Montclair City Council Workshop - May 4, 2026

The City of Montclair held a City Council Workshop on May 4, 2026, focused on presenting and discussing a comprehensive cost of services study conducted by Revenue and Cost Specialists. The study reviewed user fees, rents, permits, and fines across various city departments, aiming to align fees with the actual costs of services provided, in compliance with state propositions limiting fee charges to reasonable cost recovery. The presentation detailed the methodology for calculating fully allocated hourly rates and identified a significant subsidy of approximately $7.9 million where fees do not cover full costs, particularly in public safety, community development, and human services. The council discussed the economic impact on residents, especially regarding human services fees, and acknowledged the need to balance fee adjustments with affordability and market conditions. A motion was made and seconded to direct staff to bring the fee schedule updates to a future council meeting for consideration, reflecting a move toward updating fees to better recover costs while considering community impact.