Residents would pay more to launch a boat at American Lake and reserve space at a city park for an event under a proposal headed to a Lakewood City Council vote Monday.

City Manager Andrew Neiditz said a budget shortfall of about $1 million gave officials urgency to take a look now at fees that the city hasn’t adjusted in some time.

Staff also brought forward increases to building and planning fees, but the council referred those proposals to a citizen advisory committee for further study during a study session Monday night.

Council members worried fee increases in those departments could hinder economic development and may result in a backlash by voters if the city sends a street maintenance fee to the ballot.

“If we’re just blanketing everything, I think you’re going to have some resistance to that,” Councilwoman Marie Barth said.

Councilman Jason Whalen said “it’s not the right time” for the proposals as residents are facing the prospect of more tax and fee hikes at the state and local levels.

Mayor Doug Richardson said the council “needs to be careful and prioritize” which fees it wants to increase.

The major fee increases in the parks and recreation department are for special events and for launching boats on American Lake. Special use permits to reserve space at a city park for an event drawing 500 or more visitors would double to $1,000 from $500. Permits for small events – drawing 100 to 200 visitors – would increase to $200 from $150.

Resident would pay $5 more to launch a boat (to $15 from $10). Passes for frequent users of the American Lake boat launch would increase $10 for residents and non-residents alike.

Youth soccer and baseball teams not associated with city leagues playing on Lakewood ballfields would also face higher fees.

Parks and Recreation Director Mary Dodsworth said park fees remain in the ballpark of what other cities charge.

The planning and building departments had proposed numerous fee changes. Business license fees would jump to $65 from $45 a year. Building permit fees would have increased by 18 percent.

A 2011 study commissioned by the city of Tacoma examined permit fees around the region and found Lakewood’s development fees were lower than those charged by other cities, according to a staff report.

Now it will be up to the city’s Planning Advisory Board to draft a recommendation for council consideration.

Councilman Paul Bocchi said the city should schedule fee adjustments instead of waiting for them to lag behind and then have to consider larger hikes. Officials agreed fee adjustments should be considered during adoption of the two-year budget.

The city is laying off four employees and eliminating four vacant positions to cut costs to close the shortfall of slightly more than $1 million.

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