Council Agrees — No Peeing in Public

Hey all you Capitola hooligans who wont stop peeing in public: the party is over!

That was the quick decision made by the Capitola City Council at Thursday's meeting after a brief presentation by Police Chief Rudy Escalante.

The chief explained that currently, when someone is cited for urinating or defecating in public in the city limits, it is written as a misdemeanor which is then forwarded to the District Attorney's Office and results in arraignment and often the charge is reduced to an infraction. 

"It's an extensive process for the officers," Escalante said.

So he proposed an ordinance making the act a municipal code citation, which cuts away some of the red tape.

"It's really about making it easier for the officers," he said.

In a letter to the council and Chief Escalante, Capitola resident Mary Healy asked that along with this new citation, the police department keep a special eye on the human waste problem at Perry Park and the Rispin Mansion, which Escalante agreed was a solid idea.

"It's a good way to address those behaviors that become such a concern and disrupt quality of life," he said.

After the council agreed unanimously to pass the first reading of the ordinance, Mayor Mike Termini had but one request for the chief.

"Never run for city council," he said, "because none of use could possibly beat you."

Escalante agreed.

Don't miss a thing in Capitola-Soquel!

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