Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution approves an update to the urban forestry special charge policy for the City’s collection of the urban forestry special charge for the remainder of 2018. These changes will not materially alter the relationship of the total parcel counts or amount collected. The 2018 rates will not change as a part of this update to the policy. The City of Madison’s 2018 operating budget includes $4,299,357 in revenue in the form of an urban forestry special charge, with $3,532,995 budgeted in Forestry and $766,362 budgeted in Streets for stump grubbing and site preparation.
Title
Approving the 2018 updates to the urban forestry special charge policy.
Body
WHEREAS, on October 21, 2014, the Common Council adopted Ordinance ORD-14-00162, file 35038, created Section 4.095 of the Madison General Ordinances, which ordinance established an urban forestry special charge in the City of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, the intent of the urban forestry special charge is to recover the costs to the City to maintain and manage the City’s urban forest through its urban forestry program, which program provides a service to all real property in the City; and,
WHEREAS, under Subsection 4.095(4) of this Ordinance, the City Forester is required to prepare an urban forestry special charge policy that establishes the method of calculating and apportioning the urban forestry special charge, which policy is to be submitted to the Common Council for approval; and,
WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Special Charge Policy was approved by the Common Council on July 7, 2015 by RES-15-00597 (Legislative File ID No. 38644), and an updated policy was approved by the Common Council on on May 17, 2016 by RES-16-00368 (Legislative File ID No. 42706); and,
WHEREAS, the City Forester, in consultation with the Parks Division, the City Attorney, and the Finance Department, and in response to specific issues that have been brought to the City’s attention, have prepared a new update to the urban forestry special charge policy for approval by the Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOVLVED, that the Common Council approves the 2018 Update to the Urban Forestry Special Charge Policy prepared in accordance with Sec. 4.095, which policy is attached hereto; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the urban forestry special charge shall be apportioned consistent with this approved policy.