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Sitting as the Board of Directors for the Suisun and Vacaville Fire Protection Districts, conduct a public hearing on increases to the fire impact fee rates; and Consider adopting a resolution for each district to increase their fire impact fees by 2.3%
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The County Administrator’s Office recommends the Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Board of Directors for the Suisun and Vacaville Fire Protection Districts, conduct a public hearing on increases to the fire impact fee rates; and Consider adopting a resolution for each district to increase their fire impact fees by 2.3%.
SUMMARY:
Pursuant to California Government Code section 66000 et seq., as well as Article XVI of Chapter 11 of Solano County Code, the County has the ability to collect public facilities fees to finance new public facilities for countywide services impacted by new growth within the County. Fire Protection Districts do not have the ability to collect such fees, and as a result, the County has collected fire impact fees on the Districts’ behalf, beginning with Cordelia and Vacaville Fire Protection Districts in 2005, and adding Suisun Fire Protection District in 2008 and Dixon Fire Protection District in 2015.
Each year, the Districts are eligible to request an increase in these fees based on the percentage published in the California Construction Cost Index (CCCI) or a similar index which measures typical construction costs for facilities generally similar to those to be built by the Districts. The current percentage increase is 2.3%, covering the period of December 2023 through December 2024. A public hearing is required prior to consideration of adoption of a resolution to approve the increase.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Adoption of the resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors to approve a 2.3% increase in fire impact fees would slightly increase anticipated revenues for both districts. A detailed list of the increased amounts by building type is available in Attachment C.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Suisun and Vacaville Fire Protection Districts have had a fire impact fee in place since 2005 (Vacaville) and 2008 (Suisun), based on fire impact fee nexus studies developed by a consultant. As required by Government Code section 66000, the nexus study was updated in 2020 and evaluated the relationship, or nexus, between new development in each district and the fire impact fee amount required to accommodate growth through 2040. Assembly Bill 602 (AB 602) amended the timeline for updated nexus studies from five years to eight years; therefore, the fire protection districts must have an updated study in place by 2028.
Current fees were approved by each district last year and approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 10, 2024. The increase is restricted to the CCCI or a similar index per Government Code. The requested increase of 2.3% represents the CCCI (Attachment D) for December 2023 through December 2024 and if approved, will be effective February 10, 2026.
In compliance with Government Code section 66006(b)(2), a notice of the time and place of this meeting, including the address where this information may be reviewed, was published in newspapers of general circulation as follows: the Benicia Herald and the Daily Republic on November 26 and December 3, 2025, the Vacaville Reporter on November 29 and December 4, 2025, and the Vallejo Times Herald on November 26 and December 3, 2025. All interested parties who have filed a written request with the Clerk of the Board were sent a notice at least 15 days prior to today’s Board meeting. Notification was also sent to the City Managers of the seven cities located within Solano County.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to conduct a public hearing or adopt the resolution to request the Board of Supervisors approve the 2.3% increase in fire impact fees; however, this is not recommended as the increase will support the increased costs of maintaining the current level of service for areas of new growth and is authorized by County code.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Suisun and Vacaville Fire Protection Districts prepared the draft resolutions (Attachments A and B, respectively).
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION