CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to street and sidewalk use; amending the Street Use Permit Fee Schedule authorized by Section 15.04.074 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, Section 15.04.074 of the Seattle Municipal Code authorizes and directs the Director of Transportation to prepare and recommend to the City Council, for passage by ordinance, a schedule of fees applicable to all street and sidewalk use permits ("the Street Use Permit Fee Schedule") commensurate with the cost of administering, reviewing, inspecting, and policing involved in issuing and continuing the permits and the uses granted by the permits; and
WHEREAS, Street Use fees currently do not cover the full cost of permit issuance, inspection, and plan review, and Street Use permits must fully recover their cost to comply with the Seattle Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that those wishing to use public rights-of-way should bear the costs associated with obtaining appropriate street and sidewalk use permits; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 124905 updated Street Use rates effective on March 31, 2016, based on wages and salaries in effect at that time. Since that time, the City, and the Coalition of City Unions and other bargaining units have agreed to annual wage increases of 2 percent in 2015, 2 percent in 2016, 2.5 percent in 2017, and 2.75 percent in 2018; and
WHEREAS, permit costs are largely determined by labor costs and overhead charges and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index serves as a basis for estimating future cost increases; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) seeks to maintain adequate staffing as permit volumes fluctuate with the demand for use of public rights-of-way; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use Permit Fee Schedule, last substantially amende...
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