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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - July 19, 2017 C-21 PHTM CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM c-2. AGENDA TITLE: Set Public Hearing for August 2, 2017, to Consider Adopting a Resolution Establishing New Fees Relating to Alarm Permits, Alarm Installation, and False Alarms MEETING DATE: July 19, 2017 PREPARED BY: Police Chief RECOMMENDED ACTION Set public hearing for August 2, 2017, to consider adopting a resolution establishing new fees relating to alarm permits, alarm installation, and false alarms. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Updates to the Lodi Municipal Code Chapter 15.56 — Alarm Systems and Permits was adopted by Council on May 3, 2017. Revisions were made to address changes in State law, technology of alarm systems, the City's own finance system, and the growing number of false alarms requiring police response. Sections 15.56.050(B) and 15.56.060(B) of the Municipal Code attests: alarm permit and renewal fees may be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. The revised ordinance allows for the establishment of new administrative fines for false alarms and the failure to comply with the ordinance requirements. It also allows for the reduction in permit fees for low income individuals. The current permit fees and false alarm fines were last increased and established on April 21, 1999. In 2002, the Police Department assumed all billing and collection duties from Finance and has been managing fee collection by utilizing a program designed for data collection only. The entire data collection and billing process is in need of updates; however, the department is taking steps to update the entire alarm program. The first step was adopting the updated alarm ordinance; the second step is establishing new rates that match the offerings and language in the ordinance. The proposed alarm fees are targeted at residents and businesses that frequently require police response due to false alarms. In 2016 the Lodi Police Department responded to 1,738 false alarms. The department has estimated that the fully loaded cost to respond to a false alarm is $40.81, making the total annual cost of false alarms approximately $70,928. Out of the 1,738 false alarms 749 were from homes and businesses that had two or more calls. A total of 213 residents and businesses were responsible for generating the 749 false alarms. Here is the analysis of these multiple false alarm generators: False Alarms Total False Alarm Generators 2 96 3 65 4 17 5 or more 35 APPROVED: ephen Schuer, City Manager Set public hearing for August 2, 2017, to consider adopting a resolution establishing new fees relating to alarm permits, alarm installation, and false alarms. July 19, 2017 Page 2 On April 28, 2015, the Police Department made a presentation at the Shirtsleeve meeting about the growing problem of false alarms and the desire to modify the existing Lodi Municipal Code alarm ordinance to address the issue. At this meeting the Council expressed the interest in providing reduced rates for seniors, disabled, and low income residents. The department has included a senior, disabled, and low income rate to respond to this Council's request. We plan to implement Finance's already established procedure for determining the eligibility for these reduced rates. The revised ordinance allows alarm users fee relief on second false alarms by offering no -cost education on the proper use of their alarm systems and the prevention of false alarms. If an alarm user takes advantage of this "school" they will not pay a fee for their first two false alarms. The adoption of the new fees will not affect most alarm owners as the permit fees will stay the same. The goal of the fines is to mitigate the number of false alarms within the City; reduce the amount of time officers spend on unverified alarm calls; provide more information to officers on scene; and help offset the cost of police response to false alarms. The Lodi Police Department is requesting that Council sets the Public Hearing for the proposed alarm fees. The complete schedule of proposed fees is shown in Exhibit A. FISCAL IMPACT: Approximately $27,000 in on-going Commercial Permit Fees, an estimated $27,400 in false alarm fines, and additional permit fees with alarm activations. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. 1 Tod Patter on Police Chief Attachments Exhibit A City of Lodi Police Department False Alarm Reduction Program Proposed Fees August 2, 2017 Alarm Permit Fee Cost -Residential/Commercial $25.00 Alarm Permit Reduced Rate - Seniors, Disabled, Low Income $12.50 Commercial Alarm Permit Renewal Fee $25.00 Residential Alarm Permit Renewal Fee $0.00 Alarm Permit Registration Late Charge $25.00 (plus any postage fees) Failure to respond to active alarm within 20 minutes $50.00 False Alarm Fee - 1st Warning Letter False Alarm Fee - 2nd $50 or School False Alarm Fee - 3rd $100.00 (plus any postage fees) False Alarm Fee - 4th $200.00 (plus any postage fees) False Alarm Fee - 5th or more $500.00 (plus any postage fees) Cost of Alarm Activation Without Valid Permit 1St -$100+permit fee 2nd -$150+permit fee 3rd -$200+permit fee 4th -$250+permit fee 5th <+$500+permit fee (plus any postage fees) Alarm Company Failure to Report Installation $50 Alarm Company Failure to use E.C.C. (Enhanced Call Confirmation) $50 False Alarm caused by Alarm Company $100 Alarm Reinstatement Fee $50.00 (plus any postage fees) Suspension/Revocation Fees All fees related to service of suspension/revocation. Please immediately confirm receipt of this fax by calling 333-6702 CITY OF LODI P. O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 ADVERTISING INSTRUCTIONS SUBJECT: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING NEW FEES RELATING TO ALARM PERMITS, ALARM INSTALLATION, AND FALSE ALARMS PUBLISH DATE: SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017 LEGAL AD TEAR SHEETS WANTED: One (1) please SEND AFFIDAVIT AND BILL TO: LNS ACCT.. #0510052 DATED: THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017 JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO, CITY CLERK City of Lodi P.O. Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241-1910 ORDERED BY: JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO CITY CLERK PAMELA M. FARRIS DEPUTY CITY CLERK ELIZABETH BURGOS ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK Verify Appearance of this Legal in the Newspaper — Copy to File Emailed to the Sentinel at dianer@lodinews.com at 4444-ime) on 7//g(ate) (pages) LNS Phoned to confirm receipt of all pages at (time) EB PMF (initials) forms\advins.doc DECLARATION OF POSTING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING NEW FEES RELATING TO ALARM PERMITS, ALARM INSTALLATION, AND FALSE ALARMS On Thursday, July 20, 2017, in the City of Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, a copy of a Notice of Public Hearing to consider adopting resolution establishing new fees relating to alarm permits, alarm installation, and false alarms (attached hereto, marked Exhibit "A") was posted at the following locations: Lodi City Clerk's Office Lodi City Hall Lobby Lodi Carnegie Forum WorkNet Office I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on July 20, 2017, at Lodi, California. ORDERED BY: JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO CITY CLERK PAMELA FARRIS ELIZABETH BURGOS DEPUTY CITY CLERK ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK N:\Administration\CLERK\Public Hearings\AFFADAVITS\DECPOST 1.DOC 1 Carnegie Forum 305 West Pine Street, Lodi rNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Date: August 2, 2017 Time: 7:00 p.m. E For information regarding this notice please contact: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo City Clerk Telephone: (209) 333-6702 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at the hour of 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, the City Council will conduct a public hearing at the Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street, Lodi, to consider the following item: a) Adopting a resolution establishing new fees relating to alarm permits, alarm installation, and false alarms. Information regarding this item may be obtained in the Lodi Police Department, 215 West Elm Street, Lodi, California., (209) 333-6725. All interested persons are invited to present their views and comments on this matter. Written statements may be filed with the City Clerk, City Hall, 221 West Pine Street, 2nd Floor, Lodi, 95240, at any time prior to the hearing scheduled herein, and oral statements may be made at said hearing. If you challenge the subject matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk, 221 West Pine Street, at or prior to the close of the public hearing. By Order of the Lodi City Council: &e� ifer M. i-tVClerk aZ-tikjuk. Dated: July 19, 2017 Approved as to form: Jafhice D. Fv agdich City Attorney AVISO: Para obtener ayuda interpretativa con esta noticia, por favor Ilame a la oficina de la Secretaria Municipal, a las (209) 333-6702. CLERK\PUBHEAR\NOTICES\Notpd doc 7/14/17