City Council
MEETING DATE: 1/27/2016
TITLE:
Title
Contract Renewal with CitySupport for False Alarm Program Administration
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FROM:
George Crum, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council approve the continuance of the Alarm Permit Application and Fee/Fine Schedule, as part of the modified Security Alarm Systems Ordinance and approve a new contract for professional services with CitySupport and enter into a contract with CitySupport, LLC, dba CathedralCityAlarm.com and AlarmSchoolOnline.com (CCA) to perform the billing and reconciliation of alarm permits, permit renewals, false alarm billings, and incorporating the "Online Alarm Diversion Program.
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BACKGROUND:
During the period from 2005-2009, Cathedral City Police Department received 20,478 burglary alarm calls. Of those calls, fifty-six alarms resulted in some type of report with 47 actual burglaries occurring. Approximately 99.98% of all the alarm calls received during this period were false alarms. All of these alarms were responded to by the Police Department at taxpayer's expense, costing an estimated $30,000 per year in wages/salaries and a loss of over 300 staff hours per year.
Police Departments across the country are being asked to reduce already stretched budgets. For many departments, the reduction in budgets results in being unable to replace lost employees, purchase new equipment, and keep up with technological advances. The Cathedral City Police Department is no different, and is looking for ways to continue providing high levels of service to the community with consideration for the City's budget. Law enforcement has long recognized the burden placed on a police department's resources associated with responding to false burglary alarm calls.
In 2007, it was estimated that there were approximately 36 million false alarms in the United States, costing law enforcement agencies about $1.8 billion. Nationally, alar...
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