Council directs staff to draft alarm-ordinance update keeping $25 registration, tightening false-alarm penalties

City Attorney Tim George told the Des Moines City Council Committee of the Whole on April 3 that the city needs to update its alarm ordinance, last revised in February 2006, and staff is seeking policy direction on registration and false‑alarm fees.

The council indicated by head nods and comments that it supports keeping the annual alarm registration fee at $25 and asked staff to return with a draft ordinance implementing a stepped false‑alarm fee schedule and a professional third‑party manager to improve compliance and reduce officer responses. Tim George said the draft would distinguish alarm types (for example, panic codes versus basic burglar alarms) and aim to recover response costs where appropriate.

Why it matters: Police responses to false alarms use officer time and resources. Council and staff framed the ordinance update as an effort to increase registration rates, improve alarm-system maintenance and contact information, and reduce unnecessary officer responses.

Key details from the discussion: - Current registration: George said the city’s registration fee is $25 per year and that neighboring jurisdictions’ fees vary; the city’s $25 is at the high end among those reviewed. - Nonregistration and fines: Staff noted there is already a $200 nonregistration fine in the municipal code; enforcement has included officer discretion to issue that fee for unregistered alarms. - False‑alarm structure: The existing code previously allowed two free false alarms before fees; George described a proposed model in which the first false alarm in a 12‑month period would generate a warning and subsequent responses would be stair‑stepped at higher penalties, with penalties tied to alarm type and level of police response. - Compliance strategy: Council and staff discussed contracting with a specialized alarm‑management vendor to identify alarm customers, send registration notices, bill annually, and pursue late fees—actions staff said would raise registration and maintenance compliance and reduce officer responses.

What staff will do next: George said staff will prepare a draft ordinance with the proposed fee chart, legal review of statutory requirements, and implementation details, then return to the council—likely later in April or in May—for a formal council vote.

Attribution: Quotes and specific policy proposals in this item came from Tim George, City Attorney; the Committee of the Whole discussion included Councilmember Mahoney, Councilmember Ochsiger, Deputy Mayor Steinmetz, Councilmember Harris and other councilmembers who asked questions and offered direction.

Ending: The Committee of the Whole provided staff direction but took no final vote; staff will bring a formal ordinance for council action at a later meeting.