By Jorge Casuso

September 28, 2023 -- The City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to three public safety measures that tighten standards for openly carrying knives, selling and owning guns and securing vacant properties.

The new laws are expected to deter an increase in crimes committed using knives and firearms and better secure vacant properties that have proliferated, leading to increased calls to police.

The property ordinance -- which like the two laws regulating weapons was adopted unanimously -- applies to properties that for 90 days have been unoccupied or where construction has ceased.

The number of those properties has soared in the upscale city, from 29 in 2016 to 130 in the most recent count, leading to an increased number of complaints.

"Vacant properties have numerous negative impacts on a city and its residents," City Manager David White said after the meeting.

"Research has linked them to decreased property values and increased violent crime, and the resulting increase in public safety costs," he said.

The Council-approved update to the Municipal Code enhances property maintenance requirements and updates standards for securing and maintaining the property.

The updated security requirements include installing fencing if the Director of Community Development determines that it’s necessary for safety and securing doors and windows with clear materials rather than plywood.

The new standards also require adding signage and combination locks, installing motion-activated exterior lighting and providing the City with written documentation of all security measures taken.

The Council also 09_28_2023_Council_Gives_Final_Approval_to_Public_Safety_Laws

Council Gives Final Approval to Public Safety Laws

By Jorge Casuso

September 28, 2023 -- The City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to three public safety measures that tighten standards for openly carrying knives, selling and owning guns and securing vacant properties.

The new laws are expected to deter an increase in crimes committed using knives and firearms and better secure vacant properties that have proliferated, leading to increased calls to police.

The property ordinance -- which like the two laws regulating weapons was adopted unanimously -- applies to properties that for 90 days have been unoccupied or where construction has ceased.

The number of those properties has soared in the upscale city, from 29 in 2016 to 130 in the most recent count, leading to an increased number of complaints.

"Vacant properties have numerous negative impacts on a city and its residents," City Manager David White said after the meeting.

"Research has linked them to decreased property values and increased violent crime, and the resulting increase in public safety costs," he said.

The Council-approved update to the Municipal Code enhances property maintenance requirements and updates standards for securing and maintaining the property.

The updated security requirements include installing fencing if the Director of Community Development determines that it’s necessary for safety and securing doors and windows with clear materials rather than plywood.

The new standards also require adding signage and combination locks, installing motion-activated exterior lighting and providing the City with written documentation of all security measures taken.

The Council also updated the code to require stricter maintenance standards that can be more readily enforced.

The two weapons laws are meant to help police crack down on a growing number of local crimes that involve the use of knives and firearms.

One new law seeks to curb an increase in stabbings by prohibiting the open carry of edged weapons –- such as knives, daggers, sharpened sticks and swords -– in public areas ("?City Council Cracks Down on Knives and Guns," August 20, 2023).

Last year, a knife was used in 75 reported aggravated assaults, up from 71 in 2021 and 52 in 2020, according to crime data. The use of knives in robberies also has risen -- from 20 in 2021 to 38 last year.

The Council also approved a cutting edge gun law that increases local safety requirements for the legal sale, purchase and storage of firearms and strengthens protections against illegal firearms.

The measure bans firearm retailers from displaying guns and requires them to record the sale of firearms and ammunition and store firearms in a secure manner.

Under the new law, gun owners must safely store firearms in residences and vehicles, report a lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours of discovery and carry liability insurance.

It also bans the possession, sale, or transfer of non-serialized weapons, which are commonly known as “ghost guns.”

In 2022, police booked 43 real and 28 fake firearms as evidence, found 21 real and 11 fake firearms, took one lost firearm report, and took theft reports for five real and two fake stolen firearms.

updated the code to require stricter maintenance standards that can be more readily enforced.

The two weapons laws are meant to help police crack down on a growing number of local crimes that involve the use of knives and firearms.

One new law seeks to curb an increase in stabbings by prohibiting the open carry of edged weapons –- such as knives, daggers, sharpened sticks and swords -– in public areas ("?City Council Cracks Down on Knives and Guns," August 20, 2023).

Last year, a knife was used in 75 reported aggravated assaults, up from 71 in 2021 and 52 in 2020, according to crime data. The use of knives in robberies also has risen -- from 20 in 2021 to 38 last year.

The Council also approved a cutting edge gun law that increases local safety requirements for the legal sale, purchase and storage of firearms and strengthens protections against illegal firearms.

The measure bans firearm retailers from displaying guns and requires them to record the sale of firearms and ammunition and store firearms in a secure manner.

Under the new law, gun owners must safely store firearms in residences and vehicles, report a lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours of discovery and carry liability insurance.

It also bans the possession, sale, or transfer of non-serialized weapons, which are commonly known as “ghost guns.”

In 2022, police booked 43 real and 28 fake firearms as evidence, found 21 real and 11 fake firearms, took one lost firearm report, and took theft reports for five real and two fake stolen firearms.