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Zephyrhills To Require Fire Sprinklers

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - In 2003, one hundred people perished in an infamous nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I.

Had the nightclub been equipped with fire sprinklers, perhaps the tragedy could have been prevented, Fire Chief Keith Williams told the city council Monday night.

Williams wants the Zephyrhills City Council to require certain businesses to install fire sprinklers. Working out the details of the proposal has proved tricky, though.

The council voted 3-2 Monday to approve an ordinance requiring all new businesses with more than 5,000 square feet of space to install fire sprinkler systems. Existing businesses would have to install the systems if they renovate their buildings, and buildings expanded to accommodate certain types of business - for example, if a space went from being an insurance office to a nightclub - also would need to be equipped with sprinklers.

That's the part the council spent more than an hour debating. Originally, the ordinance would have required any building with more than 5,000 square feet of space to install sprinklers even if the business' classification didn't change.

The council directed the city attorney to revise the ordinance and bring it back to the Oct. 8 meeting for another reading. The council will have to approve the ordinance a second time before it takes effect.

Councilman Danny Burgess argued that state fire codes already require such measures and said the city shouldn't clutter its ordinance books with such a law. He voted against the ordinance, as did Councilwoman Celia Graham.

The council also approved a $50.4 million operating budget, a spending plan that reflects more than a 10 percent reduction from the current budget of $56 million.

The reduction adheres to state-mandated cutbacks intended to ease Floridians' property tax bills. The city tax rate will be $5.57 per $1,000 of assessed property value - 13 percent lower than the current rate of $6.42 per $1,000. Unlike in years past, this year's budget only allows for one new hire - a police detective.

The budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, also does not contain many large capital expenses as in years past. One exception is a new $570,000 firetruck.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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