Title
Amending Chapters 55.09 and 55.10 of the Legislative Code pertaining to the Fire Code - permit fees for liquid petroleum & hazardous materials, storage tanks, and dispensing devices.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, in support of Mayor Carter’s 2023 budget, the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) seeks to increase fire code permit fees for liquid petroleum and hazardous materials, storage tanks, and dispensing devices, as detailed in Chapter 55.09 and 55.10 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, by 8%; and
WHEREAS, the fee increases proposed more accurately reflect the cost of providing permits and related services; and
WHEREAS, DSI continues to experience substantial growth in personnel costs such as health care and wages; and
WHEREAS, General Fund pressures create the need to decrease the gap between permit fee revenue and program expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby ordain:
SECTION 2
Section 55.09 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) As required by and in compliance with the Minnesota State Fire Code, no person may utilize or store liquid petroleum gas without an operational permit.
(1) A permit is not required for individual containers with a five hundred (500) gallon water capacity or less serving single family occupancies.
(b) A permit is required prior to any temporary liquid petroleum gas installation or use at special events. The permit, which will cover all liquid petroleum gas use at the event, shall be obtained by the liquid petroleum gas vendor or event sponsor, but it is the responsibility of the event sponsor to insure that the appropriate permit is obtained.
(c) A permit applicant must apply, on a form provided by the department of safety and inspections, and submitted prior to the delivery, storage, or use of liquid petroleum gas. An on-site inspection and approval shall be required before any liquid petroleum gas can be utilized.
(d) The person sponsoring, promoting or organizing the event shall obtain any other necessary licenses, permits, or approvals. These may include, but are not limited to, extension of service licenses, special event food licenses, temporary tent, canopy, or membrane structure permits, or electrical permits.
(e) No smoking shall be allowed within twenty-five (25) feet of liquid petroleum gas cylinders.
(f) For temporary liquid petroleum gas during outdoor events, the permit fee shall be based on the number of cylinders used and/or stored.
(g) The permit fee shall be one hundred twenty-nine dollars ($129.00) one hundred forty dollars ($140) for the first ten (10) cylinders or fraction thereof, or one hundred eighty-one dollars ($181.00) one hundred ninety-six dollars ($196.00) for eleven (11) to twenty (20) cylinders, or two hundred thirty-three dollars ($233.00) two hundred fifty-two dollars ($252.00) for twenty-one (21) or more cylinders.
SECTION 3
Section 55.10 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) This section shall apply to the following hazardous materials processes:
(1) Installing aboveground and belowground tanks or dispensing devices.
(2) Relocating aboveground and belowground tanks or dispensing devices.
(3) Removing aboveground and belowground tanks or dispensing devices.
(4) Abandoning aboveground and belowground tanks or dispensing devices.
(5) Maintaining aboveground and belowground tanks or dispensing devices.
(b) As required by and in compliance with the Minnesota State Fire Code, no person may install, relocate, or remove an aboveground or belowground hazardous materials storage tank without a permit.
(c) Any work governed by this section requires a permit prior to commencing. The permit, which will cover all tanks and/or dispensing on site, shall be obtained by an approved tank contractor.
(1) Work performed without a permit may result in enforcement action including but not limited to a double permit fee or citation.
(d) A dimensioned site plan shall accompany the permit application.
(e) Specifications of equipment shall accompany the permit application.
(f) A permit applicant must apply, on a form provided by the department of safety and inspections and submitted prior to the work commencing. An on-site inspection and approval shall be required before any tank is removed from the site and/or any tank may be utilized.
(g) No smoking shall be allowed within 25 feet of a flammable liquid tank.
(h) For the installation, relocation, or removal of tanks, the permit fee shall be based on the number of tanks.
(i) The tank permit fee shall be two hundred seven dollars ($207.00) two hundred twenty-four dollars ($224.00) for the first tank and seventy-five dollars ($75.00) eighty-one dollars ($81.00) for each additional tank. The fee for dispensing devices shall be fifty-two dollars ($52.00) fifty-six dollars ($56.00) per device.
SECTION 4
This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage, approval, and publication.