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

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.)