(A) The
owner or person in control of a proposed alarm site must obtain a
permit from the city before installing an alarm system or possessing
an activated alarm system. A separate permit is required for each
alarm site and for each individual alarm system on the same alarm
site.
(B) A permit
is not assignable or transferable to another person.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96 Penalty, see § 97.99)
The Chief may issue a permit if the permittee satisfies the
following conditions:
(A) The
permittee submits a complete application;
(B) The
permittee pays an initial fee for each alarm system:
(1) Residential:
$25.00 per application.
(2) Commercial:
$35.00 per application.
(C) The
permittee pays any fees required by this chapter for any previous
permits; and
(D) The
permittee installs and will operate the alarm system in compliance
with this chapter.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96; Ordinance
1560-22-09-13, passed 9/13/2022)
A permit issued under this section is valid until December 31
of the year of its issuance. The permittee may renew the permit annually
by filing a renewal request and paying a $10 renewal fee before January
1 of each year.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) An application
for a permit must contain the following information:
(1) Name,
business address, home address, business telephone number and home
telephone number of the permittee;
(2) Name,
business telephone number, and home telephone number of two persons
who have been authorized by the permittee to receive, and who have
agreed to receive, notification that they must come to the alarm site
within 30 minutes of receiving the notification from responding emergency
personnel;
(3) Classification
of the alarm site as residential, commercial, or banking institution;
(4) Purpose
of the alarm system, i.e., burglary, robbery, fire or medical assistance;
and
(5) Any
other information required by the Chief to insure compliance with
all provisions of this chapter.
(B) The
permittee must notify the Chief of any change in information contained
in the application within five days of the change.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) The
Chief may deny a permit application for any of the following reasons:
(1) The
permittee makes a false statement on the application or in connection
with the application;
(2) The permittee has not paid a false alarm fee assessed under §
97.99; or
(3) The
Chief has revoked the permittee’s permit and the permittee has
not corrected the violation that caused the revocation.
(B) The
Chief may deny a permit application for an alarm system that does
not comply with Article 5.33A, Section 6(a)(2) of the Texas Insurance
Code, which requires that: “All exterior structure openings
are contacted; the system includes an interior AND exterior siren;
all equipment is Underwriter’s Laboratory approved and is Underwriter’s
Laboratory approved and monitored by a U.L. approved central station;
and, sales, services, installation, and monitoring of the system are
done in compliance with the Private Investigations and Private Security
Agencies Act (Articles 4413 (29bb)), Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes).”
(C) The
Chief may set standards for issuing permits for burglary alarm systems
and may refuse to issue a permit for particular systems that he determines
have a history of unreliability.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
The Chief may revoke a permit if he determines that:
(A) The
permittee made a false statement of a material nature in the application
for a permit;
(B) The
permittee has violated any provision of this chapter; or
(C) The permittee is delinquent in payment of fees for false alarm notifications assessed under §
97.99
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
The Chief may cancel a permit for non-renewal after providing
at least 30 days notice.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
If the Chief refuses to issue or renew a permit, or revokes
a permit, a written notice must be sent to the permittee by certified
mail, return receipt requested. The notice must explain the action
and the reason(s) for the action, and state the permittee’s
right to an appeal.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)
(A) The
permittee may appeal the Chief’s decision to the City Manager
by filing a written request for a hearing within ten days of receipt
of the notice. The request must explain the reasons for the appeal.
If the permittee does not appeal within the ten day period, the Chief’s
action is final.
(B) If the
appeal is from the revocation of a permit, the permittee may continue
to use the alarm system after filing the request for a hearing and
during the administrative appeal process.
(C) Upon
receipt of a proper appeal, the City Manager will hold a hearing.
He will serve as the hearing officer and may consider evidence presented
by any interested person. Formal rules of evidence do not apply at
an appeal hearing. The City Manager will decide based upon a preponderance
of evidence, and may affirm, reverse or modify the Chief’s decision.
(D) The
City Manager will notify the permittee of the decision in writing
within 15 days of the hearing. The City Manager’s decision is
final.
(Ordinance 436-96-04-23, passed 4-23-96; Am. Ordinance 448-96-10-08, passed 10-8-96)