Agenda - Council - 07/08/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachments: Consent # INTRODUCE ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 7.82 (ALARM SYSTEMS) OF THE CITY CODE AND ADDING SECTION 5.23 (ALARM SYSTEMS) By; Jim Way, Police Chief Background: Currently, Section 7.82 of Ramsey City Code regulates alarm systems within the City, requiring a user alarm permit for false alarms. As it is deemed necessary to regulate alarm systems to reduce the frequency of false alarms, the current process consists of a "user alarm permit" being issued when three false alarms are received at a location within a calendar year. A fee, established by council ordinance, is charged for each permit issued. Additionally„ the current permit process requires the user to provide the City with information such as contact navies and after-hours telephone numbers, Section 7.20 of Ramsey City Code requires businesses to register with the City, and provide emergency information on an annual basis. Because this information is being obtained and updated regularly within this Section of City Code, permitting for alarms is no longer a viable way to obtain keyholder information for businesses. However, since deterring false alarms is still in the best interest of public safety, a penalty, rather than a permit fee should still be imposed. Therefore, staff recommends that the current ordinance relating to alarm systems in Chapter 7, Licensing and Permits, be repealed, as it relates to permitting for alarms, replacing an Alarm System section in Chapter 5, Municipal Regulations. This updated section would impose a penalty for the third false police or fire alarm and an additional penalty for successive alarms. Existing Section 7.82 (Alarm Systems) to be repealed Proposed Ordinance for Council consideration to add to City Code Section 5,23 (Alarm Systems) Funding Source: None required Council Action: Motion to introduce Ordinance #08-XX repealing Section 7.82 of City Code and amending Chapter 5, adding Section 5.23 — Alarm Systems.