ORDINANCE 1640ORDINANCE NO. 1640
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING EL SEGUNDO MUNICIPAL CODE
TITLE 13 TO ADD A NEW CHAPTER 22 TO ENABLE CITY COST
RECOVERY FOR EXCESSIVE FALSE FIRE ALARMS.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL SEGUNDO DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. El Segundo Municipal Code ("ESMC") Title 13 (Building
Regulations) is amended to add Chapter 22 (False Fire Alarms) to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 22
FALSE FIRE ALARMS
13-22-1 Purpose.
This chapter is adopted in accordance with California Constitution article XI, § 7
to protect public health, safety, and well-being by reducing the waste of City Fire
Department resources in responding to excess false fire alarms and establishing
a mechanism for reasonable City cost recovery to safeguard City resources.
Pursuant to California Constitution article XIIIC, § 1(e)(3), the fees authorized in
this chapter do not constitute a "tax" as they concern City regulation enforcement
and investigation performance associated with a regulatory program.
13-22-2 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter:
A. "Alarm" means the giving, signaling, or transmission to the Department, or any
Department employee or designee, whether by telephone, e-mail, or other
medium, information to the effect that a fire or emergency situation exists at or
near the place indicated by the person giving, signaling, or transmitting such
information.
B. "Automatic fire sprinkler system" means an integrated system of underground
and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection standards that
is activated by hear from fire, or other similar mechanism, and discharges water
over the fire area.
C. "Chief' means the El Segundo Fire Department Chief.
D. "Department" means the El Segundo Fire Department.
E. "False alarm" means an alarm requiring Department response where a fire or
emergency situation does not exist.
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City of El Segundo
Ordinance No. 1640
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F. "Fire alarm system" means a system designed to detect and announce the
presence of fire or fire byproducts.
G. "Notice" means written notice, given by personal service upon the addressee, or
given by the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be
notified. at the last known address. Service of such notice will be effective upon
the completion of personal service, or upon the placing of the same in the
custody of the United States Postal Service.
H. "Person" means any company, firm, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, unincorporated organization, corporation, corporation, government
agency, or natural person.
13-22-4 Alarm Registration.
Any person that owns or operates a business in the City must notify the Department of
any installation of any automatic fire sprinkler system or fire alarm system. Such notice
must be in writing, delivered to the City within 10 days of installation, and include the
following information: name, address, and telephone number of the associated alarm
business or its agent and the name, address, and telephone number of the best contact
person for the business.
13-22-4 Alarm Testing.
A person must notify the Department at least 24 hours prior to any service, test, repair,
maintenance, adjustment, alterations, or installations of an automatic fire sprinkler
system or fire alarm system that may activate a false alarm. Any alarm activated where
such prior notice has not been duly given to the Department will constitute a false alarm
for this chapter's purposes.
13-22-5 Fees Imposed.
The owner or lessee of any premises containing an automatic fire sprinkler system or
fire alarm system will be assessed a fee under this chapter for each false alarm more
than two, occurring within any calendar year.
13-22-6 City Council Sets Fees.
The City Council will, by resolution, establish the amount of all fees imposed under this
chapter.
13-22-7 Fee Collection.
It is the Department's duty to collect fees pursuant to this chapter."
City of Ell Segundo
Ordinance No. 1640
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SECTION 2. Environmental Review. This Ordinance was reviewed pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., "CEQA")
and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations §§15000, et
seq., the "CEQA Guidelines"). Based upon that review, this Ordinance is exempt from
further review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on
the environment.
SECTION 3. Electronic Signatures. This Ordinance may be executed with
electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic
signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 4. Construction. This Ordinance must be broadly construed to achieve
the purposes stated in this Ordinance. It is the City Council's intent that the provisions of
this Ordinance be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a manner that
facilitates the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. Enforceability. Repeal or amendment of any provision of the ESMC
will not affect any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred before, or preclude prosecution
and imposition of penalties for any violation occurring before this Ordinance's effective
date. Any such repealed part will remain in full force and effect for sustaining action or
prosecuting violations occurring before the effective date of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Severability. If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the city council intends that such invalidity will
not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end,
the provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 7. Recording. The City Clerk is directed to certify the passage and
adoption of this Ordinance; cause it to be entered into the city of El Segundo's book of
original ordinances; make a note of the passage and adoption in the records of this
meeting; and, within 15 days after the passage and adoption of this Ordinance, cause it
to be published or posted in accordance with California law.
SECTION 8. Execution. The Mayor, or presiding officer, is hereby authorized to
affix his signature to this Ordinance signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City
of El Segundo, and the City Clerk, or duly appointed deputy, is directed to attest thereto.
SECTION 9. Effectiveness. This Ordinance will take effect on the 30th day
following its final passage and adoption. It may be enforced commencing on January 1,
2023.
City of Ell Segundo
Ordinance No. 1640
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ORDINANCE NO. 1640 HAD ITS FIRST READING ON OCTOBER 4, 2022 ITS
SECOND READING ON OCTOBER 18, 2022 AND WAS DULY PASSED, APPROVED,
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE. CITY OF EL SEGUNDO AT ITS
REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 18, 2022
AI �LGI�MMu uxMl.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Tracy'W"eav y
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mark D. Hensley, City Attorney
City of El Segundo
Ordinance No. 1640
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CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO )
I, Tracy Weaver, City Clerk of the City of El Segundo, California, do hereby certify that
the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 1640 was duly introduced by said City Council at a regular meeting held
on the 4th day of October, 2022, and was duly passed, and adopted by said City Council,
approved and signed by the Mayor, and attested to by the City Clerk, all at a regular
meeting of said Council held on the 18t" day of October, 2022, and the same was so
passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Boyles, Mayor Pro Tern Pimentel, Council Member Pirsztuk,
Council Member Nicol and Council Member Giroux
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
WITNESS MY HAND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF SAID CITY this day of October,
2022.
Cfticv Weaver, City Clerk
of the City of El Segundo,
California