All alarm systems sold, leased, contracted for or otherwise
maintained and operated by any person within the city shall be installed
in accordance with all applicable standards and requirements of the
building codes and other applicable established standards as required
by the city. All alarm systems shall be equipped with an uninterruptible
power supply or installed in such a manner that the failure or interruption
of normal electrical utility power shall not activate the alarm system.
Such power supply shall be capable of at least four hours of operation.
Required fire alarm systems shall have battery back up sufficient
to provide 24-hour stand-by and five-minute continuous alarm capacity.
All alarm systems installed within the city may be inspected by police,
fire, or building inspection representatives during usual business
hours.
(Ord. 1120 § 1, (1978); Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993); Ord. 1480, (1993))
(a)
Any and all audible alarm systems shall be installed or activated
to automatically cease transmitting the audible signal within 10 minutes,
provided that required fire alarm systems must sound continuously
until the arrival of the fire department. Only a fire department representative
may reset such an alarm.
(b)
Upon request of a city police officer, a user or his or her designated
representative shall respond within one hour to the premises whereon
the alarm system is located.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
After any false alarm caused by a mechanical malfunction of
the alarm system, the user shall cause the alarm system to be repaired
so as to eliminate such malfunction before reactivating the alarm.
A person shall not reactivate such alarm until such repairs have been
made. In buildings with a required fire alarm, a fire watch may be
required until repairs have been made.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or cause to be used
any electrical or mechanical device or attachment to a telephone that
automatically reports a taped or otherwise recorded message to report
a police or fire emergency to the police or fire department.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
It is unlawful to install on the exterior or interior of a building
an intrusion detective device or alarm which upon activation emits
a sound exceeding 80 decibels (when measured from outside the premises),
which is similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or for civil
defense purposes.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
No person shall operate or permit an alarm system to be operated
which, due to the nature of its construction, installation and/or
location, constitutes an unreasonable hazard to life and limb of responding
public safety officers, as determined by the chief of police or fire
chief.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
The alarm business, alarm agent, user, or permittee shall notify
the police dispatcher of the city prior to any service, test, repair,
maintenance adjustment or installation which might activate a false
alarm on a particular alarm system. No subsequent recording of a "false
alarm" for the purpose of charge for a police response shall occur
if the police dispatcher has been appropriately notified of the repair
period.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
Users of any alarm system who set off a false alarm shall inform
the police dispatcher of the error as soon as the user has knowledge
of such false alarm. Permittee may avoid charges for a false alarm
if the police dispatcher is notified prior to the actual dispatching
of police units.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
The operator of a business or occupant of a residential premises
shall pay such charges as may be assessed by the city for false alarms.
Such charges and permit fees shall be established by resolution of
the city council.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
It shall be unlawful for any alarm system to be installed, possessed,
operated, used, serviced or maintained without a valid, unrevoked
and unexpired permit therefor in accordance with the provisions of
this chapter or for an alarm business or alarm agent to make operable,
service, maintain or repair an alarm system for a user unless said
user has obtained a valid, unrevoked and unexpired permit from the
city.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
Applications for all permits required hereunder shall be filed
with the police department and shall be accompanied by the fee established
by the city council. The department shall prescribe the form of the
application and request such information as is necessary to evaluate
permit applicants. The applicant for any permit shall include but
not be limited to the name, address and telephone number of the person
who will render service or repairs during any hour of the day or night.
The application may be made by a user or an alarm business or agent
for the user. If approved, the permit shall be issued in the name
of the user only.
(Ord. 1120 § 1, (1978); Ord. 1267 § 1, (1984); Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
(a)
Processing—Grounds for Denial. An application for a permit
shall be processed in a timely manner. The permit may be denied by
the chief of police on the following grounds:
(1)
The alarm system is deficient in that it does not comply with standards
adopted pursuant to this chapter and/or results in excessive false
alarms as defined by said standards; or
(2)
The applicant, his or her employee or agent has knowingly made any
false, misleading or fraudulent statement of a material fact in the
application for a permit, or in any report or record required to be
filed with any city agency; or
(3)
That the applicant has had a similar type permit previously revoked
for good cause within the past year unless the applicant can show
a material change in circumstances since the date of revocation; permits
shall be issued to the user; or
(4)
The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
(b)
Procedure. The chief of police shall inform the applicant in writing
of the denial stating the reasons for such denial.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
Permits issued pursuant to this chapter shall be renewed annually
after issuance. Applications for renewals of permits shall be processed
in the same manner as applications for the initial permit. Initial
issuance of a permit or transfer of a permit shall be valid until
the annual renewal period which shall be July 1 of each subsequent
year.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
Permits for required fire alarms shall not be revoked. The following
shall constitute grounds for revocation of all other alarm permits:
(a)
The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter;
(b)
When an alarm system is deficient in that it actuates excessive false
alarms, as defined in the rules and regulations prescribed by the
city council;
(c)
When the applicant or permittee, or his or her employee or agent
has knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of
a material fact in the application for a permit or in any report or
record required to be filed with any city agency;
(d)
If, immediately following an alarm activation, the permittee or his
or her designated representative fails to respond within one hour
to a request for access to the protected premises, upon request to
do so by a city police officer, or dispatcher who deems a response
necessary to ensure the security of the premises or persons where
the system is installed;
(e)
Failure to pay fees for responses to false alarms within 30 days
of billing.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
In the case of denial or revocation of a permit, the chief of
police shall notify the permittee in writing of the reasons for such
denial or revocation. The applicant or permittee shall have 10 days
from and after the service of said notice to offer evidence to the
chief showing why the permit should not be revoked. The chief may
grant the permit or withdraw the revocation if satisfactory and sufficient
evidence is presented.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
In addition to those measures or in lieu of those measures outlined
above, the chief of police may, at his or her discretion, order:
(a)
Except where the sole violation is the failure to obtain a permit,
non-response to the permittee alarm if in the chief's judgment the
response to a routinely false alarm call is outweighed by the danger
to the public or city employees.
(b)
Response, but continued assessment of response charges.
(c)
Prosecution for violation either by complaint to city attorney or
citation for operating an alarm without a valid permit.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
(a)
No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on an alarm business
within the city without filing with the police department a copy of
a valid, unrevoked and unexpired state alarm company operator license
therefor in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7590 et seq.,
of the Business and Professions Code and any subsequent amendments
thereto.
(b)
In the event said license(s) is/are suspended, revoked, or otherwise
rendered invalid by the issuing authority, the alarm business shall
notify the police department in writing of such state action within
three days thereof.
(c)
Every person engaged in, conducting, or operating an alarm business
within the city shall post on the premises where the alarm business
is located a copy of a valid state alarm company operator's license.
(d)
No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on an alarm business
within the city without a valid business license issued pursuant to
this code.
(e)
Each alarm business, alarm agent, or user shall keep an accurate
record of inspection or repair of any installed alarm system and shall
display such record to the chief of police when required to do so.
(f)
Each alarm business, alarm agent or user who installs, services,
possesses, maintains, operates or uses an alarm system has the sole
responsibility for instruction of all appropriate persons in the proper
use and operation of such system, as frequently as necessary, especially
those factors which can cause false alarms. Such appropriate persons
shall include but not be limited to agents, employees, family members,
or customers.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
Whenever any change occurs relating to the written information
required by this chapter, the applicant or permittee shall give written
notice thereof to the department within 10 days after such change.
The applicant or permittee is solely responsible for the correctness
of the information submitted to the police department.
(Ord. 1480 § 1, (1993))
