§ 30-2. Alarm businesses.
(a)
Application for license. No emergency alarm system shall be installed by other than a licensed alarm business. No alarm business shall service emergency alarms unless such business is licensed. Each alarm business wishing to do business in the city shall first apply to the police chief for a license on a form to be provided by him and shall include among other things the following:
(1)
The name, address, telephone number and type of business organization. If a partnership, the names and addresses of partners. If a corporation, the names and addresses of the principal officers and the state of incorporation, and the name and address of any person owning more than ten percent thereof.
(2)
A statement that such firm and its employees are licensed and bonded in compliance with the applicable ordinances of the county.
(3)
A list of the names and addresses of persons for whom installations in the city have been made by the applicant or persons served by the applicant in the city prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.
(4)
Certification by the applicant that a complete background, including record checks, has been obtained on all employees in the office or offices serving the city, and that no person with a police record (other than for minor traffic offenses) found in such checks will be employed on jobs within the city.
(5)
A statement of the type and availability of repair and/or maintenance service that the applicant proposes to offer to the public.
(6)
A statement of the security to be afforded by the applicant for wiring diagrams and/or security plans of installations made or to be made.
(7)
A statement that the applicant is willing to comply with such reasonable rules and regulations about details of installation and operation of such systems as may be issued by the police chief.
(b)
Action on application. On the basis of the application the police chief shall, within 60 days after receipt of the completed application, approve or disapprove such application for a license, and shall notify the applicant. Approval shall be given upon a showing of compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances. If approved, the applicant shall pay the required fee for the license. If disapproved, the notice to the applicant shall state the reasons. The applicant shall have a right of appeal by the following steps:
(1)
A meeting with the police chief; and
(2)
If not satisfactorily concluded, then by hearing before the city council at its next regular meeting. The council's decision shall be final.
(c)
Instruction on operation. Each alarm business that sells or leases and installs an emergency alarm system in the city shall furnish the alarm user with written instructions as to the way in which the system operates. He shall also provide initial training in the operation of the system, and upon request from the alarm user, refresher training. Each alarm business shall also exhibit to the police chief for his review, a copy of such instructions. If the police chief finds that the instructions are incomplete, unclear or otherwise inadequate, he may require the alarm business to have the same revised to meet the police chief's approval, which approval shall be given if the instructions are complete, clear and adequate and then promptly distributed to persons for whom installations of such alarms have already been made as well as to persons for whom installations are henceforth made.
(d)
Repair service required. Each alarm business that sells or leases, and installs an emergency alarm system within the city must offer service, directly or through an agent, to repair such alarm so as to correct any malfunction that may occur. At the time of the installation, each alarm business shall furnish to the alarm user written information as to how service can be obtained at any time, including the telephone number to call for service, and the alarm user shall be responsible for having the system repaired as quickly as possible after he learns of any malfunction. No alarm business shall perform any service on any alarm system in the city without first personally appearing and notifying the city police communications officer on duty of same and disconnecting said alarm system at the alarm user's end and again notifying the police communications officer of the completion of the work.
(e)
Cancellation of license. In addition to the penalties for violation of any provision of this chapter, the city may, after notice and hearing, cancel the license of an alarm business on any of the following grounds:
(1)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement contained in any application for such license.
(2)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement in the conduct of the business authorized by such license.
(3)
Failure to correct any deficiencies in equipment or operation after receipt of due notice from the city.
(4)
Violation of any provision of this chapter.
(5)
When any owner, officer, director, principal employee or any other person who has full or partial control of the operation of the business is convicted of a felony of any kind or a misdemeanor for which a jail sentence is imposed.
Such license shall not be cancelled until a hearing shall have been held by the police chief and his recommendations regarding cancellations acted upon by the board of fire and police commissioners. Written notice of such hearing shall be served upon the holder of such license at least ten days before the date of the hearing. The notice shall also contain a brief statement of the grounds alleged as the basis for cancellation of the license. The licensee shall have the right to appeal to the city council as outlined in subsection (b) of this section.
(f)
Central stations; modified central stations; answering services. No one shall operate a central station, modified central station or answering service in the city, serving any user in the city, unless licensed as an alarm business. In addition to any other requirements imposed by this chapter, central stations, modified central stations and answering services shall meet the following minimum requirements:
(1)
Central station standards. Central stations shall be in compliance with "Standards for Central Station Burglar Alarm Units and Systems" (UL 611—1972) issued by Underwriters' Laboratories or American National Standards Institute (ANSI SE2.2—1972). Such standards are hereby adopted and made a part of this chapter, and a copy of such standards shall be kept on file at the city hall and be available for public inspection. The service provided may correspond to any of the several grades of service listed in the standards, but the owner, alarm agent or other person in responsible control of the premises wherein such alarm system is located must be present at such premises as soon as is reasonably possible after being requested to do so by a representative of the city police department.
(2)
Modified central station standards.
a.
The premises from which the services are performed shall meet any applicable fire regulations.
b.
The premises from which the services are performed shall be secure in a manner approved by the police chief to prevent entry by unauthorized persons.
c.
A large enough number of operators shall be on duty at all times to ensure that all emergency messages received will be relayed immediately to the police department.
d.
As soon as possible after notifying the police department, the operator concerned shall notify the subscriber involved of such action and the nature of the emergency message received.
e.
The modified central station shall certify that all equipment supervised by the modified central station shall be tested at least once a year. Where a test result is unsatisfactory the cause thereof shall be corrected within 24 hours unless circumstances exist that make such corrections impossible within such time, in which event the cause shall be corrected within a reasonable time.
(3)
Answering service standards.
a.
The premises from which the services are performed shall meet any applicable fire regulations.
b.
The premises from which the services are performed shall be secured in a manner approved by the police chief to prevent entry by unauthorized persons. Such approval shall be given if measures are taken that are reasonable under the circumstances.
c.
A large enough number of operators shall be on duty at all times to ensure that all emergency messages received will be relayed immediately to the police department.
d.
Emergency messages from automatic alarm devices shall be given priority over all other messages received by the answering service.
e.
All operators shall be trained to handle emergency messages.
f.
As soon as possible after notifying the police department, the operator concerned shall notify the subscriber involved of such action and the nature of the emergency message received.
g.
All subscribers of an answering service shall be required by the service to cooperate in a test of its alarm devices at least once a year to determine if the device is working properly. The answering service shall certify that the test requirements have been fulfilled. Unsatisfactory test results shall be promptly reported, in writing, to the subscriber and the police department. Until the device in question is again working properly, the police department may require that its use be discontinued.
(Code 1969, § 10½-2; Ord. No. 1159, § 1, 2-21-1977; Ord. No. 1352, § 1, 9-17-1984)