[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6565069,"mediaKeyId","3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed","parentId",3229011,"title","City reports low vacancy rate under AB 2561 as budget planning continues","audioSeconds",506,"startMs",1834000,"endMs",2340000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed&start=1834&end=2340","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed/thumbnail_1834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565069/Norco-City/Riverside-County/California/City-reports-low-vacancy-rate-under-AB-2561-as-budget-planning-continues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565069-41acfc5212592a3769fb9bd3785cb9d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=FV4CJsT0zOEF6EMQDjZDrIk5tUgcdZIDyu6FsXLUgLrHIVA62TXIoZ0~ntcIfsNK72SIWDPSqfNuUd6L5OARvpjcUkUYA24PCXNd3nKILCQEn-jPk03ZqHMF-jYTgf45gJnu~iPtIiKMetgB0QjANy0LBPSSQDSkcJeCZgQBSfaq~l1kyjYgIrUK0pM9BSs5SlYtbMXQH7x-Pa5AnRz-M8RtVPSEdR9QUrgyZHxPvpw8-o4K--KsIHSl2K4p2moE7v5711y~f9TAM0vM79B5CQjjrFYijd2kF~JzuIXWMYKT1Ll0sY90MPHK63cCvSQUiRCd7XgGxBT3oCb6DWFR7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T14:27:16Z","article","Administrative Services Director Hill presented the city's first annual report required by Assembly Bill 2561, outlining staffing levels and vacancies as the city prepares the next fiscal-year budget.

Key figures from the presentation: the city had 67 positions, 56 represented employees at the time of the report, and three vacancies, yielding a 4% overall vacancy rate. No bargaining unit exceeded the AB 2561 threshold (20%) that would trigger a more comprehensive analysis. The report said the city has used recruitment channels including online postings, social media and direct outreach, and that recently approved three-year memoranda of understanding with bargaining units included competitive wages and expanded benefits.

Why it matters: AB 2561 requires cities to track and present vacancy data before the formal budget process as a transparency measure. City staff said the report will be brought annually prior to budget adoption; no council action was required to receive the report.

Council comments and context

Council members praised the city's low vacancy rate and credited staff retention efforts. The mayor and others noted budget pressures for fiscal year 2025'26, including slower sales-tax receipts and labor increases; staff and council said they are using special-revenue funds and other measures to protect the general fund reserve.

Next steps

Staff will publish the annual vacancy report and continue to present budget materials ahead of the June 4 budget-adoption meeting. The city clerk's office will post agenda and staff-report links as they are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented the first annual AB 2561 vacancies report: 67 employees, three vacancies (4% vacancy rate). Council discussed recruitment, retention and budget pressures ahead of the June budget adoption schedule.","taxTitle","Norco City, Riverside County, California","taxId",72157,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6565073,"Scotts Valley Police report: 5,000 calls, hires complete and an increase in assaults partly due to assaults on officers",772,2358000,3130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed&start=2358&end=3130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed/thumbnail_2358000.jpg","/articles/6565073/Norco-City/Riverside-County/California/Scotts-Valley-Police-report-5000-calls-hires-complete-and-an-increase-in-assaults-partly-due-to-assaults-on-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565073-7dd0068c7a9726c6f7ff9e11ffb83a4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=HhzXvWqgeqgn3eBX2SGC96MeUF79uVmijErfPRQIIslZRDI3UmNPXITyAqcMlqTb-Fq1u8rN82o8fvSqccRXAGe2kQGsyQeJzG3iwLzCjc4a5-likD6EXPfFR7o-e6S5BIBSVpD1JXJgq59jZxR62y7JAXu3b8cvSaOUk8oC752BvFQ6f4m0VDAuL9ZoowtKgFiMkZEruSdQ8rhqpP-zs2sJVtrALtzDlbrQ2f9H3qumiimrgRkwbxbHEbFdDvTpTWv2QIMmURWKKsG9USz5VHAHdixEIyEP~ln1uoUVV7PxUrklUx8g~q3Pbx7d4NNzfk6uQC3RH1ipE4BUPnd7~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scotts Valley Police Department reported roughly 5,000 calls for service in the past year, rapid average emergency response times and recent staffing gains, while noting increases in some crime categories.

Police Chief (name not specified in the transcript) told the City Council that the department handled more than 5,000 calls and recorded an average emergency response time of approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds from call receipt to officer on scene. Chief said officers also conducted more than 14,000 self-initiated activities.

The department reported a year-over-year 34% increase in assaults. Chief said the rise was \"largely due to the increase in assaults on our officers,\" noting the department logged 15 assaults on officers in the most recent year compared with four the prior year. The department said it will review those incidents to assess tactics and training.

Larceny and theft incidents increased substantially; the chief tied some of that rise to statewide trends and to changes in law enforcement responses tied to recent ballot measures. The department said new enforcement tools for repeat shoplifters were expected to improve accountability and that the agency had started targeted efforts, including a multi-jurisdictional DUI checkpoint and focused enforcement overtime funded in part by grants.

Staffing and hires

The department reported multiple recent hires and that officers completing field training have brought the force close to full deployment. New hires named during the briefing included officers Michael Behnke, Kevin King, Ivan Garcia and Derek Welsh; the chief said those officers completed the FTO program and were fully operational. The department also hired dispatcher Rachel Wynne. The chief said three of five recent hires live in Scotts Valley and several new hires own local homes.

The department highlighted that a police officer assigned to the Santa Cruz County anti-crime task force helped recover a large number of illegal firearms; the department's representative on that task force contributed to a record recovery for the task force (29 illegal firearms recovered countywide; the department's officer reported a sample of 25 seized firearms).

Training, community programs and events

The department described traffic and community engagement efforts, including motor and bike patrols near the middle school, the D.A.R.E. program and a junior police academy. The department highlighted a $120,000 grant that funded handheld citation devices and overtime for traffic and DUI enforcement. The department also credited multiagency response and partner agencies for response and recovery work following a tornado event in December.

Dispatch and recognition

Dispatchers were singled out for handling the high call volume and providing rapid processing and deployment. Service supervisor Chloe Graham was named 2024 employee of the year for her work in dispatch and IT upgrades.

What council said

Multiple council members commended the department for fast response times and community engagement, and they praised local hires and training efforts. Council members said the department's hiring and culture have contributed to the agency's performance and noted the department's use of grant funds and mutual aid in large incidents.

What's next

The department will continue internal reviews of increased officer-assault incidents and will maintain targeted enforcement on theft and traffic problems. The chief's annual report will be posted as the department's public annual report.","The police chief presented the 2024 annual report: about 5,000 calls for service, average emergency response time about 2 minutes 20 seconds, increases in reported assaults driven partly by assaults on officers, a rise in larceny incidents and a series of local hires that have brought staffing to near full deployment.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6565078,"Council approves Pride flag, renews military-equipment rules and approves three patrol rifles; introduces graffiti-abatement ordinance",2468,1457000,3925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed&start=1457&end=3925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3229011-535fa34ced28bccdac74c45327a6feed/thumbnail_1457000.jpg","/articles/6565078/Norco-City/Riverside-County/California/Council-approves-Pride-flag-renews-military-equipment-rules-and-approves-three-patrol-rifles-introduces-graffiti-abatement-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565078-392f28fea7959e683c596827e56f66e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438003&Signature=VzIIEPeE55dOw5Ae0sqDBfUFyYq6mr-lVSY774-hEllYxrBHC7rg9xHMooQFuOoel2A1dMqoV8UbJi--IeP3TpKuPAuEcM6yz3r0X6O79C~BpaBX4FWj8ALO5O4ctjMrf0wV8ZH32YdV6tNMNqWtTBmN4kIWizxw7bpD7S-91g68GNudzZDPp8Sh3zSNBQeXAkNfCMQIztjFSgfkg~zWbT5fd6ood-JzP3JyuO1bVyMEX2lGlmTK~mPEFuuK6~M5Ka34MTQCWQ6cXGMZNIWYflGy0wgmCeryHschvYEij836iKwSBXL5W5xEDMtXW1e9869agWcM4tElg6~opLs5FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scotts Valley City Council on an evening in May voted unanimously on several items: to fly the pride flag June 1–30, to renew the city's military-equipment use ordinance and approve acquisition of three patrol rifles, and to introduce a new graffiti-abatement and public-nuisance ordinance.

The council also approved the consent agenda and received multiple informational reports, including the annual police department report and the city's first annual staffing vacancies report under Assembly Bill 2561.

Why it matters: The votes create short-term public signals about the city's priorities (the pride-flag display) and affect police equipment and enforcement policy through the military-equipment ordinance and rifle purchases. The graffiti ordinance creates a new enforcement path for owners and offenders and could change how the city abates and recovers costs for graffiti removal.

What the council did

- Pride flag: The council approved the staff recommendation to display an existing pride flag at city facilities from June 1 through June 30 to commemorate Pride Month. The motion passed unanimously.

- Military-equipment ordinance (AB 41 compliance): The council reviewed the police department's annual AB 41 report, which listed currently authorized items (patrol AR-15 rifles and less-lethal shotguns), training and use during the reporting year, and plans to replace several aged rifles. The council introduced and waived further reading of the renewal ordinance (Ordinance No. 22-200.3) and approved Lexipol policy 706 as the city's governing policy. The ordinance renewal motion passed unanimously.

- Patrol rifles: Separately, the council approved acquisition of three Colt patrol rifles identified in the annual report. The motion passed unanimously.

- Graffiti: Council introduced Ordinance No. 7.8, which would repeal Chapter 8.04 and add a new Chapter 8.05 (Graffiti Abatement and Public Nuisance). The proposed ordinance sets a 10-day timeline for property owners to remove graffiti after notice, authorizes the city to abate and recover abatement costs, and establishes administrative penalties for property owners and for persons who commit graffiti. The introduction and waiving of further reading passed unanimously; final adoption will return to council.

Votes and formal outcomes

- Consent agenda: approved unanimously (motion/second not specified in the record).
- Pride flag display (June 1'30, 2025): motion to approve staff recommendation; outcome: approved unanimously (yes 5, no 0).
- Ordinance renewal (AB 41 military equipment policy): motion to introduce/waive further reading of Ordinance 22-200.3 and approve Lexipol policy 706; outcome: approved unanimously (yes 5, no 0).
- Acquisition of three Colt patrol rifles listed in the AB 41 report: motion to approve purchase; outcome: approved unanimously (yes 5, no 0).
- Introduction of Ordinance 7.8 (graffiti abatement / public nuisance): introduced and reading waived; outcome: passed (motion unanimous). Final adoption pending.

What council members said

Council members spoke in support of flying the pride flag as a show of inclusion for residents; several council members noted prior community presentations and emotional testimony from young people when the city first began the practice in 2022. On AB 41 items, council members praised the police department's training and noted that no city equipment had been fired during the reporting year; they also asked that the department continue transparency about training and use.

Next steps

- The graffiti ordinance will return for a future vote for final adoption.
- The police department will take delivery and place the approved replacement rifles into service after procurement and required training. The city's AB 41 annual report will continue to be published on the department's webpage.

(Information only: staff reported multiple other items during the meeting, including the city's pavement management bid, transit funding updates and the town center EIR scoping meeting.)","Scotts Valley City Council unanimously approved flying the pride flag in June, renewed its military-equipment ordinance and authorized purchase of three patrol rifles, and introduced a new graffiti-abatement ordinance; several informational reports were received.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City reports low vacancy rate under AB 2561 as budget planning continues

Scotts Valley Police report: 5,000 calls, hires complete and an increase in assaults partly due to assaults on officers

Council approves Pride flag, renews military-equipment rules and approves three patrol rifles; introduces graffiti-abatement ordinance