Ordinance No. 11,749ORDINANCE NO.11,749
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS,REPEALING ARTICLE II "ALARM SYSTEMS"OF CHAPTER 30
"EMERGENCY SERVICES"OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,BAYTOWN,
TEXAS;AMENDING CHAPTER 30 "EMERGENCY SERVICES"OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES,BAYTOWN,TEXAS,TO ADD A NEW ARTICLE
TO BE NUMBERED AND ENTITLED ARTICLE II "ALARM SYSTEMS"TO
UPDATE THE ALARM SYSTEM PERMIT REGULATIONS,AND THE
SERVICE FEE ASSOCIATED WITH FALSE ALARMS;PRESCRIBING A
MAXIMUM PENALTY OF FIVE HUNDRED AND NO/100 DOLLARS
($500.00);PROVIDING AREPEALINGCLAUSE;CONTAINING A
SAVINGS CLAUSE;AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND
EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN,
TEXAS:
Section 1:ThatArticleII"AlarmSystems"of Chapter30 "Emergency Services"of
theCode of Ordinances,Baytown,Texas,isherebyrepealedinitsentirety.
Section2:ThatChapter30"EmergencyServices"of theCode of Ordinances,
Baytown,Texas,is hereby amended toaddanew article tobe numbered and entitled Article II
"AlarmSystems,"whicharticleshallreadas follows:
CHAPTER 30.EMERGENCY SERVICES
ARTICLE II.ALARM SYSTEMS
DIVISION 1.IN GENERAL
Sec.30-25.Definitions.
The following words,terms and phrases,when used inthis article,shall have the
meanings ascribed to them inthis section,except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning:
Alarm site meansasinglepremisesorlocationservedbyanalarmsystem.
Alarm system meansadeviceor assembly of equipment thatemits,transmits or relays a
signal intended to summon or that would reasonably be expected to summon police or fire
services ofthecity,including analarmthatemitsan audible signalontheexteriorofa structure.
Analarm system doesnotinclude:
(1)Analarmsystem installed onamotorvehicleunlessthevehicleisusedfora
habitation ata permanent site;
(2)An alarm system installed upon the premises occupied bythe United States
government,thestate,thecityoranycounty government orschooldistrict
situatedwithinthecorporatelimits;
(3)Analarmdesignedtoalertonlythe inhabitants of apremiseswhichdoesnotemit
asignalaudibleorvisiblefromtheexterior of astructure;or
(4)A Varda alarm.
Alarm system permit or permit means a certificate of authorization issuedbythecityto
theowner,agentorpersonincontrol of the property whichauthorizestheoperation of analarm
system atan alarm site.
Burglar alarm notification meansanotificationwhichsummonsthepolice,whichis
initiatedortriggeredbyanalarmsystemdesignedtorespondtoa stimulus characteristic of
unauthorized intrusion.
False burglar alarm notification meansaburglaralarmnotificationtothepolice,when
the police personnel respond within 30minutes of the notification andfindno evidence of
unauthorizedintrusionorattemptedunauthorizedintrusion.Thetermdoesnotincludeany
activation of analarmsystem:
(1)causedbyhurricanes,tornadoes,lightning,earthquakes orgaleforcewindsor
higher;
(2)caused bya natural or man-made catastrophe;or
(3)to which the response bythe police department is canceled by either thealarm
system user orhis authorized agent prior tothe arrival of responding police
personnel atthe alarm site.
False fire alarmnotification meansafirealarmnotificationtothe fire department,whenthe
respondingfire department personnelrespondwithin30minutes of the notification andfindno
evidence of afirehavingoccurred.Thetermdoesnotincludeany activation of analarmsystem:
(1)causedby hurricanes,tornadoes,lightning,earthquakes orgaleforcewindsor
higher;or
(2)caused bya natural or man-made catastrophe;or
(3)to which the response bythefire department is canceled by either the alarm
systemuserorhisauthorizedagentandnoresponseismadebythefire
department atthealarmsite.
Firealarmnotification meansanotificationwhichisinitiatedortriggeredbyanalarm
system designed toreacttoany of thevisualorphysical characteristics of fire.
Permitholder meansanypersontowhomanalarmsystem permit isissued.
DIVISIONS PERMIT
Sec.30-26.Required.
Unless a valid alarm system permit hasbeenissuedbythecity,itshallbe unlawful for
anypersontooperate,causetobeoperatedorallowtobeoperatedanalarmsystematanalarm
site within the city orinareain which thecityis required viaa contract,other thana mutual aid
agreement,toprovidefireprotectionservicesinthecity'sextraterritorialjurisdiction.Aseparate
alarmsystempermitisrequiredforeachalarmsite.
Sec.30-27.Application.
Applicationforanalarmsystempermitshallbemadewiththecityclerkbytheperson
whoisresponsibleforthepropermaintenanceandoperation of thealarmsystem.Application
shallbemadeinwritingorinan acceptable electronic format byapersonatleast 18 years of
age,ona form designated bythe city.The application shall include at least the following
information:
(1)Thename,address and telephone number oftheperson responsible forthe proper
maintenanceandoperation of thealarmsystemandpayment of feesorcharges
levied under this article;
(2)Theaddressofthe alarm site,and whether itis residential or commercial,
includingthename of allbusinessesoperatingatthesite;
(3)The name,address and telephone number ofthe alarm protective service or
personwhowillinstallor monitor the alarm system;and
(4)The business and residence addresses and telephone numbers ofthe primary
person designated to respond toan alarm site when requested bythecity police or
fire personnel andatleastoneother contact personatleast 18 yearsofage.
Sec.30-28.Term,issuance;transferability;change of information.
(a)Permitterm.
(1)Commercial.A commercial alarmsystempermitshallbeissuedforaperiod of
oneyearandis renewable annually.Itisthe responsibility ofthe commercial
permitholdertosubmitan application forrenewalatleasttendayspriortothe
alarm system permitexpirationdate.
(2)Residential.
a.Aresidentialalarmsystempermitshallbeissuedforaperiod of oneyear
andisrenewableannually.Itistheresponsibility of theresidentialpermit
holdertosubmitanapplicationforrenewalatleasttendayspriortothe
alarmsystempermitexpirationdate.
b.Allresidentialalarmsystempermitsissuedbefore October 2,2011,are
declaredtobevaliduntilFebruary28,2012,afterwhichtheywill
automatically expire unlessrenewedin accordance withthisarticle.
(b)Issuance.Uponreceipt of thecompletedapplicationform,thecityclerkshallissuean
alarm system permitunlessthepolice chief orfire chief determines thatanalarmsystem
permitshouldnotbeissuedorrenewedonthebasis of section30-29(a).
(c)Transferability.Analarmsystempermitissuedunderthis division cannot betransferred
to another person.
(d)Change of information.If theprimaryor secondary person designated to respond toan
alarmsiteoranyother information providedinthe application foranalarmsystempermit
changes atanytimeduringtheterm of thealarmsystempermit,the permit holdermust
notifythecityinwritingwithintendays of thechange.Nofeewillbeassessedforany
such change.
Sec.30-29.Revocation or denial;appeal.
(a)Basis.Thepolicechieforfirechiefmayrefusetograntorrenewanalarmsystempermit
ormayrevokeanalarmsystempermitifhedeterminesthat:
(1)Thereisfalse statement of amaterial matter inthe application;
(2)The permit holderhasviolatedthisarticleorany of its provisions;
(3)Thepermit holder hasfailedtopayaservicefee assessed underthisarticlewithin
30days of thepermit holder's notification of the assessment of thefee;
(4)The alarm system hashadeightormorefalse burglar alarm notifications during
the permit term;or
(5)The alarm system hashad eight or more falsefire alarm notifications during the
permit term.
Any revocation or non-renewal shallbefora period of uptoone year as determined by
the police chief orfirechief.
(b)Notice ofdenialor revocation.Ifthepolice chief orfire chief determinesthatanalarm
systempermitshouldnotbeissuedorrenewedorthatanalarmsystempermitshouldbe
revoked,heshallsendtotheapplicantorpermitholderbycertifiedmail,returnreceipt
requested,written notice of hisdeterminationsettingforththereason therefor and
advisingthe applicant orpermitholder of therighttoanappeal.
(c)Notice of appeal.Theapplicantorpermitholdermayappealthedecisiontodenyor
revokeanalarmsystempermitbyfilingwiththecityclerkawrittenrequestfora
hearing,settingforththereasonsfortheappeal,withintencalendardaysafterreceipt of
thenotice of thedecisiontodenyorrevokeanalarmsystempermit.Ifarequestforan
appealhearingisnotmadewithintheten (10)dayperiod,thedetermination of thepolice
chief or fire chief is final.
(d)Appeal.The appeal shallbeheardbythecity manager,whoshall consider evidence
offered by any interested person.Theformalrules of evidence shallnotapplyatsuch
hearing.Thecity manager shallmakeadecisiononthebasis of afair preponderance of
the evidencepresented and matters officially noticed atthe hearing.Thecity manager
shall render a decision within thirty(30)daysafterthe appeal hearing.Such decision
shallaffirm,reverse,ormodifythedetermination of thepolice chief orthefire chief and
the city manager's decision isfinal.
Section 30-30.Penalties.
Anypersonviolatinganyprovisionofthisarticleshalluponconvictionbepunishedbya
fineas provided in section 1-14.
DIVISION 3.REGULATIONS
Sec.30-36.Inspection of alarm site and system;display of permit.
(a)Uponreasonablenotification,thepolicechieforfirechiefmayinspectacommercial
alarmsiteandalarmsystem of apermitholderduring regular business hours.
(b)Thepermitrequiredinsection30-26 of thisarticleforacommercialalarmsiteshallbe
displayedatalltimesatornearthephysicalentrancetothealarmsiteinsuchamanner
thatitwillbe conspicuous to persons who enter the premises.
Sec.30-37.Operation and maintenance.
(a)A permit holder must adjust ormodifythe sensory mechanism of hisalarmsystemto
suppress false indications of forcesothatthealarmsystemwillnotbeactivatedby
impulses due to:
(1)transient pressure changes inwaterpipes;
(2)flashes of light;
(3)windnoisecausedbytherattlingorvibrating of doorsorwindows;
(4)vehicular noise adjacent tothe installation;or
(5)other forcesunrelatedtoactualemergencies.
(b)Apermitholdermustmaintainthealarmsitecontaininganalarmsysteminamannerthat
ensures proper operation of thealarmsystem.Itisthe responsibility of thealarmpermit
holder to properly maintainthealarmsystemtopreventfalse activations.Shouldapermit
holderhavemorethanfour(4)falseactivationswithinthirty(30)days,aninspection of
thealarmsystemwillberequiredbyalicensedrepairman.Noticemustbemadein
writing tothecity clerk fromthe repairman of findings of the inspection within thirty
(30)days.Failure todosowillresultin cancellation of the alarm system permit.
(c)Apermit holder orpersonincontrol of analarmsystemshallrespondorcausea
representative torespondwithinareasonableperiod of time,nottoexceed30minutes,
when requested bythecitypoliceorfirepersonneltorepairorinactivatea
malfunctioning alarmsystem,toprovideaccesstothe premises ortoprovidesecurityfor
the premises.
(d)A permit holderorpersonincontrol of analarmsystemshall adjust the mechanism or
causethe mechanism tobeadjustedsothatanalarmsignalwillsoundfornolongerthan
30 minutes afterbeingactivated.If analarmsystemsoundsa broadcast signalforlonger
than30 minutes afterbeingactivated,policeorfirepersonnelmaydisablethealarm,and
coststothecity associated withdisablingthealarmsystemshallbeassessedtotheperson
requiredtohaveanalarmsystempermitandshallbepaidtothecitywithin30daysafter
notificationthatcostshavebeenassessed.Applicationforanalarmsystempermit
constitutesagrant of approvaltothecitytodisablethealarmasprovidedinthis
subsection.
(e)Apermitholderorpersonincontrolofanalarmsystemthatcausesanalarmnotification
tobesenttothecitypublicsafetycommunicationscentershalladjustthemechanismor
causethe mechanism tobeadjustedsothatupon activation thesystemwill transmit only
one(1)alarmsignalandwillnottransmitanotheralarmsignal without firstbeing
manuallyresetatthealarmsite.
Sec.30-38.Service fee for false alarm.
(a)A permit holder must payany service feesas assessed underthe provisions of this section
within thirty(30)daysafterreceipt of noticethatthe director hasassessedit.Ifthe
assessed fees become ninety(90)days delinquent,aten(10)percent late charge willbe
added.
(1)Burglar alarms.A permit holder willbe assessed afeeforthe signaling ofa false
alarmbyaburglaralarmsysteminexcess of five (5)falsealarmswhichhave
occurredduringtheprevioustwelve (12)monthperiod.Feesassessedwillbe:
a.Fiftydollars($50.00),if thelocationhashadmorethanfive(5)butfewer
thanseven(7)otherfalsealarmswhichhaveoccurredduringtheterm of
the permit.
b.Seventy-five dollars($75.00),ifthelocationhashadmorethansix(6)but
fewerthaneight(8)otherfalsealarmswhichhaveoccurredduringthe
term of the permit.
c.Onehundreddollars($100.00),if thelocationhashadeight(8)ormore
other falsealarmswhichhaveoccurredduringtheterm of thepermit.
(2)Fire alarms.Apermitholderwillbeassessedafeeforthe signaling of afalse
alarm byafirealarmsysteminexcess of four(4)false alarms which have
occurred atthe permitted siteduringtheterm of the permit.Thisfeewillbeone
hundred dollars ($100.00)foreachsuchfalse alarm.
(b)Aservicefeewillnotbeassessed if thepermitholderorpersonwhoisrequiredtoobtain
analarmsystem permit showstothepolice chief orfirechief,within ten calendar days of
the false alarm notification,that the activation was not a false alarm,and the burden ison
thepermit holder orpersonwhoisrequiredtoobtainanalarm system permitthatthe
activation of the alarm system wasnotafalse alarm.
Section3:Anypersonwhofailstocomplywithany provision of this ordinance shall
beguilty of amisdemeanorand,uponconviction,shallbepunishedbyafinenotexceeding
FIVE HUNDRED AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($500.00).Eachact of violation and each day upon
whichanysuchviolationshalloccurshallconstituteaseparateoffense.Inadditiontothepenalty
prescribedabove,thecitymaypursueotherremediessuchasabatement of nuisances,injunctive
relief,administrative adjudication andrevocation of licensesorpermits.
Section4:Allordinancesorparts of ordinancesinconsistentwiththeterms of this
ordinanceareherebyrepealed;provided,however,thatsuchrepealshallbeonlytotheextent of
suchinconsistencyandinallotherrespectsthisordinanceshallbecumulative of other
ordinances regulating and governing thesubjectmattercoveredbythis ordinance.
Section 5:If any provisions,section,exception,subsection,paragraph,sentence,
clauseorphrase of this ordinance ortheapplication of sametoanypersonorset of
circumstances,shallforanyreasonbeheld unconstitutional,voidor invalid,such invalidity shall
not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this ordinance or their application to other
personsorsets of circumstances andtothisend all provisions of this ordinance aredeclaredtobe
severable.
Section 6:This ordinance shalltake effect fromand after ten (10)days fromits
passage bythe City Council.The City Clerk is hereby directed to give notice hereof by causing
the caption of this ordinance to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Baytown at
least twice withinten (10)daysafterpassageofthisordinance.
INTRODUCED,READ and PASSED by the affirmative ^pfe of the City Council of the
City of Baytown,this the 22,ld day of September,2011.
LETICIA BRYSCH.CM Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ACIO RAMIREZ.SR..Citv #ttor
S'UilM-lIiKlT.DONCARI.OS,Mayor
ttCobsrvlMcgal\KarenM:ilcs\t'ily C'mmcil'OrdinanccsUOl I\Scpicniber 22\Alarm Ordinance Revised at Council.docx