San Diego

The San Diego City Council Monday agreed to have Coopers & Lybrand, a nationwide accounting firm with offices in San Diego, conduct an economic impact study of the $1 billion in new development fees the council is considering in order to pay for new public facilities that will be needed during the next 20 years.

The Coalition for San Diego, a newly formed group that includes the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, has agreed to fund the $75,000 study. The accounting firm was chosen from a number of companies submitting proposals to the city.

The study, which is to be completed by early July, is designed to determine what economic impact the proposed fees would have on San Diego. Developers maintain the proposed fees will kill development in San Diego by increasing the cost of housing and commercial development.

In late April, the City Council agreed to wait 90 days before once again considering the $1 billion in “citywide impact fees” that would generate money to build a new central library, some major roads and an improved trolley system.

Although Monday’s council vote to have Coopers & Lybrand complete the study was unanimous, Councilman Bob Filner questioned whether the accounting firm would return with an unbiased report.

“There seems to be an assumption that fees will have a negative impact on the economy,” Filner said.