Campbell Council sets penalty semi truck street parking

By Sarah Lehr | May 5, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

CAMPBELL

City council voted this week to set penalties for parking semi trucks on residential streets.

Council had attempted in 2009 to enact the ordinance regulating heavy commercial vehicles. City officials, however, discovered this year that the ordinance was unenforceable because council neglected to include a penalty in the original legislation.

Violation will be punishable as a minor misdemeanor.

Additionally, council approved funds for a digital system that maps the city’s sewers, pipes and fire hydrants. The new technology will allow the water department to better detect waterline breaks. Council approved $4,130 for software and $2,800 for operator training.

Council also signed off on $9,915 for emergency repairs to a broken water pump and $53,488 for police radios.

The radios function as part of digital dispatch system adopted by the city last year. Campbell Police Chief Dennis Puskcarcik has chosen to encrypt Campbell’s police dispatch, meaning that the public can no longer listen to live scanner traffic.

In other business, council agreed to again participate in the Regional Income Tax Agency delinquent taxpayer program. RITA collects taxes for the city.

Under the program, RITA sends a letter to people believed to have not filed their taxes. If someone does not respond to the letter, RITA will send a subpoena. The city pays $8 per subpoena, but expects to make up the money after reaping the taxes.

Councilwoman Juanita Rich was the sole dissenting vote against joining the program. Rich said she is irritated because RITA has subpoenaed her even though she pays her taxes.