REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on: (1) Agreement with Superion, LLC for Residential and Business Alarm Management Software, (2) Resolution Amending the Municipal Fee Schedule, and (3) Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 8.40 of the City Code ("False Alarm Regulation")
Report
BACKGROUND
Per the City of Santa Clara's Municipal Code, the Police Department's Permits Unit processes applications and renewals, conducts inspections, collects insurance and investigates complaints against regulated businesses in the City of Santa Clara. Permits are issued to provide oversight of businesses regulated by City, State and Federal laws. Fees associated with such regulatory oversight functions are approved by the Santa Clara City Council via the Municipal Fee Schedule. One such regulated commercial enterprise is business and residential alarm systems.
Currently, two Community Service Officers (CSOs) are responsible for the management of the Permits Unit. The CSO at the Northside Substation, with significant support from the Finance Department, is tasked with managing the residential and business alarm program as well as the facility itself.
Municipal Code Chapter 8.40, False Alarm Regulation, exists to ensure accurate, up-to-date information for Fire or Police personnel responding to the alarmed location. It also enables emergency personnel to contact responsible parties and/or alarm repair company representatives should the alarm need to be reset, has a recurring problem, or the site needs to be secured. Having this information readily available allows City personnel to return to providing services to the community in a timely manner.
The City's prior Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system was linked to WINPACS, an alarm permit software. The alarm software, like the former CAD system, was archaic and the system's technology was unable to provide the Police Department with the more robust technology options currently available to law enforcement for alarm p...
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