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Soledad cites new ladder truck, policing investments and parcel-tax proposal to bolster emergency services
Summary
Officials said a $2 million earmark funded a ladder truck and apparatus bay, police invested in body cameras and training, and the city will consider a parcel tax (example: $233/year for a single-family home) to raise staffing to national standards.
City officials outlined recent public-safety investments and a near-term funding proposal to address staffing and equipment needs.
Unidentified Host said the city received a $2,000,000 earmark attributed to Senator Caballero that paid for a new ladder truck and an apparatus bay. The host said grant funds, not general-fund dollars, supported the purchase and associated training for firefighters.
Mayor Anna Velasquez recognized public-safety staff and said the police department is emphasizing community policing and school safety. She named the new police chief and the fire chief and said training included an active-shooter exercise with local schools.
Lieutenant Arriola, answering audience questions, described the department’s approach to building trust through daily contacts and said technological investments—such as body-worn cameras—helped investigators identify a recent bank-theft suspect within "about 2 to 3 hours."
To address staffing shortfalls on fire engines (the city currently runs two-person engines), the host said the council will consider a parcel tax on February 18. The tax literature cited during the event included an example amount of $233 annually for a single-family house to fund emergency and fire services and move staffing toward the minimum of three personnel per engine.
City officials said details on the parcel-tax proposal, final costs and ballot language will be provided ahead of the council’s consideration and that grants remain a key funding source for equipment purchases.
