Child care facilities fee vote held off

Oakland Tribune, Dec 20, 2007 by Karen Holzmeister

OAKLAND -- Alameda County's efforts to raise money for child care facilities in unincorporated areas, launched in 2005, will enter a fourth year, county supervisors decided Tuesday.

The delay is to accommodate developers, who say they have felt pummeled by previous fee proposals to subsidize publicly and privately operated child care centers.

Supervisors extended a contract with Brion Associates, a Santa Rosa consultant, through next June. The previously approved contract of $39,780 will be increased to $44,755.

Brion Associates is working with the county and developers to find "triggers" for when -- and if -- phased fee increases could be implemented.

James Sorensen, the county's Community Development Agency director, said Brion Associates has researched and analyzed two potential triggers: building permits and employment. The Home Builders Association has asked for another trigger, related to the amount of housing on the market.

The original plan, announced in summer 2006, was to raise $14.5 million over 20 years, with Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland and San Lorenzo the prime communities to benefit from subsidies.

Originally, child care fees developed for these communities -- after public meetings and studies -- included $1,709 for each single- family home, and $1,294 for each multi-family unit, such as townhouses, apartments and condominiums.

Nonresident construction charges had per-square-foot costs for retail, office and industrial development.

A compromise proposed earlier this year would have started the fees at 25 percent of the recommended amount. Reasons include the current housing recession, and material and construction expenses incurred by builders.

The final child care fee proposal will be brought to supervisors next year after public review meetings, including one with the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council.