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Resident questions sheriff enforcement and prosecution of local ordinances
Summary
Resident Dave Schmidt told council the Sheriff's Office said it enforces state and county ordinances only and that the city's contract lacks enforcement language; he urged clarification of prosecution pathways for municipal ordinance violations.
During public comment, resident Dave Schmidt (108 East 14th St.) urged the council to clarify how local ordinances are enforced and prosecuted. Schmidt said he was told by the Sheriff's Department that it "will only enforce state and county ordinance," and that the city's contract contained no language obligating the sheriff to enforce municipal ordinances; he said he planned to pursue records requests if enforcement questions were not addressed.
Staff responded that the city has prosecuted cases under city ordinance in the past and noted that fines are levied under city code with routine procedures for trial if defendants plead not guilty. Council asked staff to follow up on the examples raised and to clarify communications with the Sheriff's Office and any prosecutorial pathway for ordinance violations.
