June 5, 2023 — Clovis City Council
Documented by Rachel Youdelman
What happened: The Clovis City Council voted 5-0 to approve an updated development impact fee schedule for fiscal year 2023-2024.
Total increases vary from 2% to 10% for nonresidential projects and from 2% to 6% for residential, which don’t include water fees. Those fees will be discussed at a later date, and are expected to rise significantly, according to information in the agenda packet.
City staff previously proposed fee hikes ranging from 12% to 23% at the May 8 meeting, when the council voted to continue the item to a date uncertain after hearing from several members of the development community, including prominent local developer Darius Assemi and Building Industry Association (BIA) President Mike Prandini.
Assemi and Prandini were back at this meeting to speak against the increased fees, ask for more time, and request a joint workshop with the council.
The council agreed to a water workshop and city staff were tasked with planning it and possibly including a consultant.
And also: The council recognized two long-time city officials on their retirements with proclamations: Fire Chief John Binaski and City Engineer Mike Harrison.
Fire Chief John Binaski is retiring after a 32-year career, including 10 years with the Clovis Fire Department, while City Engineer Mike Harrison is retiring after 39 years with the city.
Clovis Mayor Lynne Ashbeck told Harrison that, “a lot of why the city works is because of things you did.”
Up next: Approval of the annual budget for 2023-2024 was continued to the June 19 meeting, which will be the next time the Clovis City Council meets.
