Title
Ordinance No. 21-65 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.
Presenter:
Vince Niski, Chief of Police
Tish Olszewski, Commander Falcon Patrol Division
Body
Summary:
Amendments to the City’s Code sections on police alarm systems to update Code definitions, change the term license to registration, moves the registration systems from the City Clerk’s Office to be the responsibility of the CSPD, and permits use of the CSPD’s online alarm portal.
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Background:
To provide better customer service for the public, CSPD acquired a vendor (Alarm Program Systems) via the RFP process that now provides a web-based Burglar Alarm Management solution to be used by the CSPD Alarm Administrator for the City. The alarm system compliance vendor in conjunction with the CSPD Alarm Administrator will; issue, maintain, and renew burglar alarm permits and registrations; manage burglar alarm permit and registration applications; track customer online payments for registrations, permits, and fines; and track and issue fines for false alarms responded to by CSPD personnel.
The revisions to the City Code contained in the attached ordinance will remove the responsibility of alarm licensing from the City Clerk’s Office and transfer the process to CSPD for a “one-stop-shop” which will provide for better residential and commercial customer service. The ordinance changes the alarm process from a City Clerk licensing system to an alarm registration system managed by CSPD and the alarm system compliance vendor. This registration process as opposed to a license process is used in many cities both inside and outside of Colorado.
Additional new components to the City’s police alarm code include:
Specific reference to the Confidentiality program created in Colorado pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-30-2101 et.al. to protect the confidentiality of the actual address of a relocated victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking;
Creates an Alarm User Awareness Class for the alarm user for the purpose of educating alarm users about the responsible use, operation, and maintenance of alarm systems and the problems created by false alarms.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
N/A
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
CSPD in conjunction with the Clerk’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office has engaged in a two-year process to update and modernize the City’s alarm system code language. CSPD has consulted with several industry experts in order to better serve the commercial and residential alarm system owners as a result of new alarm system technology. CSPD conducted an RFP to find a suitable alarm registration vendor to help process and maintain the City’s alarm permit registrations.
Additionally, CSPD hosted two meetings with the Alarm Companies and two meetings with Permit Holders (Public). Due to COVID restrictions, the public forums for Alarm Companies were conducted via WebEx meetings. The public forums with Permit Holders (Public) were in-person. The in-person meetings were also open to the Alarm Companies.
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 the 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 Police and Fire Alarm Systems.
Summary of Ordinance Language
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 Police and Fire Alarm Systems.