Item No. 7
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: STEVE MCCULLEY, CHIEF OF POLICE
DATE: APRIL 15, 2026
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO THE TOWN’S FALSE
ALARM PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO
STAFF REGARDING THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council review two policy options for reforming the Town’s residential alarm permit and false alarm response program, and provide direction to staff. Staff’s recommended approach is:
Option B – Simplified Program, which includes the following actions:
1. Maintain a no-fee annual alarm permit registration, with an annual Town-wide renewal request.
2. Continue enforcement of the existing false alarm fee schedule as established by resolution.
3. Focus on targeted outreach to chronic false alarm locations rather than broad administrative enforcement.
4. Retain the municipal code authority to cite for failure to obtain a permit but avoid using it as a primary enforcement mechanism.
5. As a compliance mechanism, if the alarm system is monitored by the Police department Dispatch Center, stop the alarm monitoring after notice to the resident of non-compliance for not obtaining a permit and/or chronic false alarm responses by the Police Department.
6. Discontinue pursuit of a complex “accelerated penalty” structure tied to permit status due to administrative burden and limited operational benefit.
If Council prefers a more structured enforcement system, staff have also prepared Option A – Structured Penalty and Permit System for consideration.
BACKGROUND
Animal Control Agreement
April 15, 2026
2346840.1 14537.007
There are approximately 2,466 residential land parcels in Atherton. Most residents in Atheron have an active residential alarm system. As a free service to our residents, the Police Department (APD) offers free alarm monitoring. The APD currently monitors 1,534 alarms. Having your alarm system directly connected to and monitored by the APD allows for immediate notification of the alarm and immediate police response, with an average response time of three minutes.
False alarms continue to place significant operational burdens on the APD and on the APD Dispatch Center. On average, the APD receives and processes approximately 1,400 residential alarms annually. Often, Dispatch can quickly determine that many of these alarms are false/accidental and cancel the alarm. Those alarms that cannot be canceled require a two-officer response to the residence. On average, officers typically respond to approximately 900 alarms annually. Typically, 99% of these alarm calls are false. The annual cost of these false alarm responses is $68,000. False alarms deprioritize proactive policing, disrupt dispatch operations, and increase the likelihood of unnecessary emergency responses.
A 2003 U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office study found:
• U.S. agencies responded to 38 million false alarms in 1998. • The estimated annual cost was $1.5 billion (approx. $2.25 billion in 2018 dollars). • Between 94% and 98% of all alarm activations were false. • False alarms pose both an officer-safety risk and a drain on police resources.
As a means to help reduce the number of residential false alarms, the Town Council adopted Resolution 18-23, amending the Town’s Master Fee Schedule to establish an annual alarm permit fee and penalty fees for multiple false alarms in a 12-month period. In addition to the resolution, the APD began a proactive education and outreach program to inform residents about false alarms in our community and their impact on the APD.
ANALYSIS
APD aims to reduce false alarms, promote responsible alarm ownership, and streamline administrative workload. Staff have evaluated program data, municipal code requirements (Atherton Municipal Code Chapter 8.04), Council member feedback, and operational impacts.
A detailed analysis of all efforts to reduce false residential alarms, including an alarm permit process, penalty fees for excessive false alarms, and public education/outreach efforts, has shown no impact on reducing false alarms or on the related impacts on APD operations. The analysis revealed that all efforts to reduce false alarms had a significant impact on the Dispatch Center and Finance Department staff, particularly on administrative staff time for tracking false alarms, the permitting process, and false-alarm billing.
Animal Control Agreement
April 15, 2026
2346840.1 14537.007
To strengthen and help streamline the program and process to further assist in reducing false alarms and the related impacts on APD and Town operations, staff have developed two options for consideration:
OPTION A – Structured Permit Status and Tiered Penalty Program Option A emphasizes permit compliance as a means of influencing alarm behavior.
1. No-Fee Annual Permit Renewal
• Annual renewal window: January 1 – March 30
• Renewal notices mailed in January and February
• Residents who fail to renew risk discontinuation of APD alarm monitoring • Permit status evaluated at the time of each false alarm
2. Tiered False Alarm Penalties Based on Permit Status
• Residents with a valid permit:
o False alarm fees begin at the 4th alarm
• Residents without a valid permit:
o False alarm fees begin at the 2nd alarm
• Unpaid fees accrue interest after 30 days and may be sent to collections • Town-monitored accounts:
o Four false alarms result in termination of monitoring for 12 months Operational Challenges Identified
• High administrative workload (tracking 100 alarm histories/month) • Complexity of discontinuing Town monitoring
• Limited false alarm reduction expected
• Possible community concern regarding referrals to collections • Only 12 chronic addresses typically reach penalty thresholds Due to these concerns, the staff acknowledges that Option A may not provide sufficient benefit relative to cost.
OPTION B – Simplified Alarm Registration and Enforcement Option B focuses on practical, targeted solutions without expanding administrative overhead.
1. Maintain a No-Fee Annual Registration
• Annual renewal letters to all residents
Animal Control Agreement
April 15, 2026
2346840.1 14537.007
• Education on false alarms included
• No escalated penalty schedule tied to permit status
2. Retain Existing False Alarm Fee Schedule Per AMC 8.04.070:
• First through third false alarms: warning letter, no fee • Fourth and subsequent false alarms: fee as set by Council resolution
3. Targeted Outreach to Chronic Locations
• APD directly engages the 12–15 most problematic properties • Work with residents/property managers on equipment issues, user training, or system upgrades
4. Simplified Administrative Approach
• No collections referrals except in rare circumstances • No monitoring discontinuation as a routine enforcement tool • Reduced administrative cost and complexity
• Realistic expectations: false alarm volume likely to remain generally consistent Rationale for Recommendation
• Program complexity has not demonstrated a meaningful reduction in false alarms • Administrative burden is substantial under Option A
• Community relations risk is higher under a strict penalty/monitoring termination model • A simplified system better aligns with actual operational conditions and capacity
POLICY FOCUS
The purpose of the Town’s alarm ordinance is to encourage alarm users to maintain the operational reliability and proper use of alarm systems and to reduce or eliminate false alarms. False alarms require a considerable amount of time, resources, and expenses for the Town each year. They can also pose a safety hazard to police officers and the general public.
The ordinance governs alarm systems intended to summon a police response, requires a permit, establishes fees, outlines penalties for false alarms, and establishes a system for administering the program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs are budgeted for and consistent with the current agreement and will continue under the amended agreement for the next three years.
Animal Control Agreement
April 15, 2026
2346840.1 14537.007
GOAL ALIGNMENT
Goal E – Strengthen Community Engagement and Transparency Goal F – Be a Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, Well-Planned Town
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item listed, at least 72 hours before the meeting, both in print and electronically. Information about this item is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders, including but not limited to media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire District, service providers (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item ____ has or __X__ has not been before a Town Committee or Commission. ____ Audit/Finance Committee (meets every other month)
____ Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee (meets as needed)
____ Environmental Programs Committee (meets every other month) ____ Park and Recreation Committee (meets each month)
____ Planning Commission (meets each month)
____ Rail Committee (meets every other month)
____ Transportation Committee (meets every other month)
ATTACHMENTS
1. Atherton Town Council Resolution 18-23
2. Atherton Municipal Code Chapter 8.04 Alarm Systems