HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7237 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7237
December 1 , 1987
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
X Subject: ALTERNATIVES TO PROPOSED FALSE ALARM
Id'13 ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
Informal Report No . 7230, presented to the City Council on November
24, I987, outlined the key provisions of the proposed amendments to
the existing false alarm ordinance. This informal report will provide
alternatives to the proposed amendments.
Inclusion of residential alarm systems under the
requirements of the existing ordinance.
Alternative: The Council has the option to continue to
exclude residential systems from the existing ordinance.
Discussion: The existing ordinance was designed to
reduce the number of commercial false alarm
notifications to which the Police Department responds.
Since the ordinance was adopted in 1983, the City has
avoided in excess of $578,000 in net false alarm response
costs. Additionally , the ordinance has caused a number of
less than reputable alarm companies to conduct business
elsewhere. Unfortunately, some of those companies now offer
their services to residential clients where the market
forces stimulated by the ordinance have not been brought to
bear . The inclusion of residential systems should have the
same effect on these companies as it did with the less than
reputable companies which marketed systems to commercial
establishments.
Increase in two-year permit fee, from $15.00 to
$20.00.
Alternatives: a) retain current permit fee rate at
$15. 00 ( $7.50 per year ) ;
b ) reduce the permit fee rate.;
c ) charge no fee for permits;
d ) develop a multi-class permit fee
structure with a different rate
for commercial and residential permits.
Discussion: The existing fee structure was designed to
support the cost of administering the ordinance. Full
recovery of the cost of the Alarms Unit has not been
attained . While additional costs are anticipated for
inclusion of residential systems, revenue received from the
additional permits could be structured to offset fully the
additional administrative costs.
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
I
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7E37
,PT(9,, December 1 , 1987
�jfo)?)' To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
40 ALTERNATIVES TO PROPOSED FALSE ALARM
Subject: AMENDMENTS ORDINANCE
Discussion (Cont . ) : This provision becomes particularly
delicate when the cost of permits are applied to multi-
family properties. The proposed amendments suggest that
each unit of a multi-family property be required to obtain a
permit . Further , the cost of the permit is to be paid by
the owner of the system. In the case of an average-sized
apartment complex (200 units) , which provides security
systems to its tenants, the initial cost of compliance with
this ordinance would be $4,000. Each unit would be allow
four free false alarms , as are other permit holders under
the ordinance. If the ordinance was structured to raise
revenue, the best option for the City would be to require
the apartment complex to obtain 1 permit for the property
and charged the existing $30.00 service fee for each false
alarm notification in excess of four in a twelve-month
period .
Assessment of a $50.00 service fee for each false
robbery alarm notification in excess of two in a
twelve-month period.
Alternatives: a) Service Fee.
1 ) Decrease the proposed service fee;
2) Increase the proposed service fee; .
3) Charge no service fee.
b ) Free False Alarm Notifications.
1 ) Decrease the proposed number ;
2) Increase the proposed number ;
3 ) Provide for no free false robbery
alarm notification.
Discussion: The proposed amendment represents an
attempt to assess a higher service fee for the critical
level of service provided to an alarm which is usually
manually activated .
Denial of a permit if the applicant has past due
service fees at another alarm site.
Alternative: Allow an applicant to obtain a permit for
another alarm site while past due service fees exist .
Discussion: This amendment increases the ability of
the Alarms Unit to collect outstanding service fees .
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.
It TS 9, To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 1 , l9e7
VO I??'
PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES TO FALSE ALARM
ex Subject: ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
Require political subdivisions other than state and
federal entities to obtain permits; no fees will
be assessed .
Alternative: Continue to exempt all political
subdivisions from the permitting requirements of this
ordinance.
Discussion: This requirement would allow a mechanism
for better tracking the false alarm notification history of
systems operated by other governmental entities for which
police response is requested .
Staff believes that the alternatives listed will assist the Council in
its discussion of the false alarm notification issue.
Additional information will be furnished upon request .
Douglas Harma
opill City Manager
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS