A G E N D A
REGULAR MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL
OF FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Discussion
of Agenda Items
I.
Call
to Order –
II.
Invocation
III.
Pledge
of Allegiance
IV.
Roll
Call
V.
Approval
of Minutes
1.
Work
Session of Mayor and Council of February
1, 2010
2.
Regular
Meeting of Mayor and Council of February 1, 2010
VI. Comment Period by Public
VII.
Agenda
Items
1.
Consider
an Ordinance by the City Council for the City of
Ordinances of the City by adding a new
Chapter thereto to
be known as
Chapter 4, so as to govern and regulate alarms,
false alarms,
and alarm systems in the City; to repeal
Section 4-1-8 and Section 11-1-36 of the
City code pertaining
to alarms and
alarm systems; to provide for severability; to
repeal all other
Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in
conflict
herewith; to provide an effective date; and for other
purposes
SUMMARY
AND BACKGROUND: In
2002, like many agencies, the police department took a progressive approach to
enforce the False Alarm Ordinance enacted by Council after detecting a dramatic
increase in false alarms. In 2002, the police department responded to 3,219
false alarms. These unnecessary and repeated calls for service accounted for
1073 man-hours officers were out of service, which translates to their time
being monopolized for 25 weeks. In dollars, this means the department wasted at
least $17,000 responding to false alarms.
Since 2002, the ordinance has managed
to reduce the number of false alarms to 1,963 (-41%). This is still a waste of
approximately $10,800. The reduction in the number of false alarms has reached
a plateau. Through accurate false alarm billing, we have recovered the some of
the cost of needless and dangerous response; however, the total time lost
cannot be accurately measured.
The primary goal for having a
progressive false alarm ordinance is:
¨
To
hold the users accountable
¨
Reduce
the number of false alarms calls
¨
Avoid
a complacent response that jeopardizes the officer’s safety.
To accomplish this involves changing
the actions of alarm companies and users, without creating a financial
hardship. In order to reduce the false alarms, the police department recognizes
a need for a change in the current ordinance, to one that meets the standards
of “best practice” and adopts the advancement of technology.
Currently the number of free false
alarms allowed is six in a calendar year.
¨
The
National Burglar and Fire Alarm Associations (NBFAA) recommend one free false alarm a
year
¨
Several
neighboring jurisdictions allow for two free alarms per year.
¨
The
NBFAA and the other jurisdictions both recommend a fee schedule higher and more aggressive than the one we currently
have in place.
It is our recommendation to allow for
two free false alarms a year and a progressive fee schedule, in line with the
NBFAA and the neighboring jurisdictions.
In order to assist us in achieving
objectives and not diminish the protection and confidence of our residents and
businesses, the ordinance must have installation and maintenance guidelines,
proper registration methods, sufficient training, and a process to appeal their
decisions. This proposed ordinance
addresses each of these areas.
2. Consider an Ordinance by the City
Council for the City of Forest Park, Georgia, to extend the Moratorium on
Permits for adult entertainment establishments originally provided for in
Ordinance Number 09-63; to provide for severability; to repeal all Ordinances
and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith; to provide an effective date; and
for other purposes
3. Consider a Resolution by the City
Council of the City of
Exhibit A, to be surplus property and to provide for its
proper disposal either by auction or other
methods pursuant
to the City’s Ordinances; and for other
purposes
VIII.
Legal
Matters
IX.
Committee
Reports
X.
Comments
by Governing Body
XI.
Adjournment