Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Atwater council on encampments, park fires and police follow-up
Summary
During public comment at the Jan. 12 meeting, residents urged the council to address people camping in parks, warming fires, trash and lack of police follow-up on a reported theft at the city ice rink.
Several residents used the newly moved early public-comment period Jan. 12 to raise safety and cleanliness concerns tied to people living in parks and to request better police follow-up on recent incidents.
Linda Dash told the council that people without housing had been camping in parks, starting fires and leaving waste that creates public-health and safety risks; she cited state law and city ordinances she said were not enforced. Sean Connor and others described finding drug paraphernalia and warming fires in parks and said they have not received follow-up from police after reporting incidents.
Adam Reed described a theft of a specialized battery charger from the ice-skating rink, said he provided clear video evidence and requested that the police chief contact him for follow-up. The mayor acknowledged the request and invited the police department to follow up outside the meeting.
Councilmembers said they have received multiple resident complaints about transient encampments, directed staff to pursue county grant updates tied to services for unhoused residents specific to Atwater, and noted enforcement resource constraints. No new enforcement policy or emergency action was adopted at the meeting; councilors asked staff for updates and follow-up reports.
