A. Costs for planning, engineering, legal (including city attorney services) or other professional services, when such services are performed by an independent contractor for the city, to process and/or review a land use proposal, permit application and/or any other request for government approval, such as the filing of an annexation petition or request for a street vacation, shall be reimbursed by the applicant/proponent, in addition to the basic application/filing fee. The applicant/proponent shall be responsible for reimbursement of costs plus a ten percent administrative fee. In addition, any consultant costs incurred in permit inspection services shall also be borne by the applicant/proponent.

B. Within ten days of the submission of a permit application, the affected department shall estimate the cost the city will incur in independent contractor work identified in subsection (A) of this section. The permit applicant shall be required to pay this amount as a deposit and the application shall not be deemed complete until this amount is submitted to the city. An applicant may request this estimate prior to application if sufficient information is supplied to the affected department to formulate an estimate. The affected department shall supply the applicant an estimate within ten days of the request. The affected department shall be the department that has primary responsibility for reviewing and processing the permit under consideration. The applicant shall direct any required documentation to the head of the affected department.

C. In the event independent contractor expenses exceed the amount of the deposit prior to the conclusion of processing, the affected department shall require the deposit to be replenished in an amount necessary to pay for the excess charges as well as any estimated further independent contractor expenses. Payments shall be due within ten days of request unless an alternate payment schedule is agreed to by the affected department and the applicant. No permits shall be issued, approvals of any type made, or any review conducted on the application until the deposit amounts are fully replenished.

D. Any amounts past due under this section shall bear interest at twelve percent per annum after thirty days of delinquency. Permit processing shall be suspended during any delinquency period and no permits shall be issued until all sums due under this section are fully paid.

E. Any deposit monies not expended upon independent contractors upon completion of permit processing shall be refunded to the applicant. (Ord. 033/2008 § 2; Ord. 031/2003)