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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/2018 08 Fire Inspection Fees; YMC Addition Ch 10.05BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT 1 Item No. 8. For Meeting of: May 15, 2018 ITEM TITLE: Ordinance amending Fire Inspection Fees SUBMITTED BY: Aaron Markham, Deputy Fire Chief SUMMARY EXPLANATION: On December 6, 2016, the Yakima City Council approved an ordinance establishing a fee schedule for the Fire Code Inspection Program. Since the implementation of fee collection, over a year has passed and we now have enough data to review the number of inspections and revenue generated. Yakima Fire Department (YFD) is proposing three changes to the current Municipal Code Fee Schedule for Fire and Life Safety Inspections. One element of the program that is often contested is charging a fee for vacant occupancy inspections. Vacant commercial occupancies must be inspected to verify whether or not there are any dangers that may exist. However, local business owners do not like being charged for something that they themselves are not generating revenue on. The first proposal is to reduce the fee for these vacant occupancy inspections by $25.00, which, at a minimum, would continue supporting the program. In 2017, the Fire Code Inspection Division generated $176,715.00 in billable services. This was met with an 82.3% payment rate. In 2017, 85 vacant building inspections were conducted. By reducing the fee by $25.00 (one step down on the current fee schedule), the City of Yakima would have seen a decrease in revenue of only $2,125.00. The second proposal is to add an hourly inspection fee to the schedule for larger occupancy buildings (over 10,000 sq. ft.). For instance, a 100,000 sq. ft. occupancy may take six hours to inspect, but the current fee schedule only generates revenue for two (2) hours at the $50 per hour rate. As proposed, the additional hourly rate would allow those occupancies that are 10,000 sq. ft. and larger to be charged additional hours to conduct the initial inspection, up to a maximum of $200.00. This is similar to the fees charged for special event fire and life safety inspections and this additional revenue will off set the revenues lost from vacant building inspection fees. During the course of 2017, over 2,000 compliance re -inspections were completed; 530 of those inspections required two or more visits, and resulted in $29,420.00 in revenue. That means only 25% of the re -inspections conducted generated revenue. The third part of this proposal is to change the current compliance re -inspection fee from $30.00 increments to $50.00 increments up to a maximum of $250.00. This proposed fee would have added $18,980.00 to 2017's 2 billable services. We believe that implementing these revisions will strengthen the relationship between the City of Yakima and those that reside and work in it, as well as demonstrate a commitment to financially sustaining a cost -neutral Fire Code Inspection Program. ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: No Public Safety City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Pass Ordinance BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: At its April 26, 2018 meeting, the Council Public Safety Committee recommended this proposal be forwarded to the full Council for consideration. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date O Clean Version of Ordinance Changes 5/2/2018 O Redlined Version of Ordinance Changes 5/2/2018 Type Ordinance Ordinance 3 ORDINANCE NO. 2018 - AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 10.05 relating to fire code plan review and inspection fees. WHEREAS, annual fire and life safety inspections are required to ensure the public health and safety of residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, many of the inspections take a reasonable amount of time, but there are some inspections, depending on the size of the building and complexity of the activities occurring therein, which take extended time to inspect; and WHEREAS, it is reasonable to have large and complex buildings charged for the hourly time spent on inspections, with a cap of $200.00 maximum fee to ensure the Fire Department's time is adequately compensated; and WHEREAS, vacant buildings take less time to inspect, and therefore, a reduction in costs of inspection are reasonable for such buildings; and WHEREAS, it is also reasonable to cap reinspection fees for the sixth and higher reinspection of a building each year at $250.00 rather than continuing to incrementally increase; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds that it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to amend Section 10.05.015 to adjust the fees associated with annual fire and life safety inspections; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. The City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 10.05.015 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10.05.015 Fire code plan review and inspection fees. A. General. Fees as set forth in Table 10.05.015A shall be paid to the city for review of building plans for compliance with Chapter 10.05 YMC and for inspection of construction for compliance with Chapter 10.05 YMC. Existing buildings, and special events licensed pursuant to Chapter 9.70 YMC and other events requiring fire and life safety inspection, will be subject to an annual fire and life safety inspection, and fees for such inspections shall be paid as set forth in Table 10.05.015B. B. Fees Required for Plan Review. For construction projects for which the fire code requires submittal documents, the hourly plan review fee indicated in Table 10.05.015A shall be charged for the time to perform the plan review. The plan review fees required by this section are separate from the inspection fees required by this section, and are in addition to any inspection fees. When submittal documents are incomplete or are changed so as to require additional plan review, additional plan review fees shall be charged at the rate shown in Table 10.05.015A. C. Fees Required for Construction Inspection. For construction projects for which the fire code requires inspection, the hourly inspection fee set forth in Table 10.05.015A shall be charged for 4 the time to perform the inspection. The inspection fees required by this section are separate from the plan review fees required by this section, and are in addition to any plan review fees. D. Fees Required for Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection. For existing buildings, and for special events for which the fire code or other applicable city codes require inspection, the inspection fee set forth in Table 10.05.015B shall be charged based on the area to be inspected or for the time to perform the inspection, as applicable. The fees required by this section are separate from the plan review fee and construction inspection fee set forth in subsections B and C of this section, and are in addition to such fees. E. Fees Required for Re -inspections. For construction inspections, a fee shall be charged for re -inspection for each inspection that must be made: (1) because work for which inspection is called by the permittee is not complete and ready for inspection; (2) when the inspection record card is not posted or otherwise available on the work site; (3) when the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector; (4) for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested; or (5) when corrections required by an inspector are not satisfactorily made when the permittee calls for a follow-up inspection for corrections. No re -inspection fee shall be incurred for verification of corrections when such corrections are satisfactorily made. To obtain a construction re -inspection, the permittee must pay the re -inspection fee stated in Table 10.05.015A in advance. Re -inspection fees for compliance with the annual fire and life safety inspections are assessed in accordance with the fee rates set forth in Table 10.05.015B below. Table 10.05.015A Plan Review and Construction Inspection Fees 1. Plan review for compliance $47.00 per with Chapter 10.05 YMC and hr. for changes, additions or revisions to approved plans (minimum charge—one hour) 2. Normal inspection (minimum $47.00 per charge—one hour) hr. 3. Re -inspection (minimum $47.00 per charge—one hour) hr. 4. Inspections for which no other $47.00 per fee is specifically indicated hr. (minimum charge—one hour) 5 Table 10.05.015B Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection Fee Schedule E, I, F, H, M, S Occupancy Area in Square Feet Fee' 2 0-5,000 $75.00 5,001-10,000 $100.00 10,001 and Over $125.00 A, B, R Occupancy Area in Square Feet Fee' 2 0-5,000 $50.00 5,001-10,000 $75.00 10,001 and Over $100.00 1. For vacant occupancies, deduct $25.00 from the fee schedule. Vacant occupancies shall contain no storage and be unoccupied at time of inspection to qualify for the reduction. 2. The hourly rate of $50.00 per hour, charged in 30 minute increments, will be applied if the fee schedule amounts do not cover the time spent inspecting at the hourly rate, up to a maximum charge of $200.00. Special Event Fire and Life Safety Inspection Fee Schedule To Be Charged to the Event (Not to the Individual Vendor) Time per Day Fee 2 Hours (Minimum) $100 3 Hours $150 4 Hours $200 5 Hours $250 For every additional hour add fifty dollars per hour. Compliance Fire and Life Safety Re- inspection Fee Schedule Number of Re - inspections Fee 1 $0 6 Compliance Fire and Life Safety Re- inspection Fee Schedule Number of Re - inspections Fee 2 $50 3 $100 4 $150 5 $200 6 + $250 F. Severability. If any part of this section is declared invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section. (Ord. 2016- 033 § 1, 2016: Ord. 2016-011 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2016: Ord. 2012-27 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2012: Ord. 2002-16 § 1, 2002). Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this day of , 2018. ATTEST: Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk Publication Date: Effective Date: Kathy Coffey, Mayor 7 ORDINANCE NO. 2018 - AN ORDINANCE amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Chapter 10.05 relating to fire code plan review and inspection fees. WHEREAS, annual fire and life safety inspections are required to ensure the public health and safety of residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, many of the inspections take a reasonable amount of time, but there are some inspections, depending on the size of the building and complexity of the activities occurring therein, which take extended time to inspect; and WHEREAS, it is reasonable to have large and complex buildings charged for the hourly time spent on inspections, with a cap of $200.00 maximum fee to ensure the Fire Department's time is adequately compensated; and WHEREAS, vacant buildings take less time to inspect, and therefore, a reduction in costs of inspection are reasonable for such buildings; and WHEREAS, it is also reasonable to cap reinspection fees for the sixth and higher reinspection of a building each year at $250.00 rather than continuing to incrementally increase; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds that it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to amend Section 10.05.015 to adjust the fees associated with annual fire and life safety inspections; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. The City of Yakima Municipal Code Section 10.05.015 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10.05.015 Fire code plan review and inspection fees. A. General. Fees as set forth in Table 10.05.015A shall be paid to the city for review of building plans for compliance with Chapter 10.05 YMC and for inspection of construction for compliance with Chapter 10.05 YMC. Existing buildings, and special events licensed pursuant to Chapter 9.70 YMC and other events requiring fire and life safety inspection, will be subject to an annual fire and life safety inspection, and fees for such inspections shall be paid as set forth in Table 10.05.015B. B. Fees Required for Plan Review. For construction projects for which the fire code requires submittal documents, the hourly plan review fee indicated in Table 10.05.015A shall be charged for the time to perform the plan review. The plan review fees required by this section are separate from the inspection fees required by this section, and are in addition to any inspection fees. When submittal documents are incomplete or are changed so as to require additional plan review, additional plan review fees shall be charged at the rate shown in Table 10.05.015A. C. Fees Required for Construction Inspection. For construction projects for which the fire code requires inspection, the hourly inspection fee set forth in Table 10.05.015A shall be charged for 8 the time to perform the inspection. The inspection fees required by this section are separate from the plan review fees required by this section, and are in addition to any plan review fees. D. Fees Required for Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection. For existing buildings, and for special events for which the fire code or other applicable city codes require inspection, the inspection fee set forth in Table 10.05.015B shall be charged based on the area to be inspected or for the time to perform the inspection, as applicable. The fees required by this section are separate from the plan review fee and construction inspection fee set forth in subsections B and C of this section, and are in addition to such fees. E. Fees Required for Re -inspections. For construction inspections, a fee shall be charged for re -inspection for each inspection that must be made: (1) because work for which inspection is called by the permittee is not complete and ready for inspection; (2) when the inspection record card is not posted or otherwise available on the work site; (3) when the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector; (4) for failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested; or (5) when corrections required by an inspector are not satisfactorily made when the permittee calls for a follow-up inspection for corrections. No re -inspection fee shall be incurred for verification of corrections when such corrections are satisfactorily made. To obtain a construction re -inspection, the permittee must pay the re -inspection fee stated in Table 10.05.015A in advance. Re -inspection fees for compliance with the annual fire and life safety inspections are assessed in accordance with the fee rates set forth in Table 10.05.015B below. Table 10.05.015A Plan Review and Construction Inspection Fees 1. Plan review for compliance $47.00 per with Chapter 10.05 YMC and hr. for changes, additions or revisions to approved plans (minimum charge—one hour) 2. Normal inspection (minimum $47.00 per charge—one hour) hr. 3. Re -inspection (minimum $47.00 per charge—one hour) hr. 4. Inspections for which no other $47.00 per fee is specifically indicated hr. (minimum charge—one hour) Table 10.05.0158 Annual Fire and Life Safety Inspection Fee Schedule E, I, F, H, M, S Occupancy Area in Square Feet Fee 0-5,000 $75.00 5,001-10,000 $100.00 10,001 and Over $125.00 A, B, R Occupancy Area in Square Feet Fee 0-5,000 $50.00 5,001-10,000 $75.00 10,001 and Over $100.00 / Formatted: Superscript 1. For vacant occupancies, deduct $25.00 from the fee schedule. Vacant occupancies shall contain no storage and be unoccupied at time of inspection to qualify for the reduction. 2. The hourly rate of $50.00 per hour, charged in 30 minute increments, will be applied if the fee schedule amounts do not cover the time spent inspecting at the hourly rate, up to a maximum charge of $200.00. Special Event Fire and Life Safety Inspection Fee Schedule To Be Charged to the Event (Not to the Individual Vendor) Time per Day Fee 2 Hours (Minimum) $100 3 Hours $150 4 Hours $200 5 Hours $250 For every additional hour add fifty dollars per hour. Compliance Fire and Life Safety Re- inspection Fee Schedule Number of Re - inspections Fee 1 $0 2 $8950 3 $69100 4 $98150 5 $120200 Formatted: Superscript Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, ... + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: List Paragraph Compliance Fire and Life Safety Re- inspection Fee Schedule Number of Re - inspections Fee 6 + $150250 For every additional re inspection add thirty dollars to the previous inspection fee. F. Severability. If any part of this section is declared invalid or unconstitutional for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this section. (Ord. 2016- 033 § 1, 2016: Ord. 2016-011 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2016: Ord. 2012-27 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2012: Ord. 2002-16 § 1, 2002). Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this day of , 2018. ATTEST: Kathy Coffey, Mayor Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk Publication Date: Effective Date: 10