REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Robert Handy, Chief of Police
Subject:
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Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4163 amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter 5.56 related to Alarm Systems both residential and commercial, burglary alarms; and Adopt Resolution No. 2019-07 increasing fees for burglar alarm businesses and alarm system subscribers collected by the Police Department as established pursuant to Resolution No. 6656, and incorporating the increased fees into the Consolidated Comprehensive Citywide Master Fee and Charges Schedule as established by Resolution No. 2016-59, and amended by Resolution Nos. 2017-46, 2018-01, 2018-29, 2018-48, and 2018-55 (Supplemental Fee Resolution No. 8).
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Statement of Issue:
False alarms in the City put undue stress on the Police Department's resources and a robust False Alarm Reduction Program is necessary for improved deployment and cost recovery. As part of the program, staff recommends adjusting the false alarm fees and amending Municipal Code Chapter 5.56 to make the sections more robust in seeking compliance for maintaining proper alarm systems, reducing improper or careless use, and requiring more of alarm installation and monitoring companies.
Financial Impact:
The recommended Ordinance and Resolution lowers the threshold at which false alarm fees are issued and establishes new fees for false alarms for those without an alarm permit. Alarm permits and false alarm fees generate approximately $400,000 in annual revenue in the General Fund. Staff is recommending to increase, decrease and add new fees. Minimal changes are expected to revenues as a result of the proposed changes to the false alarm fees. The City is considering contracting out false alarm program services, which will allow the City to consistently enforce this Ordinance. Increased enforcement of this Ordinance should ...
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