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<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning Fire and EMS Response Fees to <br />Out-Of-Area Users and Adding Section 2.610 to the Eugene Code, 1971 <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: September 19, 2011 Agenda Item Number: 2 <br />Department: Fire & EMS Department Staff Contact: Randall B. Groves, Chief <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-7115 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />The Fire and EMS Department is requesting to add section 2.610 to the Eugene Code, 1971, <br />concerning fire and emergency medical services (EMS) first response fees for out-of-area users. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Since the department was formed in 1872, the citizens of Eugene City, later renamed the City of <br />Eugene, have enjoyed the services of the Fire Department which is supported primarily by <br />General Fund dollars. The service was delivered by volunteer firefighters until the early 1920s <br />when a full-time paid firefighting force was employed. Since then, the department has been <br />considered a core service of the City and responds to calls for service within its response area <br />regardless of a person’s residency status or ability to pay. <br /> <br />As the City struggles to reduce its costs while looking for additional fair, stable and equitable <br />revenues, the Fire Department is requesting the adoption of this ordinance to provide a <br />mechanism for billing non-residents who utilize emergency response from General Fund <br />supported Fire and EMS resources. This move is consistent with what a number of other <br />jurisdictions have imposed within the area, across the state and country. Based on previous calls <br />for service by out-of-area residents, it is estimated this new fee will bring in an additional <br />$12,600 in annual revenues. <br /> <br />This proposal does not adversely affect anyone living within the cities of Eugene and <br />Springfield, or one of the current fire protection contract districts served by either city, or a <br />member of either city’s FireMed program, or a member of a reciprocating agencies FireMed <br />program. <br /> <br /> <br />RELATED CITY POLICIES <br />Current Eugene City Code states: <br /> <br />2.604 Fire and Ambulance Services. <br />(1) The city shall provide fire suppression and fire prevention and may provide <br />ambulance services. The scope of these services inside and outside the city limits <br /> S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110919\09-19-11- Item 2 - Ordinance of Fire and EMS Response Fees.doc <br /> <br />