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Oakdale adopts code‑enforcement officer safety standards including pepper spray, radio access and protective gear
Summary
The council approved a code‑enforcement officer safety policy to implement requirements under state law (Senate Bill 296), including risk assessments, pepper‑spray certification, dedicated radio access with the police department and personal protective equipment for field work.
Oakdale’s City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a code‑enforcement officer safety standards policy intended to comply with Senate Bill 296 and to address risks faced by staff in enforcement work. The policy received unanimous approval.
Patrick (city staff) explained the item as a two‑part requirement under the state law: conduct a threat/hazard evaluation for code enforcement officers and adopt standards to mitigate identified risks. The standards presented to the council include issuing pepper spray to code enforcement officers (after a certification course), providing radio communications through the police department for immediate contact when officers are in the field, and equipping officers with personal protective equipment such as respiratory protection, coveralls and shoe covers for hazardous structures and hoarded homes.
Diana Guerrero Garcia, the city’s code enforcement officer, described field situations that motivated the policy: hoarded homes, properties with mold, rodent infestations, human and animal waste, and at least one meth lab that required hazardous‑materials coordination. She said the police department has been responsive to requests for assistance. Diana told the council she has assisted with at least 10 hoarding cases and that additional protective equipment and training would make routine inspections safer.
Council members raised questions about fiscal impacts. Staff said many items (gloves, masks) are already on hand and that pepper‑spray certification and bottles are inexpensive, so initial costs would be modest. Council member Kettering and others noted that radios can be an added expense; staff acknowledged a police department radio for code enforcement could cost roughly $3,000 and said the police department has agreed to make radio access available. The city manager noted the staff report did not fully call out some incidental costs and thanked council members for raising the point.
The council approved the safety standards policy 5–0. Staff said the city will proceed with training and equipment purchases within existing code enforcement operating lines; staff will track expenses and return to council if larger budget action is required.
