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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#240 False Alarms ~ STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF RAMSEY CITY OF ARDEN HILLS ORDINANCE N0. 240 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF ALARM SYSTEMS; ESTABLISHING USER FEES; ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF ADTIINISTRATION 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. Scope and Pur ose. (a) Scope. This Ordinance provides regulation for the use of fire, burglary, 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 misuse of public safety alarms and to provide for the maximum possible service to public safety alarm users. Section 3. Definitions. (a) Alarm System: 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 organiza- tion of any kind in control of any building, structure, or facility wherein an alarm system is maintained. (c) False Alarm: An alarm signal eliciting a response by personnel of the Public Safety Department when a situation requiring a response does not, in fact, exist, and which ~ is caused by the activation of the alarm system through mechanical failure, pet movement, alarm malfunction, improger installation or the inadvertence of the ovmer or lessee of an alarm system or of his/her employees or agents. False alarms do not include alarms caused by climatic 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 Safety Department: The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department. Section 4. Reports of False Alarms; Notice to Alarm User. The Public Safety Department shall file a written report of each false alarm with the Clerk-Administrator. Upon receipt of the first false alarm report at an address, the Clerk-Administrator shall, by certified mail, notify the alarm user of the provisions of this Ordinance. Section 5. User Fees; Notice. An alarm user owning an alarm system which precipitates or reports more than three (3) false alarms to the City in a single calendar year shall be charged a user fee of $50.00 per false 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 reparts 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 ta 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. Section 7. Payment of Fees. (a) When and Where Due. Payment of user fees provided for under Section 5 must be made to the City Treasurer within thirty (30) days of the date of notice by the City to the alarm user. Failure to pay the fee within said thirty (30) day period will cause the alarm user to be considered delinquent and subject ~ • - 2 - to a penalty of a full ten pereent (10%) of the fee due. (b) Delinquencies. All delinquent charges for user fees shall be certified by the Clerk- Administrator to the Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation for collection with taxes due against the property on which the alarm system is installed. This certification process shall take place on a yearly basis by October 10 of each year or by such earlier date as is necessary to have the delinquent charges collectible with taxes due and payable against the property in the next calendar year. Section 8. Alarm Report. When an alarm user has incurred five (5) false alarms or more within one (1) calendar year, the alarm user shall submit a written report to the Clerk- Administrator within ten (10) days after being charged with the fifth false alarm, describing actions taken or to be taken to discover and eliminate the cause of the false alarms. Failure to submit the written report required by this Section will be considered a violation of this Ordinance. Section 9. Administrative Rules. The Clerk-Administrator may promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the implementa- tion of this Ordinance and the administration thereof. Section 10. Confidentiality. (a) All information submitted in compliance with this Ordinance shall be held in confidence and shall be deemed a confidential record exempt from discovery to the extent permitted by law. (b) Subject to requirements of confidentiality, the Clerk-Administrator may develop and maintain statistics for the purpose of on-going alarm systems evaluation. Section 11. Enforcement and Penalties. Failure or omission to comply with any Section of this Ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor and may be sa prosecuted, subject to the penalties hereinafter provided. Upon conviction a violation of this Ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, imprisonment for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both. Section 12. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law. - 3 - • Passed by the City Council of Arden Hills this 14th day of July, 1986. . Robert Woodburn, Mayor Attest: Charlotte McNiesh Clerk-Administrator 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. Section 7. Payment of Fees. (a) When and Where Due. Payment of user fees provided for under Section 5 must be made to the City Treasurer within thirty (30) days of the date of notice by the City to the alarm user. Failure to pay within said thirty (30) day period will cause the alarm user to be considered delinquent and subject to a penalty of a fu11 ten percent (lOX) of the fee due. (b) Delinquencies. All delinquent charges for user fees shall be certified by the Clerk-Administrator to the Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation for collection with taxes due against the property on which the alarm system is installed. This certification process shall take place on a yearly basis by October 10 of each year or by such earlier date as is necessary to have the delinquent charges collectible with taxes due and payable against the property in the next calendar year. Section 8. Alarm Report. When an alarm user has incurred five (5) false alarms or more within one (1) calendar year, the alarm user shall submit a written report to the Clerk-Administrator within ten (10) days after being charged with the fifth false alarm, describing actions taken or to be taken to discover and eliminate the cause of the false alarms. Failure to submit the written report required by this Section will be considered a violation of this Ordinance. Section 9. Administrative Rules. The Clerk-Administrator may promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the implementation of this Ordinance and the administration thereof. Section 10. Confidentialitv. (a) All information submitted in compliance with this Ordinance shall be held in confidence and shall be deemed a confidential record exempt from discovery to the extent permitted by law. (b) Subject to requirements of confidentiality, the Clerk-Administrator may develop and maintain statistics far the purpose of on-going alarm systems evaluation. Section 11. Enforcement and Penalties. Failure or omission to comply with any Section of this Ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor and may be so prosecuted, sub3ect to the penalties hereinafter provided. Upon conviction a violation of this Ordinance shall he punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, imprisonment for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both. Section 12. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law. Passed by the City Council of Arden Hills this 14th day of July, 1986. Robert Woodburn, Mayor Attest: Charlotte McNiesh Clerk-Administrator ORDINANCE N0. 240 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE USE OF ALARM SYSTEMS; ESTABLISHING USER FEES; ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH ALARMS; AND PROVIDING PENALTIE5 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. Scope and Purpose. (a) Scope. This Ordinance provides regulation for the use of fire, burglary, 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 fram misuse of public safety alarms and to provide for the maximum possible service to public safety alarm users. Section 36Definitions. (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 any building, structure, or facility wherein an alarm system is maintained. (c) False Alarm: An alarm signal eliciting a response by personnel of the Public Safety Department when a situation requfring a response rloes 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 climatic 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. Reuorts of False Alarms; Notice to Alarm User. The Public Safety Department shall file a written report of each false alarm with the Clerk-Administrator. Upon receipt of the first false alarm report at an address, the Clerk-Administrator shall, by certified mail, notify the alarm user of the provisions of this Ordinance. 5ection_ 5. User Fees: Notice. An alarm uger owning an alarm syatem which precipitates or reports more than three (3) false alarms to the City in a single calendar year shall be charged a user fee of $50.00 per false 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. Section 7. Payment of Fees. (a) When and Where Due. Payment of user fees provided for under Section 5 must be made to the City Treasurer within thirty (30) days of the date of notice by the City to the alarm user. Failure to pay within said thirty (30) day period will cause the alarm user to be considered delinquent and subject to a penalty of a full ten percent (10') of the fee due. (b) Delinquencies. Al1 delinquent charges for user fees shall be certified by the Clerk-Administrator to the Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation for collect3on with taxes due againat the property on which the alarm system is installed. This certification process shall take place on a yearly basis by October 14 of each year or by such earlier date as is necessary to have the delinquent charges collectible with taxes due and payable against the property in the next calendar year. Section 8. Alarm Report. When an alarm user has incurred five (5) false alarms or more within one (1) calendar year, the alarm user shall submit a written report to the Clerk-Administrator within ten (10) days after being charged with the fifth false alarm, describing actions taken or to be taken to discover and eliminate the cause of the false alarms. Failure to submit the written report requirad by this Section will be considered a violation of this Ordinance. Section 9. Administrative Rules. The Clerk-Administrator may promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the implementatian af this Ordinance and the administration thereof. Section 10. Confidentiality. (a) All information submitted in compliance with this Ordinance shall be held in confidence and sha11 be deemed a confidential record exempt from diacavery to the extent permitted by law. (b) 5ubject to requirements of confidentiality, the Clerk-Administrator may develop and maintain statisCics for the purpose of on-going alarm systems evaluation. Section 11. Enforcement and Penalties. Failure or omission to comply with any Section of this Ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor and may be so prosecuted, subject to the penaltias hereinafter provided. Upon conviction a violation of this Ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, imprisonment for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both. Section 12. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to law. Passed by the City Council of Arden Hills this 14th day of July, 1986. Robert Woodburn, Mayor Attest: Charlotte McNiesh Clerk-Administrator