Sparks City Council adopts updated fire‑prevention inspection fees to full‑cost hourly rate

The Sparks City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to adopt Resolution 3479, updating fees charged by the Sparks Fire Department for certain inspections, reinspections and related fire prevention services to an hourly full‑cost recovery rate of $2.35.

Fire Marshal Patrick Chu told the council the Matrix Consulting Group completed a cost study and staff used fiscal‑year‑2023 cost data to recommend moving from outdated flat fees to an hourly rate that accounts for wages, benefits, training, vehicles and ancillary equipment. Chu said, "This rate is necessary in order to recover the full cost of services rendered for inspections, reinspections, and fire prevention related services."

Chu said a business impact statement was prepared and approved in accordance with NRS 237 and that outreach included letters to about 6,100 businesses; he reported two email oppositions and three workshop attendees. When asked about indexing the fee for future inflation, Chu said staff will return with a revised resolution to consider an annual update.

Council Member Anderson moved to adopt Resolution 3479 and the motion carried 5‑0.

The resolution takes effect per the language in the staff report; staff presentation included historical notes that fee studies dated to 2001 and that the fees were last updated in 2017.

(Transcript contains an apparent typographical error listing an effective date of 01/01/1926; staff presentation elsewhere referenced contemporary adoption and an implementation schedule aligned with council direction.)