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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance #1406ORDINANCE NO. 1406 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TITLE 3, CHAPTER 22, OF THE CANTON ' MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ALARM FEES WHEREAS, the Legal and Ordinance Committee has determined that it is necessary and in the best interest of the City of Canton to amend Title 3, Chapter 22, of the Canton Municipal Code as hereinafter set forth; and WHEREAS, the Canton City Council has made a similar determination. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CANTON, Fulton County, Illinois, as follows: 1. That the Canton City Council finds the foregoing recitals to be fact. 2. That Title 3, Chapter 22, of the Canton Municipal Code is hereby established to read as follows: "SECTION ONE: DEFINITIONS (A) DEFINITIONS 1. Alarm System. The term "Alarm System" means an assembly of equipment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which police or fire department personnel are expected to respond. Alarm systems include those through which public safety personnel are notified directly of such signals through automatic recording devices or are notified indirectly by way of third persons who monitor the alarm systems and who report such signals to the Police Department. Alarm systems also include those designated to register a signal which is so audible, visible or in other ways perceptible outside a protected building, structure or facility as to notify persons in the neighborhood beyond the zoning lot where the signal is located who in turn may notify the appropriate emergency provider of the signal. Alarm systems do not include auxiliary devices installed by telephone companies to protect telephone equipment or systems which might be damaged or disrupted by the use of an alarm system. The term "Alarm System" shall include the terms "Automatic" or "Manual Hold Up Alarm Systems", "Burglar Alarm Systems", "Security Alarm Systems", and "Automatic" or "Manual Fire Alarm Systems". Fire Alarm Systems shall include alarms received from heat and smoke detectors, automatic extinguishing systems, manual pull stations, and related supervisory systems. An alarm system which has a security function and a fire and/or smoke function shall constitute two separate alarms for purposes of section 2 (A) (1). 2. Alarm User. The term "Alarm User" means any person on •' whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the City and whose alarm is received by the Public Safety Communications Center of the City. Alarms in separate ` structures are to be counted as separate systems even though owned by the same person or entity. 3. Audible Alarm. A device designed for the detection of unauthorized entry on the premises which generates an audible sound on the premises when it is activated. 4. Automatic Telephone Dialing Device. A device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined seven digit telephone number and transmit by voice message or code signal an emergency message indicating a need for emergency response. 5. Police Dispatch Monitored Alarm. A device which is installed in the City of Canton Public Safety Building and which receives an audible or inaudible message to summons police or fire through the Public Safety Communications Center. 6. City. The term "City" means the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, a municipal corporation. 7. Communication Center. The Canton Police Department Dispatch Center located at the Public Safety Building, 101 East Spruce Street, Canton, Illinois, used for receipt and transmission of signals by radio or wire transmissions. 8. Director of Communications. The person designated by the Chief of Police to supervise and direct the Communication Center. 9. False Alarm. The term "False Alarm" means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or as a result of the negligence, misuse or misconduct of the owner or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents. This does not include alarms caused by severe weather, natural or man made disaster, power or telephone service outages, authorized Alarm testing, for which prior notification of the Communications Center had been made or malicious acts of person or persons not under the direct control of the owner, lessee, or his employees or agents. 10. License. An authorization issued by the City Clerk of the City of Canton to allow a responsible party to install or maintain an alarm system within the City of Canton which is commercially monitored or which is electronically connected to the Communications Center and when activated would result in a Police or Fire Department response. 11. Person. The term "Person" means any association, club, society, firm, partnership or corporation and any group acting as a unit as well as individuals. 12. Premises. Any private, public, residential, commercial '' or industrial land and/or buildings located within the City of Canton. 13. Responsible Party. Any person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation, or any owner or lessee of premises on which an alarm system is installed or maintained, or the agents or representatives of the aforementioned which or who utilize an alarm system on premises located within the City of Canton. A license obtained by an owner or lessee of premises shall be personal to the owner or licensee. Any new or subsequent owner or lessee shall be required to obtain a separate license. 14. Silent Alarm. Inaudible alarm which summons police or fire through the Communications Center. 15. Year. A period beginning January 1 and continuing through December 31. SECTION TWO: LICENSE FOR OPERATION REQUIRED (A) All responsible parties shall obtain from the City Clerk a license which authorizes the operation of an alarm system which is commercially monitored or which is electronically connected to the Communications Center. 1. A license shall be obtained for each alarm on a premises when an alarm is in operation. Individual licenses must be obtained for each individual structure. Individual licenses must be obtained for each individual business within a single structure. The renewal date shall be January 1 of each year. 2. The initial registration charge for all licenses shall be $25.00. There shall be an annual renewal fee for the license of $25.00 for all non-residential systems. Renewal fees are due no later than January 1 for the following year. 3. For alarms installed and monitored by the Gity of Canton Public Safety Communications Center, a $100.00 annual monitoring fee will be paid on each such alarm. 4. The responsible party shall supply the following information when applying for or renewing a license: (a) name, telephone number, and address of responsible party (b) address and telephone number at which the alarm is located (c) alarm service (Police, Fire, other) (d) alarm type (commercial monitoring, audible, silent, direct connection, other) (e) names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two (2) people who can be contacted in the event of an alarm activation (f ) the name, address and telephone number of the alarm company N (g) any other additional information requested on the license 5. The City Clerk shall send a copy of the license which will include the information stated in such subsection 3.(e) to the Director of Communications. 6. It is a violation of this ordinance for any responsible party who is otherwise required to obtain an alarm installation license, to knowingly install an alarm system without obtaining such a license. SECTION THREE: TESTING, GRACE PERIOD, FALSE ALARM FEES, FAILURE TO PAY FALSE ALARM FEES (A) TESTING NOTIFICATION. Prior to any maintenance or testing of any alarm system, the responsible party and/or alarm company representative shall call the Public Safety Communications Center and advise such work is being performed. Immediately upon completion of such tests or maintenance another call will be made to the Public Safety Communications Center advising completion of said tests or maintenance. Failure to make such notification shall result in any subsequent alarm received during such test as a false alarm and subject of the response fee of 525.00. (8) GRACE PERIOD FOR INITIAL INSTALLATION: Upon the installation of a new alarm system, the responsible party shall have a thirty (30) day grace period from the date of installation before any alarm is counted toward the three (3) allowable false alarms. Initial installation of a new alarm system does not include any reconditioning, additions or changes made to an already existing alarm system on a premises. To the extent the date of installation cannot be determined, the date the alarm license was issued will be issued to determine the expiration of the grace period. (C) FEE FOR FALSE ALARM. An alarm user shall be charged a response fee of $25.00 for each false alarm in excess of three (3) in any year and a fee of 550.00 for each false alarm in excess of ten (10) in any year. (D) FAILURE TO PAY FEE. The refusal to pay any fee prescribed in this Ordinance within thirty (30) days of notification shall be a violation of this Ordinance. Such notice shall be considered delivered when deposited postage prepaid in any U.S. mailbox addressed to the responsible party at the address listed on the license application. If no application has been made, notice shall be considered delivered when deposited postage prepaid in any U.S. mailbox addressed to the party at its most recent mailing address. SECTION FOUR: LIABILITY FOR FUNCTIONING OF ALARM SYSTEMS (A) The City of Canton, the Canton Police Department, the Canton Fire Department and/or their agents shall not be held responsible for the installation, maintenance or malfunctioning of any alarm system. SECTION FIVE: PENALTY (A) Violation of any section of this Ordinance is punishable by a fine of not less than 575.00 nor more than 5500.00. s SECTION SIX: CONFLICTING ORDINANCES (A) All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are, ' ~ to the extent of such conflict, hereby repealed." 3. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its passage by the City Council of the City of Canton. lA88ED by the City Council of the City of Canton, Fulton County, Illinois at a regular meeting this 16th day of November 1993, upon a rol l cal 1 vote as follows AYES: Alderme~.z Chalxnan, May, Bohler, Meade, Sarff, Phillips, Molleck, Coay. NAY8 : None . ASSENT : None . APPROVED: ~~~ Donald E. Edwards, Mayor ATT88T: ,~~ Nancy Whi a, City Clerk