Kennewick staff propose $810 lift-assist fee billed to requesting facilities, with waivers and exceptions

Kennewick Fire Chief Heffner told the council the city responds to about 1,000 lift assists yearly — roughly 7% of its call volume — and proposed a fee billed to covered requesting entities rather than to patients. "Kennewick Fire Department responds to approximately 1,000 lift assists annually. Put that in perspective. It's about 7% of our call volume," he said, and recommended setting the lift-assist fee equal to the city's Basic Life Support fee ($810 in 2026).

Staff described categories of covered entities (licensed assisted living and certain adult family homes) and said private residences and independent-living units would be excluded. The proposal would allow the fire chief to waive or reduce assessments in cases of misclassification, emergent medical conditions or other exceptional circumstances and include an appeal process. Council members urged clear notification to affected facilities and to the public that the fee would not apply to private residents. Staff said they plan to return the proposal as a resolution and code update for the Oct. 6 meeting to meet filing timelines.