Last Saturday the Contra Costa Times published a "Your Turn" commentary by John Hunter of Clayton with the provocative title – Housing Fees vs. Builder Greed. He quotes my explanation of pricing relative to supply and demand, attacks Antioch Councilmember Arne Simonsen about failing to see the "urgency" and calls builders greedy. I have no doubt many residents see things exactly the way John does. I started a response – counted to ten and then forgot about it as I got busy this week.
This morning David Dolter wrote an excellent response – Right Now, the Share Not Fair.
Here’s pdf versions of both commentaries:
Download Housingfeesvsbuildergreed.pdf (7.6K)
Download RightNowtheSharesNotFair.pdf (7.5K)
Urgency
The only charge in Mr. Hunter’s comments that hasn’t been answered is why Councilmember Simonsen didn’t see any "urgency". Mr. Hunter’s reaction is understandable because the newspaper report he read didn’t fully explain the "urgency" issue before the Council.
There is a provision in state law that requires a 60 day delay between fee adoptions or increases and when those fees can be charged to the public seeking permits. It’s designed to give everyone fair notice of a forthcoming fee increase so they can plan for it.
State law also provides that in cases of immediate threats to the publics’ health, safety or welfare (as defined) the Council can make specific urgency findings and vote by super-majority (4 of 5) to collect the fee or increase immediately. Councilmember Simonsen is an ardent supporter of finishing Highway 4 as quickly as possible and supports the proposed fee increase. He didn’t think the urgency findings could be made – as the threat to the public was no different today than yesterday. Unfortunately the news report didn’t explain this and gave readers the wrong impression.
Last Tuesday the Antioch City Council adopted the urgency ordinance collecting the new $15,000 fee per house immediately.
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