Hollister
– The City Council on Tuesday will consider an ordinance that
could ease fines for developers who build without a permit.
Hollister – The City Council on Tuesday will consider an ordinance that could ease fines for developers who build without a permit.
Currently, permit applicants who initiate construction or property use without the required permits are required to pay twice the normal fee. The new ordinance, which was introduced at the council’s Dec. 18 meeting, would give the city greater flexibility. Under the new ordinance, the city could fine the property owner by any amount up to twice the normal charge.
In her staff report, City Attorney Stephanie Atigh said that in most cases, doubling the application fee is reasonable.
“But in the case of some land use permits, such as a conditional use permit with an application fee of $1,098, doubling the fee appears to be extreme,” she said.
In addition to the fee ordinance, the council will look at a $23,000 claim against the city by Ortencia Avendaño who claims she was injured by a Hollister police officer. It will also consider the purchase of a new $40,000 vacuum leaf loader.
The council meeting begins at 6:30pm at City Hall.
