HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM IV-ACITY OF
AWA7 l I I NC;TON
Agenda Subject: Ordinance No. 6345
Date: 1/10/11
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Police Ordinance No. 6345
Administrative Recommendation:
Council approve amendment to the current ordinance.
Background Summary:
When the alarm program ordinance first went into effect, it provided for an "educational period" wherein
citizens were allowed one false alarm with no penalty. Since that time citizens have been charged a fee
for every false alarm, whether it is the first or a subsequent one. This has resulted in citizens filing an
appeal to have the fee waived. In most instances the appeal has been granted.
It has been determined that in the interest of a continuing education effort, new subscribers who
experience their first false alarm they should not be charged a fee but notified that the alarm was
determined to be false and that any further false alarms will result in a fee per the ordinance.
This Ordinance amends the City Code to allow for this education and a more positive interaction with the
general public.
Reviewed by Council & Committees:
Reviewed by Departments & Divisions:
❑ Arts Commission
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
❑ Building
❑
M&O
❑ Airport
® Finance
❑ Cemetery
❑
Mayor
❑ Hearing Examiner
® Municipal Serv.
❑ Finance
❑
Parks
❑ Human Services
❑ Planning & CD
❑ Fire
❑
Planning
❑ Park Board
❑Public Works
❑ Legal
❑
Police
❑ Planning Comm.
❑ Other
❑ Public Works
❑
Human Resources
F-1 Information Services
Action:
Committee Approval
Council Approval:
Referred to
Tabled
❑Yes ❑No
❑Yes ❑No Call for Public Hearing
Until
Until / /
Councilmember: Peloza Staff: Lee
Meeting Date: 1/17/10 Item Number:
AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
AUBURN * MODE THAN YOU IMAGINED
ORDINANCE NO. 6 3 4 5
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, AMENDING SECTION
9.30.110 OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE RELATING TO
FALSE ALARM SERVICE FEES
WHEREAS, the Auburn City Code includes provisions which address alarm
systems and assesses false alarm fees when the police are called out on what is later
determined to be a false alarm; and
WHEREAS, the false alarm fees are warranted because systems that produce
false alarms result in police responses that are not necessary - non emergency
responses - and thereby prevent the police from responding to other calls that might
involve real emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes, however, that there are times when a
new system is installed and a false alarm may be triggered through no fault of the
property owner; and
WHEREAS, it is the City Council's intention to allow one false alarm per alarm
address without a fee, with the understanding and expectation that subsequent false
alarms will result in false alarm fees being charged as set forth in the City Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows:
Section 1. Amendment to City Code. That section 9.30.110 of the Auburn
City Code be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows:
9.30.110 False alarm fees - Service fees - Late fees.
A. False Alarm Service Fees. Except as provided in Paragraph K
herein below, A44-alarm users shall pay the following fees to the alarm
administrator for police response to any false alarms G161FORg-their GRe eaF Pe +
mod:
1. Burglar false alarm service fee: $100.00 for each false alarm,
except as provided in subsection K of this section; and
Ordinance No. 6345
December 9, 2010
Page 1 of 3
2. Robbery, panic and hold-up false alarm fees: $200.00 for each
false alarm, except as provided in subsection K of this section.
B. If a false alarm fee is not paid within 30 days after the invoice is
mailed, a late fee in the amount of $25.00 will be imposed.
C. Fees for False Alarms by Non-permitted Alarm Systems. In
addition to the fees set forth in subsections A and B of this section, a
supplemental fee shall be imposed upon any person, firm, entity or company
operating a non-permitted alarm system in the amount of $200.00 for each false
alarm.
D. Any monitoring company requesting an alarm dispatch request for
a non-permitted alarm system shall pay an administration fee of $100.00 per
incident. If the fee is not paid within 30 days after the invoice is mailed, a late fee
in the amount of $25.00 is hereby imposed on the monitoring company.
E. If cancellation of police response occurs prior to the police officer's
arrival at the alarm site, the response is not considered a false alarm and no fee
will be assessed.
F. The alarm installation company shall be assessed a fee of
$100.00 if the officer responding to the false alarm determines that an employee
of the alarm installation company directly caused the false alarm. Such false
alarms are not included in the total number of false alarms for the alarm user.
G. A fee of $100.00 is hereby imposed against any monitoring
company that fails to verify alarm system signals as required in ACC
9.30.080(J)(3).
H. A fee in the amount of $200.00 is hereby imposed against an
alarm installation company if the alarm administrator determines that an
employee of the alarm installation company knowingly or recklessly made a false
statement concerning the inspection of an alarm site or the performance of an
alarm system.
1. Notice of the right of appeal under this chapter will be included
with notice of any fee.
J. All registration fees, renewal registration fees, service fees or fines
accessed under this section are due within 30 days of written notice unless
otherwise noted. A late fee of $25.00 shall be assessed for each individual
registration fee due and all other fees due that are not paid within 30 days.
K.
the-fees f~vFeveFy false alarm as set forth in si h-ser+inns (A)(!) aRd (2) of this
SeGtOG the fe$S- v.F SHIGIA ff.;;1Se r"'$ Sh-Ali-rnr^vt be-HRIp^v6ed_ ffG.r the fi st false
alarm for aRy alarm system GI irino the first 92? months fnllnniinn the adeptinn of
this-- GhapterNotwithstanding the above false alarm fee provisions, the alarm
administrator will waive the first false alarm fee following the installation of an
alarm system at a particular address. (Ord. 6252 § 1, 2009; Ord. 6216 § 1, 2009.)
Section 2. Implementation. The Mayor is hereby authorized to
implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the
directions of this legislation.
Ordinance No. 6345
December 9, 2010
Page 2 of 3
Section 3. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be
separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
section or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any
person or circumstance shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or
the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 4. Effective date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in
force five days from and after its passage, approval and publication as provided by law.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
APPROVED:
CITY OF AUBURN
PETER B. LEWIS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
Danielle E. Daskam, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Daniel B. Heid, City Attorney
Published:
Ordinance No. 6345
December 9, 2010
Page 3 of 3