(A) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “City of Whiteville Emergency Services Cost Recovery Ordinance”.
(B) General purpose. This section is adopted in order to provide reimbursement to the city for a portion of the costs incurred by the City Fire Department for certain emergency services provided.
(C) Fee collection authorized.
(1) The owner or occupant of a structure, vehicle or property to which the Fire Department or other department of the city provides fire suppression, emergency management services, vehicle extrication, hazardous material mitigation or other Fire Department services, (collectively referred to in this section as “emergency response services”) or any person or entity causing the need for the Fire or Emergency Services Department to respond and/or provide any emergency response service (the “responsible party”) shall pay the cost of such service. Cost recovery fees are set forth in city’s Schedule of Fees in § 21.06 and are subject to be re-evaluated on an annual basis; these fees shall be established by the City Council.
(2) The city shall seek recovery for the following:
(a) Heavy apparatus: includes engines, aerials, rescues, air/light units and the like;
(b) Light apparatus: includes brush units, support vehicles and the like;
(c) Extrication: without the use of hydraulic tools;
(d) Extrication: with the use of hydraulic tools;
(e) Consumable material/damaged equipment: at replacement cost (this shall adhere to average costing which may be updated periodically per market increases); and
(f) Level I/MVA flat rate: scene safety and hazard control including hazard assessment and securing including containment of hazard materials, such as hazardous material spills such as gasoline/diesel fuel, motor oil, coolant or antifreeze, which may be flammable, dangerous to the environment, or cause other hazards such as slippery conditions, debris cleanup from roadway, vehicle systems safety assurance, such as disable potential ignition sources such as electrical/power supply systems, and fire suppression stand-by, perimeter command and control, to protect involved parties, non-involved parties establishing a safe environment for mitigating damages and injuries and to protect the safety and welfare of the general public, until scene has been secured of all hazards.
(3) The fees enacted herein apply to any services rendered by any other entity, or if supplied by the city pursuant to any interlocal cooperation agreement.
(D) Fees and charges. The cost recovery fees will be collected in the amount found in the city’s Schedule of Fees in § 21.06, which may be revised periodically by the City Council.
(E) Operational policy. The City Manager, Fire Chief and Finance Officer shall develop rules and procedures, not inconsistent with this section, to implement the emergency services costs recovery program, as deemed necessary.
(Ord. 2015-10-6-33, passed 11-10-2015)