[Code 1965, § 7.01; Ord. No. 926, § 1, 4-26-1966; Ord. No. 1409, § 1, 12-19-1972; Ord. No. 1733, § 1, 4-24-1979; Ord. No. 3987, § 1, 7-25-2005; Ord. No. 4762, § 3, 6-15-2017]
(a)
Composition. The Fire Board shall consist of seven citizens of Crestwood
with an interest in the Fire Department. Members are appointed by
the Mayor with the approval of a majority of the authorized membership
of the Board of Aldermen. Reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure
all wards are represented, however the qualifications of members shall
be the primary guiding principle in making appointments and no board
shall be deemed improperly constituted or unlawful if all wards of
the City are not represented thereon. All citizen members shall be
appointed to terms of three years in duration, with each term beginning
and ending on July 1. The terms shall be staggered in three groups
with one group consisting of three members and two groups consisting
of two members each. Only one group shall be appointed on July 1 of
each year, and another group shall be appointed on July 1 of every
following year.
(b)
Meetings and quorum. The Fire Board shall hold regular meetings every
other month, in the even-numbered months. The Fire Board shall meet
at a minimum four times per year, at a time scheduled by the Fire
Board. Additional meetings may be scheduled at any time by the chairperson
or three members of the Fire Board provided that there is one week's
notice provided to the public and all members of the Fire Board, including
the aldermanic representatives and the Fire Chief. A quorum shall
consist of four members of the Board. The aldermanic representatives
and any ex officio members do not count towards establishing quorum.
(c)
Attendance. Fire Board members absent without excuse from three consecutive
meetings, whether regular or special, shall be subject to replacement
by the Mayor and a majority of the authorized membership of the Board
of Aldermen.
(d)
Duties and responsibilities. The Fire Board shall act in a general
advisory capacity to the Fire Department. It shall make recommendations
to the Board of Aldermen for improving fire protection within the
City, suggest rules and regulations governing the conduct of the members
of the Fire Department, subject to approval by the Board of Aldermen,
and do and perform such other services for the safety and protection
of the lives of the inhabitants and property of the City as may be
directed by the Board of Aldermen from time to time.
(e)
Chairperson. The Mayor shall appoint a chairperson from one of the
citizen members who shall serve as chairperson for the remainder of
that person's term. The chairperson shall be the presiding officer
of all meetings of the Fire Board and shall have voice and vote the
same as all other Fire Board members. At the beginning of each term,
the Fire Board shall organize by electing a vice-chairperson and a
secretary from the members. The vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson
in the chairperson's absence. In the absence of the chairperson and
vice-chairperson, the secretary shall serve as acting chairperson.
(f)
Aldermanic representatives. The Mayor, with the approval of a majority
of the members the Board of Aldermen, shall appoint two aldermanic
representatives from the members of the Board of Aldermen to serve
as liaison between the Board of Aldermen and the Fire and Police Boards
and provide policy direction. At least one of the aldermanic representatives
shall be present at all scheduled meetings of the Fire Board. Participation
in all discussions is strongly encouraged, but the representatives
shall not have a vote. The Mayor may act as a substitute or the Mayor
or aldermanic representatives may designate a substitute from the
Board of Aldermen if an aldermanic representative is unable to attend
a meeting.
(g)
Ex officio members. The Fire Chief shall be an ex officio, nonvoting
member of the Fire Board, acting in an advisory capacity and shall
attend all meetings of the Fire Board. If the Fire Chief is unable
to attend any such meeting, a representative shall be designated to
attend by the Fire Chief or City Administrator.
(h)
Clerical staff. The Fire Board shall be provided with a clerical
staff person by the City administration, who is not a voting member
of the Board. It shall be the duty of this staff to take minutes of
the proceedings of the Board. A set of minutes of the Fire Board meetings
shall be made public in accordance with applicable state law.
(i)
Vacancies. Vacancies among non-ex officio members of the Fire Board
shall be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, with
the replacement to serve the unexpired term.
[Ord. No. 155, 1-12-1954; Code 1965, § 7.02]
There is hereby created and established a Fire Department.
[Code 1965, § 7.03; Ord. No. 1345, § 1, 5-9-1972; Ord. No. 1515, § 1, 7-9-1974]
The executive officer of the Fire Department shall be the Fire Chief, to be appointed as provided in Subsection 2-53(i)(1). The chief shall make or cause to be made all fire inspections of new buildings, be in charge of all operations of the Department and shall be responsible for the training of personnel thereof. He shall perform such other duties as may be directed.
[Ord. No. 155, 1-12-1954; Code 1965, § 7.05; Ord. No.
4804, § 1, 10-24-2017]
A Fire Marshal shall be appointed as provided in Subsection 2-53(i)(2). The Fire Marshal shall study and enforce methods and rules for fire prevention and threats to human life, safety and health and shall inspect premises, existing buildings, and all new construction for the purpose of eliminating fire hazards and protecting human life, safety and health, and shall perform such other duties as directed by the Fire Chief.
[Ord. No. 284, § I, 3-20-1956; Code 1965, § 7.07]
(a)
No person shall break, destroy, damage, injure, interfere with or
deface any property, equipment, buildings or apparatus of the Fire
Department or that of any Fire Department or fire district in the
City pursuant to a contract with the City.
(b)
No person shall detain, interfere with, interrupt or restrain any
personnel of any Fire Department while engaged in the lawful performance
of his duties at any time.
[Ord. No. 3116, §§ 1,
2, 6-27-1989]
(a)
Closed records. All emergency medical service reports prepared by
members of the Fire Department relating to identifiable persons shall
be closed records and inaccessible to the general public, except that
the following persons may obtain same:
(1)
The person or persons identified in the report.
(2)
A person presenting a notarized patient information release signed
by each individual, or the legal guardian or holder of a power of
attorney of each individual, who is the subject of the requested report.
If the person or persons identified in the report are under the age
of 17 years, the release must be signed by the parent or legal guardian,
or juvenile court personnel.
(3)
A person presenting an authorized court order directing production
of a report.
(4)
Personnel of a law enforcement agency.
(b)
Maintained separately from other records available to public. All
emergency medical service incident reports shall be kept separately
from other records which are available to the public.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
The chief of the City Fire Department or his duly authorized
representatives ("fire prevention code official") as may be in charge
at the scene of a fire or other emergency are empowered to direct
such operations as may be necessary in the reasonable performance
of their duty. The Fire Chief may prohibit any person, vehicle or
object from approaching the scene and may remove, or cause to be removed,
from the scene any person, vehicle, or object which may impede or
interfere with the operations of the Fire Department. Any person ordered
to leave an area shall do so immediately and shall not reenter such
area until authorized to do so by the Fire Chief.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere
with, obstruct or restrict the mobility of, or block the path of travel
of any Fire Department emergency vehicle in any way, or to interfere
with, attempt to interfere with, or obstruct or hamper any Fire Department
operation.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
order or direction of the Fire Chief or to interfere with the compliance
attempts of another individual.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected
fire hose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, drive,
or any vehicular roadway without the consent of the Fire Chief.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
(a)
Authorized emergency vehicles shall include those vehicles as defined
in RSMo. 300.010(3), as same may be amended from time to time. The
driver of an emergency vehicle shall not sound the siren thereon or
have the front red lights on or disobey any existing traffic regulations,
except when said vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when
responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire. The driver of
an emergency vehicle may:
(1)
Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of existing traffic
regulations;
(2)
Proceed past a red or stop signal or other sign, but only after slowing
down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(3)
Exceed the speed limit so long as the action does not endanger life
or property;
(4)
Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning
in specified directions.
(b)
The foregoing exemptions shall apply only when the driver of an emergency
vehicle, while in motion, sounds an audible signal by bell, siren
or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and the vehicle
is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light
visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500
feet to the front of such vehicle.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
Upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle, giving
audible and visual signal, the operator of every other vehicle shall
immediately drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel
to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection,
and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency
vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by the Fire Chief or
a police officer.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other
than one on official business, to follow closer than 300 feet from
any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm, or to drive
any vehicle within the block or immediate area where fire apparatus
has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not, without prior authorization from the Fire
Chief in charge of Fire Department emergency equipment, cling to,
attach himself to, climb upon or into, board or swing upon any Fire
Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or at
rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device
thereon, or to manipulate or tamper switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of, any
Fire Department emergency vehicle.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface, or
attempt to damage or deface, any Fire Department vehicle at any time
or to injure, or attempt to injure, Fire Department personnel while
performing departmental duties.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct,
paint or repaint any fire hydrant, or restrict the access to any fire
hydrant or any Fire Department connection for the pressurization of
fire suppression systems, including fire hydrant and Fire Department
connections that are located on public or private streets and access
lanes, or on private property. It shall be unlawful to plant any trees,
shrub, bush, hedge or other plant or vegetation, except grass, within
six feet of any fire hydrant, and none shall be planted between the
street, alley or other public way and a fire hydrant. It shall be
unlawful to plant any shrubs, bushes, hedges, trees or other plants
or vegetation, except grass, in close proximity to a fire hydrant
in such a manner as to interfere with a clear view of the hydrant
by fire vehicles approaching on any public street or way. The Fire
Chief is hereby authorized to remove, trim or cut back any such plant
growth, after posting a notice within 10 feet from such hydrant at
least three days before such removal or cutting, stating his intention
to do so. Cost incurred in the performance of necessary work shall
be paid from the municipal treasury on certificate of the fire official
and with the approval of the chief administrative official; and the
legal authority of the municipality shall institute appropriate action
for the recovery of such cost.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended
for use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes unless
such person first secures the approval for such use from the Fire
Chief and the water company having jurisdiction.
[Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
No person shall erect, place or maintain any bumps, fences,
gates, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal horses or any other type
of obstruction in or on any street, within the boundaries of the City.
As used herein, the term "street" shall include, but not be limited
to, all public streets and private streets or access lanes within
the boundaries of the City.
[Ord. No. 3340, § 1, 3-14-1995; Ord. No. 3347, § 1, 5-9-1995]
(a)
The owner, occupant or agent of a residential or commercial building,
whether new or existing, shall be required to place in a conspicuous
location, visible from the street, the numerical or letter address
of such building in accordance with the following regulations:
(1)
Every building located 50 feet or less from the edge of the street
shall have Arabic numbers not less than three inches high displayed
on the side of the building facing the street to which the address
is assigned.
(2)
Every building located more than 50 feet, but not more than 70 feet,
from the edge of the street shall display Arabic numbers, in accordance
with either of the following Subsections a or b:
a.
Numbers not less than four inches high on the side of the building
facing the street to which the address is assigned;
b.
Numbers not less than three inches high displayed on the side of
the building facing the street to which the address is assigned, and
numbers not less than three inches high displayed on a post, or on
a regulation United States Postal Service mailbox, or on a sign, which
post, mailbox or sign shall be located directly in front of the building
on the same side of the street and not more than 10 feet from the
edge of the street.
(3)
Every building located more than 70 feet, but not more than 90 feet,
from the edge of the street shall display Arabic numbers, in accordance
with either of the following Subsections a or b:
a.
Numbers not less than five inches high on the side of the building
facing the street to which the address is assigned;
b.
Numbers not less than three inches high displayed on the side of
the building facing the street to which the address is assigned, and
numbers not less than three inches high displayed on a post, or on
a regulation United States Postal Service mailbox, or on a sign, which
post, mailbox or sign shall be located directly in front of the building
on the same side of the street and not more than 10 feet from the
edge of the street.
(4)
Every building located more than 90 feet from the edge of the street
shall display Arabic numbers not less than three inches high on the
side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned
and Arabic numbers not less than three inches high displayed on a
post, or on a regulation United States Postage Service mailbox, or
on a sign, which post, mailbox, or sign shall be located directly
in front of the building on the same side of the street and not more
than 10 feet from the edge of the street.
(5)
Every multifamily residential apartment complex shall have its assigned number displayed in accordance with subsection (4) above. In addition, each individual building in such a complex shall have Arabic numbers displayed on the side of the building in such a manner as to be clearly visible and readable from the street or from the driveway of the complex. In addition, each individual apartment shall have Arabic numbers or letters not less than three inches high displayed on or near the front entrance to the apartment.
(6)
The color of the Arabic numbers shall be in contrast to the immediate
background to which they are affixed or inscribed. The numbers shall
be displayed so as to be readily visible and readable during normal
daylight hours.
(7)
These regulations shall be construed to mean that if the Arabic numbers
as specified herein are hidden by an awning, overhang, post, tree,
bush, or other obstruction, then the owner, occupant, or agent of
the building shall place supplementary Arabic numbers in the manner
determined by the enforcing official to best meet the intent of this
section.
(8)
Building numbers may be spelled out for decorative purposes; however,
Arabic numbers meeting the intent of this section shall also be required.
(9)
All applicants for building permits for new construction shall be
given a copy of this section. A building shall be numbered in accordance
with the provisions of this section before any certificate of occupancy
is granted by the City.
(10)
The Director of the Bureau of Fire Prevention is hereby designated
as the enforcing official of this section.
(11)
The owner, occupant or agent of an existing residential or commercial
building whose street address does not conform with the requirements
hereof shall bring such street address posting into compliance with
these requirements not later than July 15, 1995.
(b)
Should any premises be in violation of this section, the enforcing
official shall give the owner, occupant or agent written notice of
violation which shall specify the period of time, which shall be at
least 15 days, for correction of the violation. Any person failing
to cure such violation within the specified period shall be deemed
in violation of the requirements hereof, and shall be subject to the
penalties provided for violation of City ordinance.
