HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. 20717COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. 20717
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A FIRE SERVICE FEE AND ADDING NEW
SECTIONS 6.760, 6.765, 6.770, 6.775, 6.780, 6.785, AND 6.790 TO THE
EUGENE CODE, 1971.
ADOPTED: February 10, 2025
SIGNED: February 11, 2025
PASSED: 5:3
REJECTED:
OPPOSED: Clark, Evans, Groves
ABSENT:
EFFECTIVE: March 14, 2025
ORDINANCE NO.20717
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A FIRE SERVICE FEE AND ADDING NEW
SECTIONS 6.760, 6.765, 6.770, 6.775, 6.780, 6.785, AND 6.790 TO THE
EUGENE CODE, 1971.
Section 1. Sections 6.760, 6.765, 6.770, 6.775, 6.780, 6.785, and 6.790 of the Eugene
Code, 1971, are added to provide as follows:
6.760 Fire Service Fee — Purpose and Use.
(1) The provisions contained in sections 6.760 to 6.790 of this code are for the purpose of
providing dedicated funding for fire and emergency medical services through the adoption of a
Fire Service Fee.
(2) Fire Service Fee revenue shall only be used to fund existing and new fire and emergency
medical services, to administer the Fire Service Fee, and to support the income -based assistance
program authorized by section 6.785 of this code.
6.765 Fire Service Fee — Definitions.
For purposes of sections 6.760 to 6.790 of this code, the following words and phrases shall have
the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
Building. Improvements erected upon the land including but not limited to the following: single
family homes, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, multi -unit apartment buildings,
manufactured dwelling units, dormitories, attached or detached garages, barns, warehouse
buildings, fraternity houses, motels/hotels, manufacturing facilities, office facilities, commercial
buildings, industrial buildings, shopping centers, senior care facilities, medical facilities,
educational buildings, government buildings, sports facilities, and churches.
Developed property. Real property that is located within the corporate limits of the City of Eugene,
on which one or more buildings exist, and that has at least one associated stormwater service
customer account.
Person responsible. The owner, agent, occupant, lessee, tenant, contract purchaser or other
person having possession or control of the developed property.
Stormwater Service. The use of the city's stormwater system including, but not limited to,
collection of stormwater discharged from property on which development exists and its deposit
directly or indirectly into the city stormwater system. The terms "city stormwater system,"
"development," and "stormwater" have the meanings set forth in section 6.406 of this code.
Stormwater Service Customer. Any person who has a stormwater service account and is
responsible for the payment of the charge for city stormwater service.
Ordinance — Page 1 of 4
Total Square Footage. The cumulative total of square footage of the building (s), or portion(s) of
the building(s), for which a stormwater service customer pays a stormwater service charge.
6.770 Fire Service Fee — Establishment and Obligation to Pay.
(1) A Fire Service Fee is hereby established. The obligation to pay the Fire Service Fee arises
when the person responsible receives fire service benefits. It is presumed that all developed
property receives fire service benefits.
(2) Unless another person responsible has agreed in writing to pay the Fire Service Fee and
a copy of that written agreement is filed with the city, the person(s) paying stormwater service
charges for the building(s), or portion(s) of building(s), associated with the stormwater service
customer's account shall pay the Fire Service Fee.
(3) The Fire Service Fee shall be based on the total square footage of the building(s), or
portion(s) of building(s), associated with the stormwater service customer's account and shall be
set by the city manager using the procedures, criteria and limitations set out in section 2.020 of
this code. The city manager shall review and may amend the Fire Service Fee on at least a
biennial basis.
6.775 Fire Service Fee - Billing.
(1) Receipt of stormwater service will automatically initiate billing for the Fire Service Fee
established by section 6.770 of this code.
(2) If the person responsible can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the city that the amount of
the Fire Service Fee billed to the person responsible has been calculated based on an incorrect
total square footage of the building(s), or portion(s) of building(s), associated with the stormwater
service customer's account and the incorrect total square footage calculation has resulted in an
overpayment by the person responsible, the Fire Service Fee billed to the person responsible
shall be reduced, and the appropriate credit given (not to exceed 12 months of overpayment
credit).
6.780 Fire Service Fee— Delinquencies.
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the city, the Fire Service Fee shall be billed monthly and
if not paid within 10 days of the due date stated on the bill, the fee owed shall be deemed to be a
delinquent fee. Delinquent fees may be recovered by the city using actions allowed by law,
including city use of a private collection agency. Costs incurred by the city collecting delinquent
fees can be recouped from the person responsible in accordance with the administrative fee order
adopted by the city manager pursuant to section 2.020 of this code.
6.785 Fire Service Fee - Income -Based Bill Assistance.
A portion of the Fire Service Fee revenues shall be used to support an income -based Fire Service
Fee bill assistance program. The qualifications and process for receiving Fire Service Fee bill -
paying assistance shall be set by the city manager.
6.790 Fire Service Fee —Administrative Rules.
The city manager may adopt administrative rules pursuant to section 2.019 of this code in order
to implement the provisions of sections 6.760 to 6.785.
Ordinance — Page 2 of 4
fund.
Section 2. Fire Service Fee revenue shall be budgeted and accounted for in a separate
Section 3. Notwithstanding Section 1 of this ordinance (providing that the Fire Service
Fee shall be set by the city manager in accordance with section 2.020 of this code), the Fire
Service Fee is initially established as follows:
Rate Categories
Total Square Footage
Monthly Fire Service Fee Charge
Per Stormwater Service Customer
Account
50 —750
$3
751 — 1, 500
$6
1,501 — 2,500
$10
2,501 — 3,500
$15
3,501 — 5,000
$21
5,001 — 10,000
$38
10,001 — 15,000
$63
15,001 — 30,000
$113
30,001 — 50,000
$200
50,001 — 75,000
$313
75,001 — 100,000
$438
100,001 — 150,000
$626
150,001 — 200,000
$876
200,001 — 300,000
$1,252
>300,000
$1,752
Amendments to this initially established Fire Service Fee may be made by the city manager in
accordance with Section 1 of this ordinance. Notwithstanding Section 1 of this ordinance, an
amendment to the Fire Service Fee that would increase the fee more than 5% within a 12-month
period must be established by resolution of the council.
Section 4. The obligation to pay the Fire Service Fee established by Section 1 of this
ordinance shall not arise before July 1, 2025.
Ordinance — Page 3 of 4
Section 5. The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the consent of the City Attorney,
is authorized to administratively correct any reference errors contained herein, or in other
provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended, or repealed herein.
Passed by the City Council this
10t" day of February, 2025
AityWer
Ordinance - Page 4 of 4
Approved by the Mayor this
I (+k day of February, 2025
Mayor