CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: April 20, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPTION OF THE RENEWAL OF ORDINANCE 954 REGARDING
SPECIALIZED OR MILITARY EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR USE
BY THE PLEASANT HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO AB
481.
SYNOPSIS
The Military Equipment Use ordinance and policy, first approved by City Council in March 2022, established guidelines for the acquisition, funding, use, and reporting of special or “military equipment,” as the term is defined in Government Code section 7070, within the City of Pleasant Hill. The ordinance and policy fulfilled the obligations set forth in Assembly Bill 481 (AB481). Each year, the City is required to renew the ordinance and policy. At the City Council’s meeting on April 6, 2026, the policy was renewed, and the renewed ordinance received its first reading or introduction. At this meeting, the City Council should approve the ordinance’s second reading and formally adopt the renewed ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial considerations for the Pleasant Hill Police Department’s existing special or military equipment and munitions.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the second reading of uncodified Ordinance No. 954, thereby adopting the renewed AB 481 Ordinance regarding Specialized or Military Equipment.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
The City Council may decide not to approve second reading of Ordinance No. 954 prohibiting use of some or all of the specialized or military equipment items. However, staff is not aware of alternative equipment that will achieve the same objectives of safeguarding community and officer safety. There are no reasonable alternatives that will allow the department to continue to utilize legally the numerated military equipment without Council approval.
ATTACHMENT(S)
AB 481 Ordinance No. 954
Prepared by: Jason Kleven, Police Lieutenant
Reviewed by: Scott Vermillion, Chief of Police
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager