There is hereby established a Fire Department in and for the City.

(Code 1970, 10‑14; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS will determine the appropriate composition of the Fire-EMS Department in consultation with the City Manager.

(Ord.1459 & 2071; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall be appointed by the City Manager. All other department personnel shall be hired by the Chief of Fire-EMS.

 (Code 1970, 10‑16; Ord. 2553)

(a)   All members of the Fire Department shall meet at least twice each month for the training and maintenance of equipment.

(b)   The officers of the Fire Department may meet once each month in addition to the above two meetings.

(c)   The Chief off Fire-EMS may also call special meetings as deemed necessary.

(Code 1970, 10‑17; Ord. 1197, Sec. 1; Ord. 2553)

The Department of Fire-EMS personnel shall receive pay as set out in the City Personnel Policy and the Administrative Policy.

(Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall be under the supervision of the City Manager and shall have superintendency and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the fire apparatus, equipment, facilities, and personnel.

(Code 1970, 10 21; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall be responsible for the discipline of the Fire department personnel, and is hereby given the authority subject to the approval of the City Manager and in accordance with City personnel policies to discipline, suspend or expel any member for the failure to do his or her duty at a fire, EMS Emergency or other violation of department standard operating guidelines, city policy or procedure, and the ordinances of the City.

(Ord. 1459, Sec. 5; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall have the right to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing a fire, or to aid in removing personal property from any building on fire or in danger thereof, and in guarding the same.

(Code 1970, 10‑24; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall have full power, control and command over all persons whomsoever present at fires, and shall direct the use of all fire apparatus and equipment, and command all firefighters in the discharge of their duties. The Chief shall take such measures as he or she may deem necessary in the preservation and protection of property and the extinguishing of fire.

(Code 1970, 10 25; Ord. 2553)

The Chief of Fire-EMS shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. Such information shall include the time and location, construction of building, owner, occupancy, how extinguished, value of building and contents, loss on building and contents, insurance on building and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable.

(Code 1970, 10‑26; Ord. 2553)

It shall be the duty of the Chief of Fire-EMS to adopt all prudent measures for the prevention of fires and for this purpose the Chief or an assistant under the direction of the Chief of Fire-EMS may, upon request or whenever there is reason to believe that the safety of life and property demands it, and as often as the Chief may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the City during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection, and where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist the Chief shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as he or she may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.

(Code 1970, 10 27; Ord. 2553)

In the absence of the Chief, the Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief or Captain shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the Chief as conferred by this Article.

(Code 1970, 10‑28; Ord. 2553)

No person shall place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant, any rubbish, building materials, fence, or other obstruction of any character whatsoever, in any manner to obstruct, hinder, or delay the Fire EMS Department in the performance of its duties in case of fire.

(Code 1970, 10‑01; Ord. 2553)

It shall be unlawful for any person to make or sound or cause to be made or sounded or by any other means any false alarm of fire without reasonable cause. A fine in an amount of $50 shall be levied for the third such false alarm during a calendar year. Fourth and subsequent false alarms during the same calendar year shall be fined in an amount $50 greater than the previous fine (i.e., $100 for the fourth fine, $150 for the fifth fine, etc.).

(Code 1970, 10 2; Code 2014; Ord. 2553)

No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment belonging to the City for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance or other article used in any way by the Fire EMS Department.

(Code 1970, 10‑3; Ord. 2553)

(a)   The department shall make every attempt to ensure that emergency medical services are provided within the boundaries of the City under such terms and conditions as authorized.

(b)   The department shall make every attempt to provide rapid and appropriate medical treatment to persons experiencing a potential or known medical emergency at the scene of the emergency and enroute to a medical treatment center.

(c)   The department shall make every attempt to ensure that an appropriately equipped and staffed ambulance is dispatched to the scene of medical emergencies requiring an immediate response.

 (Ord. 1946, Sec. 1; Ord. 2553)

(a)   The Chief of Fire-EMS shall be responsible for directing operation of the department pursuant to the position’s job description, following applicable professional guidelines and management practices, the City’s personnel policies, and all other applicable laws and ordinances.

(b)   The Chief of Fire-EMS shall recommend and/or inform the City Manager of the department’s needs relating to acquisition of property and equipment, vehicle maintenance, purchase of supplies, hiring, training and disciplinary action of staff, and shall be responsible for developing and managing the department’s annual budget and recommending such to the City Manager.

(c)   The Chief of Fire-EMS shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate protocols are developed and followed, including level of service and response times, that employees receive and maintain proper certification and training, the service license is maintained, effective, and efficient delivery of service is provided, fees for service and billing collections optimize revenues and minimize the burden of public subsidy, equipment is maintained appropriately, and staffing levels are maintained to provide property coverage.

(d)   The Chief of Fire-EMS is responsible for apprising the City Manager in a timely manner of any and all deficiencies or legal issues pertaining to the service, and the City Manager shall likewise be responsible for informing the City Attorney and City Council of such occurrences. The Chief of Fire-EMS shall provide periodic written reports on the service to the City Manager related to the service’s response times, call volumes, type of incident, staffing levels including calls for service, billing collection data, violations and corrective actions relating to established protocols, achievements related to quality assurance and quality improvement, and other pertinent information as requested or required.

(e)   The Chief of Fire-EMS shall make every effort to recruit and retain employees to provide emergency medical services, and should strive to provide opportunities in areas of training, advancement, assignments, when practical and within budgeted means.

(Ord. 1946, Sec. 2; Ord. 2553)

Fees for service shall be developed, implemented and updated by the City Manager and Chief of Fire-EMS. Such fees shall be based upon the areas prevailing rates for similar services, a review of the actual cost to provide the service, in accordance with health care requirements and laws and in response to changes in the insurance or health care industry as they may occur. The fees shall be established by the City Council for EMS services.

(Ord. 1946; Ord. 2152; Ord. 2294; Code 2014) (Ord. 1946, Sec. 4; Ord. 2553)

It is prohibited and shall be unlawful for any person or entity to operate an ambulance or transportation service within the corporate boundaries of the City without first having obtained approval from the City’s Governing Body, or as otherwise may be authorized by this or other City ordinances. Violation of this prohibition shall be a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of $250 per day.

This prohibition does not apply to services transporting patients to or through the City if such transportation was initiated outside of the City, for mutual aid requests made by the City, for air ambulance services, or in cases identified and agreed to by the City prior to enactment of this Article which may exist under contract between a private business and another EMS provider.

(Ord. 1946, Sec. 5; Ord. 2553)

Within this Article, the term Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is synonymous with the term ambulance service.

(Ord. 1946, Sec. 6; Ord. 2553)