On or before May 1 of 2013, and every year following, the Chief of the Fire Department shall present to the Mayor and City Council a written, comprehensive Baltimore City Fire Protection Plan for the City as 1 territorial unit.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 9, §8A(a)(1st sen.)
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Ord. 12-063
The plan must include, but need not be limited to:specific recommendations for equipment, personnel, and locations for the Department’s fire suppression companies and units, emergency medical care companies and units, and truck companies and units for the next fiscal year;
proposed future consolidations, relocations, or reductions of fire suppression companies and units, emergency medical care companies and units, and truck companies and units; and
the criteria used used to determine whether a fire suppression company or unit, emergency medical care company or unit, or truck company or unit should be consolidated, relocated, or closed.
The plan must be based on the following factors:population density;
street and traffic patterns;
geological and topographic considerations;
modernization of equipment;
types and uses of structures;
financial considerations;
the presence of any hazardous materials; and
any other factors the Chief determines to be connected with fire protection and emergency medical service.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 9, §8A(a)(2nd sen.), (b)
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Before the Chief adopts the plan, the Chief must hold a public hearing to offer concerned citizens an opportunity to present testimony on the proposed plan.
After the fire protection plan has been adopted by the Chief, the Chief shall present it to the Mayor for review and recommendation.
After the Mayor reviews the plan, the Mayor shall forward it to the City Council for hearing and review.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 9, §8A(c), (d)
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Following review of the plan by the Mayor and City Council:
the Chief must act in conformance with the plan; and
no permanent, substantive change may be made to the plan without that change first being adopted and reviewed in the same way as that required for the plan’s initial approval. This provision does not apply to changes to any fire suppression company or unit, emergency medical care company or unit, or truck company or unit that are made on a daily basis or those scheduled to last less than 3 months and that are designed to allow the Chief to efficiently and effectively meet temporary and urgent needs for emergency response personnel.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 9, §8A(e)
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Before a final decision is made to consolidate, close, or relocate for longer than 3 months any fire suppression company or unit, emergency medical care company or unit, or truck company or unit, the Chief must hold a public hearing in the community that will be impacted, to provide citizens with an opportunity to submit oral or written testimony or other information on the proposed closing.
At least 2 weeks before the hearing, notice of the hearing must be:published in at least 2 newspapers of general circulation in the geographic area of the company or unit proposed for consolidation, relocation, or closing;
posted on the websites of the City of Baltimore and the Baltimore City Fire Department; and
posted prominently outside that unit or company. The sign is to be not less than 4 feet long and 3 feet wide with black lettering 2 inches high on a white background.
The notice must include:a statement of the procedures that will be followed in making the final decision; and
any time limits imposed on the submission of testimony or other information.
Any final decision to consolidate, relocate, or close a company or unit must be:in writing; and
accompanied by a statement of the factors considered in making the decision.
Ord. 12-063