20.09.030 Fees and cost recovery.
A. Exempt Alarms.
1. The first preventable fire department response to fire alarms from any one system during a calendar year shall be exempt except that there shall be no exempt responses to alarms caused by alarm system monitoring companies or companies performing work on fire alarm or fire extinguishing systems when reasonable steps were not taken to prevent reporting of an alarm to the fire department.
2. For newly installed alarm systems, the first three preventable fire department responses to fire alarms from any one system or the first three preventable responses within 30 days of the first such alarm, whichever occurs first, are exempt.
B. Nonexempt Fire Department Responses to Fire Alarms. Such fees as may be established by resolution of the city shall be charged for nonexempt preventable fire department responses to fire alarms during a calendar year from any one system.
C. Recovery of Costs. In addition to the fees above, the city shall have the right to seek recovery of costs through civil action when there are more than three nonexempt preventable responses to fire alarms during a calendar year. Costs shall include the following:
1. Personnel costs (including salaries, overtime, fringe benefits) for the time that involved personnel were not available to respond to valid emergencies.
2. Apparatus costs according to the “Recommended Fee Schedule” of the Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs.
3. Administrative costs and court costs. (Ord. 2344 § 4 (Exh. D), 2021; Ord. 1635 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1545 § 2, 1994; Ord. 1306 § 35, 1988; Ord. 1236 § 10, 1986).