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Oakdale adopts code-enforcement safety policy after staff report; council flags radio cost
Summary
Council approved a code enforcement officer safety-standards policy required by Senate Bill 296, authorizing pepper spray, radio access and personal protective equipment; staff said most costs are minimal but acknowledged the police radio could cost about $3,000.
The Oakdale City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a code enforcement officer safety-standards policy required by Senate Bill 296, directing the city to evaluate threats to officers and provide protections such as pepper spray (with training), radio communications and protective equipment for fieldwork.
City Manager Patrick Mondragon said Senate Bill 296 requires local jurisdictions that employ code enforcement officers to (1) evaluate risks and (2) adopt safety standards. The policy presented to council includes provisions for pepper spray (issued after a certification course), access to police radio communications and a field kit with respiratory protection, coveralls and shoe covers for inspections of hoarded or contaminated properties.
Code Enforcement Officer Diana Guerrero Garcia described field conditions that prompted the policy: "I've assisted with at least 10 hoarding homes," she said, and noted encounters with mold, animal and human waste, and a meth-lab remediation where multiagency response was required. Diana told council that police provide on-call assistance and that she routinely requests an officer for potentially hazardous inspections.
Council discussion focused on funding: staff characterized the initial equipment and training costs as minimal (pepper spray and a $40 online certification), but multiple council members noted the police radio is a nontrivial expense. Police staff estimated an additional radio would cost about $3,000; the city manager acknowledged that this and other equipment purchases should be tracked and funded from existing operating budgets.
On a roll call vote the council approved the policy 5-0 (Council member Gilbert: yes; Mayor Pro Tem Smith: yes; Council member Potassie: yes; Council member Kettering: yes; Mayor Barrios: yes). The policy requires recordkeeping, training and ongoing assessment of needs; staff said the police department has agreed to support radio access and initial training coordination.
