisions (c) and (d) only apply to capacity charges levied pursuant to this section.
SEC. 2.
Section 66014 of the Government Code is amended to read:66014.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a local agency charges fees for zoning variances; zoning changes; use permits; building inspections; building permits; filing and processing applications and petitions filed with the local agency formation commission or conducting preliminary proceedings or proceedings under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, Division 3 (commencing with Section 56000) of Title 5; the processing of maps under the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act, Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410) of Title 7; or planning services under the authority of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 65100) of Division 1 of Title 7 or under any other authority; those fees may not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged, unless a question regarding the amount of the fee charged in excess of the estimated reasonable cost of providing the services or materials is submitted to, and approved by, a popular vote of two-thirds of those electors voting on the issue.(b) The fees charged pursuant to subdivision (a) may include the costs reasonably necessary to prepare and revise the plans and policies that a local agency is required to adopt before it can make any necessary findings and determinations.
(c) Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the ordinance, resolution, or motion authorizing the charge of a fee subject to this section shall be brought pursuant to Section 66022.
66020.
SEC. 3.
Section 66016 of the Government Code is amended to read:66016.
(a) Prior to levying a new fee or service charge, or prior to approving an increase in an existing fee or service charge, a local agency shall hold at least one open and public meeting, at which oral or written presentations can be made, as part of a regularly scheduled meeting. Notice of the time and place of the meeting, including a general explanation of the matter to be considered, and a statement that the data required by this section is available, shall be mailed or delivered electronically at least(b) Any action by a local agency to levy a new fee or service charge or to approve an increase in an existing fee or service charge shall be taken only by ordinance or resolution. The legislative body of a local agency shall not delegate the authority to adopt a new fee or service charge, or to increase a fee or service charge.
(c) Any costs incurred by a local agency in conducting the meeting or meetings required pursuant to subdivision (a) may be recovered from fees charged for the services which were the subject of the meeting.
(d) This section shall apply only to fees and charges as described in Sections 51287, 56383, 65104, 65456, 65584.1, 65863.7, 65909.5, 66013, 66014, and 66451.2 of this code, Sections
17951, 19132.3, and 19852 of the Health and Safety Code, Section 41901 of the Public Resources Code, and Section 21671.5 of the Public Utilities Code.
(e) Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the ordinance, resolution, or motion levying a fee or service charge subject to this section shall be brought pursuant to Section 66022. 66020.
SEC. 4.
Section 66019 of the Government Code is amended to read:66019.
(a) As used in this section:(1) “Fee” means a fee as defined in Section 66000, but does not include any of the following:
(A) A fee authorized pursuant to Section 66013.
(B) A fee authorized pursuant to Section 17620 of the Education Code, or Sections 65995.5 and 65995.7.
(C) Rates or charges for water, sewer, or electrical services.
(D) Fees subject to Section 66016.
(2) “Party” means a person, entity, or organization representing a group of
people or entities.
(3) “Public facility” means a public facility as defined in Section 66000.
(b) For any fee, notice of the time and place of the meeting, including a general explanation of the matter to be considered, and a statement that the data required by this subdivision is available shall be mailed or delivered electronically at least 14 45 days prior to the first meeting to an interested party who files a written
written, including electronic, request with the city, county, or city and county for mailed or electronic notice of a meeting on a new or increased fee to be enacted by the city, county, or city and county. Any written written, including electronic, request for mailed or electronic notices shall be valid for one year from the date on which it is filed unless a renewal request is filed. Renewal requests for mailed or electronic notices shall be filed on or before
April 1 of each year. The legislative body of the city, county, or city and county may establish a reasonable annual charge for sending mailed notices based on the estimated cost of providing the service. The legislative body may send the notice electronically. At least 10 30 days prior to the meeting, the city, county, or city and county shall make available to the public public, including on its internet website, all of the data indicating the amount of cost, or the estimated cost, required to provide the public facilities
and the revenue sources anticipated to fund those public facilities, including general fund revenues. revenues, and demonstrating the requisite relationship between the amount of the fee and the need for the public facilities. The new or increased fee shall be effective no earlier than 60 days following the final action on the adoption or increase of the fee, unless the city, county, or city and county follows the procedures set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 66017.
(c) If a city, county, or city and county receives a request for mailed notice pursuant to this section, or a local agency receives a request for mailed notice pursuant to Section 66016, the city, county, or city and county or other local agency may provide the notice via electronic mail
for those who specifically request electronic mail notification. A city, county, city or county, or other local agency that provides electronic mail notification pursuant to this subdivision shall send the electronic mail notification to the electronic mail address indicated in the request. The electronic mail notification authorized by this subdivision shall operate as an alternative to the mailed notice required by this section.
SEC. 5.
Section 66020 of the Government Code is amended to read:66020.
(a) Any party may protest the imposition of any fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions imposed on a development project, as defined in Section 66000, by a local agency by meeting both of the following requirements:(1) Tendering any required payment in full or providing satisfactory evidence of arrangements to pay the fee when due or ensure performance of the conditions necessary to meet the requirements of the imposition.
(2) Serving written written, including electronic,
notice on the governing body of the entity, which notice shall contain all of the following information:
(A) A statement that the required payment is tendered or will be tendered when due, or that any conditions which have been imposed are provided for or satisfied, under protest.
(B) A statement informing the governing body of the factual elements of the dispute and the legal theory forming the basis for the protest.
(b) Compliance by any party with subdivision (a) shall not be the basis for a local agency to withhold approval of any map, plan, permit, zone change, license, or other form of permission, or concurrence, whether discretionary, ministerial, or otherwise, incident to, or necessary for, the development project. This section does not limit the ability of a local agency to ensure compliance
with all applicable provisions of law in determining whether or not to approve or disapprove a development project.
(c) Where a reviewing local agency makes proper and valid findings that the construction of certain public improvements or facilities, the need for which is directly attributable to the proposed development, is required for reasons related to the public health, safety, and welfare, and elects to impose a requirement for construction of those improvements or facilities as a condition of approval of the proposed development, then in the event a protest is lodged pursuant to this section, that approval shall be suspended pending withdrawal of the protest, the expiration of the limitation period of subdivision (d) without the filing of an action, or resolution of any action filed. This subdivision confers no new or independent authority for imposing fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions not presently governed by other
law.
(d) (1) A protest filed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be filed at the time of approval or conditional approval of the development or within 90 days after the date of the imposition of the fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions to be imposed on a development project. Each local agency shall provide to the project applicant a notice in writing at the time of the approval of the project or at the time of the imposition of the fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions, a statement of the amount of the fees or a description of the dedications, reservations, or other exactions, and notification that the 90-day approval period in which the applicant may protest has begun.
(2) Any party who files a protest pursuant to subdivision (a) may file an action to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the imposition of the fees,
dedications, reservations, or other exactions imposed on a development project by a local agency within 180 days after the delivery of the notice. Thereafter, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, all persons are barred from any action or proceeding or any defense of invalidity or unreasonableness of the imposition. Any proceeding brought pursuant to this subdivision shall take precedence over all matters of the calendar of the court except criminal, probate, eminent domain, forcible entry, and unlawful detainer proceedings.
(e) A local agency, when defending a protest or action filed under this section for a fee described under Section 66016 or Section 66019, shall not use any evidence, or rely on in any way, data not made available to the public, including data not posted on the local agency’s internet website, pursuant to Section 66016 or Section
66019.
(e)
(f) If the court finds in favor of the plaintiff in any action or proceeding brought pursuant to subdivision (d), the court shall direct the local agency to refund the unlawful portion of the payment, with interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum, or return the unlawful portion of the exaction imposed.
(f)
(g) (1) If the court grants a judgment to a plaintiff invalidating, as enacted, all
or a portion of an ordinance or resolution enacting a fee, dedication, reservation, or other exaction, the court shall direct the local agency to refund the unlawful portion of the payment, plus interest at an annual rate equal to the average rate accrued by the Pooled Money Investment Account during the time elapsed since the payment occurred, or to return the unlawful portion of the exaction imposed.
(2) If an action is filed within 120 days of the date at which an ordinance or resolution to establish or modify a fee, dedication, reservation, or other exactions to be imposed on a development project takes effect, the portion of the payment or exaction invalidated shall also be returned to any other person who, under protest pursuant to this section and under that invalid portion of that same ordinance or resolution as enacted, tendered the payment or provided for or satisfied the exaction during the period from 90 days prior to the date of
the filing of the action which invalidates the payment or exaction to the date of the entry of the judgment referenced in paragraph (1).
(g)
(h) Approval or conditional approval of a development occurs, for the purposes of this section, when the tentative map, tentative parcel map, or parcel map is approved or conditionally approved or when the parcel map is recorded if a tentative map or tentative parcel map is not required.
(h)
(i) The imposition
of fees, dedications, reservations, or other exactions occurs, for the purposes of this section, when they are imposed or levied on a specific development.
SEC. 6.
Section 66022 of the Government Code is repealed.(a)Any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance, resolution, or motion adopting a new fee or service charge, or modifying or amending an existing fee or service charge, adopted by a local agency, as defined in Section 66000, shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion.
If an ordinance, resolution, or motion provides for an automatic adjustment in a fee or service charge, and the automatic adjustment results in an increase in the amount of a fee or service charge, any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the increase shall be commenced within 120 days of the effective date of the increase.
(b)Any action by a local agency or interested person under this section shall be brought pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(c)This section shall apply only to fees, capacity charges, and service charges described in and subject to Sections 66013, 66014, and 66016.
