7.2. SR 11-17-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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acy os Elk. .~ REQUEST FOR ACTION Rsver To Ma or and Ci Council Item Number ~ . 2 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Administration 11-17-08 effre A. Beahen, Chief of Police Item Description Reviewed by Consider Ordinance Relating to Alarm Systems Reviewed by Action Requested Motion to adopt attached ordinance relating to alarm systems. Background/Discussion The Minnesota Electronic Security and Technology Association approached the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and asked for their endorsement and support of an ordinance that would help regulate alarms and help reduce false alarms. The industry itself recognizes that false alarms are a problem for many communities. City Attorney Peter Beck reviewed the ordinance. The benefit with this ordinance is that it is written to require alarm companies and their customers to do certain things. One of these is to require that two calls be placed to the business or homeowner prior to the alarm being dispatched. One call goes to the business, the second to a secondary call taker (perhaps the owner's cell phone). This required process will greatly reduce the number of false alarm in Elk River. The ordinance also requires a permit so the Police Department knows the alarm location and nature of the alarm. It gives us a better idea of where alarms are and what we might be responding to. Wendy Makousky from Wright/Hennepin, an alarm monitoring company and a board member of MNESTA, will be here to answer any questions the Council may have concerning how this impacts both the industry and the alarm customer. Financial Impact There will be no financial impact, although we may see some additional revenue from the penalty portion of the ordinance. The city's fee schedule will include fees for the alarm ordinance. Attachments ^ Alarm Ordinance Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up S:\Council\Police\2008\Alarm Ord.doc