HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7408 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7408
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�Qj100?�o To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 5, 1989
TeX, Subject: QPDIAT"E Co FALSE ALARMS ORDINANCE
BACKGROUND
On January 1, 1969, an amendment to include residential alarm systems
under the provisions of the false alarm ordinance Went into effect.
The ordinance allows operators of residential alarm systems one false
alarm notification (PAN) before they are required to obtain a $15.00
permit. Alarm system permits are valid for two bears. Operators of
other alarm systems regulated by the ordinance must obtain a permit
upon activation of their systems.
Operators of robbery alarm systems are assessed a $50 service fee for
each FAN in excess of two experienced in a twelve month period. By
contrast a $30 service fee is assessed to operators of all other alarm
systems for each FAN initiated by their systems in excess of 4 FANS in
a twelve month period.
Of the 34,560 residential -and commercial alarm notifications received
through July, over 95 percent have been false notifications. Staff
projects that Fort North Police Officers will respond to more than
39,746 residential and commercial FANS this fiscal year.
RESIDENTIAL ALARM EXPERIENCE
Despite the amendment to the ordinance, residential FANs have contin-
ued to increase. Residential FANS are expected to reach 19,044 this
fiscal year. This represents a 16.7 percent increase over the FANs
responded to during the last fiscal year (16,040) . While residential
FANs continue to increase, the rate of increase has declined sharply
(See Attachment A) . For example, residential FANS increased by 30.8
percent in FY 1986, 34.4 percent in FY 1987 and 47.1 percent during
the last fiscal year.
This fiscal year residential FANS are projected to cost $426,585. The
time spent by police officers on residential FANS is the staffing
equivalent of 5.2 officers ( 5.1 officers are required to staff one
beat around the clock for one year) .
Through August, 4,030 permits have been -obtained for residential alarm
systems. Revenues from permit fees and service fees are anticipated
to reach $82,500 this fiscal year. Revenues derived from residential
alarm systems will offset about 19 percent of the cost of responding
to residential eons.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS--
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 408 Pg. 2
M i r i i�t
���EiaRp To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 5, 1989
raxA�. Subject:
ras UPDATE ON FALSE ALARMS ORDINANCE
COMMERCIAL ALARM EXPERIENCE: Commercial FANS are projected to increase
by 15.7 percent this fiscal year. Staff believes that the continued
growth of commercial system installations and the addition of several
new alarm providers into the market have fueled this increase. Com-
mercial FANS are expected to reach 20,702. After decreasing by 4.7
percent in FT 1986, commercial FANs increased by 2.9 percent in FT
1987 and 2.2 in FT 1988.
Commercial FANs are projected to cost $463,733 this fiscal year. The
time spent by police officers on commercial FANs is the staffing
equivalent of 5.9 officers ( 5.1 officers are required to staff one
beat around the clock for one year) .
Revenues from commercial permit fees and service fees are anticipated
to reach $220,000 this fiscal year. Revenues derived from commercial
alarm system fees will offset about 47 percent of the cost of respond-
ing to commercial FANS.
Additional information will •be furnished upon request.
arma4glas
y Manager t'
Attachment
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS --
Attachment
I.R. No. 7408
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