(A) Statutory authority. The State of Minnesota has in Laws of Minnesota, Chapter 412, (Statutory Cities) M.S. § 412.221, as may be amended from time to time, authorized local government to establish a fire department and to provide for the regulation thereof.
(B) Fire Department established.
(1) Establishment, number of fire persons. There is hereby established a Volunteer Fire Department which shall consist of not less than 20, nor more than 36, volunteer fire persons.
(2) Organization.
(a) City department. The Fire Department as established in division (B)(1) above shall be an integral department of the city organization and shall function under the direction of the City Council or its authorized agents.
(b) Officers. The chief officer of the Fire Department shall be the Fire Chief. Other officers shall consist of an Assistant Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Secretary, Treasurer and not more than six Fire Marshals. All officers shall be selected by the membership annually at a meeting to be held in September and shall there following be submitted to the City Council for confirmation and approval. The Chief may delegate his or her authority and responsibilities in whatever manner he or she deems appropriate for the proper and efficient operation of the Department. Any officer or member of the Department may be removed from the Department by the City Council for cause. Officers shall be elected to a term of one year beginning October 1, annually.
(c) Operating regulations (by-laws). The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the development and enforcement of appropriate operating regulations, to be known as the Volunteer Fire Department by-laws. The by-laws, as well as any subsequent proposed changes thereto, shall be presented to the City Council for ratification. The City Council may, upon its own initiative, change or modify these by-laws as it deems appropriate and in the best interest of the city or membership of the Department.
(d) Annual report. The Chief of the Department shall submit a written report on or before October 1 annually to the City Council consisting of information such as the time, location, cause and type of fire alarms, name of owner or tenant, purpose for which premises were occupied, value of building and contents lost, members of the Department who responded and such other information as the Council or administration may require from time to time. The Chief shall also comply with all reporting requirements of all other overlapping units of government.
(C) Relief association. The members and officers of the Fire Department may organize themselves into a Firemen’s Relief Association in accordance with state law.
(D) Interference with Department. It shall be unlawful for any person to give or make, or cause to be given or made, an alarm of fire without probable cause, or to neglect or refuse to obey any reasonable order of the Chief or his or her agents at a fire, or to interfere with the Fire Department in the discharge of its duties.
(E) Effective date. This section shall be effective from and after its adoption by the City Council. The ordinance codified herein was published on 2-22-1987.
(Ord. 21.3, passed 12-1-1986) Penalty, see § 30.99