Cross References — Buildings and building regulations, chs. 500 — 505; fire prevention and protection, ch. 210; police, ch. 200.
[CC 1991 §11-1; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981]
A. 
The purpose of this Chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations applicable to emergency alarm systems, alarm businesses, alarm agents and alarm users as defined in this Chapter.
B. 
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
ANSI
Stands for the American National Standards Institute.
ALARM AGENT
Any person employed by an alarm business whose duties include the altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, responding to, or causing others to respond to an alarm device.
1. 
Persons in the construction business and not in the employ of an alarm business, but under the control or supervision of an alarm business may be involved under contracts or subcontracts in the installation of alarm systems. Such persons are not required to obtain licenses as alarm businesses.
2. 
The provisions of this Section do not include a person who engages in the manufacture or sale of an alarm system from a fixed location and who neither visits the location where the alarm system is to be installed, or designs the scheme for physical location of the alarm system in a specific location.
ALARM BUSINESS
Any business operated by a person who engages in the activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, selling, servicing, or responding to an emergency alarm system, or which causes any of these activities to take place.
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment (or a single device such as a solid state unit which plugs directly into a one hundred ten (110) volt AC line) arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the Police or Fire Departments are expected to respond.
ALARM USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the City of Frontenac except for alarm systems on motor vehicles or proprietary systems. If, however, an alarm system on a motor vehicle is connected with an alarm system at a premises (other than a proprietary system) the person using such system is an alarm user.
ANNUNCIATOR
The instrumentation on an alarm console at the receiving terminal of a signal line which through both visual and audible signals shows when an alarm device at a particular location has been activated or it may also indicate line trouble.
ANSWERING SERVICE
Refers to a telephone answering service providing among its services the service of receiving on a continuous basis through trained employees, emergency signals from alarm systems, and thereafter immediately relaying the message by live voice to the communications center of the Frontenac Police Department.
AUTOMATIC DIALING DEVICE
Refers to an alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message or coded signal indicating the existence of the emergency situation that the alarm system is designed to detect.
AUTOMATIC HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
An alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by the actions of the robber.
BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM
Refers to an alarm system signaling an entry or attempted entry into the area protected by the system.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits, and where guards are maintained continuously to investigate signals.
CENTRAL STATION EQUIPMENT
Refers to the signal receiving, recording or retransmitting equipment installed in the central station.
CENTRAL STATION SYSTEM
A system in which the operation of electrical protection circuits and devices are signaled automatically to, recorded in, maintained, and supervised from a central station having trained operators and guards in attendance at all times.
CITY
The City of Frontenac.
DIRECT CONNECT
An alarm system which has the capability of transmitting system signals to and receiving them at an agency maintained by the City of Frontenac.
DIRECT LINE
A telephone line leading directly from a central station or modified central station to the communications center of the Frontenac Police Department that is for use only to report emergency signals on a person-to-person basis.
EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM
See "Alarm System".
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Fire Department of the City of Frontenac, or his/her designated representative.
HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
Refers to an alarm system signaling a robbery or attempted robbery.
INTERCONNECT
To connect an alarm system to a voice grade telephone line, either directly or through a mechanical device that utilizes a standard telephone, for the purpose of using the telephone line to transmit an emergency message upon the activation of the alarm systems.
LOCAL ALARM SYSTEM
Refers to a signaling system which when activated causes an audible and/or visual signaling device to be activated in or on the premises within which the system is installed.
MANUAL HOLDUP ALARM SYSTEM
Refers to an alarm system in which the signal transmission is initiated by the direct action of the person attacked or by an observer of the attack.
MODIFIED CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits. Such modified central station is not listed by Underwriters' Laboratories.
NON-VALID ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his/her employees or agents, except that the following shall not be considered non-valid alarms:
1. 
Alarms caused by the failure or malfunction of the monitoring equipment located in the Frontenac Police Department;
2. 
Alarms occurring on a repeated basis without apparent cause but where continuous decided effort, in the sole opinion of the Police Chief, is being made jointly by the alarm user, the alarm business used by the alarm user for installation or servicing, and any other concerned person to correct the malfunction expeditiously;
3. 
Alarms caused by an attempted illegal entry, of which there is visible evidence;
4. 
Alarms intentionally caused by a person acting under a reasonable belief that a need exists to call the Police or Fire Departments; or
5. 
Alarms followed by an immediate call to the Police Department canceling the alarm by giving the proper code number, such call having been made prior to the arrival of the Police or Fire Department.
In determining the existence of a non-valid alarm, if the Police Chief or the Fire Chief finds that reasonable doubt exists as to the cause of the alarm, he/she may determine the alarm not to be a non-valid alarm.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.
POLICE CHIEF
The Chief of the Police Department of the City of Frontenac, or his/her designated representative.
POLICE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT
The official Police Department of the City of Frontenac, or any authorized agent thereof.
PRIMARY TRUNKLINE
A telephone line leading directly into the communications center of the Frontenac Police Department that is for the purpose of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis.
PROPRIETARY SYSTEM
An alarm system sounding and/or recording alarm and supervisory signals at a control center located within the protected premises, the control center being under the supervision of the proprietor of the protected premises. If a proprietary system includes a signal line connected directly or by means of an automatic dialing device to a Police communications center, a central station, modified central station or answering service, it thereby becomes an "alarm system" as defined in this Section.
REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM
An alarm signaling system which when activated by an alarm device transmits a signal from an alarm signaling device to a central location, other than the Police Department, where appropriate action is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
SIGNAL LINE
Refers to the transmission line through which the signal passes from one (1) of the elements of the signal transmission to another.
SPECIAL TRUNKLINE
A telephone line leading into the communications center of the Frontenac Police Department and having the primary purpose of handling emergency signals or messages originating from automatic dialing devices either directly or through a central station.
SUBSCRIBER
A person who buys and/or leases, or otherwise obtains an alarm signaling system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm business to monitor and/or service the alarm device.
TELEPHONE COMPANY
The utility that furnishes telephone services to the City of Frontenac.
UL
Stands for Underwriters' Laboratories.
[CC 1991 §11-2; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
Application For License. No emergency alarm system shall be installed or serviced by other than a licensed alarm business. Each alarm business wishing to do business in the City of Frontenac shall first apply to the City for a business license and provide all pertinent information on their letterhead which shall include, among other things, the following:
1. 
Name, address, telephone number and type of business organization. If a partnership, the names and addresses of partners. If a corporation, the names and addresses of the principal officers and the State of incorporation, and the name and address of any person owning more than ten percent (10%) thereof.
2. 
A statement that such firm and its employees are licensed and bonded in compliance with the applicable ordinances of St. Louis County.
3. 
Certification by the applicant that a complete background, including records checks, has been obtained on all employees in the office or offices serving the City, and that no person with a record of conviction for a felony offense or a violation involving moral turpitude found in such checks will be employed on jobs within the City.
4. 
A statement of the type and availability of repair and/or maintenance service that the applicant proposes to offer to the public.
5. 
A statement of the security to be afforded by the applicant for wiring diagrams and/or security plans of installations made or to be made.
6. 
A statement that the applicant is willing to comply with such reasonable rules and regulations about details of installation and operation of such systems as may be issued by the Police Chief.
B. 
Action On Application. On the basis of the application the City shall within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the completed application, approve the same or furnish to the applicant written reasons for denial.
C. 
Instruction On Operation. Each alarm business which sells, leases, and/or installs an emergency alarm system in the City shall furnish the alarm user with written instructions as to the way in which the system operates. He/she shall also provide initial training in the operation of the system, and upon request from the alarm user, refresher training. If the Police Chief or Fire Chief finds that the instructions provided are incomplete, unclear, or otherwise inadequate, he/she may require the alarm business to have same revised to meet the Police Chief's or Fire Chief's approval, and then promptly distributed to persons for whom installations are henceforth made.
D. 
Repair Service Required. Each alarm business that sells, leases, and/or installs an emergency alarm system within the City must offer service, directly or through an agency, to repair such alarm so as to correct any malfunction that may occur. At the time of the installation, each alarm business shall furnish to the alarm user written information as to how service can be obtained at any time, including the telephone number to call for service. The alarm user shall be responsible for having the system repaired as quickly as possible after he/she learns of any malfunction. No alarm technician shall perform any service on any alarm system in the City of Frontenac, if they do not possess the site cancellation code, without first personally appearing at the Police Department and notifying the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center of the location and general type of service to be performed. The technician must disconnect said alarm system at the alarm user's location during maintenance or repair to avoid disrupting the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center, and the technician must notify the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center upon completion of the work.
E. 
Cancellation Of License. In addition to the penalties described below for violation of any provision of this Chapter, the City may, after notice and hearing, cancel the business license of an alarm business on any of the following grounds:
1. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement contained in any application for such license.
2. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement in the conduct of the business authorized by such license.
3. 
Failure to correct any deficiencies in equipment or operation after receipt of due notice from the City.
4. 
Violation of any provision of the Chapter.
F. 
Central Stations — Modified Central Stations — Answering Services. No one shall operate a central station, modified central station, or answering service in the City of Frontenac, serving any user in the City, unless licensed as an alarm business. In addition to any other requirements imposed by this Chapter, central stations, modified central stations, and answering services shall meet the following minimum requirements:
1. 
Central station standards shall be in compliance with "Standards for Central Station Burglar Alarm Units and Systems" issued by Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The service provided may correspond to any of the several grades of service listed in the standards, but the owner, alarm agent or other person in responsible control of the premises wherein such alarm system is located must be present at such premises as soon as is reasonably possible after being requested to do so by a representative of the City of Frontenac.
2. 
Modified central stations standards.
a. 
The premises from which the services are performed shall meet any applicable fire regulations.
b. 
The premises from which the services are performed shall be secure in a manner approved by the Police Chief to prevent entry by unauthorized persons.
c. 
A large enough number of operators shall be on duty at all times to assure that all emergency messages received will be relayed immediately to the Police Department.
d. 
The modified central station shall certify that all equipment supervised by the modified central station shall be tested at least once a year. Where a test result is unsatisfactory, the cause thereof shall be corrected within twenty-four (24) hours unless circumstances exist that make such corrections impossible within such time, in which event the cause shall be corrected within a reasonable time.
e. 
The modified central station shall certify that all equipment supervised by the modified central station shall be tested at least once a year. Where a test result is unsatisfactory, the cause thereof shall be corrected within twenty-four (24) hours unless circumstances exist that make such corrections impossible within such time, in which event the cause shall be corrected within a reasonable time.
3. 
Answering service standards.
a. 
The premises from which the services are performed shall meet any applicable fire regulations.
b. 
The premises from which the services are performed shall be secured in a manner approved by the Police Chief to prevent entry by unauthorized persons.
c. 
A sufficient number of operators shall be on duty at all times to ensure that all emergency messages received will be relayed immediately to the Police Department.
d. 
Emergency messages from automatic alarm devices shall be given priority over all other messages received by the answering service.
e. 
All operators shall be trained to handle emergency messages.
f. 
As soon as possible after notifying the Police Department, the operator concerned shall notify the subscriber involved of such action and the nature of the emergency message received.
g. 
All subscribers of an answering service shall be required by the service to cooperate in a test of its alarm devices at least once a year to determine if the device is working properly. The answering service shall certify that the test requirements have been fulfilled. Unsatisfactory test results shall be promptly reported, in writing, to the subscriber and the Frontenac Police Department. Until the device in question is again working properly, the Police Department may require that its use be discontinued.
[CC 1991 §11-3; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
Police Department Terminals. After the effective date hereof, all residences shall be permitted to have their alarm systems call directly into the Frontenac Police Department Dispatch Center providing:
1. 
Their alarm systems meet such standards for connection as are set forth by the Police Chief with the approval of the City Board of Aldermen.
2. 
All fees as set forth by the City are paid.
3. 
The alarm user contracts with and pays all fees due the alarm business providing the annunciator equipment (monitoring equipment) at the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center.
B. 
Restrictions On Automatic Dialing Devices. All automatic dialing devices shall be installed on a separate telephone line unless such device incorporates equipment capable of seizing the telephone line and a method to abort a non-valid alarm.
[CC 1991 §11-4; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 94-998 §1, 5-17-1994; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
All emergency alarm systems equipped with any sound-producing device, including but not limited to gongs, buzzers, sirens, bells or horns, shall function in a manner limiting the operation of such sound-providing device to five (5) minutes on any one (1) occasion.
[CC 1991 §11-5; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
Standards And Inspections. The following is required:
1. 
All alarm systems installed in commercial or public buildings after the effective date of this Chapter shall utilize equipment and methods of installation substantially equivalent to or exceeding the minimum applicable UL or ANSI standards, and such equipment shall be installed in a safe, reliable and professional manner.
2. 
All alarm systems installed in residences after the effective date of this Chapter shall utilize equipment which shall be substantially equivalent to or exceeds the minimum applicable UL or ANSI Standards, and such equipment shall be installed in a safe, reliable and professional manner.
3. 
The equipment or hardware used and/or the manner of installation of the alarm system may correspond to any of the several levels of protection or grades of service listed in the applicable standards, provided however, that alarm systems users shall not be required to provide protection for all of the areas of openings which may be required to be protected by the applicable standards.
4. 
The standards referred to in this Section are hereby adopted as part of this Chapter subject to the modifications and qualifications set forth herein.
5. 
In those instances where UL and/or ANSI have not established standards for categories of equipment or where new equipment is undergoing field testing, the Police Chief may require that the alarm system be inspected at the expense of the alarm user by a professional electrical engineer who shall certify whether the alarm system appears to be safe and reliable.
6. 
Alarm systems which input into an automatic dialing device are also subject to the provisions of this Section.
7. 
In addition to the requirements set forth by the listed UL or ANSI Standards the following additional requirements shall be met:
a. 
All systems installed after this date and all systems heretofore installed, must have a standby power supply for both the control panel and the phone lines. This secondary source of power shall be so installed that if the main source of power fails the system will not cause a non-valid alarm. All standby power supplies shall be of the rechargeable power supply type which will be installed at the time of the initial installation of the system. All existing alarm systems in the City of Frontenac shall have rechargeable standby power supplies installed within six (6) months of the effective date of this Chapter.
b. 
New systems shall be installed in such a manner that the protective circuits will indicate whether they are secure prior to being armed.
c. 
No device on an alarm system terminating at the Frontenac Police Department Dispatch Center shall be installed in such a manner that it merely opens or closes the telephone circuit, thereby indicating line trouble on the annunciator equipment at the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center.
d. 
The alarm user shall be responsible for maintaining the system in good repair to assure reliability of operation.
e. 
The alarm user shall also be responsible for seeing that the system is not misused.
8. 
The installation of an alarm system or the repair/testing of existing alarm systems will comply with the following:
a. 
Alarm technicians that possess site cancellation codes registered with the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center may respond directly to the site of the alarm system to work on it, but prior to doing so they must call the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center to advise that they are working on the alarm, and they must provide the proper site cancellation code.
b. 
Alarm technicians that do not have cancellation codes registered with the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center must go to the Frontenac Police Station lobby where they will utilize the lobby phone, or their cellular phone, to call the Dispatch Center while appearing on video to the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center via the Police lobby camera.
c. 
Alarm technicians must limit the amount of test calls made from the alarm system they are working on to the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center to a maximum of three (3) test calls per site visit so as not to unduly disrupt 9-1-1 operators. If additional test calls are necessary, provisions must be made by the alarm technician to conduct test calls using an alternate monitoring method. Failure to limit test calls to the maximum number allowed will result in a fine as stated in Section 625.070.
[CC 1991 §11-6; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Chapter, the Police Chief and/or the Fire Chief shall have the authority, at reasonable times and upon reasonable oral notice, to enter any premises in the City in or upon which alarm monitoring systems or alarm businesses subject to this Chapter are located, to inspect the installation and/or operation of such alarm systems or alarm business on official business.
B. 
If such inspection reveals any violations of the provisions of this Chapter, a written report detailing such violation shall be promptly sent to the City Clerk and to the owner, lessee, or other person responsible for the alarm system business in violation of this Chapter. Such report shall require the correction within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of the violation discovered, and shall state that a failure to comply may result in the revocation of the alarm business' license to operate. The alarm business shall be granted a reasonable extension of time to correct such violation upon good cause shown.
[CC 1991 §11-7; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2003-1318 §1, 5-20-2003; Ord. No. 2006-1516 §1, 7-18-2006; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
Service Charges — Non-Valid Alarms. The first four (4) non-valid alarms in each month to which the Fire or Police Department responds shall not result in a service charge to the alarm user. The fifth (5th) and subsequent responses to a non-valid alarm per month by either the Fire or Police Department may result in a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per response if the alarm subscriber does not demonstrate that action(s) is being taken to repair the alarm system, and may result in the suspension of police response to the alarm until the false condition(s) is corrected.
B. 
Service Charges — Alarm Businesses. If an alarm business fails to check in with the Frontenac Police Department Dispatch Center before servicing any system, or shall fail to disconnect such system so that it is no longer in service during the period when it is being worked on, such alarm business shall pay to the City of Frontenac service charges in the amount of $25 for each police response.
C. 
Service Charges — Excessive Test Calls. Alarm companies that generate more than three (3) test calls from individual alarm system sites where they are installing/repairing to the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center shall be fined $25 for each call above the maximum allowed.
D. 
Failure To Pay. Failure to pay a service charge to the City within a period of thirty (30) days of billing shall be considered delinquent and bear an annual interest of eight percent (8%).
[CC 1991 §11-8; Ord. No. 952 §1, 3-16-1993; Ord. No. 2006-1516 §2, 7-18-2006; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
A. 
Alarm Businesses. The license fee for an alarm business and the due date for payment of such fee shall be as provided for business taxes in Section 605.030(6) and Section 605.070 respectively in Chapter 605 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Frontenac.
B. 
Direct Monitor Alarm Systems. All alarm users who direct dial into the Police Dispatch Center's alarm monitoring system shall pay an annual user fee to the City as determined by the Board of Aldermen, and an annual user fee to the vendor providing the alarm monitoring equipment to the Police Dispatch Center. Failure to pay an annual fee within thirty (30) days of billing shall be considered delinquent, resulting in an additional twenty-five dollar ($25.00) late fee for each delinquent month. Bills for alarm monitoring shall be sent in January of each year.
C. 
Local Alarm Systems. There shall be no fees charged by the City for alarm subscribers who use alarm monitoring services other than the Frontenac Police Dispatch Center.
[CC 1991 §11-9; Ord. No. 628 §1, 4-14-1981; Ord. No. 2014-1744 §1, 10-21-2014]
The City shall not be liable for any defects in operation of automatic dialing devices or signal line systems, for any failure or neglect to respond appropriately upon receipt of an alarm from any such source, nor for the failure or neglect of any person with a license issued pursuant to this Chapter. In the event that the City finds it necessary to disconnect an emergency alarm system, the City shall incur no liability by such action.