The request is to consider an appeal for relief from various building department permit fees for property located at 6129 Lafayette Street in the amount of $1,109.32 related to damage sustained during Hurricane Helene.

As you are already aware the city, because of the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton put in place a program which provided for the waiver of building permit fees for property owners implementing repairs of damage caused by one of the hurricanes. The program was in operation from September 26, 2024, through January 15, 2025, thereby affording property owners a full three and one-half months to pull a permit for their required work.

Earlier this week I received a phone call from Mr. Richard Miller, who is the owner of property at 6129 Lafayette Street, and he suffered household damage because of Hurricane Helene. The purpose of Mr. Miller’s call was to inquire about a potential waiver of building department permit fees since he had missed the opportunity which was provided earlier in the year. Incidentally, the cost associated with the work being done at Mr. Miller’s home is $97,992.15. The permit fee associated with a scope of work in that amount is $1,109.32 and therefore that is the amount that Mr. Miller is requesting be waived.

The city’s decision to end the program on January 15, 2025, was based on several variables which include the following:

• Property owners that receive assistance from FEMA and those covered by property insurance are eligible to obtain assistance for the cost of obtaining permits.
• The city is experiencing an increase in overtime costs in the building department because of the need for permits to remediate hurricane-related damage. The increase in labor costs make it difficult to continue a program which results in reduced revenue to the department.
• The city experienced a loss of revenue as a result of the fee waiver program at an amount estimated to be $136,416.00.
• The city is penalized for waiving permit fees by way of a reduction in FEMA related reimbursable expenses in the same amount as the fees that have been waived.

The program was intended to provide immediate relief to property owners that were struggling with the challenges of identifying available funding sources and financing necessary home repairs.

In that respect, I am unable to support the request to waive Mr. Miller’s permit fees. To begin with, Mr. Miller is receiving FEMA assistance to address his necessary household repairs and permit fees are an eligible expense under the guidelines of FEMA. Secondly, there must be an end date to the program as the program cannot be perpetuated because it is not financially feasible, and an end date has already been established. Lastly, it would be unjust to provide Mr. Miller with relief without due consideration to the 57 other property owners that have paid permit fees since the program ended on January 15, 2025.