By Jessica A. York
Vallejo Times Herald (California)
VALLEJO, Calif. — At fault in a drunk driving (or boating) accident, hazardous material spill or a fire?
Vallejo might soon be sending you a bill to recover some of its emergency response costs.
The city’s fire and police chiefs, in a report to the Vallejo City Council, are asking the city manager to draft an ordinance that allows the city to file insurance claims in some situations.
Someone found at fault for negligently causing an incident, a fire that spreads to another property, a pipeline or powerline incident or other, could be asked to pay a set fee to the city.
Once established, such a program is estimated to bring the city between $50,000 to $200,000, according to the report.
The report justifies asking the public to pay for city services, particularly from the fire department, already funded by taxpayers.
“The reason for these fees is that the firefighters, fire stations and fire apparatus are infrastructure provided by taxpayers, but believe the actual response to emergency incidents should be reimbursed,” according to the report.
In the proposal, an agenda item scheduled for approval Tuesday night, the chiefs note that most insurance companies already offer coverage for this type of fee recovery ordinance. Also, the report states, the ordinance comes as the city is seeking ways of maintaining “a high level of service to the community,” as service demands increase in a downturned economy.
The item is listed under the council meeting’s “consent calendar,” meaning it could be approved, along with several other agenda items, without discussion. A public hearing is expected at the Council’s June 14 meeting.
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