REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on Resolution Amending the Municipal Fee Schedule Regarding New and Increased Alarm System and False Alarm Fees; Action on Adoption of Ordinance No. 2012 Amending Chapter 8.40 of the City Code ("False Alarm Regulation") [Council Pillar: Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure]
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara City Code (“SCCC”) contains provisions governing the City’s regulations of various commercial enterprises; one such regulated enterprise is business and residential alarm systems. The City is permitted to recover the reasonable cost it incurs in administering this regulatory program via its Municipal Fee Schedule. On January 14th, the City Council approved an Agreement with Superion LLC for a new software system to assist with regulation and enforcement of the thousands of alarm systems and false alarm calls that the City receives each year. In conjunction with the new Agreement, the Police Department is requesting an Amendment of the Municipal Fee Schedule to increase, and create some new, regulatory fees related to alarm systems and false alarm responses.
SCCC 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. The proposed amendments seek to modernize the chapter.
DISCUSSION
Amendment to Municipal Fee Schedule
Currently, the City of Santa Clara has 9,144 active permits; 4,702 commercial and 4,442 residential. In 2019, Public Safety Dispatchers received 3,567 alarm dispatch requests; 830 of these calls were cancelled while a police officer was en route, 2,708 were determined to be false alarms upon officer arrival and investigation on scene (e.g. user error, mechanical issue, etc.), and 29 were valid over the designated timeframe. In light of the drain on resources caused by the large number of false alarm calls, the Police Department seeks to modernize the applicable Code sections (described below), upgrade its computer system (approved by Council on January 14th), and modify the associated regulatory fee structure.
The fees associated with regulation of alarm systems and false alarm response fall within exception 3 of Proposition 26 (“A charge imposed for the reasonable regulatory costs to a local government for issuing licenses and permits, performing investigations, inspections and audits … and the administrative enforcement and adjudication thereof”). A regulatory fee must not exceed the reasonable cost of administering the regulatory program. Such program administration activities may include licensing, permitting, investigation, inspection, administration, and maintenance of a system of supervision and enforcement. The cost to the City of administering the false alarm regulatory program in terms of response to a false alarm notification includes 2 CSOs, 2 Police Officers, a Dispatcher II and a Senior Dispatcher, as set forth in the table below. The program currently runs at a significant deficit.
|
Fee Name |
Current Fee / Deposit |
Total Cost Per Unit |
Surplus / (Deficit) per Unit |
|
Alarm Permit Application |
$37 |
$94 |
($57) |
|
False Alarm Calls |
|
|
|
|
Third false alarm |
$111 |
$321 |
($210) |
|
Fourth false alarm |
$136 |
$321 |
($185) |
|
Fifth & subsequent false alarms |
$161 |
$321 |
($160) |
|
Dispatch for a Holdup Alarm |
$121 |
$111 |
$10 |
The proposed amendments to the Municipal Fee Schedule are as follows:
|
Type |
FY 19/20 Fee |
Proposed Fee |
|
Alarm Permit (unchanged) |
$37 |
$37 |
|
Non-registration Fee (new) |
$0 |
$50 |
|
Annual Renewal Fee (new) |
$0 |
$15 |
|
Late Fee (new) |
$0 |
$25 |
|
Reinstatement Fee (new) |
$0 |
$15 |
|
First False Alarm (unchanged) |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Second False Alarm (new) |
$0 |
$50 |
|
Third false alarm (unchanged) |
$111 |
$111 |
|
Fourth false alarm (unchanged) |
$136 |
$136 |
|
Fifth and subsequent false alarm(s) (unchanged) |
$161 |
$161 |
|
Dispatch for a Hold-up Alarm - false alarm (unchanged) |
$121 (plus False Alarm Fee) |
$121 (plus False Alarm Fee) |
Based upon community feedback regarding the proposed changes to the regulatory fees, the Police Department coordinated two public meetings about the Alarm Permit program, held on January 7th and 8th. Both meetings resulted in robust discussions of various resident concerns. Concerns regarding the $15 annual renewal fee generated the most discussion, with residents proposing interesting ideas for future data gathering and analysis, as well as future reconsideration of the fee structure based upon such an analysis. As discussed with Council at the January 14th meeting, staff has confirmed that the new Cry Wolf software system has the capability to extract data regarding the breakdown of revenue between the various fees such that staff can analyze whether the fee structure described above is appropriate, or should be modified to, for example, reduce ongoing administrative fees (such as the annual renewal fee or initial alarm permit fee) and increase false alarm related fees. Staff will plan to bring this information back to Council in the third year of the Superion LLC contract.
Notice of public hearing regarding amendment of the Municipal Fee Schedule was published on January 15, 2020.
Adoption of Ordinance Amending SCCC Chapter 8.40
The proposed amendments to SCCC Chapter 8.40 were passed for the purpose of publication on January 14, 2020. Pursuant to City Charter Sections 808 and 812, a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2012 was published by The Weekly on January 22, 2020, and copies were posted in three public places.
The proposed amendments seek to modernize the chapter in accordance with upgrading the software and response system. Highlights of the proposed amended ordinance include:
• Requirement for additional contact information for alarm permit holders
• Contractor institutes Enhanced Call Confirmation, which includes a second verification call to a back-up phone number to reduce number of officer call outs for false alarms
• Appeals shall be heard pursuant to the new streamlined SCCC 2.115 process
• Chief of Police may deny/revoke an alarm permit, and/or temporarily suspend police response to that particular alarm site, if the site has produced more than 8 false alarms in a 12-month period
In accordance with Charter Section 808 a small clerical typographical error in the table of contents was discovered and fixed; the title to Section 8.40.180 was changed from “False Alarm Fees and Fines” to “Fees and Fines” to be consistent with the body of the Ordinance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The modifications to the Municipal Fee Schedule will be effectuated through the City’s revenue-sharing agreement with contractor Superion LLC. There are no upfront costs or annual maintenance fees as part of the agreement with Superion LLC. Instead, Superion (24%) and the City of Santa Clara (76%) will split the estimated fee-based revenue. The first-year revenue and expenditure estimates were included in the FY 2019/20 Adopted Operating Budget, and are estimated annually at $246,000 (of which $186,960 is estimated to be remitted to the City of Santa Clara).
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department, City Attorney’s Office, and Police Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
A summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2012 was published to the Santa Clara Weekly on January 22, 2020, and copies were posted in three public places and made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office.
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Adopt a Resolution amending the 2019-20 Municipal Fee Schedule to add new regulatory fees and amend existing regulatory fees relating to alarm systems and false alarm responses; and
2. Adopt Ordinance No. 2012 amending Chapter 8.40 of the City Code ("False Alarm Regulation").
Staff
Reviewed by: Brian Doyle, City Attorney
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 2012 - Intro
2. Resolution Amending Municipal Fee Schedule