§ 15-3. Establishment of emergency vehicle zones on private property.

(a)

On application of the owner or lessor of real property and payment of the fee established in accordance with Subsection (f) of this section, the Fire Chief or authorized designee shall inspect the grounds of any shopping center, shopping mall, parking lot or parking garage and determine whether there are areas which should be kept free of parked motor vehicles in order to facilitate access to buildings by authorized emergency vehicles as defined in Fla. Stat. § 316.003. When making this determination, the Fire Chief or authorized designee shall consider the following factors:

(1)

The number of people who frequent the property;

(2)

The accessibility of the property by authorized emergency vehicles; and

(3)

The frequency of calls for emergency services at the property.

(b)

The Fire Chief or authorized designee, upon determining that there are areas within a shopping center, shopping mall, parking lot or parking garage, which should be kept free of parked vehicles in order to facilitate building access by authorized emergency vehicles, shall discuss the matter with the owner or lessee of the property, and if there is no objection, shall permit the owner or lessee of the property to erect emergency vehicles zone signs in accordance with Subsection (d) of this section. Access roadways shall comply with the provisions of the Florida Fire Prevention Code, this Code and applicable state statutes.

(c)

The owner or lessee of a shopping center, shopping mall, parking lot or parking garage who has made application to the Fire Chief or authorized designee pursuant to Subsection (a) of this section may withdraw the application at any time by written notice, unless required to set aside and designate emergency vehicles zones in order to develop any real property in accordance with land development regulations.

(d)

Areas in which parking is to be prohibited pursuant to this section shall be conspicuously posted with signs advising motorists that parking is prohibited pursuant to this section and that violators will be fined $100.00. The Fire Chief or authorized designee may designate the number and size of the signs to be used.

(e)

All signs erected or allowed by Subsection (d) of this section shall be installed and maintained by the property owner or lessee of the property.

(f)

The City shall, by resolution, establish a fee to pay costs of inspection of property and establishment of emergency vehicles zones pursuant to this section.

(g)

Any person who causes a motor vehicle to be parked in an area in which parking is prohibited pursuant to this section shall be subject to a civil fine of $100.00 per occurrence.

(Code 1999, § 6.6-8)