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:
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Donald E. Edwards, Mayor
ATT88T:
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Nancy Whi a, City Clerk