160A-4.1. Notice of new fees and fee increases; public comment period.

(a) A city shall provide notice to interested parties of the imposition of or increase in fees or charges applicable solely to the construction of development subject to the provisions of Part 2 of Article 19 of this Chapter at least seven days prior to the first meeting where the imposition of or increase in the fees or charges is on the agenda for consideration. The city shall employ at least two of the following means of communication in order to provide the notice required by this section:

(1) Notice of the meeting in a prominent location on a Web site managed or maintained by the city.

(2) Notice of the meeting in a prominent physical location, including, but not limited to, any government building, library, or courthouse within the city.

(3) Notice of the meeting by electronic mail to a list of interested parties that is created by the city for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(4) Notice of the meeting by facsimile to a list of interested parties that is created by the city for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(a1) If a city does not maintain its own Web site, it may employ the notice option provided by subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section by submitting a request to a county or counties in which the city is located to post such notice in a prominent location on a Web site that is maintained by the county or counties. Any city that elects to provide such notice shall make its request to the county or counties at least 15 days prior to the date of the first meeting where the imposition of or increase in the fees or charges is on the agenda for consideration.

(b) During the consideration of the imposition of or increase in fees or charges as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the governing body of the city shall permit a period of public comment.

(c) This section shall not apply if the imposition of or increase in fees or charges is contained in a budget filed in accordance with the requirements of G.S. 159-12.