DATE: April 22, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, District 2
Supervisor Nathan Magsig, District 5
SUBJECT: Adoption of Amendment to the Ordinance Code of Fresno County, Adding Chapter 6.27, "ILLEGAL POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF COMMERCIAL COPPER WIRE"
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct second hearing and adopt an Ordinance to amend the Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 6, to add Chapter 6.27, "ILLEGAL POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF COMMERCIAL COPPER WIRE"; and waive reading of the Ordinance in its entirety
REPORT
The recommended action which will add Chapter 6.27, "Junk Dealers, Secondhand Dealers, Used Goods Dealers, Itinerant Dealers, and Flea Markets Ordinance" of Title 6, "Business Licenses and Regulations" of the Ordinance Code of Fresno County to facilitate and support law enforcement efforts to combat the theft and vandalism of commercial grade energy transmission and telecommunications infrastructure within the unincorporated areas. The recommended ordinance would define "commercial grade" telecommunications cable as having 50 or more pairs of conductors in a single cable. The ordinance would define "scrap" as material no longer useful for its intended purpose and primary value for recycling. The ordinance would prohibit receiving, possessing and transporting more than 10 lbs. of commercial grade wire or aluminum wire except by licensed businesses. Commercial grade wire and telecommunications cables are typically sheathed in a protective coating that has markings identifying the lawful owner. The ordinance also prohibits possessing commercial grade wire stripped of its protective sheathing and prohibits the act of stripping commercial grade wire of its protective sheathing, except by a licensed business. Violations would be punishable as a misdemeanor, through civil penalties, or through administrative fines of $500 to $1,000 per violation. The recommended ordinance would also deem violations to ...
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