The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards and regulations applicable to alarm systems, their installation by alarm businesses or agents, and their operation by alarm users as defined in this chapter.
(Prior code § 4-10.01; Ord. 1228 § 1, 1985)
For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:
"Alarm agent"
means any person employed by an alarm business and whose duties include altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing or servicing an alarm system or respond to the same.
"Alarm business"
means any person, business or other entity operating for any consideration which engages in the installation, maintenance, alteration or servicing of alarm systems or which responds to such alarm systems.
"Alarm system"
means any device designed for the detection of an unauthorized entry on or into any building, place or premises, or for alerting others of the commission of an unlawful act, or both, and when actuated emits a sound or transmits a signal or message.
1. 
"Commercial alarm system"
means any alarm system protecting structures or areas which are not used primarily for habitation.
2. 
"Residential alarm system" means any alarm system protecting structures or areas which are used primarily for habitation.
"Alarm user"
means any person who owns, operates or manages, or is entitled to possession of any premises in the city on which an alarm system has been installed and operates.
"Audible alarm"
means any type of alarm system which, when activated, emits an audible sound.
"Automatic dialing system"
means any alarm system which automatically sends over regular telephone lines, by direct connection or otherwise, a prerecorded voice message indicating the existence of a condition upon premises within the city to which an emergency response by public safety personnel would commonly occur.
"Central station"
means an office to which monitored alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected, where operators supervise the circuits, and where personnel may be maintained continuously to respond to and investigate signals, or make contact with the police department, and which signaling devices are listed by underwriters' laboratory.
"False alarm"
means an alarm signal necessitating response by the police department where an emergency situation does not exist.
"Monitored alarm system"
means an alarm signaling system which, when activated by an alarm device, transmits a signal to a central station where appropriate action is taken to investigate and respond to the signal.
"Police department"
means the police department of the city, and "chief of police" means the chief of the police department or his or her authorized representative.
"Primary trunkline"
means a telephone line leading into the communications center of the police department used for the purpose of handling emergency calls on a person-to-person basis, and which line is identified by a specific listing among the emergency numbers of the telephone directory issued by the telephone companies serving the city.
"Secondary trunkline"
means a telephone line leading into the central switchboard in the police department that is identified by a specific listing among the emergency numbers in the telephone directory for handling administrative and other calls on a person-to-person basis.
"Dialer trunkline"
means a telephone line leading into the police department used only for alarms with an automatic protection device.
(Prior code § 4-10.02; Ord. 1228 § 1 Ex. A, 1985)
Every person or business utilizing any alarm system within the city shall comply with the following conditions:
A. 
Audible commercial alarm systems shall be equipped with an automatic shut off mechanism capable of terminating the audible annunciator after activation within a maximum time of 30 minutes. Audible residential alarm systems shall be equipped with an automatic shut off mechanism capable of terminating the audible annunciator after activation within a maximum time of 15 minutes. Those audible alarms not capable of turning off the annunciator will have 180 days after the ordinance codified in this chapter becomes effective to comply. The annunciator shall not resemble the sound of any type of siren utilized by emergency vehicles.
It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that emergency information is current. Emergency information cards are on file at the police department. The police department shall be notified immediately, of any changes in individuals responsible for the operation of an alarm.
B. 
Users of alarm systems terminating at a telephone answering service shall provide a current list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least three individuals who have access to the location protected by the alarm system.
C. 
Automatic dialing systems shall not be keyed to primary or secondary trunklines, but to the dialer trunkline. Exceptions are commercial alarm systems which meet the following conditions:
1. 
The content of the recorded message must be intelligible and contain the following sentence: "This is a recorded alarm of a (burglary/robbery) occurring now at (company name, address, telephone number)".
2. 
No recorded message shall be delivered to the police department more than two times as the result of a single stimulus of the sensory mechanism.
3. 
The length of time for transmitting a recorded message shall not exceed 20 seconds.
4. 
Such device must be capable of transmitting an alarm message to two or more recipients so that upon installation any message will be sent not only on the dialer trunkline, but also on the line of an authorized person having a key to the premises who is available to respond to an emergency.
D. 
The sensory mechanism used in connection with all alarm systems must be adjusted to suppress false indications of intrusion so that the devices will not be actuated by impulses due to transient pressure changes in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises such as rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noise adjacent to the installation, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarms.
E. 
All components comprising an alarm system must be maintained by the owner or lessee in good repair to assure reliability of operation.
F. 
All alarm systems shall have a standby back-up power supply, which will automatically assume the operation of the alarm system should any power interruption occur. The transfer of power from the primary source to the backup source must occur in a manner which does not activate the alarm.
(Prior code § 4-10.03; Ord. 1228 § 1 Ex. A, 1985)
A. 
Any alarm system must be approved by the chief of police or his or her designate.
B. 
All required fees shall be paid prior to installation.
C. 
No residential alarm systems shall be accepted.
D. 
Advance notice to the police department is required before any testing is done on an alarm system. After initial installation the alarm system will not be tested more than once per month.
E. 
The chief of police may order alarm systems to be disconnected if they violate any section of this chapter.
(Prior code § 4-10.05; Ord. 1228 § 1 Ex. A, 1985)
Violation of any of the following items may result in a fine or termination of police response to any alarm signal received by the police department and service may not be renewed until authorized by the chief of police, or designee.
A. 
False Alarms.
1. 
The following lists the allowable number of alarms within a specified time period, fines and the rules of violation:
a. 
One false alarm in the prior 365-day period: no action;
b. 
Second or third false alarm in prior 365-day period: fine as provided in Master Fee Schedule and attempt will be made to contact the business or residence advising of the existence of any alarm policy, ordinance and outlining expected remedial action;
c. 
Fourth or more false alarms in any prior 365-day period: fine as provided in the Master Fee Schedule, and failure to pay will result in placement on a no-response list;
d. 
Sites with repeated false alarms may result in no response by the police department if such business or residence fails to take adequate action to address proper system operation in the reasonable determination of the chief of police, or designee.
2. 
The intentional activation of an alarm system by any person when an emergency situation does not exist. Such emergency situations are to include only those unlawful acts for which the alarm system was specifically designed to detect or to alert the police department. These alarms normally will be burglary, robbery, or intrusion alarms.
B. 
Exceptions.
1. 
A 30-day adjustment period will be allowed to correct mechanical problems for any new, improved or replaced alarm system:
2. 
If the user demonstrates to the satisfaction of the chief of police, or designee, that a false alarm was solely the result of conditions beyond the user's control and not the result of negligence by user or any of user's employees, and if the result of any defect in the alarm system that a diligent user neither knew nor should have known in the exercise of due care, such false alarm may be determined by the chief of police, or designee, not to be a false alarm as used in this section.
(Prior code § 4-10.05; Ord. 1228 § 1 Ex. A, 1985; Ord. 2277, 5/7/2024)
Any person whose alarm service is ordered discontinued under this chapter or who receives a termination order may appeal such decision to the city manager within 10 working days from the date such order is issued. Such order of discontinuance or termination shall not be operative until the city manager rules on such appeal. The city manager may affirm, modify, or overrule the chief's order.
(Prior code § 4-10.06; Ord. 1228 § 1 Ex. A, 1985)