2005 AGN DEC 06 I05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ITEM #5 CITY OF COLTON AGENDA REPORT FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF December 6, 2005 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: KENNETH RULON, CHIEF OF POLICE SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING EMEGENCY ACCESS DEVICES FOR CONTROLLED ACCESS GATES AT MULTI -UNIT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES DATE: November 15, 2005 BACKGROUND: Police Department staff members meet on a quarterly basis with owners and managers of apartment complexes in the City to discuss issues and concerns. During these meetings, Police staff and the owners/managers discussed the issue of access to the gated apartment complexes by emergency response personnel. Controlled access gates present a serious obstacle to Police and Fire emergency response teams. Delays created by controlled access gates severely reduce the level of emergency services provided to residents of gated apartment complexes. To respond to this problem, Police staff and the owners/managers agreed that the gated apartment complexes should have emergency access devices installed on the gates to give emergency response personnel rapid and reliable access to the properties. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Emergency access devices can be a key vault (sometimes called a "Knox Box") that stores pass keys; a keyed electrical switch, or a remote electronic transmitter that opens an electrically operated gate. To access properties quickly, such electrically operated gates can be activated by E -Key transmitters mounted in each emergency police and fire vehicle. An E -Key system utilizes a unique encoded radio transmitter to signal a remote radio receiver to activate a suitably equipped electronic gate. The main benefit of using an E -Key system as compared with a key vault or key switch is the reduction in response time by emergency personnel. Gates with key vaults or key switches provide emergency access in one to three minutes, depending on the type and location of keyed access. Gates with an E -Key system typically allow access in less than 20 seconds. An E -Key system is more secure than electronic gate opening systems currently utilized within the City. For the above reasons, Police staff and the owners/managers agreed that an E -Key system would be the preferable method of allowing access to emergency response personnel. The owners/managers formed a committee to research vendors who could provide such a system. After locating several vendors, the committee selected one vendor to provide an E -Key system for