Title
An Ordinance Amending Article 5 (Police and Fire Alarm Systems) of Chapter 8 (Public Safety) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to Alarm User Permit Fees and Penalties for False Alarms.
Presenter:
Charae McDaniel, Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Chief John Koch, Colorado Springs Police Department
Frederick Stein, Senior Attorney, City Attorney’s Office
Charles Hickey, CSPD Finance Manager
Body
Summary:
Amendments to the City’s Code sections to fees charged to residential and commercial alarm permitholders, and to the penalties for false alarms.
Background:
The City seeks to adjust annual permit fees for residential and commercial alarm permitholders and increase penalties for false alarms calls. This is due to increasing technology, program, and personnel costs related to alarm monitoring and response, and program administration for police and fire alarms permitted through private businesses in Colorado Springs.
The fees charged to alarm permitholders in Colorado Springs have not been updated since 2008. Currently, the fees charged are:
1. $24.00 annually for a residential or commercial permit, except for any residential permit for a person 65 years of age or older.
2. $12.00 annually for a residential permit where the permitholder is 65 years of age or older.
CSPD Finance researched alarm permit and false alarm penalties for some cities along the Front Range, including Denver, Castle Rock, and Pueblo. The proposed increased fees and penalties, in effect with the passage of this ordinance amendment, are:
1. $50.00 annually for a residential permit, except for any residential permit for a person 65 years of age or older.
2. $25.00 annually for a residential permit where the permitholder is 65 years of age or older.
3. $75.00 annually for a commercial permit.
The penalties charged for false alarms will be increased as follows:
1. First false alarm - increase from no charge to $50.00.
2. Second false alarm - increase from $30.00 to $100.00.
3. Third false alarm - increase from $75.00 to $150.00.
4. Fourth false alarm - increase from $100.00 to $200.00
5. Fifth false alarm - increase from $200.00 to $300.00.
Additional new components to the City’s Fees Charged to Alarm Permitholders include:
1. Requiring alarm companies to complete the online application for any person or business. Current ordinance language does not assign that responsibility to an alarm company, and this streamlines the process for CSPD.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
There is no cost to implement the alarm fee and false alarm penalty changes. Existing infrastructure will be utilized to update and enforce them.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
CSPD, the City Attorney’s Office, and City Finance have reviewed the ordinance language, fee structure, and estimated revenue stream and believe implementation of the increased alarm fees is necessary after having no changes for 17 years.
Alternatives:
1) Adopt the Ordinance with no modifications
2) Modify the Ordinance
3) Decline to adopt the Ordinance
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve Ordinance amending Article 5 (Police and Fire Alarm Systems) of Chapter 8 (Public Safety) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to Alarm User Permit Fees and Penalties for False Alarms.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An Ordinance amending City Code § 103 Alarm User Permit fees and § 110 False Alarm penalties to adjust annual alarm permit fees for residential and commercial alarm permitholders and to increase penalties for false alarms calls.