CROSS REFERENCES
Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.
STATE LAW REFERENCES
Power of city to provide penalties, forfeitures and imprisonment to punish violations of ordinances, General City Law § 20(22).
[Res. No. 108-92, § 2, 7-14-1992]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ALARM USER
Any person who has a security or fire alarm system at premises located within or outside of the city limits owned, operated, or maintained by such person or his agents, employees or servants.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
A device which is connected to a telephone line and is programmed to dial for access to an emergency communication center and transmit by voice message or coded signal to an emergency agency and emergency message indicating a need for emergency response.
AVOIDABLE ALARM
Activation of security or fire alarm system as the result of mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, false alarm or negligence of the owner, user, custodian or agents or through any other cause which results in notification of an emergency agency by a private answering point, automatic dialing device or by a second party or means which communicates that an emergency situation exists requiring response by the city when, in fact, no emergency exists. An avoidable alarm does not include alarms activated by violent conditions of nature such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquake or similar cause beyond the control of the user of the security or fire alarm system. Defective installation, failure to repair, or use of defective equipment shall not constitute a circumstance beyond the control of the alarm user.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER
The city offices responsible for receiving and coordinating 911 emergency telephone calls.
ENHANCED 911 SYSTEM
The county-wide emergency communication system.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Those security or fire alarm systems that are permitted by the city to connect into an emergency communication center from outside of the city limits.
HIGH-RISK PREMISES
Any premises having a security or fire alarm system which is determined by the 911 coordinator to present a substantial or extraordinary security or fire hazard. The following premises shall be presumed to be high risk:
(1) 
Governmental facilities of all types;
(2) 
Schools;
(3) 
Industrial premises;
(4) 
Retail premises having inventory for resale;
(5) 
Banks; and
(6) 
Residential premises having fire alarm systems only.
LEASED LINE SYSTEM
Those security or fire alarm systems which have a dedicated telephone line or line override paid for by the user and terminating at a city-operated emergency communication center.
LOCAL SECURITY OR FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A signaling system which, when activated, causes an audible signalling device to be activated outside the premises within which it is installed.
911 COORDINATOR
The individual so designated by the mayor to carry that title.
PRIVATE ANSWERING POINT
A business which offers the service of receiving emergency signals, monitoring the signals and relaying them to an emergency agency.
PROPRIETARY SECURITY OR FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm, sounding and/or recording device within a premises which is not intended to alert persons outside of the premises and not intended to alert an emergency agency. If a proprietary system includes a signal line connected to an emergency agency or to a private answering point or to a local security or fire alarm system, it thereby becomes a "security or fire alarm system" as defined in this section.
SECURITY OR FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A device that will signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police, fire or emergency medical service agencies are expected to respond. A security or fire alarm system shall include automatic dialing devices as well as leased line security or fire alarm systems. A devise connected to a motor vehicle, water vessel or aircraft shall not be considered a security or fire alarm for the purposes of this chapter.
SPECIAL TRUNK LINE
A designated telephone line leading to the emergency communication center having the primary purpose of handling emergency signals from automatic dialing devices.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 1, 7-14-1992]
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate:
(1) 
The connection of security or fire alarm systems to the city emergency communications centers.
(2) 
Automatic dialing device message content to ensure that essential information is received in order to provide appropriate emergency response.
(3) 
Administrative matters relating to the operations of the city emergency communication centers and to support the development and successful implementation of an enhanced county-wide 911 system.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 12, 7-14-1992]
These regulations shall pertain to all security or fire alarm systems in the city or which otherwise terminate at the fire or police department. The 911 coordinator may from time to time implement this chapter by regulation. All regulations shall be issued with an effective date. It is the duty of all alarm users to keep advised of amendments to this chapter and to procedures and make appropriate changes and/or modifications as required.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 10, 7-14-1992]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Unless otherwise provided, any person, business or firm who shall fail to comply shall be liable for a civil penalty payable to the city of $150. In addition to the civil penalty payable to the city, noncompliance shall be punishable by the court by a fine of not less than $150 and not more than $1,000, or by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) 
The 911 coordinator may order the alarm user to immediately disconnect any device not conforming with provisions of this chapter. The failure by such user to obey such order shall be a separate offense punishable by a fine of not less than $350 and not more than $1,500 or by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the owner of such security or fire alarm system shall be liable for a civil penalty payable to the city in the amount of $250 for the failure to obey such order.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 3, 7-14-1992; Res. No. 82-06, 6-27-2006]
(a) 
Permit. No person shall, as an alarm user, own, use, lease, operate or maintain a security or fire alarm system connected to a city emergency communication center or engage in the business for hire of installing security or fire alarm systems, other than a proprietary system, unless such person shall have first registered and obtained from the city clerk's office a permit as herein provided. All permits shall expire December 31 of each year and are required to be renewed in January of each year.
(b) 
Registration/application; alarm user. Alarm user permits shall be issued only to such premises determined to be high risk by the 911 coordinator. In order to obtain an alarm user's permit, a person who owns or operates a security or fire alarm system shall submit an application in the form designated by the city, which shall contain the following:
(1) 
The name, home address and telephone number of the person applying for the permit.
(2) 
The address of the premises upon which the security or fire alarm system is or will be located.
(3) 
The address to which notices required under this chapter shall be sent.
(4) 
The type of security or fire alarm system for which the permit is sought.
(5) 
The name of the licensed alarm business selling, installing and/or maintaining the security or fire alarm system.
(6) 
The name, address and telephone number of the licensed private answering point business providing monitoring service.
(7) 
The name, address, and telephone number of two or more persons who can be reached at any time and who are authorized by the owner of the premises in which the system is installed to open the premises and will be present at the premises any time an emergency agency responds to a security or fire alarm system.
(8) 
A plan for safely silencing a local security or fire alarm system as soon as possible.
(9) 
Any other information as the city may require.
The information required on the permit or renewal application shall be treated as confidential and shall not be made available to the general public. The common council finds that the release of such information would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy and could endanger the life or safety of persons at the premises where a security or fire alarm system is located.
(c) 
(Reserved)
(d) 
Registration/application; alarm system installers. In order to obtain a security or fire alarm system installer's permit, a person who operates a security or fire alarm system installation/maintenance business for hire providing services to any alarm user in the city shall submit an application in the form designated by the city, which shall contain the following:
(1) 
The name, home address and telephone number of the person applying for the permit.
(2) 
The address of the premises where the installer's business is or will be located.
(3) 
The address to which notices required under this chapter shall be sent.
(4) 
The name, address, and telephone number of the owner/shareholder of the business.
(5) 
Evidence of compliance with state licensing requirements.
(6) 
Such other information as the city may require.
(e) 
Effective date.
(1) 
On or prior to October 1, 1992, all automatic dialing devices and leased line security or fire alarm systems terminating at a city emergency communication center shall be required to obtain the permit required by this chapter.
(2) 
Effective October 1, 1992, all automatic dialing devices terminating at the City Dispatch Center shall be required to be programmed to call designated special trunk lines accessed by designated seven-digit numbers. The designated emergency telephone numbers will be such seven-digit numbers as set forth from time to time for such purposes.
(3) 
(Reserved)
(4) 
On or prior to October 1, 1992, alarm system installers shall be required to obtain the permit required by this chapter.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 4, 7-14-1992; Res. No. 125-94, 12-27-1994]
(a) 
Only digital dialers shall be permitted to be utilized as an automatic dialing device interconnected with the city communications center. No automatic dialing device shall be programmed to dial the number 911. All automatic dialing devices terminating at an emergency communication center must be programmed to dial the seven-digit number designated by the city from time to time as its automatic device emergency number. Only high risk premises shall be permitted to interconnect with the city emergency communications system.
(b) 
Any person connecting to the city emergency communication center shall make prior application to the city for authorization, obtain a permit, and pay such fees as may from time to time be required for connection and monitoring.
(c) 
Automatic dialing devices shall not hold the telephone line open after the emergency communication center has broken the telephone connection.
(d) 
Automatic dialing devices shall not dial the emergency communication center more than three times as a result of a single activation.
(e) 
Automatic dialing devices shall not state a message more than twice after the call has been answered.
(f) 
Automatic dialing device messages shall be in the following format:
"This is (name of household or business) in the _____ of _____ reporting a (robbery, burglary, police trouble, fire, water flow or medical emergency) alarm at (number, street name) (apartment or room number) (floor) (building name)."
Information other than as provided by this subsection may be authorized by the 911 coordinator.
(g) 
The city emergency communication center shall not provide medical alert monitoring.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 5, 7-14-1992; Res. No. 115-96, § 1, 11-26-1996; Res. No. 82-06, 6-27-2006]
(a) 
Alarm notifications which terminate at a private answering point and are then communicated to the fire or police department by an individual for appropriate dispatch response shall be permitted to utilize the 911 emergency telephone number. The calling party shall provide the fire or police department with the following information:
(1) 
Type of alarm activated: robbery, burglary, police trouble, fire, water flow, or medical emergency.
(2) 
Name of business or household.
(3) 
Street number and name.
(4) 
Apartment, room number or floor, if applicable.
(5) 
Building name.
(6) 
Nearest intersecting street.
(7) 
Any additional information as requested by the fire or police department.
The calling party shall promptly terminate the call upon transmission of the above information.
(b) 
(Reserved)
[Res. No. 108-92, § 6, 7-14-1992]
(a) 
All local security or fire alarm systems shall become deactivated and silenced after a period no greater than 15 minutes.
(b) 
Police and/or fire officials may disable an audible local alarm signal that has not been silenced prior to the expiration of the 15 minute period and shall not be liable for any damage that may result.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 8, 7-14-1992]
The testing of leased line security or fire alarm systems and automatic dialing devices terminating at the city emergency communication center shall be authorized in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Unless otherwise authorized by the 911 coordinator, business alarms may be tested a maximum of once per day. Residential alarms may be tested a maximum of one time per week. Such testing shall be conducted during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Exceptions for frequency of tests and hours will be granted when the alarm is being tested as a result of alarm maintenance or repair.
(2) 
Prior to the alarm test, the user must contact the fire or police department to notify of the test. The caller must provide name, address, telephone number and type of alarm. The telephone number to be used when requesting an alarm test is 375-5678 for robbery, burglary or police trouble alarms and 375-5686 for fire, water flow or medical emergency calls, or such other numbers as may be designated for such purpose. If for any reason the alarm test cannot be conducted, the operator will advise the user and the test shall be rescheduled at another time.
(3) 
A police or fire official may be dispatched to the alarm address to verify the test.
(4) 
Upon test completion, the user shall communicate with the emergency communication center utilizing the appropriate number listed in subsection (2) of this section to confirm the successful alarm test or establish its failure.
(5) 
During the test, the fire and police department dispatcher will monitor the test and evaluate clarity of message, tone and message completeness.
[Res. No. 108-92, § 9, 7-14-1992; Res. No. 84-96, 9-10-1996; Res. No. 115-96, §§ 2, 3, 11-26-1996; Res. No. 82-06, 6-27-2006]
(a) 
There shall be charged for municipal service provided pursuant to this chapter the following user fees. These fees may from time to time be reviewed by the common council of the city by resolution.
Alarm system installer's permit
No charge
Alarm system installer renewal
No charge
Annual application/connection fee and renewal fee:
Automatic dialing system
$10/building
Leased line system
$10/building
Local security or fire alarm system
No charge
Residential monitoring by city
$100/building
Residential monitoring by city, (for system located outside city)
$150/building
Commercial/industrial monitoring by city
$175/building
Commercial/industrial monitoring by city (for system located outside city)
$225/building
Public school system monitoring
No charge
Federal, state or county building
No charge
Surcharge for tape dialer (City or foreign exchange)
No charge
Test (city)
No charge
Test (foreign)
No charge
Avoidable alarm charge
1 to 7
$50/alarm
8 to 10
$75/alarm
11 to 13
$100/alarm
14 and above
$125/alarm
Late payment administrative charge
$10 + $2/month
(b) 
All permit renewal fees and monitoring fees shall be payable annually, in January. No renewal permit shall be issued to any person who has failed to pay any fee or charge provided by this chapter. False alarm charges shall be levied after three avoidable alarms in any one-year period. Avoidable alarm charges shall be payable 30 days after billing. Alarm users shall be billed by the city and be obligated to pay all avoidable alarm charges. Monitoring fees will be prorated during the year of installation. No reimbursement of monitoring fees paid shall be made upon termination.
(c) 
In addition to any other remedy provided for failure to comply with this chapter, there is established a late payment administrative charge. The charge shall be a $10 administrative fee plus an additional amount of $2 assessed for each thirty-day delinquency.
(d) 
Failure to pay annual monitoring charges prior to April 1 shall be deemed to authorize the coordinator to issue a notice of termination terminating the privilege granted by the permit.
(e) 
All monitoring fee revenue from emergency communication services shall be paid in to a capital project account maintained by the auditor with such revenue earned for system upgrades.