UKIAH, CA., 2/18/25 — The Ukiah City Council on Wednesday will consider approving higher fees for new residential or commercial developments to pay for local firefighting services.
According to the resolution proposed by the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority that will be voted on during Wednesday’s meeting, the increased fees would help pay for the city’s fire facilities and new equipment such as emergency vehicles.
In 2008, the initial fees included $0.43 per square foot for new single-family residences, according to UVFA Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.
The UVFA serves the city of Ukiah and unincorporated communities in the Ukiah Valley. Under a joint powers agreement that went into effect in 2017, the UVFA must work with the Ukiah City Council when proposing new fees.
“It’s one of those things that have needed to be done for a long time. The district must have some way to get some funding to do necessary operations to maintain what we do,” said Hutchison in an interview. “And if you have owned your home for 20 years, it doesn’t apply to you. It only applies to new construction.”
In August 2023, the UVFA Board of Directors organized a study to assess the impact of new development on the fire district’s resources. The study recommended an increase in impact fees to fund various fire district needs like new supplies and gear.
The staff report outlining these findings states that the increased fees are necessary to “preserve public health and safety in light of the increased demands for fire services and costs of fire prevention facilities.”
The Ukiah City Council first reviewed the updated fire impact fee program in its regular meeting on Dec. 18 but decided to postpone the adoption of the resolution to give the city’s staff more time to review the proposal and address any concerns.
The new fees, if implemented, will charge $1.07 per square foot for new single-family residential developments, $1.22 for multi-family developments, $0.89 for commercial developments and $1.19 for office spaces. The fees would be a one-time charge for new developments and apply only to construction within the fire district’s jurisdiction.
If passed, the fees will take effect 60 days after adoption and will be reviewed annually for adjustments. The proposed fire impact fee rates can be found by clicking this link.
The City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. at the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Ave. Residents can watch a recording of the meeting online by using this link to the agenda packet and clicking the Zoom link at the top of the page. Public comments can be emailed to meetings@cityofukiah.com or called in at (707) 463-6217.
A recent bond measure to provide more funding to the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority failed when voters went to the poles. Now the city of Ukiah has come up with another method to increase it’s overall income at the expense of the taxpayers while stifling new housing. What a monumental bad idea wrapped in a banner of our hero class fire fighters, para medics and trainees.