HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/10/2018 08 Fire Inspection Fee Process; YMC Amendment 10.05.0151
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDASTATEMENT
Item No. 8.
For Meeting of: July 10, 2018
ITEM TITLE: Fire Inspection Fee Process
SUBMITTED BY: Fire Chief Markham
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Several Council members have asked questions about fire inspection fees and procedures.
Attached for Council review is a memorandum from Fire Chief Aaron Markham on the matter. In
addition, the original enabling ordinance, adopted by Council in December 2016 and the
amendments to the ordinance adopted by Council in May 2018 are attached for review.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date
O memo 6/29/2018
O Ord 2016-033 6/29/2018
O Ord 2018-017 6/29/2018
Type
Coer Memo
Cover Memo
Co\,er Memo
Administration
Fire Suppression
Fire Investigation
Fire Training
Fire Prevention
Public Education
2
401 North Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 575-6060
Fax (509) 576-6356
www.yakimafire.com
MEMORANDUM
June 22, 2018
TO: Cliff Moore, City Manager
FROM: Aaron J. Markham, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Fire Inspection Fee Ordinance
City Manager Moore,
The original ordinance to enact fire inspections fees was approved by city council on
December 6, 2016 in Ordinance 2016-033. This ordinance was effective January 8, 2017.
On May 18, 2018 the ordinance was amended to allow for a reduction for inspection fees
in vacant occupancies, in the amount of $25. The fees were also increased for occupancies over
10,001 square feet and above that took longer than two hours. Compliance re -inspection fees
went up from $30.00 to $50.00 for the second inspection and each additional compliance re-
inspection fee increases by $50.00, to a maximum of $250 for the sixth inspection and beyond.
Inspection fees are charged by occupancy type and size based on square footage and not
per building. Therefore, in a large multi -tenant buildings each individual occupancy is assessed
an inspection fee according to the fee schedule. The fees are sent to the occupant that is leasing
that tenant space unless otherwise directed. This applies to buildings like strip malls to other
large buildings that may have one building premise address with several suites inside. When the
inspectors do the inspections in these multi -use occupancies they send the invoice to the
occupant of that business and not the building owner, unless they have been directed otherwise.
Therefore, each individual tenant or renter is paying for their own inspection. The one exception
to this is, if there are shared common areas inherent to the building that are used by all occupants
with in the building, I.e. common corridors, lobby area, restrooms, etc., then this would be sent
to the building owner.
Our fire inspectors are using the current adopted ordinance in a consistent manner to
ensure all applicable occupancies are inspected in a uniform manner consistent with the
International Fire Code. The fee structure was implemented to help support the fire inspection
program in an effort to lower the City's fire insurance rating determined by the Washington
Survey and Rating Bureau. We were able to accomplish this and strive to keep this rating to the
"The Yakima Fire Department is dedicated to providing
quality public safety services to our community."
Administration
Fire Suppression
Fire Investigation
Fire Training
Fire Prevention
Public Education
3
401 North Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901 (509) 575-6060
Fax (509) 576-6356
www.yakimafire.com
benefit of all residents in the City of Yakima. As a result, property owners do enjoy a reduction
in fire insurance premiums.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aaron I. Markham, Fire Chief
"The Yakima Fire Department is dedicated to providing
quality public safety services to our community."
AN ORDINANCE
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ORDINANCE NO. 2016-033
relating to the fire code; amending Section 10.05.015 of Chapter 10.05 of
the City of Yakima Municipal Code to provide for annual fire and life
safety inspections for existing buildings and special events, and
establishing fees for such inspections.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Section 10.05.015 of Chapter 10.05 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code
is hereby amended to read as follows:
10.05. 015 it code I review inspection .
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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 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 requires
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 above, 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)
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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 with $47.00
Chapter 10.05 YMC and for changes, per hr.
additions or revisions to approved
plans (minimum charge—one hour)
2. Normal inspection (minimum $47.00
charge—one hour) per hr.
3. Re -inspection (minimum charge—one $47.00
hour) per hr.
4. Inspections for which no other fee is $47.00
specifically indicated (minimum per hr.
charge—one hour)
Table 10.05.015B
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
2
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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 $50 PER HOUR
COMPLIANCE FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY RE -INSPECTION FEE SCHEDULE
NUMBER OF RE -INSPECTIONS
FEE
1
$0
2
$30
3
$60
4
$90
5
$120
6
$150
FOR EVERY ADDITIONAL RE -INSPECTION ADD $30 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.
Section 2. Except as amended herein, Chapter 10.05 YMC shall remain unchanged.
Section 3. 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.
2016.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 6th day of December,
/s/ Kathy Coffey
ATTEST: Kathy Coffey, Mayor
/s/ Sonya Claar Tee
Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk
Publication Date: December 9, 2016
Effective Date: January 8, 2017
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ORDINANCE NO. 2018-017
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
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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)
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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
10
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 15th day of May, 2018.
/s/ Kathy Coffey
Kathy Coffey, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ Sonya Claar Tee
Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk
Publication Date: May 18, 2018
Effective Date: June 17, 2018