Event organizers who need firefighters standing by at a fireworks show were never meant to pay $650 an hour. The City Council is set to correct that figure Thursday, Nov. 19, and add a new charge for fire lane inspections at the same time.
When the council adopted a new fire prevention fee schedule on Aug. 27, the line for standby personnel at firework displays and special events was published at $650 per hour, according to a staff report in the meeting packet. Development Services staff later caught the mistake. The intended rate is $65 per hour, with a four-hour minimum for each person assigned.
Because the correction only restores the amount the council meant to approve, staff do not expect it to affect the budget.
New inspection fee
The same ordinance would add a fee the schedule never included: $125 for each inspection of a fire lane or fire apparatus access road. Staff say the charge is meant to recover what it costs the city to do those inspections.
How much money it brings in will depend on how many inspections are requested, and staff expect the amount to be small. Revenue would go to the general fund's fire prevention fee line.
The item is a public hearing, so residents can speak before the council votes.
