Fort Walton Beach Ordinance — 2017--Fire Assessment — reading text

uniform method under the Uniform Assessment Collection Act, to be collected on the tax bill for a subsequent year. 5) All costs, fees and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees and title search expenses, related to any foreclosure action as described in this article shall be included in any judgment or decree rendered therein. At the sale pursuant to decree in any such action, the City may be the purchaser to the same extent as any person. The City or its agent may join in one foreclosure action for the collection of Fire Services Assessments against any or all property assessed in accordance with the provisions of this article. All delinquent owners whose property is foreclosed shall be liable for an apportioned amount of reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the City and its agents, including reasonable attorney fees, in collection of such delinquent Fire Services Assessments and any other costs incurred by the City as a result of such delinquent Fire Services Assessments and the costs shall be collectible as a part of or in addition to, the costs of the action. 6) In lieu of foreclosure, any delinquent Fire Services Assessment and the costs, fees and expenses attributable may be collected pursuant to the Uniform Assessment thereto, Collection Act; provided however, that ( i) notice is provided to the owner in the manner required by the Uniform Assessment Collection Act and this article, and ( ii) any existing lien of record on the affected parcel for the delinquent Fire Services Assessment is supplanted by the lien resulting from certification of the Assessment Roll, as applicable, to the tax collector. 7) Notwithstanding the City' s use of an alternative method of collection, the City Manager shall have the same power and authority to correct errors and omissions as provided to them or other City officials in Section 15. 8) Any City Council action required in the collection of Fire Services Assessments may be by resolution.  Section 21. — Fire Services Fee on Non- Profits and Government Property. Legislative declarations as to Fire Services Fee on government property. It is hereby ascertained and declared that the Fire Services Fee as authorized in this article is reasonably related to the cost of providing fire facilities and programs to non-profits and services, government property. The Fire Services Fee is not a special assessment; it is a fee for services available and rendered to property owned and operated by non-profit and government owners. Section 22.— Fire Services Assessments on Nongovernment Property. Legislative declarations as to the existence of special benefit. It is further hereby ascertained and declared that the fire services, facilities, and programs provide a special benefit to nongovernment property that is improved by the existence or construction of a building based upon the following legislative determinations: 1) Fire services possess a logical relationship to the use and enjoyment of improved property by: a. Protecting the value of the improvements and structures through the provision of available fire services; b. Protecting the life and safety of intended occupants in the use and enjoyment of improvements and structures within improved parcels; c. Lowering the cost of fire insurance by the presence of a professional and comprehensive fire services program within the City; and d. Containing the spread of fire incidents occurring on vacant property with the potential to spread and endanger the structures and occupants of improved property. 2) The fire services of the City under its existing fire services program enhances and strengthens the relationship of such services to the use and enjoyment of buildings within improved parcels of property within the areas served by the City. 3) Within the areas served by the City, the fire services of the City under its existing fire services progam enhance the value of business and commercial property that is improved by the existence or construction of a building, which enhanced value can be anticipated to be reflected in the rental charge or value of such business or commercial property. ARTICLE IV GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 23. - Applicability. This Ordinance and the City's authority to impose assessments pursuant hereto shall be applicable throughout the City. Section 24. - Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable; and if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or provision is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby.  Section 25. - Alternative Method. This Ordinance shall be deemed to provide an additional and alternative method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be regarded as supplemental and additional to powers conferred by other laws, and shall not be regarded as in derogation of any powers now existing or which may hereafter come into existence. This Ordinance, being necessary for the welfare of the inhabitants of the City, shall be liberally construed to affect the purposes hereof. Section 26. - Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in force and take effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council on second reading and signature by the Mayor. Adopted: 5 n ern e r 1D a-c) q Richard A. Rynearson, yor Attest: Approved for form, 1 suffici c Kim . Barnes, City Clerk ayw Dykes, Jr., oA WALTp ity rney o`` '"'. : yn r ,.. ''`" w d' FLGR10'