Council introduces ordinance to permit billing insurers for fire responses

City staff introduced Ordinance 25-0210-1, which would allow the city’s fire department to bill insurance companies for direct costs associated with emergency responses, and councilors voted to introduce the ordinance and carry it to the next meeting for additional consideration.

City Clerk (presenting the item) told councilors the proposal would permit the city to charge fees to insurers for equipment and gear costs when an insured dwelling generates a billable response; the clerk said the fees would not be imposed on homeowners or business owners directly and that if a dwelling lacks insurance the city would not bill anyone. The clerk noted other nearby cities have implemented similar practices to help cover equipment and gear costs.

Councilor Barton made the motion to introduce ordinance 25-0210-1; Councilor Brown seconded. After a roll-call introduction, councilors voted to introduce the ordinance and carry it to the next council meeting for further action. The council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting; the ordinance was scheduled for a subsequent meeting where a second reading and a final vote would be required.

The ordinance text and fee schedule were not presented in full during the introduction; staff did not provide a final cost schedule or the specific fee amounts to be assessed to insurers at this meeting.