Ferndale Considering Fee Changes for Parking, STR’s, Fire Dept. Services and More
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 13, 2022)
Ferndale, MI – Each year the City of Ferndale reviews fees that are assessed for various services across all departments, and adopts them as one document – The Fee Schedule. While many fees will stay the same, there are some increases and new fees being proposed at the March 14, 2022 council meeting.
Among the items under consideration at the March 14 city council meeting are increases for parking and a new Short Term Rental inspection fee. There are also new fees for fire department and ambulance services.
STR INSPECTION
Nearly a year ago Ferndale voted to regulate Short Term Rentals (STRs) which are lodgings to rent for under 30 days, such as Air BNBs. At that time the city implemented limitations on the percentage of STRs by street and required inspections.
This year’s fee schedule, if approved, implements a $185 inspection fee. “The annual inspection fee will allow the City to ensure proper use and condition of short-term rentals,” according to the packet.
The City has a page on their website about STR’s and the regulations: https://www.ferndalemi.gov/resources/short-term-rentals
PARKING RELATED FEES
Other fee changes include increases to parking rates.
The description in the agenda packet explains the plan to “The Auto Parking Fund is designed to fund itself; funds collected via the paid parking system cover lot maintenance, safety improvements, debt service requirements, and quality enforcement services. Two years of historically low parking during the COVID pandemic has led to a reduction in $2 million in operating revenues; the decision to raise rates, while never an easy one to make, is a fiscally prudent move to preserve the Auto Parking Fund’s account balance and ensure a continuation in service levels. The rate increase was supported by the auditors during the FYE 21 financial audit presented during the January 31st City Council meeting.”
For parking, the on-street rates are slated to go from $1.00 per hour to $1.50 per hour. Off-street surface lots are proposed to go from $1.00 per hour to $1.25 per hour. Metered rates in the DOT parking garage will go from 75 cents to $1.00 per hour. Monthly parking permits will remain $40 and there could soon be quarterly and annual rates available. For parking tickets a citation for an expired meter could go from $10 to $15. Employee parking permits could also be available for monthly, quarterly, or annual fees.
The council packet cites rate increases in Rochester, Birmingham, Traverse City, and Ann Arbor.
OTHER FEES
Other new fees include a new building plan review fee, preliminary project review and assessment, an increased fee for single family unit rentals.
There is also a list of services for motor vehicle accidents with fire department responses, including $200 for motor vehicle assistance, $400 for hazmat/fluid containment, $500 for extrication, $250 for vehicle fires, and increasing costs for repeat out of service elevator responses. There is also a new fee of $85 per hour to review fire suppression and alarm systems in building plans.
All fees are listed in the Fee Schedule in the city council agenda packet. The document lists each fee, whether it is the same or whether there is a change, and what the amounts are.