DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Anthony L. Trevi?o, Jr.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT
Proposed Changes to Municipal Code Chapter 25, Article IV (Alarm Systems)
SUMMARY
This ordinance authorizes a waiver of the City's alarm fees for residents who are victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and stalking; this action also reduces the senior residents annual alarm fee from $35 to $20 effective October 1, 2015.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In January 2015, Councilmember Alan Warrick, through a Council Consideration Request (CCR), requested that City Council consider a waiver of alarm permit fees for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking. In response to the CCR, Interim Police Chief Trevi?o made a presentation to the Council Governance Committee on April 15, 2015. During the presentation, Chief Trevi?o noted that current alarm fee data bases are not programmed to track the type of wavier proposed as well as a number of other issues for consideration when making the determination to waive alarm permit fees. At the Governance Council Committee meeting, Councilmember Rebecca Viagran asked whether alarm permit fees could be waived for senior citizens. After discussion by the Governance Council Committee, the Committee referred the issue to the Council Public Safety Committee.
On May 6, 2015, Chief Trevi?o addressed the Public Safety Committee and recommended an Alarm Fee Waiver program be instituted to benefit victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking and senior citizens. The Public Safety Committee voted to have staff bring forward to the full City Council a waiver of alarm fees for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking and to present senior citizen alarm fee alternatives during the proposed budget process.
This council action recommends the following changes to the City's alarm permit fees by amending...
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