As used in this chapter:
(a) “Alarm receiving equipment” means any equipment, by design, that receives a signal from an alarm system reporting an alarm activation.
(b) “Alarm system” means all types of assembly or equipment, mechanical or electrical, arranged to signal the occurrence of an actual or attempted burglary, an actual or attempted robbery, a medical emergency, a fire or any other activity requiring urgent attention and to which the Police Department and/or Fire Department are expected to respond. “Alarm system” shall include any system monitored by a central alarm monitoring station that reports an alarm activation to the Police Department and to which the Police Department and/or Fire Department are expected to respond.
(c) “Alarm user” means a person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind in control of any building, structure or facility where an alarm system is maintained.
(d) “Automatic dialing device” means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice message an emergency message indicating the need for an emergency response.
(e) “Calendar year” means a twelve month period beginning with the first day of January and ending with the last day of December.
(f) “False alarms.”
(1) Include:
A. Negligently or accidentally activated signals;
B. Signals which are the result of faulty, malfunctioning or improperly installed, secured or maintained equipment;
C. Signals which are the result of improperly installed, secured or maintained windows or doors or similar general areas of the building; and
D. Signals which are purposely activated to summons the Police Department or Fire Department in nonemergency situations.
(2) Alarm conditions caused by the following extenuating circumstances shall not constitute a “false alarm”:
A. Signals which result from storm conditions or other acts of God;
B. Signals being activated by persons working on the alarm system with prior notice to the Police Department and/or Fire Department;
C. Signals activated by disruption or disturbance of the telephone or other communication services; and
D. Signals activated willfully by alarm users upon good faith belief, as determined by the City, that an actual or attempted crime or other emergency has or is about to occur.
(g) “Local Alarms” mean those alarms which activate an audible signal within the proximity of the premises only.
(h) “Panic Alarm button” means a manually activated alarm system signaling an actual or attempted burglary, an actual or attempted robbery, a medical emergency or a fire.
(i) “Police Alarm Administrator” means the employee of the Police Department whose responsibility is to coordinate the administration and documentation of alarm businesses, alarm users and alarm system performance as it relates to the effective enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. A-1789. Passed 2-11-91; Ord. A-2286. Passed 12-10-01; Ord. 2793. Passed 8-11-14.)