Roseville adopts military equipment policy

Roseville City Council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance adopting a military equipment policy to aid Roseville's law enforcement and equip them with resources needed to keep the community safe. The ordinance was presented by Roseville Police Department Captain Doug Blake, Roseville Police Chief Troy Bergstrom and Roseville Assistant City Attorney Joseph Speaker. This ordinance is pursuant to California Assembly Bill 481, according to Blake and Speaker. "Assembly Bill 481 was signed by Governor Newsom on Sept. 30 2021 and requires that law enforcement agencies obtain approval from the agency's governing body prior to purchasing, raising funds for or acquiring military equipment, using military equipment and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies in the deployment or use of military equipment within the governing bodies territorial jurisdiction," Blake said. Military equipment used by the department, Blake said, are armored command vehicles, rifles, shotguns, gas and ammunition, unmanned aerial system aircrafts that aid crime scene mapping and fugitive apprehension, and robots and other explosive equipment. According to Bergstrom, adopting this policy would help the Roseville Police Department. "Our department has very little equipment obtained in military surplus to include a robot or bomb squad acquired since our original robot was lost in the Galleria fire," Bergstrom said. The ordinance states that there is no fiscal impact associated with the proposed policy. Adopting this policy will not impact the city's current or upcoming fiscal budget because the equipment is funded by the federal government. Roseville City Council unanimously voted in favor of adopting the military equipment policy, which will immediately take effect. In other news Roseville City Council received a quarterly update of the housing report by Roseville Housing Manager and Roseville Housing Authority executive director Trisha Isom and Housing Choice Voucher Program supervisor Suzi Cook-Turner. The Roseville Housing Authority opened 65 housing units at Main Street Plaza in January for those experiencing homelessness, according to Cook-Turner.. In July 2021, the Roseville Housing Authority awarded 50 emergency vouchers for Roseville residents who were homelessnes, at risk of homelessness, coping with domestic violence or coping with human trafficking. The vouchers provide fiscal assistance with utility fees, application fees, landlord incentives and housing deposits. Since January, the Roseville Housing Authority has issued 75 vouchers to the Veteran Administration Supportive Housing (VASH). "VASH participants received rental assistance, based on income, eligibility criteria toward homeless veterans and case-management services," Cook-Turner said. The Roseville Housing Authority has collaborated with Roseville mental-health nonprofit organizations to aid homeless residents and provided assistance to non-elderly disabled homeless households, according to Cook-Turner. To increase family self-sufficiency, the Roseville Housing Authority has partnered with Placer County Housing Authority by updating new programs to help families get back on their feet, so that they do not have to receive public assistance. "This partnership ensures stronger programs with more resources, and opportunities for families as a viable option for their future," Cook-Turner said. The Roseville Housing Authority received recognition in January from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the "2022 Housing Choice Voucher Program of the Year-Small PHA (Public Housing Authorities)."