CC Minutes - 07/23/01 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3. PUBLIC HEAR1NG: An Ordinance Concerning Alarm Systems: Renumbering and Amending Section 4.933 and Adding it to Section 3.005 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Amending and Renumbering Sections 4.935, 4.936, and 4.937 of the Eugene Code, 1971 to 3.105, 3.110, and 3.115; Amending Sections 3.990 and 4.990 of that Code; Repealing Section 4.934 of that Code; and Adding a New Section 3.100 to the Eugene Code, 1971 City Manager Jim Johnson reminded the council that it had a work session on the issue. He invited questions. Councilor Nathanson noted that she had referred information to staff regarding alarms that were triggered by someone not authorized to be on the premises who then leaves without leaving evidence. She requested staff feedback on how a citizen would not fall under the penalty phase when an alarm was not really false. Senior Management Analyst Terry Smith of the Eugene Police Department said that it was a common situation. Someone attempts an illegal entry but leaves no evidence. The officer responding would note that information. Mr. Smith explained that the alarm then became an indeterminate type of alarm, and the system administrator would collect that information and review it and attempt to determine what happened. For example, a tape of the audio would be requested, or the alarm system owner would be asked which intrusion detector that triggered the alarm. Mr. Smith said that, ideally, when the officer arrived and found an alarm had no apparent cause, the alarm provider would have provided the location in the building where the alarm was triggered and the officer would check that. In a case where there was no obvious indication that a false alarm was triggered, no penalty would be levied. In the case of a dispute, the ordinance provided for an appeal process. Councilor Nathanson thanked Mr. Smith for the explanation. Councilor Rayor supported the ordinance but expressed concern that alarm company owners were unaware of the ordinance. He advocated for large display advertising in the newspaper when the council took action that affected a large group of people. Lt. Carolyn McDermed of the Eugene Police Department reported on the public outreach that occurred, which included a meeting limited to chronic alarm users and alarm companies, and that was expanded to a larger invitation list. There was limited response to the meetings, but those who attended had good input and good ideas, many of which were incorporated into the ordinance. Mayor Torrey opened the public hearing. Ted Parker, 27470 Clear Lake Road, represented Sonitrol. He said that his company had been in business for many years and enjoyed good response from the Eugene Police Department. He believed that the implementation of the false alarm ordinance would only improve the response time by eliminating the need to respond to false alarms. He thought the ordinance would improve fire and police response times throughout the community. He offered his company's assistance to the Police Department and community on any education programs the City provided. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 23, 2001 Page 7 Regular Meeting