Council reviewing Chico Police Department’s military equipment report

CHICO — Reauthorization of the Chico Police Department’s use of military-grade equipment comes to the City Council for Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The agenda features two other revisits: fees for retrieving shopping carts removed from retailers and removing the city’s limit on downtown bars. Closed session includes updates for councilors on labor negotiations and Warren v. Chico as well as quarterly performance reviews of the city manager, city clerk and city attorney.

Assembly Bill 481 requires local law enforcement agencies to submit an annual report to the state with an updated inventory of items the bill classifies as military equipment and policies for utilizing this equipment. AB481 also requires a public engagement meeting, which Police Chief Billy Aldridge conducted Thursday evening in City Council Chambers.

The inaugural AB481 report went to councilors for approval before the public engagement meeting. Aldridge flipped the sequence this year and told the two-dozen attendees he’d amend the report should input merit changing it. He told this newspaper Friday that he did not need to do so after reviewing questions and comments.

In December, councilors put the brakes on resetting monetary amounts in an ordinance that would impose a fee on businesses when the city picks up abandoned shopping carts off the retailer’s property. Code Enforcement brings back a proposal that still would charge businesses that don’t respond to a notice within three days. The recommended charge would be $20 — rising to $50 on the third offense within six months.

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Also last year, the council discussed removing from the municipal code a limit on bars in the downtown north district. Questions arose; staff will bring back answers for councilors’ consideration.

The Chico City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 421 Main St.; closed session starts at 5 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public.