AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: BRAD KENNEALLY
CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2025 MILITARY EQUIPMENT ANNUAL REPORT AND RENEWING ORDINANCE NO 2022-06-1535
Summary:
On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 481, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, and added the California Government Code Sections 7070 through 7075 relating to the funding, acquisition, and status and inventory of military equipment by local law enforcement agencies. The law requires law enforcement agencies seeking to fund or acquire new military equipment or continue using military equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022, to draft a military equipment use policy and obtain approval from its governing body via adoption of an ordinance. AB 481 also requires law enforcement agencies to present an annual report to their respective governing bodies on the status and inventory of the equipment. The City Council will consider adopting a resolution approving the 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report and renewing Ordinance No. 2022-06-1535 in accordance with Assembly Bill 481.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 2: Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting public safety services and increasing emergency preparedness
recommendation
Recommendation:
Adopt a resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE 2025 MILITARY EQUIPMENT ANNUAL REPORT AND RENEWING ORDINANCE NO. 2022-06-1535, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ASSEMBLY BILL 481
recommendation
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Background:
On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 481, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, and added California Government Code Sections 7070 through 7075 relating to the funding, acquisition, and status and inventory of military equipment by local law enforcement agencies. The law requires law enforcement agencies seeking to fund or acquire new military equipment or continue use of any military equipment acquired prior to January 1, 2022, to draft a military equipment use policy and obtain approval from its governing body via adoption of an ordinance. At the June 28, 2022, City Council meeting, the City introduced Ordinance No. 2022-06- 1535 adopting the Signal Hill Police Department Policy No. 706 - Military Equipment Policy; the Ordinance was subsequently adopted on July 12, 2022 (Attachment A).
Analysis:
The State of California passed a law to enhance transparency and accountability for the funding, acquisition, and status and inventory of military equipment by state and local law enforcement agencies. The legislation includes a broad definition of what constitutes military equipment, including items such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly referred to as drones) regularly used in everyday society by members of the public and have been effectively deployed for many years by law enforcement agencies to respond to emerging threats, civil unrest, and mass casualty events.
Furthermore, several of the items defined as military equipment by the law are not necessarily used by the military but are less-than-lethal, standard issue equipment for peace officers. While possession of such equipment does not warrant its use in common circumstance, this essential equipment is deployed based on situational necessity to effectively de-escalate intense situations or bring volatile conditions and critical incidents to a safe resolution.
The annual report requirements under AB 481 include:
• Status and inventory of the equipment
• Complaint(s) or concern(s) regarding the status and inventory of the equipment
• Results of any internal audits on the status and inventory of the equipment
• Annual costs for the equipment
• Quantity possessed by the agency
• Intention to purchase additional equipment in the following year
Staff reviewed department records and determined there were no complaints or concerns raised regarding the use of the equipment in 2025. Additionally, the internal audit conducted by staff found no violations of Police Department Policy #706 or any other departmental policy. The Signal Hill Police Department published the updated Police Department Policy #706 (Attachment B) containing the 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report (Attachment C) on the City’s website on August 13, 2026.
In accordance with the annual requirements set forth in AB 481, the Police Department completed the 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report. The Department currently possesses 9 types of items that fall under the military equipment classifications delineated in AB 481. The Police Department acquired the equipment either through City approved annual budgets or grant funding. The availability of this equipment enables the Police Department to minimize risk to members of the community and officers during dynamic and unfolding high-risk incidents, maintain a state of readiness through continuous training and familiarity with such equipment, and strategically fulfill its mission to protect life and property. The annual report includes an inventory detailing each type of military equipment possessed by the Police Department and its quantity, authorized use, fiscal impact, and training requirements. The report also summarizes usage of each type of equipment and complaints received regarding the equipment during calendar year 2025.
AB 481 further requires that the governing body must, at least annually, review any ordinance it adopted concerning the funding, acquisition, or status and inventory of military equipment. Following this review, a vote is required to determine whether to renew the ordinance. Based on the outcome of this vote, the City Council has the authority to either renew or decline to renew the authorizing ordinance, disapprove authorization for equipment where standards have not been met, or require modifications to the military equipment use policy. These modifications are based on whether the equipment detailed within the annual report complies with policy and meets specified standards outlined in California Government Code Section 7071, subdivision (d).
Staff recommends that the City Council consider the adoption of the Resolution approving the 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report (Attachment D) and renewing Ordinance No. 2022-06-1535 (Attachment A).
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Attachment(s):
A. Ordinance No. 2022-06-1535
B. Signal Hill Police Department Policy 706
C. 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report
D. Resolution Approving the 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report