§ 25.05. Automobile fire and vehicle extrication response.

(a)

Findings. The City Council finds that:

(1)

Personnel and equipment used during response to automobile fires and vehicle extrications are a continuously increasing expense for the City, a substantial portion of which serve and benefit persons who are not residents of the City and who consequently do not pay taxes to support to fund the personnel and equipment necessarily required for response to such incidents.

(2)

Response to vehicle extrications requires the use of specialized and costly equipment and the training of personnel in the use of same.

(3)

Recipients of aid or emergency relief and services should be assessed for those extraordinary expenses when incurred by nonresidents who do not support the availability and supplying of such services and use of equipment as they do not pay taxes to fund same.

(4)

Subject to the provisions herein contained, the reimbursement for such expenses by the direct recipients of such services is appropriate given the disproportionate relationship in the amount of such expenses versus the general benefit to the City, and providing for the reimbursement of such extraordinary expenses will promote the general health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City.

(b)

Definitions. For the purpose of this Section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively described to them:

"Motor vehicle fire incident expense recovery" means that expense incurred by the City for responding to extinguishment of motor vehicle fires.

"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, firm, company, estate, association or other legal entity.

"Vehicle extrication incident expense recovery" means that expense incurred by the City for responding to and performing the extrication of persons from motor vehicles.

"Vehicle extrications" mean the retrieving of a vehicle occupant that utilizes the use of specialized equipment and specially trained personnel.

(c)

Fees Authorized.

(1)

When emergency response services are rendered by the Elmhurst Fire Department for motor vehicle fires and motor vehicle extrications for persons who are not residents of the City, the following fees may be charged to such persons:

(A)

For motor vehicle fires: the actual expense incurred by the City, up to a maximum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per response;

(B)

For vehicle extrications: the actual expense incurred by the City, up to a maximum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) per response.

No fee shall be charged if the actual expense incurred by the City is less than fifty dollars ($50.00).

(2)

The City of Elmhurst shall prepare and forward a bill for the total costs and expenses incurred to such person or persons who are responsible for payment pursuant to this Section. Payment of the total bill shall be made within thirty (30) days of receipt. Any bill or portion of a bill remaining unpaid after thirty (30) days of receipt shall accrue interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of one and one-half percent per month or fraction.

(Ord. 9-2005 § 1 (part))