18-ALARM ORDINANCE - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• There are exceptions for false alarms that include severe weather induced alarms, actual criminal activity, power outages or the alarm is cancelled before police units arrive on the scene. (This changed from the alarm being cancelled before police units were dispatched.) • The alarm registration holder is allowed twelve (12) false alarms in a 12 month calendar period not including any of the excepted false alarms. (Changed from S, and a calendar range instead of a`rolling 12 month period') • Upon the 13th false alarm response, the alarm site is declared a nuisance alarm and the alarm registration holder is notified of the designation. (Change from 10) • A response fee of $50 is charged for the 13th alarm and for each alarm thereafter until the total number of false alarm responses reaches 20 or the alarm permit holder fails to pay any accessed fee. (The different fees for commercial vs. residential have been changed to a$50 fee for either along with the determination of a nuisance alarm being at 20) New additions/deletions to the ordinance: • Robbery Alarms have been removed from the ordinance in totality. (These alarms average 80 per year and are not a significant waste or resources vs. the propensity for violence against a person.) • Alarm permit holders may appeal a false alarm to the director. • Weekends were added when an alarm is malfunctioning. • Effective date allows for notification of alarm holders. This date will be requested to be June 1, 2013. • Continuing evaluation allows council to determine if the ordinance is actually reducing the number of false alarms in 2 years. The group suggested a public hearing for business owners to be notified of the ordinance before the vote was taken. BUDGET: There will be additional work for the department if this ordinance is amended. We are hoping that the consequences of allowing multiple false alarms will limit the number of alarm sites that the department has to contend with by use of this ordinance. The ordinance asks that any fees generated from this ordinance be deposited in a line item in the department for personnel costs. These additional duties will be absorbed by existing personnel. RECOMMENDATION: A motion to amend the ordinance as presented in this revision to the council is recommended. 54