DIXON, CA (MPG) - A formal presentation from Police Chief Robert Thompson, who is now in his fifth year at the helm, began the May 17 City Council Meeting with the 2021 annual police report.

“The biggest impetus in the department is to combat familial violence,” he said, explaining that there was a significant drop in crimes against families, down 84 percent.

Another significant change was the increase by 800 percent of Disorderly Conduct where he surmised those numbers show potential effects of Covid, he said. These numbers in Dixon mean the difference from three incidents in 2020 to 27 in 2021.

There was also the increase of 250 percent in weapon possession, from 10 to 35, and 300 percent of stolen property from 9 to 36. Thompson mentioned the additional homes and development. He felt the numbers could be significantly negative but aren’t.

“That is because it is part of our town’s culture to respect the police and fire departments in return,” he said. The official report was dedicated “in loving memory” to Lt. Mike Tegeler who passed unexpectedly this past year.

Under new business, Public Works Director Louren Kotow presented an Engineer’s Report for the Dixon Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District for 2022/23 asking to declare an intent to levy and collect assessments and it passed 5-0.

This subject is in regard to the fact that only one area of town"'the residents of Valley Glen subdivion"'have a built-in “escalator” that allows the city to increase assessments on homeowners to pay for lights, landscape, and maintenance. Other areas of Dixon do not have “escalators” therefore have not increased in a decade or more, and that is why the city says they do not have enough money to pay for maintaining landscaping in the street mediums and other public areas. This is causing the streets that most Dixonites drive on to look unbecoming with overgrown and/or dying plants and trees.

If one inspects the maps, one can see that the bulk of Dixon residents are not in a LLMD area and therefore pay nothing toward landscaping. But in a previous meeting with much discussion from the councilmen and the public, the Council chose not to make any changes. At this meeting, Dist. 2 Representative Kevin Johnson, who expressed frustration, asked Kotow to prepare a figure for the next meeting on July 19.

“If there was a contribution from every parcel throughout the city, what would that number be?” Also at the previous City Council Meeting, it was a 4-1 vote (Dist. 1 Rep Scott Pederson dissenting) to spend $64,000 for a one-time payment for landscaping around town. At that time, Johnson also felt it was “throwing money out the window as in three weeks, it would be needing another clean-up.” At this meeting, however, both Mayor Steve Bird and Representative Johnson wanted to know if all residents shared these expenses, if the impact would be minimal to each parcel.

“We’re all curious about that,” Bird said. There will be a public hearing on this on July 19, where the City can receive comments and can order the levy of assessments.

In another item, the City declared an intent to levy via a 5-0 vote. They will move forward with a planned public hearing with regard to the collection of past due accounts for Recology services. There are 300 customers who are behind in their payments that total about $75,000. Recology will send out letters and make phone calls to attempt to collect on the past due accounts but at the July 19 public hearing (at City Council) the uncollected amounts will become liens on properties.

The Council was in agreement to solicit the community’s input to determine a name for the Pardi Plaza at the corner of East A and South First Streets and a process is to be created by Madeline Henry, the City’s Public Information Officer. Public ideas will be accepted until July 31. Staff is working with the Dixon Historical Museum for selecting photos on 1-foot squares behind the stage.