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ORDINANCE N0. 240 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF ALARM SYSTEMS; ESTABLISHING USER FEES; ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH ALARMS; AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR FALSE ALARMS The City Council of the City of Arden Hills ordains: Section 1. Title. This Ordinance shall be known, cited, and referred to as "The Alarm Ordinance" except as herein referred to as "this Ordinance". Section 2. Scave and Purpose. (a) Scope. This Ordinance provides regulation for the use of fire, burgZary, and safety alarms, establishes users' fees, and establishes a system of administration. (b) Purpose - The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the public safety services of the City from m3suse of public safety alarms and to provide for the maximum possible service to public safety alarm users. Section 3. Definitions. (a) Alarm Systems: An alarm installation designed to be used for the prevention or detection of burglary, robbery or fire and located in a building, structure or facility. (b) Alarm User: The person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of an}r building, structure, or facility wherein an alarm system is maintained. (c) False Alax7n: An alarm s3grisl elicitfng a respoase by personnel of the Public Safety Department when a situation requiring a response dnes not, in fact, exist, and which is caused by the activation of the alarm system through mechanical failure, pet movement, alarm malfunction, improper installation or the inadvertence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his/her employees or agents. False alarms do not include alarms caused by climaCic conditions such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, utility line mishaps, violent conditions of nature or any other conditions which are clearly beyond the control of the alarm manufacturer, installer or owner. (d) Public Safetv Department: The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department. Section 4. Renorts of False Alarmst Notice ta A,larm User. The Public Safety Depsrtment shall file awritten report rsf each false aYarn with the Clerk-Adminiatrator. Upon receipt of the first false alarm report at an address, the Clark-Administrator sha11., by certifiad mai1, notify the alarm user of the provisions of this Ordinance. Section 5. User Pees: Notice. An algrm user owning an alarm system which precipitates or reports more than three (3) false alarms to the City in a single calendar yesr sha11 be charged a user fee of $50.00 per fa1se alarm in excess of three (3) false alarms in a calendar year, and $150.00 per false alarm in excess of fifteen (15) false alarms in a calendar year. Upon receipt of a fourth and all subsequent false alarm reports as to an alarm system, the Clerk-Administrator shall notify the alarm user by certified mail that the threshold number of false alarms has occurred and that the applicable user fee specified in the previous sentence hereof has become due and owing. Section 6. Appeals Process. Any alarm user who is required by the City to pay a user fee as the result of a false alarm may make a written appeal of the false alarm charge to the City Council within ten (10) days of the City's mailing of the notice of false alarm which will have authority to make a final determination as to whether the appellant is to be charged with a false alarm.