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Ordinance 2123CITY OF ALAMEDA ORDINANCE NO. _ 2123 New Series AMENDING THE ALAMEDA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ESTABLISHING ALARM SYSTEMS REGULATIONS BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA that: Section 1 . The Alameda Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding Chapter 10 to Title XII thereof, consisting of Sections 12 -1011 thru 12- 10312, to read: CHAPTER 10 ALARM SYSTE Article 1. Definitions Article 2. Administration Article 3. Requirements for Alarm Systems Article 1. Definitions Sec. 1 -1011 " Alarm Sy stem" means an assembly of equip- ment and devices arranged to signal the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention. (a) " Local Ala rm Syst em" means an alarm system that when activated sounds a horn, bell, buzzer, or other type of audible or visible alarm at the premises being served, but which does not result in the transmission of a signal to any other location. (b) " Interconnected Alarm System means an alarm system which directly or indirectly, automatically or manually, uses a telephone line or other means to transmit an alarm or message upon activation of the alarm system. (c) "A utomatic Dialing Device means a device which is interconnected to a telephone line or other means and is programmed to select a predetermined telephone number and transmit by voice, message, or code signal a message indicating a need for emergency response. S ec. 12 -1012 " Alarm Company Operator means any person, business or other entity operating for any consideration which engages in the installation, maintenance, alteration or servic- ing of alarm systems, or which respond to such systems. -1- aec. lz -iuis .."Ar Agent means any person employed by an alarm company operator and whose duties include altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing or servic- ing an alarm system or responding to same. Sec. 12 -1014 " Subscriber " means any person, business or other entity which owns or is entitled to occupy any premise on which an alarm system has been installed. Sec. 12 -1015 " Accident al /False Al arm" means an alarm signal or message initiated or transmitted, either automatically or manually through an alarm system, to the City of Alameda, eliciting response by police or fire when fire, heat, smoke, robbery, burglary, vandalism, or unauthorized intrusion has not in fact occurred. It does not include an alarm signal caused by catastrophic acts of God not reasonably subject to control by the alarm manufacturer, installer, or alarm subscriber. Article 2. Administration Sec. 12 -1021. Adminis Regulation The provisions of this Chapter shall be administered and enforced by both the Police and Fire Chiefs. They, or their representatives, are authorized to make inspections of alarm systems and of the premises whereon said systems are located and to make and enforce such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter. Sec. 12 -102 Accidental /Fal Alarms, No R Poli The Police and Fire Chiefs are authorized to implement such procedures and practices as may reasonably be necessary to reduce false alarms in this City. This may include a no- response policy on the part of either the Police or Fire Departments to alarms at locations which have repeated incidents of accidental /false alarms. Article 3. Requirements for Ala Systems Sec. 12 -103 f Perm and License Any alarm company and /or operator, conducting business within the City of Alameda shall file a copy of his /her California State Alarm License in the City of Alameda Clerk's office within 30 days of having applied for a City of Alameda business license. Sec. 12 -1032. Discontinuance of Business Any alarm company and /or operator shall, within 30 days of discontinuing business within the City of Alameda, notify the City Clerk's office in writing of same. Se c. 12 -1033 Audible Alarm Systems -2- (a) It shall be unlawful to install or sell an alarm system which, upon activation, emits a sound similar to sirens in use on emergency vehicles or for civil defense purposes. This section shall not apply to sirens mounted inside the building which cannot be clearly heard from outside the building. (b) For the purpose of this section, any electronic sounding device that produces a variable tone instead of one steady pitch shall be considered to be similar to an emergency vehicle siren. Sec. 12 -1034 Exempt ions. The provisions of this Chapter are not applicable to home smoke or heat detectors not intended to be heard outside the dwelling unit, nor to local alarm systems or audible alarms affixed to automobiles, boats, boat trailers, house trailers, and recreation vehicles or other motor vehicles. Sec. 12 -1035 Automatic Dialers Any alarm system which, when activated, causes an alarm to be sent by a self - dialing, pre- recorded voice notification unit must meet the standards established by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. for such equipment and for its installation. Sec. 12 -1036 Alarm Systems Terminating a Police /Fire Communications Center It shall be unlawful for any alarm system to terminate directly at the Alameda Police /Fire Communications Center, whether or not said alarm system signal is transmitted by pre- recorded dialing device, telephone lines, or any other means, unless specifically authorized in writing by either the Police or Fire Chiefs. Any alarm system authorized to terminate at the Alameda Police /Fire Communications Center must meet the equipment and installation standards established by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Sec. 1 -1037 Aud Alarm Shutoff It shall be unlawful to operate an audible alarm system which does not shut off within a maximum time of 30 minutes from time of activation. This may be accomplished with either an automatic shutoff or by manual operation. If the alarm system has an automatic cutoff with a rearming phase, the rearming phase must be able to distinguish between an open and closed circuit, and if the circuit is broken, the system shall not rearm. Sec. 12 -1038 Standby Power Backup - Source All alarm systems shall have a standby backup power supply which will automatically assume the operation of the alarm system should any interruption occur in the power to the system. The transfer -3- of power from the primary source to the backup source must occur in a manner which does not activate the alarm. Sec. 12 -1039 Type of Al arm Incident At the time an alarm system is instituted, it shall be classified as either a burglar alarm, robbery alarm, fire alarm, or a medical assis- tance signal. Once established, the alarm shall be used only for the designated classification. Panic alarm systems are prohibited. Sec. 12- 103 Ins tructions as to Operation of System Each alarm company operator shall provide accurate and complete instruction to the alarm system user in the proper use and operation of said system. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of accidental /false alarms. All businesses which sell alarm systems, but which are not alarm company opera- tors as defined in this Chapter, are similarly responsible for instructing the buyer in the proper use of same. Sec. 12- 10311 Notice of Name of Servicer or Occupant Every audible alarm system shall have a sign or notice posted on or near the audible device indicating the name and telephone number of the person or company responsible for the maintenance of said system. The notice shall be posted in such a position as to be readable from outside ground level and adjacent to the building. Silent alarm system shall also have a notice on the premies which provides the same information. Sec. 12- 10312 Resp upon Notif Upon proper notification by Alameda Police /Fire Communications Center personnel, the person or company named in the notice required by Section 12 -10311 or the representative of such person or company shall promptly proceed to the scene of the alarm and render the necessary service, within 45 minutes of said notifica- LL. �' tion. This service shll include, when necessary, the opening of the premises. Section 2 . This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the expiration of thirty (30) days from the date of its final passage. o � CL ,V CL '� 4 Presiding Officer of the Council Attest: City Clerk ( 1 -4- I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular meeting assembled on the 15th of February, 1983, by the following vote to wit: AYES: Councilmembers Diament, Gorman, bherratt',.stone and President Corica - 5. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 16th day of February, 1983. City �t Clerk of the UtYlOt "