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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7E - Burning Permit & False Alarm Fees AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND: DISCUSSION: 7E RALPH TESCHNER, FINANCE DIRECTOR & DA VB CHROMY, FIRE CHIEF CONSIDER BURNING PERMIT & FIRE FALSE ALARM FEES APRIL 21, 1997 The purpose for this agenda item is for the City Council to consider approval of a $25.00 fee for issuing a burning permit and a $100 fee to be charged effective upon the 3rd response by the Fire Department to a false fire alarm. The City Council initially considered these proposed new fees plus a charge for carbon monoxide alarm responses during its annual review of the City Fees Schedule on January 6, 1997. At that time the Council directed Staff (CC Directive 97-04) to determine if the City could apply these charges to residents and businesses within the townships as well. The concern was to charge all residents served by the Fire Department as opposed to Prior Lake residents only. The City Attorney has expressed the opinion that we can charge the townships these fees under the context of our current contract for fire services with the townships. As a measure of courtesy Fire Chief Dave Chromy has contacted both Spring Lake and Credit River Township officials to inform them of these pending charges (see copy of attached correspondence.) 1. Burnin~ Permits: Presently the fire department is issuing over three hundred burning permits annually. The purpose of the $25 burning permit fee would be to cover city costs for permit processing and to hopefully encourage citizens to utilize other means of disposal such as composting and re-cycling. 2. False Fire Alarms: Similarly the number of false alarms has been growing. In 1996 approximately 50-55 false fire alarms occurred. A total of nine alone were related to one entity. False alarms are problematic for two reasons. First they needlessly depreciate equipment and increase volunteer work hours. Second and perhaps more importantly, repetitive false alarms to the same residence or business can create a sense of complacency which could result in personal injury to our firefighters. Therefore the recommendation from the Fire H:'4GE~A\A~70S DOC 16200 Eagle creel{ Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Department was to charge a $100 per false alarm effective upon the 3rd false alarm. 3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms: The department has reconsidered its posItIOn relative to carbon monoxide alarm responses. Instead of charging a fee they will attempt to educate the public and residents through the use of various media about what corrective measures can be taken to alleviate the potential danger of such noxious gases through appropriate methods of ventilation. Unfortunately the carbon monoxide false alarm problem was created by manufacturer's package labeling on these carbon monoxide detectors that an immediate call should be placed to the local fire department if the alarm goes off. The goal is to eliminate these unnecessary calls by the Fire Department through educating the public since in virtually all carbon monoxide responses no problem exists. AL TERNA TIVES The following alternatives are available to the City Council: 1. Approve the following new charges and their respective fee amounts: a) $25.00 Burning Permit Fee b) $100.00 Fire False Alarm Fee (eff. 3rd false alarm) 2. Amend the fee application and/or fee amount as determined by the City Council. RECOMMENDATION: Staff would recommend the implementation of the fees discussed under Alternative #1. These fees would take effect immediately upon written acknowledgment from the Credit River and Spring Lake Township officials or May 1, 1997 whichever is sooner. ACTION REQUIRED: Motion to authorize the Prior Lake Fire Department to begin charging a $25.00 fee for issuing burning permits and a $100.00 fire call false alarm charge effective upon the 3rd false alarm incident subject to written notice acknowledgment from the Credit River and Spring Lake Township officials or by May 1, 1997 whichever is soo~r. H:IAGENDA\A970S.00c April 11, 1997 Credit River Township Spring Lake Township Board of Supervisors RE: Burning PermitlFire Call False Alarm Fees Residents of Prior Lake, Credit River Township and Spring Lake Township are able to obtain burning permits from the City with approval from the Fire Chief. At present their is no charge for these permits. In 1996 we issued almost 350 burning permits. Problems that we have encountered are, it becomes a very big job to review all these applications as average processing time approaches almost 20 minutes. There is the inspection and enforcement issue for those applicants who abuse their permit conditions. Also, the Department of Natural Resources wants to see burning discouraged in favor of chipping and composting. Because of these reasons, I would like to begin charging a fee for burning permits beginning May 1, 1997. I am proposing to the City Council of Prior Lake that we charge a fee of $25.00. I believe this charge will help cover the administrative costs for issuance, inspection and enforcement and will help deter applicants from burning and look for an alternative means of disposal. A second fee to be considered by the City Council is that of charging for a fire call false alarm in the amount of $100.00 which would be charged upon the 3rd false fire alarm and all subsequent false alarms that occur during a one year period. This charge is intended to encourage businesses and residents to fix malfunctioning fire alarm systems which result in needless fire department calls as a result of false alarms. We would solicit your support for enacting these charges to your residents. Please sign below and return a copy of this letter with your signatures to me at city hall. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Township Supervisor Dave Chromy Fire Chief City of Prior Lake Township Clerk 16200 E~gIfe~~~~9~t~.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY E.~PLOYER