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City of Topeka
Council Action Form
Council Chambers
214 SE 8th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66603
www.topeka.org |
| | | May 8, 2018 |
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| | | | | | | | | DATE: | May 8, 2018 | | | | CONTACT PERSON: | Craig G. Duke | DOCUMENT #: | | | SECOND PARTY/SUBJECT: | Michael G. Martin | PROJECT #: | | | CATEGORY/SUBCATEGORY | 013 Ordinances - Codified / 070 Fire Prevention and Protection | | CIP PROJECT: | No | | | | ACTION OF COUNCIL: | Discussion | JOURNAL #: | | | | PAGE #: | |
| DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: |
DISCUSSION of the proposed false fire alarm ordinance for commercial facilities.
(The proposed ordinance would authorize the City to recoup costs incurred to respond to commercial facilities who have monitored fire alarm systems that are repeatedly activated due to poor maintenance or inspection. The ordinance would not apply to single-family residential homes.)
| | VOTING REQUIREMENTS: | | Discussion only. No action required by the Governing Body. | | POLICY ISSUE: | Over the past 3 years, Topeka Fire Department has responded to an average of 964 False Alarms per year. In 2015, there were over 1,200 false alarm responses. Commercial properties, multi-family and other properties as well as alarm monitoring companies are not maintaining their fire alarm systems to operate as designed. This issue also creates an unjustified risk to the community and emergency responders. | | STAFF RECOMMENDATION: | | Discussion item only. | | BACKGROUND: | The City's current Municipal Code provides no means for the Fire Department or City to recoup any costs incurred to respond to commercial facilities who have monitored fire alarm systems that are repeatedly activated due to poor maintenance or inspection. The ordinance would not apply to single-family residential homes.
This type of ordinance has been implemented in cities such as Wichita, Salina, Manhattan, Emporia, Overland Park and Leawood. Fees are based on the number of responses to false fire alarms within a calendar year.
VIOLATION FEE MATRIX
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Number of False Alarms
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Charge Per Occurrence
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0-3
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No Charge
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4-10
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$25
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11-20
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$50
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21-30
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$75
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31-50
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$100
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Over 51
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$250
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| | BUDGETARY IMPACT: | No negative impact to the Fire Department budget or decrease to the general fund. Potential to increase income to the General Fund through assessed violation fees. | | SOURCE OF FUNDING: | | Not applicable. |
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