City Councilmembers adopted their own economic stimulus package of sorts July 21, lending approval to two ordinances aimed at helping builders affected by the sour financial climate. One ordinance defers specific building fees and was approved with a 6-2 vote. The proposal was opposed by District 1 Councilwoman Sherri Lightner and District 6 Councilwoman Donna Frye. The second ordinance grants a one-year extension for builders struggling to obtain financing for current projects that have permits about to expire. The item was approved unanimously. District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer helped introduce and support both ordinances. “It helps a lot of people throughout the city and also helps a lot of homeowners who need extra time,” Faulconer said. The first ordinance allows deferred payment of Facilities Benefit Assessments (FBA) and Developer Impact Fees (DIF) until the final inspection of a project. Before the new ordinance was passed Tuesday, these fees were paid before a building permit was issued. Fees vary depending on the scope of the projects. According to a July 16 report by the Independent Budget Analyst’s Office, FBA provide all of the funds for public facilities projects that service a designated area of benefit and are identified in community plans. DIF are collected in urbanized communities near when the capacity of the land is identified. “These changes will also provide a stimulus for construction projects,” the report said, “by allowing developers to defer the payment of FBA and DIF, thus freeing up limited capital.” The second ordinance grants a one-year tentative map extension for building projects already approved but that expired July 15, 2008. Because it provides a one-year extension on top of another one-year extension already approved by the state legislature in 2008, builders now have until July 15, 2010 to complete their projects. “It extends the permits for a year, and there’s a lot of single-family residences who’ve had difficulty in obtaining financing and other issues,” Faulconer said. Both items were taken up by the City Council after being approved at the Land Use and Housing Committee and Community Planners Committee levels in June. “These changes will put San Diegans who’ve been hit hard by the downturn in the economy — the building industry in particular — back to work and keep them in jobs,” said Tony Manolatos, communications director for Faulconer.