Chapter 16.203 — FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES AND SERVICES

The purpose of this chapter is to require that new development mitigate its impact on fire protection facilities and services in the City. New development creates additional demands for fire protection services and creates a need for additional fire protection facilities.

On the basis of its "Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee Analysis," the City has determined that developer fees are necessary to finance new fire protection facilities required to meet the fire protection service needs of new development and to maintain adequate fire service levels within the City. The fee will pay for new development's fair share of the costs of constructing and equipping new fire protection facilities. (08-05)

As a condition to the issuance of a building permit for any improvement on a lot or parcel of property within the City, the applicant shall pay a fire facilities impact fee as set forth in a separate ordinance and as amended from time to time to fund the cost of constructing and equipping fire protection facilities as identified in the "Fire Facilities Impact Fee Analysis." (08-05)

Staff shall from time to time review the estimated costs of the facilities funded by this chapter, the continued need for those facilities, and the reasonable relationship between such need and the impact of new development, pending or anticipated, for which the fee is charged. Staff shall report its findings to the City Council at a noticed public hearing, and the City Council may adjust the fee based on staff's recommendation. (08-05)

Fees paid pursuant to this chapter shall be placed in a separate and special account. These funds, and interest earned thereon, shall be expended solely for the design, construction and equipping, or reimbursement for construction and equipping, of the fire protection facilities identified in the "Fire Protection Facilities Impact Fee Analysis." (08-05)

• A. Projects of a temporary nature (one year or less) may be exempted by the City Council from the provisions of this chapter.

• B. The fire facilities impact fee may be waived or reduced by the City Council for low and moderate income housing projects with at least 25 percent of the dwelling units set aside and affordable for low and moderate income households, and for senior housing projects with less than 25 percent of the project's dwelling units set aside for low and moderate income households, if doing so will further the implementation of the City's General Plan.

• C. New public facility improvements constructed by public agencies may be exempted by the City Council from the provisions of this chapter, if doing so will further the implementation of the General Plan.

• (08-05)