The City of Billings has contracted with Yellowstone County since 1988 to provide fire protection services to the Billings Urban Fire Service Area (BUFSA).  The current agreement expires June 30, 2018.  The BUFSA is an urban interface area surrounding the City of Billings and a boundary map is attached.  All services are provided at the same level as such services are provided to properties and residents within the corporate limits of the City and include structure fire suppression, fire investigation, hazardous material response, medical emergency first responder and grass and timberland fire suppression.  The proposed five year renewal agreement is attached.
 

City Council may approve or disapprove the five (5) year Billings Urban Fire Service (BUFSA) Agreement with Yellowstone County.

The fee for providing services for the first full year of this Agreement will be $1,176,255.  This is equivalent to the cost of ten (10) firefighters including operating expenses and equipment.  One half of the fees will be paid before December 31st of each contract year and the remaining one-half will be paid by June 30th.  Future years' assessments will increase at the same rate as the Fire Department's total budget. 
 

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the 5-year agreement with the Yellowstone County Commissioners to provide fire and EMS protection to those county residents within the Billings Urban Fire Service Area (BUFSA) boundaries.