(a) School Fire Alarms. Every public, private and parochial school shall have an adequate alarm system which shall be connected directly to the Division of Fire alarm system, when it becomes available, or have a direct communication line to the Division of Fire in accordance with regulations of the Fire Chief.
(b) Automatic Dialing Devices.
(1) The City may subscribe to one or more telephone lines for burglar alarms, or for fire alarm purposes, or for similar purposes; and when any line is designated as provided for in subsection (a) hereof, persons may, upon proper application and compliance with applicable laws, be granted a permit to install a device or devices which automatically select the designated telephone line for the purpose of playing a recorded message or to otherwise report an intrusion or other emergency.
(2) No person shall use or cause to be used, any telephone device or telephone attachment that automatically selects any telephone line allocated by the telephone company to the City or any of its departments or divisions, except a telephone line which may be specifically designated by the City Manager for such purpose. Such designated telephone line or lines shall terminate at the police station or fire station communications centers.
(3) For alarms of the type described in subsection (a) hereof, the message shall comply with the following:
A. Length of message--15 seconds maximum;
B. Message shall not be repeated more than three times for each dialing;
C. Contents--message shall first state: “This is a recording”. Balance of message shall be appropriate to the purpose for which the alarm is installed and shall be subject to approval of the Chief of Police and/or the Chief of Fire. Entire message shall be intelligible.
(4) For alarms of the type described in subsection (a) hereof, each such device shall be programmed to first dial the police station or fire station, using an unlisted number assigned for that purpose. The device shall next dial a number selected by the applicant, such second number being that at which a person having a key to the building where the alarm is installed can normally be found. A third number subject to approval of the Chief of Police or the Chief of Fire may be programmed for the next dialing. No more than three such dialings may be programmed except under unusual circumstances and upon approval by the Chief of Police or the Chief of Fire.
(5) The cost of providing the service described above, including any fee or payment charged by the telephone company, shall be paid by the subscriber.
(6) The fee to be charged by the City under subsection (b)(5) hereof, shall be determined on an annual basis by dividing the cost of phone service to the City by the number of holders of permits for alarms, as described in subsection (b)(1) hereof, adding fifteen percent (15%) for administration and rounding off to the next highest dollar, except that the minimum charge shall be five dollars ($5.00) per month per subscriber. All fees shall be payable on a calendar month basis in advance. Delinquency in excess of ten days shall result in cancellation of the permit or permits.
(c) Alarms Connected Directly to Police Station or Fire Station.
(1) Upon proper application by any person to connect installed equipment to the police station or fire station to receive emergency alarms, the City Manager or his authorized representatives may issue permits for such connection.
(2) The City will, within its capabilities, endeavor to accommodate every reasonable application for connection to the police or fire alarm panels.
(d) Local Alarms. A permit for the installation of a local alarm which, when activated, sounds a horn, bell, buzzer, or other type of audible alarm, shall be required if the sound created by the alarm is audible beyond the premises being served. The Chief of Police or Fire or his authorized representative shall issue a permit for such an alarm, provided the intensity of sound does not exceed sixty-five decibels at any location outside the premises being served.
(e) False Alarms.
(1) A charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be assessed for each false alarm received by the telephone from a central station or alarm company answering service. Such fee shall be assessed against the alarm company with which the false alarm is associated.
(2) Notwithstanding the fees to be assessed, as set forth above, no charge shall be made for the first false alarm; nor shall there be any charge for a false alarm to which there is no response by the Police or Fire Departments, nor when the cause has been proven to be an act of God.
(f) Revocation of Permit. For violation of this section, for failure to properly maintain an installation or when the number of false alarms for any installation equals ten in any twelve month period, the Chief of Police and/or the Chief of Fire shall serve written notice upon a permit holder of intent to revoke his permit. Such notice shall be given not less than seven days prior to revocation. Such notice shall state the right of the permit holder to appeal to the City Manager. If an appeal is filed in writing, the City Manager shall hold a hearing on the matter and shall render a decision on the basis of the facts presented. The City Manager’s decision shall be final. In the event no appeal is filed, the Chief of Police and/or the Chief of Fire shall transmit all pertinent information to the City Manager who shall cancel the permit. The Chief of Police and/or the Chief of Fire shall take whatever steps are necessary to disconnect the alarms.
(g) Liability of City. The issuance of any permit or permits in conjunction with this section shall not constitute acceptance by the City of any liability to maintain any equipment, to answer alarms, or for anything in connection therewith.
(h) Permit and Inspection Fee. A fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid to the City for each permit issued as provided herein, to cover administrative and inspection costs. A separate permit and fee shall be required for a fire alarm and an intrusion alarm emanating from the same premises. Such permit shall not be transferable.
(Ord. 5641-86. Passed 5-19-86.)