KAYSVILLE -- As the growth in Kaysville increases so does the demand on its resources, which is the reason given behind the Kaysville City Council's approval of a $3,000 increase in impact fees for new construction projects.

Approved at Tuesday night's meeting, the fees will take effect this week after city officials have an opportunity to give official notification. The higher impact fees will not affect projects already approved by the city.

Impact fees are one-time charges assigned to new development as a condition of project approval. Another purpose for the fees is to share equally the costs associated with present and future facilities.

Kaysville hired an independent engineering firm to determine what the impact of new construction will cost the city of Kaysville.

City officials have been discussing the issue since January and believe it is important to enact the new fees immediately. The new ordinance will charge for services that were not covered under the old fees. For example, the new impact fees will now include a $276.87 fee for roadway impact and a $161.76 police fee.

The impact fee for power increases from $90 per single-family-dwelling to $415.11 per single-family dwelling. The largest impact fee increase is for parks and recreation. The old fee was $735 per single-family unit; the new fee is $1,620.51.

There was some debate among the city council about what date to enact the new impact fees. Some members wanted an effective date of Dec. 1, in order to give new project builders enough time to adjust to the higher impact fees. However, the council ultimately decided that an immediate date was important in order to secure increased revenue from the higher impact fees.

"From a personal and selfish standpoint I'm glad to see the city is raising the fees. There is a lot the city of Kaysville needs to improve. However, I would give it some time because it's not fair for the people working on their permits," said new Kaysville resident Shane Honey.

In other council action, Kaysville adopted a resolution approving a tri-party agreement for Secondary Water Supply.

The joint venture involves three companies; Davis & Weber Counties Canal Company, Kaysville Irrigation Company, and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. The new agreement will provide Kaysville City with more culinary water from Weber Basin.

"The new resolution clarifies how irrigation water can be made available for pressurized irrigation and future culinary water supplies," said Lee Cammack, an engineer for the Davis & Weber Counties Canal Company.

With the population of Kaysville increasing, water concerns are becoming paramount, city officials said.

"This is an important step in cooperation between the three companies.

"It will provide more efficient control of water to support future growth," said Pete Page, president of the Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company.