In May 2018, the Turlock Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team was called in to help Oakdale police detectives who were attempting to take a murder suspect into custody who was found in a Turlock apartment complex. The incident turned into a four-hour long standoff between the suspect and law enforcement. A flash bang was used during the incident and drones were deployed — which are defined as military equipment under California Assembly Bill 481.

On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council will review the Annual Military Equipment Report submitted by the Turlock Police Department as required by Assembly Bill 481. The state law, approved in 2021, requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval from the applicable governing body, via adoption of “military equipment” use policy by ordinance prior to the LEA funding, acquiring, or using “military equipment” as defined in the law.

Also under Assembly Bill 481, the Turlock Police Department is required to hold at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting at which the public may discuss and ask questions of the submitted annual report.

Items deemed to be “military equipment” under AB 481 include, but are not limited to, unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, armored vehicles, command and control vehicles, pepper balls, less lethal shotguns, less lethal 40mm projectile launchers, long range acoustic devices, and noise/flash/diversionary devices.

The Council will also consider approving a one-time extension for five years of the lease agreement with United Samaritans Foundation for the property located at 207 and 209 3rd St. and 224,226,228,230, 232 and 234 A St. in Turlock.

The properties were acquired by the City in 2016 with HOME funds and in 2019, the City Council awarded USF the bid the manage the units. Currently, four units are rented to low-income senior citizens, three units are rented to very low-income individuals, and one unit rented to a low-income family. The revenue, after expenses, has been used to expand USF’s capacity to serve Stanislaus County residents. USF provides approximately 6,000 meals a month to residents in the Turlock area.

On Tuesday, the Council is also expected to consider:

·   -      Reaffirming the Proclamation of a Local Emergency in response to a continuing unsheltered homeless crisis within the City of Turlock;

·   -      Approving the establishment of a new job description for a Municipal Services Director/Stanislaus Regional Water Authority General Manager and amend the salary schedule;

·   -      Amending the Zoning Map for property located at 1589 East Avenue from Community Commercial to Low Density Residential to allow for the subdivision of the parcel into six single-family residential lots;

·    -     Authorizing staff to allocate $8 million to a establish a Pension Stabilization Fund and $5.2 million to a Capital Improvement Fund, all from the General Fund Reserve Surplus. At Fiscal Year End 2023, the General Fund has an estimated operating surplus of $13.2 million.  Per the General Fund Reserve Policy adopted by the Council in May 2023, if it is determined that an operating surplus exists (above the adopted 22.5% reserve amount), the Council may appropriate these funds for the following nonrecurring purposes: elimination of unfunded liabilities related to the City’s pension obligations, reduction or avoidance of debt and capital improvements and projects.

The Turlock City Council is set to meet at 6 p.m. March 12 in the Yosemite Room at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway. The meeting is open to the public. A full agenda can be found at: cityofturlock.org.