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Minutes - City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting - May 15, 2000 Page 4 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) B. Matter of Adoption of Proposed Park Facilities Development Impact Fee for Future Development Within the City of San Leandro and Amending the San Leandro Municipal Code and the San Leandro Administrative Code. This being the time and place for the Public Hearing on the above matter, Uche Udemezue, City Engineer, gave the staff presentation on the reasoning behind raising this Development Impact Fee. The Hearing was then opened to the public. Tom Guarino, Executive Director of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, addressed the City Council, indicating the Chamber is supportive of the study as it indicates there is not a nexus for the impact fee on parks as it relates to business and industry. He also noted the Chamber hopes the City does not take the doubling of fees lightly, adding that it is a significant increase and will affect quite a few people. He stated further that the Chamber would like the Council to explore exemptions for first-time homebuyers or City employees. He also commented on the rigidness of the dollars and suggested there be some flexibility as it relates to existing parklands, art projects, and/or pools. Lou Filipovich, 15376 Laverne Drive, addressed the City Council, asking how much this will cost, who will pay, and for how long? He read from the May 16, 1996, City Council Meeting Minutes regarding the Roberts' Landing Project relating to development fees. Hearing no further requests to speak, the Mayor closed the Public Hearing without objection from the City Council. Council Member Loeftler commented on the high cost of park maintenance and development, as well as the need for businesses to contribute for the good of the community. He expressed concerns that the Recreation and Parks Commission, seniors, and youth had not had a chance to review the report before the City Council. He indicated he feels the proposed plan is short-term planning and won't meet the needs of the future. The City Manager clarified that these proposed fees would be applied to new developments. The fee is governed by State law and can only be used to offset impacts of new residents' use of parks. A new revenue source for general park development and new fees could be put to the public vote but not these particular fees. Council Member Nardine received clarification that the proposed fee could be used for more, expanded, new facilities but not for maintenance of existing parks.