"I joined GCP with a desire to help my clients modernize their master fee schedules and implement best-practice policies that further the goals of agency leadership and the local community. Using simple and transparent cost analysis methods.”
About Jeff
Jeff Wakefield is a leading expert in local government financial consulting, with over 30 years of experience specializing in user fee studies and cost allocation plans. As Director at GCP, Jeff focuses on modernizing and streamlining fee structures and advising his clients on best-practice cost allocation and user fee policies. His innovative approaches—such as pioneering square-footage-based building fees and several common surcharges—have transformed fee schedules for cities and counties across the U.S. Jeff's client-centered mindset drives solutions that balance local government goals with community needs, making him a trusted advisor for agencies seeking transparent and implementable results.
Client Success Stories
Jeff has led transformative projects for diverse municipalities, delivering user-friendly fee structures and cost analyses that enhance revenue and compliance. Below are selected highlights demonstrating his expertise in action.
City and County of San Francisco, CA
While at MGT of America, Jeff was hired to investigate excess fund balances within the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) enterprise fund. The study resulted in new valuation-tiers, expanding the table to a $200M threshold, and included an audit of full costs for processing and inspecting projects at each level, along with support costs from related agencies. It also featured a 10-year forecast of revenue and costs, plus qualitative and quantitative surveys on plan check turnaround times and inspection metrics.
City of Laguna Hills, CA
Jeff analyzed the full cost of all development-related user fees and recommended adjustments for a modern, user-friendly, and predictable master fee schedule. This included converting square-footage building permits to a valuation-based table and streamlining electrical, mechanical, and plumbing sub-trade permit categories. Data from the City’s EtrakIT permitting system was used to corroborate staff time estimates.
City of San Diego, CA
Jeff led the analysis of the City’s planning, building, and engineering fees within the Development Services Department, involving significant restructuring to streamline the fee schedule and strengthen the nexus between fees and services. This consolidated the Building Division’s square-footage fees from 65 to 23 occupancy categories, restructured engineering plan check fees based on sheets reviewed, and updated the General Plan Maintenance Fee surcharge to include community plans and amortized relocation costs.
Career Highlights
2002 – 2020: Senior Manager, PRM / MGT of America Consulting, LLC
- Conducted numerous successful user fee studies and cost allocation plans for California agencies, including innovative fee structures like square-footage-based building fees and long-range planning surcharges.
- Led projects for cities such as Inglewood (Building and Housing fee study), Laguna Hills (Development Services fee study), and Brentwood (Development Services fee study).
2000 – 2002: Project Manager, Wildan
- Managed consulting projects focused on the development of user fees and best practices for local governments.
1991 – 2000: Senior Consultant, Maximus, Inc. / DMG
- Specialized in user fee studies and cost allocation, defending clients against challenges (e.g., Paladin Group) and implementing California's first square-footage-based building fee schedule in Anaheim (1997).
- Worked on projects for major cities including San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, Long Beach, Fort Collins, Houston, Phoenix, Raleigh, Flint, and Bend.
1989 – 1991: Junior Consultant, Vertex Consulting
- Prepared initial cost allocation plans, such as the first one in 1989 for the City of Santa Maria, building foundational experience in full cost and federal 2 CFR plans.
Consulting Philosophy
Areas of Expertise
- User Fee Studies
- Development of user fee best practices
- Building fee case law and regulations
- 2 CFR Part 200 Cost Allocation
Education
- BS Accounting, University of Redlands