County of Santa Cruz. Sheriff-Coroner 701 Ocean Street, Suite 340, Santa Cruz, CA (831) FAX: (831)

Transcription

1 0385, ~ "-, ~~~,,-~-:~r.-t:'t: \i-~-"~. ~.. "'II."'. "'/;i Ii ~\...'. ~d'. '( i f\ ( \~ County of Santa Cruz 701 Ocean Street, Suite 340, Santa Cruz, CA (831) FAX: (831) PhilWowak April 2, 2012 Agenda: May 8, 2012 Board of Supervisors County of Santa Cruz 701 Ocean Street, Room 500 Santa Cruz, California RE: Amendments to the Security Alarm Ordinance Dear Members of the Board: Chapter 7.84 of the Santa Cruz County Code relates to security alarm systems and was enacted to provide for administrative control over the use of security alarm systems in the unincorporated area of the County. The Sheriffs Office has been in the process of reviewing Chapter 7.84 to clarify the false alarm fee and annual renewal. This letter is to provide background information and request that your Board adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 7.84 of the Security Alarm System. In 2003, your Board adopted a revised Security Alarm ordinance to address issues related to false alarms, response fees for service calls, establish a process for revocation of alarm system registration, and designate unlawful activities and penalties for violations. In reviewing questions from the public related to our security alarm program, we have identified areas in our alarm ordinance that need to be clarified for better understanding. This has been a successful program which has encouraged the proper maintenance of alarm systems, reduces the number of false alarms through public education and awareness, and allows deputies to better utilize time to focus on other, more urgent calls. In reviewing questions from the public related to our security alarm program, we are recommending a few minor amendments to the existing ordinance related to false alarms malfunction references... 81

2 0386 The current ordinance defines false alarms as a response to an emergency situation for which the alarm system was sounded that does not exist. False alarm does not include alarm activations caused by tornadoes, earthquakes or other violent uncontrollable acts of nature. The ordinance also refers to false alarm malfunctions which is not defined in the definitions portion of the ordinance and has been the subject of interpretation as to whether that should be considered a non-countable alarm response. Alarm registrants are allowed one non-fee false alarm response per year. In order to clarify this situation, the Sheriffs Office is recommending striking the word malfunction in the ordinance. The other amendment involves the annual registration renewal which is Section Registration with Sheriffs Offce (H) which currently reads, "Annually, in January of each year, every security alarm system registration is renewed and the subscriber shall pay the renewal fee established by resolution by the board of supervisors and provide the information required by the renewal notice." The Sheriffs Offce is recommending that this be changed to "Annually, during the calendar month when the registration expires, every security alarm system registration is renewed and the subscriber shall pay the renewal fee established by resolution by the Board of Supervisors and provide the information required by the renewal notice." Due to reduced staffng in our offce, we are proposing that the renewals occur in the month that they expire. This would be less labor intensive in terms of mass mailings of notices, tracking payments, and updating any information changes on the renewal forms and in the database. IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED that your Board: 1) Approve ordinance amending Chapter 7.84 of the Security Alarm System in concept; and 2) Direct the Clerk of the Board to return on the next available agenda for final adoption. Very truly yours, r:ujrv~ PhilWowak RECOMMENDED: /7(-' \ ria /1!h\.. l V! lj;( V))l, /' j ( Susan A. Maurieiio/f~ County Administrative Officer cc:, Attn: Susan, CAO, County Counsel

3 ORDINANCE NO ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBDIVISION H. OF SECTION , SUBDIVISION D OF AND SUBDIVISION OF SECTION OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE RELATING TO SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS The Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cru ordains SECTION 1 Subdivision H. of Section ofthe Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended to read H. Anually, during the calendar month when the registration expires, every security alar system registration is renewed and the subscriber shall pay the renewal fee established by resolution by the Board of Supervisors and provide the information required by the renewal notice. Subdivision D. of Section of the Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended to read D. No securty alar system activates more than one false alar in any calendar year~ Subdivision B. and C. of to read Section ofthe Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended B. After any false alar ofthe securty alar system caused by a mechanical failure, a security alar system subscriber shall cause the alar system to be repaired. No person reactivates such systems until repairs are made. C. Each subscriber pays to the County of Santa Cru a fee for each false alar by that subscriber's alar system in excess of one false alar in any calendar year to which the Sheriffs Office makes a response. The fee is set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The fee is due and payable within thrt days of receipt of a bil from the Sheriff. SECTION II This ordinance shall take effect on the 31 5t day afer the date of final passage. PASSED AND ADOPTED this _ day of the County of Santa Cru by the following vote:,2012, by the Board of Supervisors of AYES: NOES: ABSENT:

4 ABSTAIN: 0388 Chairperson, Board of Supervisors Attest: Clerk of the Board APPROVED AS TO FORM:, '21t\1k~ Æ\Çg. County Counsel Distribution: County Counsel

5 0389 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBDIVISION H. OF SECTION AND SUBDVISION E. OF SECTION OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CODE RELATING TO SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS The Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cru ordains SECTION 1 Subdivision H. of Section of the Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended to read H. Annually, in Jan of each yeæ: thereafter, e'lery security alar system registation is renewed an the subscriber shal pay the renewal fee established by resolution by the Boæ:d of Supervisors and provide the infrmation required by the renewal notice. H. Anually, durng the calenda month when the registration expires, every securty alar system registration is renewed and the subscriber shall pay the renewal fee established by resolution by the Board of Supervisors and provide the information required by the renewal notice. Subdivision D. of Section of the Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended to read D. No securty alar system activates more than one false alar due to malfuction in an calendæ: yeæ:. No securty alar system activates more than one false alar in any calendar year. Subdivision B. and C. of Section of the Santa Cru County Code is hereby amended to read B. :After any false alæ: caused by a malfuction of the security alar system, a securty alar subscriber shall sause the alar system to be repaired so as to eliminate the malfuction before reaeivating th system. No person reactivates such systms ootil such repairs æ:e made. After any false alar caused by a mechancal failure of the securty alar system, a securty alar system subscriber shall cause the alar system to be repaired. No person reactivates such systems until repairs are made. C. Each subscriber pays to the Coooty of Sana Cru a fee for each false alar by that subscriber's alam system caused by a malfuction of that system in excess of one false alar in an calendæ: yeæ: to 'Nhieh th Sheriff's Offce makes a response. The fee is set by resolution of

6 0390 the Boar of Supervisors. The fee is due and payable \vin thirt days of receipt of a bil from the Sheriff. Each subscriber pays to the County of Santa Cru a fee for each false alar by that subscriber's alar system in excess of one false alar in any calendar year to which the Sheriffs Office makes a response. The fee is set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The fee is due and payable within thirty days of receipt of a bil from the Sheriff. SECTION II This ordinance shall take effect on the 31 5t day after the date of final passage. PASSED AND ADOPTED this _ day of the County of Santa Cru by the following vote:,2012, by the Board of Supervisors of AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Chairperson, Board of Supervisors Attest: Clerk of the Board APPROVED AS TO FORM: "\ \ ( J i:t\ "b æi") J\ÇS~ i,. Co-lty Counsel Distribution: County Counsel