Agenda Item 7B - Detector Checks for Fire Line MeteringCITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMIS SION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Detector Checks for Fire Line Meterin g
Proposed Ordinance No . 80-14 -86
SUBMITTED BY: Do nna Kalu zniak, Utility Director
DATE: May 19,20 14
STRATEGIC PLAN LINK : None
AGENDA IT EM I/7B
J ULY 14,20 14
BACKGROUND: In 2005, as part of the City 's Water Lo ss Preve nt io n Pro gram , s taf f
recommended and th e Co mmi ss ion app roved an Ord inance requiring full metering of new fire
serv ice lin es. Fire serv ice lines are individual wa ter services that are used stri ctl y for fir e
s prinkler sys tems o r for pri vat e fire hydrant s. Typically, they wo uld onl y be used during a fire ,
o r wni le te sting or repaiting th e fire sprinkler system or hydrants for proper fun cti o n.
Staff was concerned th at water lo ss mi ght be occu rrin g thro ugh these lin es, which we re not
required to be met ered . However, s in ce en ac tin g the Ordin anc e, staff has not see n any
un ex plained wate r usage .
Installati on of a full mete r on a fir e lin e is very expens ive fo r bus in esses. Th ese lin es are
typic a lly 6-inches or more in di ameter. The cost of the mete r, and co nstruction of a meter va ult ,
bypass 1 i nes, etc. can cost $14 ,000 to $2 0,0 00 .
To red uc e the burd en on bu sin esses, sta ff wou ld lik e to rev ise the ord in ance to require the
insta ll ati o n of detecto r c hec k meters on tire lines in stead . Th ese are small mete rs th at arc
in stalled on a bypass on the fire service li ne. The met er wi ll register that flow has occun·e d, but
will not indi cate the full flow th ro ugh the line. The City can monitor whe th er flow h as occurred ,
and req ui re verification that th e flow was for a fir e or fi re line tesl. If ve rifi cation is not
pro v id ed, th e City ca n then req uir e th e ow ne r to insta ll a full fire lin e meter.
BUDGET: The C ity does not re ly on nor ant icipa te revenu e from thi s servi ce an d th er efo re
lhere is no bud get impa ct.
RECOMMENDATION : Approve l11 trod ucti on and First Rea din g o f Ordinance 80-14-86
requiring de tector check meters on fir e service lin es in stead of full meters.
ATTACHMENTS: I . Ordi nance No. 80-14-86
..
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER : ~ tY ~ ;/rM.J
ORDINANCE NO. 80-14-86
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22 UTILITIES,
ARTICLE II, AMENDING SECTION 22-30, PRIVATE FIRE
PROTECTION SERVICE TO PROVIDE METHOD OF
MONITORING FIRE LINE USAGE; TO PROVIDE FOR
SEVERABILITY; TO PROVIDE FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
AGENDA ITEM# 7B
JULY 14, 2014
WHEREAS, the City has encouraged water conservation using several methods to
include public education and implementing restructured inclining block water rates, and;
WHEREAS, loss of water may occur from unmetered fire lines through leaks, improper
connections, or misuse, and;
WHEREAS, it is important to be aware of and measure all uses of water to the extent
possible, and;
WHEREAS, in the current code there is a requirement that fire protection services on
new facilities be metered.
WHEREAS, use of a detector check meter will be less burdensome on businesses while
allowing the City to check for unusual water use through the fire service line.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION ON BEHALF
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, that;
Section I. Chapter 22 Utilities, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atlantic Beach,
Florida is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22-30. Private fire protection service.
Fire protection service charges shall be billed the monthly water base rate for a %''
meter. Fire protection service, either private hydrants or sprinkler systems, shall be
installed from the connection to_the main inward at the expense of the consumer. All
such installations shall be made in strict accordance with the rules of the American
Insurance Association in force at the date of installation and with such requirements as
may be prescribed by the city manager. No taps will be allowed which may be used for
other than fire protection purposes, and unless pursuant to special permit from the city
manager, there shall be no connection with any other source of water except in case a
storage tank or fire pump is installed as a secondary supply for such fire protection.
Fire protection services on new facilities shall be metered have a detector check meter
installed on the fire line. Customers with existing fire protection services will be required
to install a detector check meter on the fire line. No water volume charge shall be made
for water used while fighting a fire or testing the fire sprinkler system; however, evidence
with documentation of such fire fighting or equipment testing may be required by the
AGENDA ITEM# 78
JULY 14, 2014
city. Water used for other than fire fighting or testing of the sprinkler system will be
charged the normal volume rate and the base charge appropriate for the size of meter, and
the city may require the customer to install an appropriately sized meter on the fire
service line.
SECTION 2. Severability
If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then said holding shall in no way
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Effective Date
This Ordinance shall take effect upon its final passage and adoption.
Passed by the City Commission on first reading this __ Day of ____ 2014.
Passed by the City Commission on this second and final reading this __ Day of
2014. ----
Carolyn Woods
Mayor I Presiding Officer
Approved as to form and correctness:
Rich Komando, Esquire
City Attorney
ATTEST:
Donna L. Bartle, CMC
City Clerk