84-02 OrdinanceRECORD OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance No ...................84-.02..(A~nended) Passed .................................................................., .......................
YE.1R
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 93.80 (PRIVATE FIRE
HYDRANTS) AND 150.193 (FIRE HYDRANT PERMIT FEE) OF THE
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
WHEREAS, the City of Dublin, Ohio (the "City") is vitally concerned with preservation of public
peace, health, safety and welfare of its citizens, and;
WHEREAS, fire hydrants, both public and private, are vital to the safety, health and welfare of
Dublin residents; and
WHEREAS, Dublin City Council requested that the Community Services Advisory Commission
review staff's report regarding hydrants; and
WHEREAS, the Community Services Advisory Commission agreed with certain aspects of staff's
report and recommended amendments to the Dublin Code of Ordinances.
NO ,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Dublin, State of Ohio,
of the elected members concurring that:
Section 1. Section 93.80 of the Code of Ordinances be amended as follows:
(A) For the purpose of this section, private fire hydrants shall be defined as a hydrant
connected into a private waterline.
(B) For purposes of the public safety, health and welfare, the City Manager is authorized
to implement the necessary administrative regulations to ensure the efficient
administration of this Code section, The following rules and regulations shall apply
for proper private hydrant maintenance within the City at a minimum:
(1) Private fire hydrants shall be flushed at least once between April 1 and
October 31 of each year, and private fire hydrants may be pumped dry at this
time or not later than October 31 of each year. An appropriate backflow
prevention device shall be used during this process,
(2) Upon request of the private hydrant owner or designated representative, the
City shall make available a backflow prevention device whenever the fire
hydrant is used for any purpose other than firefighting. A refundable deposit
shall be required for use of such backflow prevention device.
(3) A permit shall be obtained for any use other than firefighting or annual
flushing and pumping.
(4) The fee for this permit shall be as set forth from time to time by Ordinance
establishing the City's schedule of fees and service charges.
(5) Private fire hydrants should be checked every three weeks of each year during
the period between November 1 and March 31.
(6) Private fire hydrant barrels are to be kept free from water from November 1
through March 31 of each year.
(7) Any private hydrant determined to be "out of service" shall be "bagged" to
notify the fire department that the hydrant is not functioning. The private
hydrant owner or designated representative shall notify the Washington
Township Fire Department whenever a private hydrant is "out of service."
(8) All private fire hydrants shall be painted white with green tops and caps.
(9) All private fire hydrants shall be visible and accessible to Fire Department
apparatus.
RECORD OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance No ................................... / ~ l Passed ..........................................................p.a e.2...............
O~Y-02..../~'Yh ~ir'1 ~Cd / ~ YE.-1R.. .
(10) A log shall be kept which is accessible to Fire Department personnel
indicating that private fire hydrants have been maintained.
('80 Code, § 1515.10) (Ord. 118-88, passed 1-16-89) Penalty, see § 93.99
Section 2. Section 150.193 of the Code of Ordinances be amended as follows:
(A) A permit shall be obtained from the City to use a fire hydrant for any purpose other
than firefighting or flushing and pumping for maintenance purposes.
(B) An appropriate backflow device shall be used any time a hydrant is used for other than
firefighting purposes.
(C) The fee for this permit shall be as set forth from time to time by ordinance for each
day of usage in winter months (November 1 through March 31) and for up to 30 days
usage during non-winter months, which is in addition to the cost of the water used.
(D) Under this permit, the person to whom the permit is issued shall be responsible for all
damages caused by the use or freezing of the hydrants. The user shall call the City
Division of Streets & Utilities for inspection of the hydrants after each use.
(E) There shall be a fee, as set forth from time to time by ordinance, imposed if the City
is required to pump the hydrant after use by the contractor or if the final inspection by
the Division of Streets & Utilities reveals that the hydrant has not been properly
pumped.
(F) The City Manager may designate a specific hydrant(s) to be used during winter
months.
(G) A valid permit shall bear signatures of the City Manager, or his designee, and the
Washington Township Fire Department Chief, or his designee.
('80 Code, § 1333.19) (Ord. 127-87, passed 11-16-87)
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest date allowed
by law.
Passed this ~~ day of - , 2002
~ .
Mayor -Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
~C'.~-~~.~--
Clerk of Council
I hereby certify that copies of this
Ordinance/Resolution were posted in the
City of Dublin in accordance with Section
731.25 of the Ohio Revised Code.
L~.l3~1
rk of Council, Dublin, Ohio
CITY OF DUBLIN
Department of Service
6351 Shier-Rings Road, Dublin, Ohio 43016-1243
Phone: 614-410-4750 Fax: 614-761-6512
Memo
To: All Members Dublin City Council
From: Community Services Advisory Commission (CSAC)
Through: Marsha Grigsby, Interim City Manager/Director ofFinance
Initiated by: Dana L. McDaniel, Assistant City Manager/Director of Service
Date: May 28, 2002
Re: Fire Hydrant Maintenance; Ordinance 84-02
Attached please find Ordinance 84-02. This Ordinance amends sections 93.80 and 150.193 of the
Codified Ordinances of the City of Dublin. This Ordinance reflects the recommendations of the
Community Services Advisory Commission, as a result of its review of staff's report regarding
hydrants dated Apri12, 2002.
Council may recall that staff reviewed the issue of private hydrants as a result of Operating Budget
discussions. Staff concluded that:
Some private hydrants in the City of Dublin were found to be improperly maintained and
could have been inoperable had they been needed. Some hydrants were frozen suggesting
lack of maintenance and/or lack of a flushing /pumping program. City and Township Fire
Department staff collaborated to review the private hydrant program and develop
recommendations.
CSAC reviewed staff's report and recommended the City pursue the following:
A. Educate the Public. Insure private hydrant owners understand the importance of proper fire
hydrant maintenance. Inform the general public on a continuing basis regarding flushing
and pumping of hydrants; reporting illegal use of hydrants; "out of service" hydrants; etc.
B. Provide periodic inspections of private hydrants. Private hydrant owners are required to
conduct annual flushing and pumping and to keep a maintenance log. The Washington
Township Fire Department (WTFD) and the City's Division of Streets & Utilities will take
action to more routinely inspect private hydrants. The City and WTFD have a sound
system for the flushing, pumping and maintenance of the City's public hydrants and will
follow and/or exceed these same requirements for private hydrants.
C. Bagging out of service h d~ants. Require private hydrant owners to "bag" known
inoperable hydrants and to report inoperable hydrants to the WTFD.
D. Require use of backflow device. Require private hydrant owners to use a backflow device
whenever using a hydrant or conducting maintenance. Exercising a hydrant without a
proper backflow prevention device could cause risk to the public's drinking water by
allowing unwanted contaminants into the system. The City can make a backflow
May 30, 2002
Dana McDaniel -Ordinance 84-02
Page 2
prevention device available to a private owner in exchange for a refundable deposit.
E. Require hermits for non-firefighting use of hydrants. Require private hydrant owners to
obtain a permit for a private hydrant for any use other than annual flushing and pumping
or firefighting. The fire hydrant's primary use is for firefighting regardless of whether it is
public or private. The City and WTFD must account for the use of any hydrant to help
insure the public, health, safety and welfare. It has not been the practice of private hydrant
owners to secure a permit or notify the City/WTFD that a hydrant is inoperable or has been
used. Staff's recent assessment of private hydrants recently demonstrated this. Therefore,
more clear and specific language is needed in the code.
F. Maintain good communication between the Division of Streets & Utilities, WTFD and the
Police Communications Center. It is imperative that these three agencies communicate the
status of hydrants.
G. Self-draining hydrants. After further research, staff recommended against the installation
ofself-draining hydrants.
The language changes proposed in Ordinance 84-02 reflect the recommendations of CSAC.
Thank you.
CSAC/DLM/tb