HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2008-36 (Title: An ordinance amending the City's Code of Ordinances by amending the regulations
governing Alarm System Permits.)
ORDINANCE NO.2008-36
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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REPEALING
CHAPTER 54 ARTICLE V "ALARM SYSTEMS" IN ITS ENTIRETY
AND REPLACING THE SAME WITH NEW PROVISIONS FOR
ALARM SYSTEMS; PROVIDING FOR REQUIREMENTS FOR
ALARM SYSTEM PERMITS; PROVIDING FOR THE SUSPENSION
OF ALARM PERMITS IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; PROVIDING FOR
THE DUTIES OF ALARM SYSTEM COMPANIES; PROVIDING A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OR FINE FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 54 Article V of the City of Friendswood Code of Ordinances,
regarding"Alarm Systems"was originally adopted in 2002; and
WHEREAS, several changes in Texas law have been enacted regarding the installation;'
use and permitting of alarm systems; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, has found and
determined that it is in the best interests of health, safety and welfare of the citizens of
Friendswood to revise and replace the provisions of the City of Friendswood's alarm system
ordinance to coincide with the changes in Texas law and in order to register and to prevent or
reduce the occurrence of false alarms.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Friendswood, State of
Texas:
Section 1. The Code of Ordinances of the City of Friendswood, Texas, is hereby
amended by repealing Chapter 54 Article V thereof in its entirety and replacing the same with a
new Chapter 54 Article V to read and provide as follows:
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"Chapter 54
ARTICLE V.
"ALARM SYSTEMS
Sec. 54-121.Definitions
In this Ordinance the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings:
Alarm Administrator means a Person or Persons designated by the governing authority to
administer, control and review False Alarm reduction efforts and administers the provisions of
this Ordinance.
Alarm Installation Company means a Person in the business of selling, providing, maintaining,,
servicing, repairing, altering,replacing, moving or installing an Alarm System in an Alarm Site.
Alarm Dispatch Request means a notification to the City that an alarm has been activated at a
particular Alarm Site and that City Emergency Service is requested.
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Alarm Permit means authorization granted by the Alarm Administrator to an Alarm User to
operate an Alarm System.
Alarm Permit Application means the written application for and Alarm Permit filed by an Alarm
User with the Alarm Administrator.
Alarm Site means a single fixed premises or location served by an Alarm System or Systems.
Each unit, if served by a separate Alarm System in a multi-unit building or complex, shall be
considered a separate Alarm Site, and is further defined by the following categories:
(a)Residential Site means a single family residence and each residential unit of a multi-
unit building or complex which is served by an Alarm System.
(b) Commercial Site means every premises or location where any business activity is
regularly conducted and which is served by an Alarm System. Each unit of a business
premises or business location, if served by a separate Alarm System in a multi-unit
building or complex, shall be considered a separate Commercial Alarm System Site.
(c)Financial Site means every premises or location of a financial institution which is
required to have an alarm system pursuant to the Bank Protection Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C:
§1882). i
(d)EducationallGovernment Site means every premises or location of a public or private
school or school administrative office and every premises or location of any federal,
state, county or municipal governmental office.
Alarm System means a device or system that transmits a signal intended to summon a City
Emergency Service response. The term includes an alarm that emits an audible signal on the
exterior of a structure. The term does not include an alarm installed on a vehicle, unless the
vehicle is used for a habitation at a permanent site, or an alarm designed to alert only the
inhabitants within the premises.
Alarm User means any Person who (which) owns or operates an Alarm System at an Alarm Site.
Arming Station means a device that allows control of an Alarm System.
Automatic Voice Dialer means any electrical, electronic, mechanical, or other device capable of
being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message, when activated, over a telephone line,
radio or other communication system,to a City Emergency Service requesting dispatch.
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Cancellation means the process where response is terminated when a Monitoring Company
(designated by the Alarm User) for the Alarm Site notifies the responding City Emergency
Service that there is not an existing situation at the Alarm Site requiring a response after an
Alarm Dispatch Request. City means the City of Friendswood,Texas.
City Emergency Service means any emergency service provided by the City, including police,
fire, and emergency medical services.
City Manager means the City Manager of the City of Friendswood,Texas, or the City
Manager's designee.
Duress Alarm means a silent Alarm System signal generated by the entry of a designated code
into an Arming Station in order to signal that the Alarm User is being forced to turn off the
system and requires law enforcement response.
False Alarm means an Alarm Dispatch Request that has generated a City Emergency Service
response,which is canceled, or when no emergency condition is found at the Alarm Site. A false
alarm shall not be considered to have occurred unless a response is made by an agency of the
City within 30 minutes of the alarm notification and the agency determines from an inspection of
the interior or exterior of the premises that the alarm was false.
Holdup Alarm means a silent alarm signal generated by the manual activation of a device
intended to signal a robbery in progress.
Local Alarm System means any Alarm System, which is not monitored, that emits an audible
alarm only at the Alarm Site.
Monitoring means the process by which a Monitoring Company receives signals from an Alarm
System and relays an Alarm Dispatch Request to the municipality for the purpose of summoningi
City Emergency Services to the Alarm Site.
Monitoring Company means a Person in the business of providing Monitoring services.
Panic Alarm means an audible Alarm System signal generated by the manual activation of a
device intended to signal a life threatening or emergency situation requiring emergency response:
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization or similar entity.
Responder means an individual capable of reaching the Alarm Site within 30 minutes and having
access to the Alarm Site, the code to the Alarm System and the authority to approve repairs to
the Alarm System.
SM Control Panel Standard CP-01 means the ANSI — American National Standard Institute
approved Security Industry Association—SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard, as may be updated
from time to time, that details recommended design features for security system control panels
and their associated arming and disarming devices to reduce the incidence of false alarms.
Control panels built and tested to this standard by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), or other
Ord 2008-36 3
nationally recognized testing organizations, will be marked to state: "Design evaluated in
accordance with SIA CP-01 Control Panel Standard Features for False Alarm Reduction".
Transfer means the transaction or process by which an Alarm User takes over control of an,
existing Alarm System, which was previously controlled by another Alarm User.
Verb means an attempt by the Monitoring Company, or its representative, to contact the Alarm
Site and/or Alarm User by telephone and/or other electronic means, whether or not actual contact
with a Person is made, to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting City
Emergency Service Dispatch, in an attempt to avoid an unnecessary Alarm Dispatch Request.
For the purpose of this ordinance, telephone verification shall require, as a minimum that a
second call be made to a different number if the first attempt fails to reach an Alarm User who
can properly identify themselves to determine whether an alarm signal is valid before requesting
an emergency response.
Zones mean division of devices into which an Alarm System is divided to indicate the general
location from which an Alarm System signal is transmitted.
Section 54-122. Permit Required; Application: Fee; Transferability; False Statements
(A)No Alarm User shall operate, or cause to be operated, an Alarm System at its Alarm Site
without a valid Alarm Permit. A separate Alarm Permit is required for each Alarm Site.
( � (B)The fee for an Alarm Permit or an Alarm Permit renewal is set forth below and shall be paid
by the Alarm User.No refund of a Permit or Permit renewal fee will be made. The initial Alarm
Permit fee must be submitted to the Alarm Administrator within five(5) days after the Alarm
System installation or an Alarm System Transfer.
(1) Permit Fees—(See Appendix C—Fines and Fees)
(2) Renewal Fees—(See Appendix C—Fines and Fees)
(C) Upon receipt of a completed Alarm Permit application form and the Alarm Permit fee,the
Alarm Administrator shall register the applicant unless the applicant has:
(1) failed to pay a fine assessed under Section 54-127; or
(2) had an alarm Permit for the Alarm Site suspended and the violation causing the
suspension has not been corrected.
(D)Each Alarm Permit application must include the following information:
(1)the name, complete address (including apt/suite number), and telephone numbers of
the Person who will be the Permit holder and be responsible for the proper maintenance and
operation of the Alarm System and payment of fees assessed under this article;
(2)the classification of the Alarm Site as either residential (includes apartment, condo,
mobile home, etc.) commercial,financial, or educational/government;
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(3) for each Alarm System located at the Alarm Site, the classification of the Alarm
System (i.e. burglary, Holdup, Fire, Emergency Medical, Duress, Panic Alarms or other) and for
each classification whether such alarm is audible or silent;
(4)mailing address, if different from the address of the Alarm Site;
(5) any dangerous or special conditions present at the Alarm Site;
(6)names and telephone numbers of at least two individuals who are able and have
agreed to: (a) receive notification of an Alarm System activation at any time; (b) respond to the
Alarm Site within 30 minutes at any time; and (c) upon request can grant access to the Alarm
Site and deactivate the Alarm System if necessary;
(7)type of business conducted at a Commercial Alarm Site;
(8) signed certification from the Alarm User stating the following:
(a)the date of installation or Transfer of the Alarm System, whichever is applicable;
(b) the name, address, and telephone number of the Alarm Installation Company or companies
performing the Alarm System installation or Transfer and of the Alarm Installation Company
responsible for providing repair service to the Alarm System;
(c) the name, address, and telephone number of the Monitoring Company if different from the
Alarm Installation Company;
(d)that a set of written operating instructions for the Alarm System, including written guidelines
on how to avoid False Alarms, have been left with the applicant by the Alarm Installation
Company; and
(e) an acknowledgment that the Alarm Installation Company has trained the applicant in proper
use of the Alarm System, including instructions on how to avoid False Alarms.
(f) an acknowledgment that the Alarm User understands and agrees that a City Emergency
Service response may be influenced by factors including,but not limited to the availability of
City Emergency Service units,priority of calls,weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency
conditions, staffing levels, etc.
(E)Any false statement of a material fact made by an applicant for the purpose of obtaining an
Alarm Permit shall be sufficient cause for refusal to issue a Permit or for suspension of an
existing permit.
(F) An Alarm Permit cannot be transferred to another Person or Alarm Site. An Alarm
User shall inform the Alarm Administrator of any change that alters any of the information listed
on the Alarm Permit application within five (5)business days of such change.
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(G)All fines and fees owed by an applicant must be paid before an Alarm Permit may be issued
or renewed.
Section 54-123.Alarm Permit Duration and Renewal
An Alarm Permit shall expire 12 months from the date of issuance, and must be renewed
annually by submitting an updated application and a permit renewal fee to the Alarm
Administrator. It is the responsibility of the Alarm User to submit an application prior to the
Permit expiration date. Failure to renew will be classified as use of a non-permitted Alarm
System and fines shall be assessed. A$10.00 late fee may be assessed if the renewal is more than
thirty(30) days late.
Section 54-124. Duties of the Alarm User
(A) An Alarm User shall:
(1)maintain the Alarm Site and the Alarm System in a manner that will minimize or
eliminate False Alarms;
(2) make every reasonable effort to have a Responder arrive at the Alarm System's
location within 30 minutes when requested by a City Emergency Service in order to:
(a) deactivate an Alarm System;
(b)provide access to the Alarm Site; and/or
(c)provide alternative security for the Alarm Site.
(3) not activate an Alarm System for any reason other than an occurrence of an event that
the Alarm System was intended to report.
(B) An Alarm User shall adjust the mechanism or cause the mechanism to be adjusted so that an
alarm signal audible on the exterior of an Alarm Site will sound for no longer than ten(10)
minutes after being activated.
(C) An Alarm User shall not use Automatic Voice Dialers.
(D) An Alarm User shall maintain at each Alarm Site, a set of written operating instructions for
each Alarm System.
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(E) All Alarm Users shall review with their Alarm Installation Company and/or Monitoring
Company the Customer False Alarm Prevention Checklist (See Appendix B) or an
equivalent checklist approved by the Alarm Administrator and acknowledge their
understanding of False Alarm prevention procedures by signing and dating same. A fully
executed copy of the Customer False Alarm Prevention Checklist shall be filed with the
original application for an Alarm Permit.
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Section 54-125. Duties of Alarm Installation Company and Monitoring Company
(A) The Alarm Installation Company shall provide written and oral instructions to each of its;
Alarm Users in the proper use and operation of their Alarm Systems. Such instructions will.
specifically include all instructions necessary to turn the Alarm System on and off and to avoid
False Alarms.
(B) Upon the effective date of this Ordinance, Alarm Installation Companies shall not install a
device to activate a Holdup Alarm which is a single action,non-recessed button.
(C) Ninety (90) days after enactment of this Ordinance, the Alarm Installation Companies shall,
on new installations, use only alarm control panel(s) which meet SIA Control Panel Standard
CP-01.
(D)An alarm company shall not use Automatic Voice Dialers.
(E)After completion of the installation of an Alarm System, an Alarm Installation
Company employee shall review with the Alarm User the Customer False Alarm Prevention
Checklist(Appendix B) or an equivalent checklist approved by the Alarm Administrator.
(F) After completion of the installation of an Alarm System, an Alarm Installation Company
employee shall complete, sign and date the Installer False Alarm Prevention Program
Checklist (Appendix A) or an equivalent checklist approved by the Alarm Administrator.
The Alarm Installation Company shall maintain a copy each completed, signed and dated
Installer False Alarm Prevention Program Checklist for a period of two (2) years.
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(G)A Monitoring Company shall:
(1) report alarm signals by using telephone numbers designated by the Alarm
Administrator;
(2)verify every alarm signal, except a Duress or Holdup Alarm activation before
requesting a City Emergency Service response to an Alarm System signal;
(3) communicate Alarm Dispatch Requests to the City in a manner and form determined
by the Alarm Administrator;
(4) communicate Cancellations to the City in a manner and form determined by the
Alarm Administrator;
(5) ensure that all Alarm Users of Alarm Systems equipped with a Duress, Holdup or
Panic Alarm are given adequate training as to the proper use of the Duress, Holdup or Panic
Alarm;
(6) communicate any available information (north, south, front, back, floor, etc.) about
the location on all alarm signals related to the Alarm Dispatch Request;
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(7) communicate type of alarm activation(silent or audible, interior or perimeter);
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(8)provide the address of the Alarm Site;
(9) after an Alarm Dispatch Request, promptly advise the responding City Emergency
Service if the Monitoring Company knows that the Alarm User or the Responder has or has not
been contacted;
(10) upon the effective date of this Ordinance, Monitoring Companies must maintain for
a period of at least one (1) year from the date of the Alarm Dispatch Request, records relating to
Alarm Dispatch Requests. Records must include the name, address and telephone number of the
Alarm User, the Alarm System Zone(s) activated, the time of Alarm Dispatch Request and
evidence of an attempt to Verify. The Alarm Administrator may request copies of such records
for individually named Alarm Users. If the request is made within sixty (60) days of an Alarm
Dispatch Request, the Monitoring Company shall furnish requested records within ten (10)
business days of receiving the request. If the records are requested between sixty (60) days to
one (1) year after an Alarm Dispatch Request, the Monitoring Company shall furnish the
requested records within thirty (30) days of receiving the request.
(H) An Alarm Installation Company and/or Monitoring Company that purchases Alarm System
accounts from another Person shall notify the Alarm Administrator of such purchase and provide'
details as may be reasonably requested by the Alarm Administrator. !
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Section 54-126. Duties and Authority of the Alarm Administrator
(A) The Alarm Administrator shall:
(1) designate a manner, form and telephone numbers for the communication of Alarm
Dispatch Requests; and
(2) establish a procedure to accept Cancellation of Alarm Dispatch Requests.
(B) The Alarm Administrator shall establish a procedure to record such information on Alarm
Dispatch Requests necessary to permit the Alarm Administrator to maintain records, including,
but not limited to,the information listed below.
(1) identification of the Permit number for the Alarm Site;
(2) identification of the Alarm Site;
(3) date and time Alarm Dispatch Request was received;
(4) date and time of the City Emergency Service arrival at the Alarm Site and the
disposition of the call;
(C)The Alarm Administrator shall establish a procedure for the notification to the Alarm User of
a fineable False Alarm.
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(D) The Alarm Administrator may require a conference with an Alarm User and the Alarm
Installation Company and/or Monitoring Company responsible for the repair or monitoring of the'
Alarm System to review the circumstances of each False Alarm.
(E) The Alarm Administrator may create and implement an Alarm User Awareness Class. The
Alarm Administrator may request the assistance of Associations, alarm companies and law
enforcement agencies in developing and implementing the class. The class shall inform Alarm
Users of the problems created by False Alarms and teach Alarm Users how to avoid generating
False Alarms.
(F) The Alarm Administrator may require an Alarm User to remove a Holdup Alarm that is a
single action,non-recessed button, if a false Holdup Alarm has occurred.
Section 54-127. Fines
(A) An Alarm User shall be subject to fines, depending on the number of False Alarms within
any 12-month period based upon the schedule set forth in Appendix C -Fines and Fees.
(B) In addition, any Person operating a non-permitted Alarm System will be subject to a fine
(See Appendix C — Fines and Fees) for each False Alarm in addition to any other fines. The.
Alann Administrator may waive this additional fine for a non-permitted system if the Alarm
User submits an application for Alarm Permit within ten (10) days after notification of such
violation.
(C) The Alarm Installation Company shall be subject to a fine (See Appendix C — Fines and
Fees) if the responding City Emergency Service determines that an on-site employee of the
Alarm Installation Company directly caused the False Alarm. In this situation, the False Alarm
will not be counted against the Alarm User.
(D) The Monitoring Company shall be subject to a fine (See Appendix C —Fines and Fees) for
each failure to Verify Alarm System signals as specified in Section 5(H)(2).
(E) The Alarm Installation Company shall be subject to a fine (See Appendix C — Fines and
Fees) if the Alarm Administrator determines that an Alarm Installation Company employee
knowingly made a false statement concerning the inspection of an Alarm Site or the performance
of an Alarm System.
(F)Notice of the right of Appeal under this ordinance will be included with any fines.
Section 54-128. Suspension
(A) The Alarm Administrator may suspend any Alarm Permit upon the occurrence of any of the'
following conditions:
(1) if the Alarm User provides any false information in, or in connection with, an Alarm
Permit Application;
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(2) if an Alarm Site has more than 12 False Alarms in any 12-month period; or
(3) if any fines assessed by the Alarm Administrator become 180 days or more past due.
(B)An Alarm User may appeal the suspension of an Alarm Permit in accordance with the
provision for Appeals set forth in this Ordinance.
(C)The Alarm Administrator will notify the Alarm User in writing after the Alarm Permit has
been suspended and the reason for the suspension. The notice of suspension may also include the
amount of the fine for each False Alarm, if applicable.
Section 54-129. Appeals
(A) If the Alarm Administrator assesses a fine or denies the issuance, renewal or reinstatement of
an Alarm Permit, the Alarm Administrator shall send written notice of the action and a statement
of the right to an appeal to the affected applicant or Alarm User and the Alarm Installation
Company and/or Monitoring Company.
(B) The Alarm User, Alarm Installation Company or Monitoring Company may appeal an
assessment of a fine or the suspension of an Alarm Permit to the Alarm Administrator by setting
forth in writing the reasons for the appeal within ten(10) business days after receipt of the fine or
notice of suspension and by submitting a certified check in the amount of twenty-five dollars
($25.00) payable to the City to cover the cost of processing the appeal. The payment for the cost
of the appeal will not be refunded.
(C) The Alarm User, Alarm Installation Company or Monitoring Company may appeal the
decision of the Alarm Administrator by requesting, within ten (10) business days from the date
of the decision, that the Alarm Administrator forward the appeal to the City Manager. The Alarm
Administrator will, within five (5) business days of such a request, provide the City Manager
with notice of the appeal. The City Manager shall, within a period of thirty (30) days from
receipt of the notice of appeal from the Alarm Administrator, hear the appeal and the facts as
presented by the appellant and the Alarm Administrator, affording both parties a reasonable and
equal amount of time for the presentation of facts, evidence, and the questioning and cross
examination of witnesses. Within ten (10) business days of the hearing, the City Manager shall
render a final, written decision affirming or reversing the decision of the Alarm Administrator.
Such written decision shall be filed with the City Secretary.
(D) Filing of a notice of appeal shall stay the action by the Alarm Administrator suspending an
Alarm Permit or requiring payment of a fine, until the City Manager has rendered a decision. If a
request for an appeal to the City Manager is not made within the required ten (10) business day
period,the action of the Alarm Administrator is final.
(E)The Alarm Administrator may adjust the count of False Alarms based on:
(1) Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by an Act of God;
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(2)Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by action of the telephone company;
(3) Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by a power outage lasting longer than four
(4)hours;
(4)Evidence that the Alarm Dispatch Request was not a False Alarm; and/or
(5)Evidence that a City Emergency Service response was not completed in a timely
fashion.
(F) With respect to fines of an Alarm Installation Company or Monitoring Company the Alarm
Administrator may take into consideration whether the Alarm Company or Monitoring Company
has engaged in a consistent pattern of violations.
Section 54.130. Reinstatement
(A) A Person whose Alarm Permit has been suspended may, at the discretion of the Alarm
Administrator,have the Alarm Permit reinstated by the Alarm Administrator if the Person:
1. submits a new application and pays a reinstatement fee (See Appendix C—Fines and
Fees);
2. pays, or otherwise resolves, all outstanding citations and fines; and
3. submits a certification from an Alarm Installation Company, stating that the Alarm !
System has been inspected and repaired(if necessary) by the Alarm Installation Company;
(B) In addition,the Alarm Administrator may require one or more of the following as a condition
to reinstatement:
(1)proof that an employee of the Alarm Installation Company or Monitoring Company
caused the False Alarm;
(2) a certificate showing that the Alarm User has successfully completed the Alarm User
Awareness Class as provided under Section 6(E);
(3) upgrade the alarm control panel to meet SIA Control Panel Standard CP-01;
(4) a written statement from an independent inspector that the Alarm System has been
inspected and is in good working order;
(5) confirmation that all motion detectors are "dual technology"type;
(6) confirmation that the Alarm System requires two independent zones to trigger before
transmitting an alarm signal to the Monitoring Company;
(7) confirmation that the Alarm System requires two independent detectors to trigger
before transmitting an alarm signal to the Monitoring Company;
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(8) certification that the Monitoring Company will not make an Alarm Dispatch Request
unless the need for a City Emergency Service is confirmed by a listen-in device;
(9) certification that the Monitoring Company will not request an Alarm Dispatch unless
the need for a City Emergency Service response is confirmed by a camera device; or
(10) certification that the Monitoring Company will not make an Alarm Dispatch Request
unless the need for a City Emergency Service response is confirmed by a Person at the Alarm
Site.
Section 54.131. Confidentiality
In the interest of public safety, all information contained in and gathered through the Alarm
Permit applications and applications for appeals shall be held in confidence by all employees or
representatives of the City and by any third-party administrator or employees of a third-party
administrator with access to such information, to the extent permitted by law.
Section 54.132. Governmental Immunity
An Alarm Permit is not intended to, nor will it, create a contract, duty or obligation, either
expressed or implied, for a City Emergency Response. Any and all liability and consequential
damage resulting from the City's failure or inability to respond to a Notification is hereby
disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. By applying for an Alarm
Permit, the Alarm User acknowledges that a City Emergency Response may be influenced by
factors such as: the availability of City Emergency Service units, priority of calls, weather
conditions,traffic conditions, emergency conditions, staffing levels and prior response history.
Appendix A:
INSTALLER FALSE ALARM PREVENTION PROGRAM CHECKLIST
Yes No
❑ ❑ 1. If a duress feature was installed, I thoroughly explained it and I did not
program the system so that the duress code is only one digit different than the normal
code.
❑ ❑ 2. 1 checked that the control panel has been programmed so that:
❑ ❑ a. it will not transmit more than one (1) alarm signal from the same zone until
manually restored at the premises;
❑ ❑ b. it will delay at least fifteen seconds before initiating dialing on intrusion alarm'
signals;
❑ ❑ c. it has adequate delay time on entry/exit doors (delay of 45 seconds or more is
recommended); and
Ord 2008-36 12
❑ ❑ d. a cancel code can be entered by the customer to cancel accidental alarms.
❑ ❑ 3. I checked that police and fire panic buttons cause a siren or speaker to sound
and that medical panic buttons cause an audible signal.
❑ ❑ 4. I checked that the Arming Station(s) emit sound to inform occupants when an
entry/exit door sensor has been triggered.
❑ ❑ 5. I installed and tested standby/backup power.
❑ ❑ 6. I reviewed the"Customer False Alarm Prevention Checklist"with the
customer.
❑ ❑ 7. I determined whether the customer had special telephone features, such as call
waiting or DSL, and took appropriate steps to allow proper control panel dialing and
monitoring center verification. (Such as *70 for call waiting, etc.)
❑ ❑ 8. I checked the control panel was properly grounded to the manufacturer's
specifications.
❑ ❑ 9. I checked that all door and window contacts were properly selected,
installed and tested. I considered loose fitting doors and windows,
whether wide gap contacts were needed, and steel doors and windows. I
followed the manufacturer's installation instructions.
❑ ❑ 10. I checked all glass breakage sensors were properly selected, installed and
tested. I gave consideration to pets, on-site noises and the general environment. I
followed the manufacturer's installation instructions.
❑ ❑ 11. All motion type detectors were properly selected,properly installed and
tested. I gave consideration to pets, sunlight, other heat sources, and harsh environments.
I followed the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Please explain if you answered"No"to any of the above items:
Installation Technician
Printed Name Signature
Date
Appendix B:
CUSTOMER FALSE ALARM PREVENTION CHECKLIST
Yes No
❑ ❑ 1. I have been made aware of the applicable alarm ordinance and I will
comply with its requirements.
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❑ ❑ 2. I understand it is my responsibility to prevent false alarms, and I understand it
is critical and my responsibility to assure that all users of the system(such as residents,
employees, guests, cleaning people, and repair people) are trained on the proper use of
the system.
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❑ ❑ 3. I have been trained in the proper operation of the system and have been given
an operating sheet summarizing the proper use of the system, as well as the security
system operating manual.
❑ ❑ 4. I know how to turn off motion detectors while leaving other sensors
on. (Residential Only)
❑ ❑ 5. I know how to test the system, including the communication link with the
monitoring center.
❑ ❑ 6. I understand that my entry time is and my exit time is
❑ ❑ 7. I have the alarm company phone number to request repair service or to ask
questions about the alarm system.
❑ ❑ 8. I know how to cancel an accidental alarm activation and have the system
cancellation code or code word.
❑ ❑ 9. I understand that indoor pets can cause false alarms and I will contact my alarm
company to adjust the system if I acquire any additional indoor pets.
❑ ❑ 10. I understand that the main control panel and transformer are located
in
❑ ❑ 11. I have received an alarm sheet, which describes how the alarm
company will communicate with me in the event of various alarm signals.
12. I understand the importance of:
❑ ❑ § keeping my emergency contact information updated and I know how to
do this;
❑ ❑ § immediately advising the alarm company if my phone number changes
(including area code changes); and
❑ ❑ § immediately advising the alarm company of any other changes to my
telephone service such as call waiting or a fax line.
r ❑ ❑ 13. I will advise the alarm company if I do any remodeling(such as
painting,moving walls, doors or windows).
Ord 2008-36 14
❑ ❑ 14. I understand that certain building defects (such as loose fitting doors
or windows,rodents, inadequate power, and roof leaks) can cause false
alarms. I will correct these defects as I become aware of them.
❑ ❑ 15. The alarm company has given me written false alarm prevention
techniques to help me prevent false alarms.
Comments:
ALARM COMPANY CUSTOMER
Print Name(s) By:
Signature(s) Date
Appendix C:
FINES AND FEES
Permit Fee and Permit Renewal Fee
Residential Site $36.00
Commercial Site $72.00
Financial Site $72.00
f Educational/Government Site No Fee
Late Fee $10.00
Alarm Permit Reinstatement Fee /1 of Permit Fee
False Alarm Fines
More than 3 but fewer than 6 in the preceding j
12 month period $50.00 per alarm
More than 5 but fewer than 8 in the preceding
12 month period $75.00 per alarm
Eight or more other false alarms in the
Preceding 12 month period $100.00 per alarm
Monitoring Company Failure to Verify $100.00 per incident
False Statement by Alarm Co.Employee $200.00 per incident
Appeal Fee $25.00 per appeal
Use of a Non-Permitted Alarm System $100.00 per incident
Use of Alarm System during Alarm Permit Suspension $200.00 per alarm
Failure to Comply with or Violation of Section 54.125 $200.00 per incident'
SECTION 2. An offense committed before the effective date of this Ordinance is governed by
prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in effect when the offense
was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
Ord 2008-36 15
SECTION 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent or in conflict herewith are, to
the extent of such consistency or conflict,hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. In the event any clause phrase, provision, sentence, or part of this Ordinance or
the application of the same to any person or circumstances shall for any reasons be adjudged
invalid or held unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect, impair, or
invalidate this Ordinance as a whole or any part or provision hereof other than the part declared
to be invalid or unconstitutional; and the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas,
declares that it would have passed each and every part of the same notwithstanding the omission
of any such part thus declared to be invalid or unconstitutional, whether there be one or more
parts.
PASSED AND APPROVED on first reading this 6th day of October,2008.
I
PASSED,APPROVED, and ADOPTED on second and final reading this 20th day of
October,2008.
I
D J J. IV Smith
Mayor
ATT
D�elorisMcKenzie', TIWC
City Secretary O� FaiENO�y
A
u � Oa
t
OF
Ord 2008-36 16