Atascadero City Council discusses police behavior, fire season
–Atascadero City Council conducted a virtual meeting Tuesday night. The council, staff, and residents who participated called in to the teleconference.
Police Chief Jerel Haley began his presentation by expressing his gratitude for the excellent mutual aid among municipalities and agencies in the North County. He had just left a fire in Atascadero and said Fire Chief Casey Bryson or other fire officials may make a report on the damage and cause of the fire, but he shared his appreciation for mutual aid among various North County agencies.
Chief Haley also addressed a request that he apply the “Eight Can’t Wait” program in Atascadero. The police chief talked about each of the 8 recommendations to improve police behavior and said the department already complies with them. He says Atascadero police do not utilize choke-holds as a means of force to control suspects. He says he does not believe any police department in the state uses a choke-hold or pressure on a suspect’s neck as a means of force.
The council approved assessments for the Apple Valley and Dea Anza Estate Assessment Districts. In each district, the levies stay the same to address street, landscape, and lighting costs in those neighborhoods. Each was approved by a vote of 5-0.
The council also voted unanimously to increase the levies in the Woodridge (Las Lomas) Assessment District by 2.8-percent.