(A) The purpose of this subchapter is to more fairly distribute the costs of emergency services, including without limitation police, fire and emergency preparedness services, among all citizens of Rockaway Beach. Where citizens live and/or work in more human-population dense areas, the needs and costs of emergency services' responses are disproportionately greater than those in less dense areas.
(B) Another purpose of this subchapter is to maintain and grow emergency services to meet the residential and commerce needs of the citizens, real property owners, and visitors to Rockaway Beach as those needs may change through time.
(C) The purpose of the emergency services fees is to provide funding for emergency services. Emergency services safeguard, facilitate, and encourage the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and enterprises of the City of Rockaway Beach. Stable and reliable emergency services provide a multitude of economic and social benefits to the public, including, but not limited to:
(1) Protection of life and property;
(2) Reduction in the incidence of crime; and
(3) Dependable response by law enforcement.
(D) The Rockaway Beach City Council finds and determines emergency service fees are necessary to help pay for the benefits of emergency services and to provide an acceptable level of service.
(Ord. 19-438, passed 12-11-2019)