Currently, the City has no fee imposed for false fire alarms.  The Fire Department runs an average of 1,300 false fire alarm calls per year.  Many of these false fire alarms are from the same addresses, which either do not fix their systems to prevent false fire alarms, or do not safegaurd alarms from manually being set off.  

The proposed ordinance establishes standards and controls, including a fee, to reduce the number of false fire alarms.  The regulations include the installation of fire alarm systems in accordance with nationally recognized standards, maintenance of systems in good working order, provision of traning or instructions to property owners or users about the proper use of the systems, and notification to the Fire Department prior to any maintenance or testing of a system.  

Property owners and users will be assessed a False Fire Alarm Response Fee after the occurrence of three or more false alarms.  The first three false fire alarms will receive a warning.  A fire alarm installation, maintenance or monitoring business will be subject to the False Fire Alarm Response Fee after the first false fire alarm if they cause the false fire alarm without first notifying the Fire Department.

Once the ordinance is effective, the attached resolution setting the fee amount at $126.00 will become effective on November 12, 2016.

None.  The false fire alarm response fee will be set at the cost to the City of responding to false fire alarms, but will not be assessed until after the third false fire alarm.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Introduce and pass to second reading the ordinance entitled:
  
  AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GARDEN GROVE ADDING CHAPTER 8.61 TO THE GARDEN GROVE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO FALSE FIRE ALARMS.

• Adopt the attached Resolution setting the False Fire Alarm Fee at $126.00 upon the effective date of the ordinance.