11-25-13 Common Council Agenda & Packet

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Bill No. Ordinance No. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 5 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE ADDRESSING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND TACTICAL RESCUE TEAM STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On May 19, 1998, South Bend Fire Chief Luther Taylor submitted a proposed ordinance which would establish for the first time user fees for professional services of the South Bend Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team and the Tactical Rescue Team. Revenue generated by those special operations teams would then be deposited into Fund # 289 to assist in the ongoing upgrading and replacement of equipment. The South Bend Common Council acted favorably on this request and passed Ordinance No. 8921-98 on July 13, 1998. Since the 911 attack, the Hazardous Materials Team has assumed the task of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) preparedness, which has evolved into the Special Operations Division of the SBFD becoming the Homeland Security Branch of the Fire Department. These Response Teams respond to calls not only within the City of South Bend, but also to calls in the Indiana Homeland Security District # 2 which covers a seven (7) county area as depicted on the map attached to this ordinance. As a result of the ongoing tactical and professional training, the Teams are on the "leading edge of information and preparedness'. The Hazmat Team is certified as Type 1, which is the highest level of certification for such a team in the State of Indiana. Each team member is trained in Homeland Security/FEMA classes. Currently there are thirty-six (36) specially trained Firefighters on the SBFD Hazmat Team and thirty-six (36) specially trained Firefighters on the SBFD Tactical Rescue Team budgeted for the 2014 calendar year. Twelve (12) Firefighters of each team work on each shift. All members of the Tactical Rescue Team are specially trained to respond to incidents involving building collapse, trench rescue, confined space rescue and specialized rope rescue, and to utilize shoring equipment which meets FEMA standards. In order to continue to attract the most qualified and dedicated individuals to such needed specialized teams which provide life-saving public services, it is believed that the user fees and charges which have not been adjusted since 1998 should be: in order to sustain and provide these critical services for the betterment and safety of the Citv of South Bend and Homeland Security District #2. ff 6,&0 d 1* dea mon '&k l of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: