2009-08-24 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting of La Porte City Council minutes

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REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Agenda Date Requested: September 14. 2008 Bud!!et Requested By: Kpn Adcox Source of Funds: Department: pglice Account Number: Report: X Resolution: Ordinance: Amount Budgeted: Exhibits: Local Government Code, "Cry Wolf' Brochure and Agreement Amount Requested: Exhibits: Budgeted Item: YES NO Exhibits SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION In 2008, officers of the La Porte Police Department responded to approximately 1800 alarm calls. Over 95% of these calls were subsequently determined to be false. It is estimated that responding to these false alarms costs the City of La Porte approximately $100,000 annually with little or no benefit to the community. Utilizing traditional false alarm reduction initiatives, such as violator mail notifications and repeat offender home visits, the Police Department has been able to reduce the number of false alarms occurring in the City of La Porte by 28% thus far in 2009. While significant progress has been made in this area, it is still estimated that officers of the La Porte Police Department will be required to respond to approximately 1170 false alarms by years end. In order to reduce this waste even further, ensuring that our Police Officers are able to focus more productively on proactive crime reduction and traffic safety duties, the Police Department is proposing that the City of La Porte revise Municipal Ordinance No. 2003-2661 (Alarms) to provide for increased fee assessments, in accordance with State Law, relating to excessive numbers of repeat false alarms, standardized initial permit and renewal fees, enhanced call verification, and minimum alarm equipment standards and training. Additionally, the Police Department would like to propose that the City of La Porte enter into a contract with a third party alarm services administrator, which would be able to consolidate and stream-line the City's permitting, fee assessment, collection, and overall alarm program administration. It is anticipated that this transition would help to decrease the number of false alarms, provide improved customer service, increase city revenues, and eliminate the need for these services to be performed by several city departments.