Report 2015-134 Recommendation 31 Responses

Report 2015-134: Residential Building Records: The Cities of San Rafael, Novato, and Pasadena Need to Strengthen the Implementation of Their Resale Record Programs (Release Date: March 2016)

Recommendation #31 To: San Rafael, City of

To ensure that the resale record fees it charges is appropriate, San Rafael should conduct a formal fee study by December 2016 that incorporates the actual costs associated with the issuance of a resale record report by dwelling type.

1-Year Agency Response

A formal study of the program fees was conducted in late 2016. As a result of this study, the San Rafael City Council adopted Resolution No. 14244, which amended the master fee schedule and updated all fees related to the Residential Building Record Program. A copy of this resolution is provided as a supplement to this response.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

On August 1st and Sept 6th City Council held public study sessions in order to hear testimony from all interested parties on whether or not to maintain our Resale program in it's present state. No determination was made, and staff is now in the process of preparing a list of options for modification of the program based on the public testimony heard. That will be presented to Council at some future date to be determined. At that time, it will be determined if the program will continue. Should the program continue in its current form, or revised as to scope, a recommendation will be brought forward to Council to adjust the fee appropriately.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

Our recommendation addresses San Rafael conducting a fee study to determine whether the fees it charges are appropriate before proposing any adjustments.

60-Day Agency Response

See May 21, 2016 memorandum forwarded via email to Myriam Czarniecki. On April 4, 2016, the performance audit report was presented to the San Rafael City Council. The City Council directed staff to return with options to the residential building records program. A report on the options will return to the City Council in June/July 2016. Web links to the staff report and streaming video of this public meeting are provided in this memo.

Should the City Council decide to continue the current program or adjust the scope of the program, a fee study will be completed.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-134

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.