Cedar Hill could up 20-year-old fees

by Steve Snyder of TODAY Newspapers

Higher building fees for new construction in Cedar Hill?

The Cedar Hill City Council discussed several items in a briefing session before its Feb. 10 meeting, including that one.

Building official Johnny Kendro and Gail Lux led a presentation to council about where Cedar Hill's current fees stand in relation to other cities around the Metroplex. Their information, in simple tables, listed where Cedar Hill's current permit costs were for various types of construction, from single-family residential through retail to special types of construction such as a medical district or add-on items such as swimming pools and sprinkler systems, and then compared that to the 50th percentile from other area cities and the 75th percentile.

In almost all cases, the city is below the 50th, let alone the 75th, percentile. In many cases, it is well below even the 50-percent mark.

Kendro said 1985 was the last time the city updated its code.

Later in the briefing session, City Manager Alan Sims announced Library Director Pat Bonds is retiring Feb. 27. Traphene Hickman will serve as interim director while the city does a search for Bonds' replacement.

Sins then told the council that the city was about to be officially designated as a Tree City USA.

During its actual meeting, the main action by the council was applying for a Supplemental Victims of Crime Grant from the office of Gov. Rick Perry; that grant will help fund the city's victim's assistance manager position.

In other actions, the council officially approved May 9 as the date for municipal elections and approved a replat of land owned by First Baptist Church.

The council tabled possible adoption of the 2006 International Building Code. Councilman Wade Emmert said he had some concerns about precision of language in the code.

In citizens' comments, Johnny Mobley, who has legally represented Ashley's Daycare, said he wished the city had held similar discussion before adopting the International Fire Code.