[New; Ord. 79-622 § 1; Ord. 77-1014 § 1; prior code
§ 13-1]
The fire department of the City shall consist of one chief of
the department, one deputy chief and such other officers and firefighters
as the City Council shall authorize.
[Ord. 97-64 § 1;
prior code § 13-13 (part)]
[New; Ord. 79-1158 § 6;
prior code § 13-13(a), (b)]
A.
The chief of the fire department shall make all appointments to the
fire department, and shall make all promotions in the fire department.
B.
The chief of the fire department shall appoint the fire force for
the City from the properly certified list of qualified applicants
certified as provided by the laws of the state.
C.
No person, however, shall be appointed or employed on the fire force
of the City who is not able to read and write the English language
or who is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2022-125 deleted Section 2.36.040, Residence requirements. Prior history includes Prior code § 13-13(c).
[New; prior code § 13-9]
A.
The chief of the fire department and public safety committee of the
City Council shall have exclusive supervisions and control of all
buildings; engines, machinery, or apparatus used by the fire department;
and it shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department at least
once each quarter, or more often, if required by said committee or
the Mayor or Council, to carefully examine into the condition of all
such property, and see that the same is at all times in good repair
and condition, and report to said committee any defect or damage in
same or any repairs, attention, alteration or addition required, and
shall, with the consent of said committee, cause all necessary repairs
to be made without delay.
B.
(Reserved)
C.
He shall certify all payrolls and all bills against the City incurred
for the fire department and annually, in July, report the number of
men employed and fire alarms given, the number and kind of all other
property of every kind and description connected with or for use in
the fire department, and any other facts and circumstances showing
the workings of the same, with suggestions or recommendations as to
the improvement of same.
[Ord. 84-612 § 1; Ord. 77-104 § 2; prior code § 13-20]
A.
The chief of the fire department shall appoint persons who are certified
by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to be fire/arson investigators.
The investigators shall have full powers of arrest to effectuate their
primary duty of enforcing City ordinances and state statutes related
to fire prevention and arson.
B.
Notwithstanding their status as law enforcement officials, the fire
inspectors shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the fire
department for all purposes, including compensation and collective
bargaining purposes, and shall perform such functions as the fire
chief or fire marshal shall assign.
[New; prior code § 13-15]
A.
Firefighters of the fire department shall consist of firefighters
of the first grade, firefighters of the second grade, firefighters
of the third grade, and probationary firefighters. Before any person
shall be eligible to appointment as a firefighter of the third grade,
he shall serve as a probationary firefighter for at least one year.
B.
Upon completion of at least one year's service as a probationary
firefighter, such person shall become eligible to promotion as a firefighter
of the third grade, provided he has demonstrated to the chief of the
fire department and the civil service commission that he merits such
promotion.
C.
Upon the completion of at least six months' service as a firefighter
of the third grade, such person shall become eligible to promotion
as a firefighter of the second grade, provided he has demonstrated
to the chief of the fire department and the civil service commission
that he merits such promotion.
D.
Upon completion of at least one year's service as a firefighter of
the second grade, such person shall become eligible to promotion as
a firefighter of the first grade, provided that he has demonstrated
to the chief of the fire department and the civil service commission
that he merits such promotion, is efficient and zealous in his duties,
and has demonstrated his ability to serve as such.
[New; prior code § 13-16]
A.
Salaries of the chief of the fire department, and members thereof,
shall be established annually by City Council resolution.
B.
All salaries shall be paid in biweekly installments after the regular
meetings of the City Council.
C.
In addition to the salaries prescribed, the chief and members of
the City fire department shall receive longevity payments as provided
by City policy and labor contracts.
D.
In addition to the salaries and longevity payments prescribed, each
member of the fire department shall receive a uniform allowance as
negotiated by labor contracts.
[Prior code § 13-8]
The chief of the fire department shall have command and entire
control and direction of all members of the fire department, and all
other persons who may be present at fires, and shall devote his entire
time and attention to the duties of his office and the making of the
fire department efficient. At fires, he shall have full powers of
a policeman and, in the absence of the chief of police, shall have
authority to control and direct the other officers of the police force
present.
[Prior code § 13-11]
The chief of the fire department may prescribe limits in the
vicinity of a fire within which no person except those residing therein,
members of the fire department, police department, and those admitted
by the chief or his subordinates, shall be permitted to come.
[Ord. No. 2015-117 § 3;
New; prior code § 13-12]
The chief, during the progress of any fire, whenever in his
judgment it becomes necessary to check or control the same shall have
power to order any fence, building or erection of any kind to be cut
down and removed; he shall, with the consent of the Mayor or two members
of the Council, have power to cause any building or erection to be
blown up with powder or other explosives, for the purpose of checking
or extinguishing a fire. He shall also have power, with the concurrence
of the fire marshal and chief building official, to tear down any
portion of any building that may be standing after a fire, or has
become decayed or dilapidated, and in their judgment may be dangerous
to persons or property.
[Prior code § 13-18]
The chief of the fire department shall make prompt examination
into the cause of any fire occurring within the City limits, and make
such report to the Council as it shall require.
[New; prior code § 13-17]
Any person who willfully hinders or interferes with any City
officer or firefighter in the performance of duty at, going to, or
returning from any fire, or while attending to duty or willfully or
negligently drives any wagon, motor bus, locomotive, train of cars,
or other vehicle across, along or upon any hose, or willfully cuts,
defaces or destroys or injures any fire alarm system wire or pole,
or signal boxes or any of the property or fixtures belonging to or
connected with the fire department or the fire alarm system, upon
conviction shall be subject to applicable penalties.
[New; prior code § 13-3]
Members of the off-shifts (off-duty) shall be required to report
for duty in any emergency upon request by the chief or officer in
charge of the fire department.
[Prior code § 13-19]
On petition of a person, corporation, organization, institution,
or other municipality situated outside the corporate limits of the
City, to the City Council and upon the acceptance of the petition
of the Council, a written agreement shall be entered into by the petitioner
and the City upon terms and conditions prescribed by it; the City
Council may then direct the fire department to respond to calls from
said petitioner for firefighting or other emergencies outside of its
corporate limits and, when so engaged, such equipment and men shall
be considered within their jurisdiction and the City shall have the
same governmental immunity as when operating within its corporate
limits.
[New]
No member of the force shall, while performing official duties
or while using City equipment at the person's disposal by reason of
the position, solicit in any manner contribution for any political
party or candidate or engage in any political activity during working
hours that impairs the efficiency of the position or presence during
the working hours. A person shall not seek or attempt to use any political
endorsement in connection with any appointment to a civil service
position.
[Ord. 2017-237]
A.
The following permit fees conducted by the Fire Department shall
be assessed and routinely set and approved by City Council resolution.
1.
Display Firework Permit Fee.
2.
Editor's Note: The Hazmat Permit Fee Schedule is included as an attachment to this Title.
[Amended 2-23-2022]
3.
Hazmat Recovery Fee.
4.
Above-ground Storage Tank Permit Fee.
5.
Under-ground Storage Tank Permit Fee.
6.
Commercial Re-Inspection Fee.
7.
Fireworks Sales Inspection Fee.
