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Chehalis council approves second full-time Community Service Officer to consolidate parking, nuisance and court security duties
Summary
The City Council approved adding a second full‑time Community Service Officer (CSO) to fold parking enforcement, nuisance/animal control and part‑time court security into a single role; staff said existing budgeted lines would cover the first-year cost and a vehicle purchase will be requested by amendment.
The Chehalis City Council voted May 26 to create a second full‑time Community Service Officer position to consolidate parking enforcement, nuisance and animal-control duties and provide court security.
City police staff presented the proposal, arguing the current split between a full‑time CSO, a separate parking enforcement position and a part‑time court bailiff left work unevenly distributed. A police department official told the council the combined role would allow CSOs to enforce parking and code matters without repeatedly referring issues to another team and would free sworn officers for higher‑priority calls.
The staff presentation laid out the fiscal picture: the city is budgeted for a full‑time CSO at about $120,000 per year (total package, including benefits), $54,400 this year for a 32‑hour parking position, and roughly $69,200 budgeted for a court bailiff that staff said has not been used. Staff said reallocating those existing line items would cover bringing on a second CSO this year without adding general‑fund dollars; they requested a budget amendment later for one fully equipped surplus vehicle estimated at about $29,000.
Council members asked about schedule changes and the effects of upcoming annexation. One council member asked whether services would expand to Saturday coverage; police staff said no final schedule change has been decided but the two CSOs would improve coverage and flexibility. Another member asked whether the vehicle could be purchased from available funds this year; staff said that seems likely and would be brought back as a budget amendment.
Councilmember (mover) put the motion on the floor to approve a second full‑time CSO and the council approved the measure without recorded opposed votes.
The city clerk will record the budget amendment request for the vehicle and any future scheduling changes as staff implement the new position.
