Burglar alarm User Fee?
By Kathy Godfrey
The City Council is deciding whether or or not to charge an annual fee to people (and businesses) who have burglar alarms.
A proposal to modify Title 9, Chapter 176 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to burglary alarms was discussed at the January 3, 2007 meeting of the Public Safety and Regulatory Services Committee (the “Committee”) of the Minneapolis City Council.
The major proposed change would require a $15 annual registration fee for residential alarm users and a $40 annual fee for commercial alarm sites.
decision date
A decision regarding any amendment was postponed until the next meeting of the Committee:
January 17, 2007
1:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 317
why?
The City’s cost to respond to alarms is approximately $800,000 annually. False alarm fees paid by alarm users is approximately $300,000. The City’s proposed 2007 budget includes a cost recovery initiative, and the imposition of an annual registration fee for both residential and commercial alarm sites was proposed as a means for the City to recoup an estimated $370,000 of the $500,000 gap.
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objections
Many questions and comments were expressed by Committee members and residents from all areas of the City. Among them were issues relating to the fairness of the fee, the actual cost for the City to implement and maintain a system to administer such a fee, possible fee levels for false alarms, public education regarding alarm use, and discrepancies between monitored alarm calls and calls to 911.
community input
Community opinion is already having an enormous impact in this matter.
PLEASE contact any or all of the Committee members (listed below) to express your concerns and opinions before the next Committee meeting on January 17.
related documents & more info
Staff reports relating to the proposed amendment can be viewed on the City’s website by clicking on the link to the Jan. 3, 2007 PS&RS Committee meeting and scrolling to Agenda Item #13. Questions can also be directed to Jackie Hanson, the Council Committee Coordinator, at 612-673-2046 in Room 304 City Hall.
Committee members: Chair Don Samuels; Vice-Chair Paul Ostrow; Diane Hofstede; Barbara Johnson; Gary Schiff; and Cam Gordon.
what your neighbors say . . .
Note: watch for further information and opinions on this topic on the WHO website. |
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Wirth Chalet (cont'd from p. 3)
With all the positive energy stemming from the December 4th meeting, the newly re-formed Willard Homewood Organization (WHO) created five neighborhood committees to address various aspects of our neighborhood's development:
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Uncle Bill’s – This committee will monitor the on-going appeals process and take steps to ensure that regardless of the results of the appeal, Uncle Bill’s convenience store will cease to operate on the corner of Plymouth and Sheridan Avenues North.
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Communications – This committee will devise methods for increasing the communication network throughout our neighborhood, via a newsletter, website, and listserv available to subscribers from all over the neighborhood.
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Crime Prevention Strategies – This committee will devise and implement strategies for reducing crime in our neighborhood.
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Economic Development West of Penn Ave – This committee will focus its efforts on increasing economic development in Willard Homewood, west of Penn Ave.
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Children & Youth Support Group – This committee will plan ways of improving the lives of the children in our community.
Stay tuned for further updates regarding the activities of the committees, or visit the Community Calendar posted on the WHO website. As a member of our community, your input and participation is a vital part of this neighborhood renaissance. To join in this promising neighborhood effort, please contact Beverly Roberts. page 5
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