This chapter is known and may be cited as the "Amador County Temporary Development Impact Fee Deferral Ordinance." The following words and phrases are defined for purposes of this chapter as follows:
A. 
"Applicant"
means the owner or owners of record of the real property for which a fee waiver or deferral is sought pursuant to this chapter.
B. 
"Board"
means the board of supervisors of Amador County.
C. 
"Code"
means the Amador County Municipal Code.
D. 
"Commercial project"
means any residential or business activities other than those defined under the category "residential." For the purposes of this chapter, "commercial" shall include without limitation townhome projects, condominium projects, residential triplexes, residential fourplexes, residential PD zoning districts, and residential apartment complexes in addition to commercial, industrial or other nonresidential activities.
E. 
"County"
means the county of Amador.
F. 
"Fee deferral agreement (commercial)"
means an agreement, including a deed of trust, by and between the applicant for a commercial project and the county, acceptable to the county counsel in both form and content, which is a prerequisite for approval for any fee deferral on a commercial project under this chapter.
G. 
"Fee deferral agreement (residential)"
means an agreement, including a deed of trust, by and between the applicant for a residential project and the county, acceptable to the county counsel in both form and content, which is a prerequisite for approval for any fee deferral on a residential project under this chapter.
H. 
"Impact fees"
means the facilities development fee imposed under Chapter 7.86, and the park and recreation impact fee imposed under Chapter 7.90.
I. 
"Interest"
means the amount of interest equal to the annual rate of interest that the county earns on its investment of pooled funds computed from the date the deferred impact fees are deemed to begin accruing interest under this chapter, to the date when the deferred impact fees are paid in full.
J. 
"Maximum deferral period (commercial)"
means the period from the date of building permit issuance to the date of initial occupancy of a structure constructed on a parcel subject to a fee deferral agreement (commercial), or at the close of escrow of said parcel, whichever occurs earlier, but in no event later than eighteen months from the date of issuance of the building permit.
K. 
"Maximum deferral period (residential)"
means the period from the date of building permit issuance to the date of close of escrow for a structure constructed on a parcel subject to a fee deferral agreement (residential), but in no event later than twenty-four months from the date of issuance of the building permit.
L. 
"Maximum impact fee deferral"
means a deferral of (1) one hundred percent of the facilities development fee imposed under Chapter 7.86 and (2) one hundred percent of the park and recreation impact fee imposed under Chapter 7.90.
M. 
"Maximum impact fee waiver"
means a waiver of (1) one hundred percent of the facilities development fee imposed under Chapter 7.86 and (2) three thousand and three hundred dollars of the park and recreation impact fee imposed under Chapter 7.90.
N. 
"Partial impact fee deferral"
means a deferral of (1) fifty percent of the facilities development fee imposed under Chapter 7.86 and (2) fifty percent of the park and recreation impact fee imposed under Chapter 7.90.
O. 
"Partial impact fee waiver"
means a waiver of (1) fifty percent of the facilities development fee imposed under Chapter 7.86 and (2) fifty percent of the park and recreation impact fee imposed under Chapter 7.90.
P. 
"Residential project"
means either a single-family residence or a residential duplex, together with any other structures associated with either of the above. Townhome projects and condominium projects are not included within the meaning of "residential project."
Q. 
"Property"
means the real property upon which the building or structure subject to the building permit is proposed to be constructed.
(Ord. 1678 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
It is the purpose of this chapter to provide a limited duration temporary economic stimulus incentive for new development projects within the county by providing a waiver or deferral of certain development impact fees to eligible applicants, in order to address the current challenges facing the construction industry in an unstable and fluctuating market, which poses a significant concern for the economic health of the county.
(Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
A. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, for the first thirty building permits for residential projects for which application is made during the period from June 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008, a portion of the impact fees imposed on new residential buildings and structures located in the county shall be waived upon application by an applicant or its contractor in accordance with the following:
1. 
Neither an applicant nor its contractor shall receive a maximum impact fee waiver for more than two residential projects for which application for building permits is made for the period from June 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008. Both an applicant and its contractor shall sign a certification under penalty of perjury stating that, including the waiver for which application is currently being made, neither the applicant nor its contractor will have received waivers in excess of the two waivers allowed under this subsection A.
2. 
Applicants for residential projects shall receive a maximum impact fee waiver for permits applied for during the period June 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008, up to an aggregate total of thirty residential project maximum fee waivers for all applicants.
B. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, for the first thirty building permits for residential projects for which application is made during the period from July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, a portion of the impact fees imposed on new residential buildings and structures located in the county shall be waived and a portion deferred upon application by an applicant or its contractor in accordance with the following:
1. 
Applicants for residential projects shall receive a partial impact fee waiver for the first thirty residential project permits applied for during the period July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. At the request of the applicant, the applicant shall receive a partial impact fee deferral in addition to the partial impact fee waiver.
2. 
In order to receive the partial impact fee deferral, the applicant shall provide to the building department, at the applicant's sole cost and expense, a current preliminary title report on the property. All deferred impact fees shall be paid no later than the end of the maximum deferral period (residential). No deferral shall be effective until a fee deferral agreement (residential) is executed by the owner, which, along with a deed of trust, shall be recorded as a first priority lien against the property until all deferred impact fees are paid, subject to subsection (B)(4) of this section.
3. 
In the event the fee deferral agreement (residential) and the deed of trust are not recorded as a first priority lien against the property, they must be recorded in no less than a second position with the applicant providing additional security approved by the county administrative officer.
4. 
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, if the deferred impact fees are not paid at the time due hereunder, (i) interest shall begin to accrue from the date of issuance of the initial building permit until all amounts due are paid; (ii) the additional sum of one thousand dollars shall be added to the unpaid amount to cover the initial administrative costs incurred in processing the fee deferral application; (iii) the county may pursue collection through all available legal and administrative means including, without limitation, judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure; and (iv) the applicant shall pay all county's costs of collection, including without limitation attorneys' fees and costs.
C. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, for the next sixty building permits for residential projects for which application is made during the period from July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, a portion of the impact fees imposed on new residential buildings and structures located in the county shall be deferred upon application by an applicant in accordance with the following:
1. 
At the request of the applicant, applicants for residential projects shall receive a maximum impact fee deferral for the next sixty residential project permits applied for during the period July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008.
2. 
In order to receive the maximum impact fee deferral, the applicant shall provide to the building department, at the applicant's sole cost and expense, a current preliminary title report on the property. All such deferred impact fees shall be paid no later than the end of the maximum deferral period (residential). No deferral shall be effective until a fee deferral agreement (residential) is executed by the owner, which, along with a deed of trust, shall be recorded as a first priority lien against the property until all deferred impact fees are paid, subject to subsection (B)(4) of this section.
3. 
In the event the fee deferral agreement (residential) and the deed of trust are not recorded as a first priority lien against the property, they must be recorded in no less than a second position with the applicant providing additional security approved by the county administrative officer.
4. 
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, if the deferred impact fees are not paid at the time due hereunder, (i) interest shall begin to accrue from the date of issuance of the initial building permit until all amounts due are paid; (ii) the additional sum of one thousand dollars shall be added to the unpaid amount to cover the initial administrative costs incurred in processing the fee deferral application; (iii) the county may pursue collection through all available legal and administrative means including, without limitation, judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure; and (iv) the applicant shall pay all county's costs of collection, including without limitation attorneys' fees and costs.
(Ord. 1678 § 2, 2008; Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, all or a portion of the impact fees imposed on new commercial projects located in the county may be deferred for a time not to exceed the maximum deferral period (commercial) upon application by an applicant or its contractor in accordance with the following:
A. 
The deferral of one hundred percent of the impact fees shall apply to commercial projects for which application for building permits is made during the period June 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008.
B. 
The applicant shall provide to the building department, at the applicant's sole cost and expense, a current preliminary title report on the property.
C. 
No deferral shall be effective until a fee deferral agreement (commercial) is executed by the applicant, which, along with a deed of trust, shall be recorded as a first priority lien against the property until all deferred impact fees are paid, subject to subsection D of this section.
D. 
The fee deferral agreement (commercial) shall provide for accrual of interest on unpaid impact fees commencing with the date of issuance of the building permit.
E. 
In the event the fee deferral agreement (commercial) and the deed of trust are not recorded as a first priority lien against the property, they must be recorded in no less than a second position with the applicant providing additional security approved by the county administrative officer.
F. 
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, if the deferred impact fees and all accrued interest are not paid at the time due hereunder:
1. 
The additional sum of one thousand dollars shall be added to the unpaid amount to cover the initial administrative costs incurred in processing the fee deferral application;
2. 
The county may pursue collection through all available legal and administrative means including, without limitation, judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure; and
3. 
The applicant shall pay all county's costs of collection, including without limitation attorneys' fees and costs.
(Ord. 1678 § 3, 2008; Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
Any lien recorded in favor of the county against the property shall not be subordinated.
(Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
A. 
In the event that an applicant fails to comply with all laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the property, then the applicant will be liable for all impact fees that would have been assessed against the property in the absence of the application of this chapter. All such waived or deferred impact fees, together with accrued interest in accordance with this chapter, shall be immediately due and payable to the county. For the purposes of this subsection, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations shall include without limitation complying with all zoning requirements and calling for all building inspections when due, including a final inspection and all requirements for finalling the building permit.
B. 
In order to receive the incentives set forth in this chapter, the applicant shall comply with the following timetable. If the applicant fails to comply with the timetable set forth below, then the applicant will be liable for all impact fees that would have been assessed against the property in the absence of the application of this chapter. All such waived or deferred impact fees, together with accrued interest in accordance with this chapter, shall be immediately due and payable to the county:
1. 
The applicant shall commence construction on the project no later than one hundred eighty days after the date of application for the building permit. This deadline may be extended by one six-month extension.
2. 
The applicant shall diligently pursue completion of the project and shall timely request inspections and finalize the permit in accordance with the provisions of the building code.
(Ord. 1678 § 4, 2008; Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)
This chapter and the incentives derived hereunder shall apply only to new development projects that apply for building permits on or after June 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, for residential projects, and June 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009, for commercial projects. This chapter and the incentives derived hereunder shall not apply to (A) building permits for projects submitted prior to June 1, 2008, that are withdrawn and resubmitted after June 1, 2008, or (B) buildings that have been completed for which no building permits were previously applied for.
(Ord. 1678 § 5, 2008; Ord. 1675 § 1(part), 2008)