A. “Alarm agent” means a person employed by an alarm business, either directly or indirectly, whose duties include selling, leasing, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding to or monitoring an alarm system, or a person who manages or supervises a person employed by an alarm business to perform any of the duties described herein.

B. “Alarm business” means any business held by an individual, partnership, corporation or other entity for the purpose of selling, leasing, altering, installing, maintaining, moving, repairing, replacing, servicing, responding to or monitoring any alarm system in a building, structure or facility.

C. “Alarm system” means any mechanical or electronic device or series of devices which transmits a signal or message, either directly or indirectly, to the emergency dispatch center, or which emits an audible or visual signal at the alarm location, and which is designed to:

For purposes of this chapter, devices operated by the city or devices which are not designed or used to register alarms that are audible, visible or perceptible outside of the protected premises are not included within the meaning of alarm system.

D. “Alarm user” means the person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or organization of any kind that owns, leases, rents, uses or makes available for use by its agents, employees, representatives or family any alarm system.

E. “Chief of police” means the chief of police of the city of San Luis Obispo, or his/her designated representative.

F. “City” means the city of San Luis Obispo.

G. “Day” means calendar day.

H. “Department head” means the chief of police, the fire chief or their designated representatives.

I. “Direct dial system” means an alarm system which is connected to a telephone line and, upon activation of an alarm system, automatically transmits a message or signal to the emergency dispatch center indicating a need for emergency response.

J. “Emergency dispatch center” means the combined police and fire communications and dispatch center located at the police department facility.

K. “False alarm” means an activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or maintenance, or negligence of the alarm user when an emergency situation does not exist. A determination as to whether an alarm signal was a false alarm or an actual alarm shall be made by the appropriate department head. “False alarms” shall not include those alarms activated by extraordinary meteorological, atmospheric or other conditions or means as determined by the department head.

L. “Finance department” means the finance department of the city of San Luis Obispo.

M. “Fire chief” means the chief of the fire department of the city of San Luis Obispo or his/her designated representative.

N. “Notice” means written notice given by personal service upon the addressee or given by United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be notified at his or her last known address. Service of such notice shall be effective upon the completion of personal service or upon the placing of the same in the custody of the United States Postal Service.

O. “Private alarm dispatch center” means a center maintained by an alarm business which receives emergency signals from alarm systems, and thereafter, immediately relays the message by live voice to the emergency dispatch center.

P. “Responsible department” means the city department having the responsibility of providing emergency services upon receipt of an alarm signal at the emergency dispatch center. For incidents related to fires, or waterflow in fire sprinkler systems, or other extinguishing agents in fire protection systems, as well as medical attention, the fire department is the responsible department. For incidents related to burglary, robbery, unauthorized building entry, etc., the responsible department is the police department. (Ord. 1162 § 2 (part), 1990)