DATE:

 

03/03/03

SUBJECT:  FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2003-O-056

Amending Chapter 12 Article IV of the Code Of Ordinances City of Laredo, Texas by adding Section 6 to waive the Fee of $45 for request for Foster Home Fire Inspection Services and Life Safety Inspections, within the Corporate Limits of the City of Laredo, Texas;  providing for publication and effective date.

INITIATED BY:                                                           STAFF SOURCE:               

Cynthia Collazo                                                              Luis F. Sosa, Jr.

Asst. City Manager                                                         Fire Chief

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:   At the February 18, 2003 City Council Meeting, Council 

directed staff to proceed with the proposed amendments.

BACKGROUND:

 

The fee of $45 for fire inspection of foster homes will be waived for foster homes.  This fee may prove to be a hardship to some trying to make a home for children that must be placed in foster care temporarily, therefore, in the interim, the fee will be waived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

FINANCIAL:    The estimated additional revenues in Ordinance No. 2002-O-012 will be lower than anticipated due to this exemption. The revenue account number affected is 101-0000-332-2014.

RECOMMENDATION:

STAFF:  That City Council approve this final reading as presented.

 

 

 

 

Ordinance No. 2003-O-056

 

AMENDING CHAPTER 12 ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CITY OF LAREDO, TEXAS BY ADDING SECTION 6 TO WAIVE THE FEE OF $45 FOR REQUEST FOR FOSTER HOME FIRE INSPECTION SERVICES AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTIONS, WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF LAREDO, TEXAS:

 

WHEREAS, due to popular demand, the fee of $45 for Fire Inspection Services and Life Safety Inspections for Foster Homes will be waived; and

 

WHEREAS, this fee may prove to be a hardship to some trying to make a home for children that must be placed in foster care temporarily, therefore, in the interim, this fee will be waived. 

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO, TEXAS.

 

Section 1.  That Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo be amended to include Article IV, which shall read as follows:

 

Article IV – Fire Prevention Fees Section 12-81.  Purpose and Schedule Fees for Fire Inspection Services and Inspections shall be for the amounts and purposes hereinafter set forth in Exhibit “A”.

 

Section 2.  That Fire Inspection Fee will be imposed on businesses that do not meet Safety and Fire Prevention Standards and require a secondary (and/or more additional) inspection.  The following stipulations will be adhered to:

 

1)        Businesses/Agencies that receive a satisfactory evaluation upon a primary visit will not be required to pay Fire Inspection Fees.

 

2)        Businesses that require a secondary visit to verify that corrections have been made to deficiencies found initially will be charged even if corrections have been made or not.  The fees will be applied as follows:

 

The standard hourly fee of $45 dollars will be applied upon second visit to businesses that do not comply with violations (identified in initial visit)

 

Businesses that require a third or more visits will be applied an hourly Fee of $90.00 ninety dollars (double the amount).

 

That the City of Laredo Public Information Office, in conjunction with the Fire Prevention Unit, will conduct a public awareness campaign to inform the public of standards to be maintained by individual businesses (checklist) for compliance with the Fire be initiated at least thirty (30) days before the ordinance takes effect.

 

That revenue generated through stated fees will be used specifically for the purpose of:

 

·        Hiring inspectors for the Fire Prevention and Arson Unit.

·        Training of said inspectors

·        Providing resources-e.g. equipment, materials – necessary for the Fire Prevention and Arson Unit to perform their duties.

·        That in the event that revenues generated by this ordinance in any one year supercede the total cost of salaries and expenses for the Fire Prevention Unit, net revenue will be diverted to any other line item of the Fire Department or the General Fund, but will be instead in fund under this line item for future funding periods.  At that time, the fee scale will be amended / reduced accordingly.  A committee inclusive of representation from the private sector will review the budget at this time to submit recommendations regarding amendments to the fee scale.

 

Section 3.         That if any provision of this Ordinance, or the application of same to any particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any reason be held by the courts to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance and to such end provision of this Ordinance is declared to be severable.

 

Section 4.         All Ordinances, or part of the Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

 

Section 5.         This Ordinances shall become effective from and after its final passage and publication as provided by the Charter of the City of Laredo and the Laws of the State of Texas.

 

Section 6:         The fee of $45 for Fire Inspection Services and Life Safety Inspections for Foster Homes will be waived.

 

 

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR ON

THIS THE ___________________ DAY OF ________________, 2003.

 

 

 

______________________

ELIZABETH G. FLORES

MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:

 

_________________________

JAIME L. FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY

Exhibit A

Permits / Inspection Fee Schedule
 
 

 

 


ACTIVITY

*PER Y YEAR

TIME/Hrs.

AVE. WAGE

ADM. COST

TOTAL COST

Explosives (Transport)

Burning

LPG Tank

New Sprinkler    (1-10)

Heads              (11-25)

                       (26-200)

                        (201- +)

Sprinkler Modification    (1-10)

Heads                         (11-25)

                                  (26-200)

                                   (201- +)

Plan Review Construction

Plan Review Sprinkler System

Plan Review Alarm System

New Fire Alarm System (1-10)

Devices                       (11-25)

                                   (21-200)

                                    (201- +)

Fire Alarm Modification (1-10)

Devices                       (11-25)

                                   (26-200)

                                     (201 +)

Parade Float

Food Booth

Bonfire

Fireworks Display

Pyrotechnics, Indoor

Fire Inspection

Fire Re-Inspection

Spray Paint Booths

Daycare or Similar Inspection

Hospital or Similar Inspection

Nursing Home of Similar Inspection

Rehab, Physical Therapy and Clinics

Beer and Wine Permit Inspection

Above Ground Storage Tanks

Underground Storage Tanks

Reschedule Fee

After Hours Inspection

Fire Report Copy

Operating W/O permit

Standby Fire Company

Tent Permit

Hotel/Motel

Airports

Church

Fire Drills (Commercial)

Fuel Line Pressure Test

Warehouse 0-50,000 sq/ft

Warehouse 50,001-200.000 sq/ft

Warehouse 200,001 + sq/ft

Fire Equipment Demo/Training

Fuel Pump

Detention/Correctional

Underground Tank Removal

Monitoring Well (Gas)

Plat Review

Underground Fireline

122

4

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

20

17

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

 

390

218

 

114

2

3

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

8

7

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

152

 

1

2

1

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

0.25

0.25

2

5

1

1

2

3

1

16

2

2

2

3

3

1

2

 

 

per hr.

1

2

2

1

1

1

2

4

6

3

1

2

2

1

2

1

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00

$35.00