REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MINDY CASTO, Interim Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: BURKE FARRAH, Deputy Chief
Administrative Division
SUBJECT
Title
BILL (For introduction) - Repealing Section 10-812 of the Fresno Municipal Code, relating to Conditions on Police Response to Public Safety Alarm Systems
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt the Ordinance to repeal Fresno Municipal Code Section 10-812 relating to Conditions on Police Response to Public Safety Alarm Systems.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) is a document that has been studied, revised, compiled and codified in order that every citizen could understand the local laws of Fresno. The FMC also provides guidance as it relates to the roles of each department and the services they provide. The deletion of FMC Section 10-812, which limits the Police Department’s ability to respond to burglary or robbery alarms at a given address after a certain number of false alarms, will prevent conflict between the FMC and Fresno Police Department Policy.
BACKGROUND
The Fresno Police Department is a local law enforcement agency responsible for responding to police calls for service in the City of Fresno. Police officers have the responsibility of responding to all police calls generated from citizens of Fresno including but not limited to homicide, burglary, robbery, theft and auto theft. In 2023, the department responded to 5,275 false alarm calls for service.
Fresno Police Department Policy 303 - Burglaries, Thefts and Alarms requires police response to all burglary, theft and alarm calls for service as though they were “in progress”, exercising caution and making safety a priority. The deletion of FMC Section 10-812, which limits the Police Department’s ability to respond to burglary or robbery alarms at a given address after a certain number of false alarms, will prevent conflict between the FMC and Fresno Police Department Policy.
False Alarm subscribers are not charged for the first false alarm call of the fiscal year; however, they are charged for each subsequent false alarm call at a rate of $155 each. In addition, subscribers are not charged in the event there is a valid crime - burglary, robbery, theft, etc. The current FMC Section 10-812 prohibits subscribers from being charged after three (3) false alarm calls unless there is a letter on file with the department.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not implemented as this item does not involve the bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for this request as it is a language deletion to an existing document.
Attachment:
Ordinance
FPD Policy 303 - Burglaries, Thefts and Alarms