Council hears plan to sharply raise impact fees as staff urges 'extraordinary circumstances' finding

Consultants and staff told the Riviera Beach City Council on March 4 that the city’s existing development‑impact fees are well below levels needed to fund a wave of planned capital projects and could be increased only gradually under state law unless the council finds extraordinary circumstances.

Richard Ruiz of DTA, the consultant who prepared the updated study, showed council members a line‑by‑line calculation of the fee methodology and the "maximum" fee amounts the analysis produced. Under Florida law (HB 337), fees typically can be increased only every four years and by a maximum of 50% unless a jurisdiction documents extraordinary circumstances that justify a larger, faster increase.

Ruiz said the city’s project list (police station, multiple parks projects, major roadway reconstruction) and faster‑than‑expected development justified seeking the higher standard. "If you do the larger amount, the maximum amount, you can take care of those projects now," he said, adding that impact fees can be used for debt service and to fund the kinds of projects on the city’s CIP.

City staff and council members agreed the next step should be a formal needs assessment. "We can put that in the resolution and have the two workshops required," Deputy City Manager and CFO staff said. Council asked staff to return with a needs‑assessment report to support any extraordinary‑circumstances finding.

Several council members expressed caution about moving too quickly without more outreach and the more detailed project scoping. Councilmember Bruce Guyton asked whether water and utility capacity projects could be included; consultants replied that water and sewer capacity fees are a separate calculation and could be pursued in parallel.

The council scheduled a follow‑up workshop and directed staff to provide an explicit needs assessment and outreach plan before any ordinance to change the fee schedule is adopted. The draft fee tables will be revisited at the next meeting and the public will have an opportunity to comment on proposed fee levels and phase‑in schedules.