The purpose of this chapter is to permit the City of Altoona
Fire Department ("Fire Department") to implement a fair and equitable
procedure to recover certain costs incurred while responding to emergency
and nonemergency incidents in order to maintain a high level of quality
of emergency and nonemergency service capability throughout times
of constantly increasing service demands, where maintaining an effective
response by the Fire Department decreases the costs of incidents to
insurance carriers, businesses, and individuals through timely and
effective management of emergency situations, saving lives and reducing
property and environmental damage.
The Council of the City of Altoona ("City Council") shall determine,
by resolution from time to time, fire cost recovery rates for the
delivery of emergency and nonemergency services by the Fire Department
for personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of emergency and
nonemergency incidents. The cost recovery rates shall be based on
actual costs of the services and that which is usual, customary and
reasonable ("UCR") and which may include any services, personnel,
supplies, and equipment and baselines established by the City Council.
A claim shall be filed to the responsible party through his
or her insurance carrier. In some circumstances, the responsible party
will be billed directly.
City Council, by resolution, may make rules or regulations and
from time to time may amend, revoke, or add rules and regulations,
consistent with this chapter, as it may deem necessary or expedient
in respect to billing for these cost recovery rates or the collection
thereof.
For all offenses and violations not otherwise specified, the
penalty shall be a summary offense punishable by a fine not less than
$100 nor more than $1,000 or a prison term not to exceed 90 days,
or both.