Title
Informational Update Regarding City Council’s Efforts and Plan to Address Changes to Policing and Other Social Issues
Body
Date: July 23, 2020
To: Honorable President Christine Chilcott and Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
From: Ana Bagtas, Development Manager
Eric Fonstein, Development Manager
BACKGROUND
Following an incident on Saturday, May 23, where Alameda Police Department Officers detained a Black man the City Council has held several meetings to discuss policing practices, police services, and other broad social issues, such as systemic racism.
This staff report provides a summary of Council’s discussions and actions thus far regarding police restructuring in the City of Alameda. Council’s work on this issue is ongoing, and staff will continue to update the Social Service Human Relations Board (“SSHRB” or “Board”) on the progress towards this important undertaking.
DISCUSSION
The City Council has been deliberating the issues of policing practices and possible approaches to address reform in a series of public meetings on June 16, 17, and 29, and on July 14 and 21. Council is committed to hearing from and engaging with community members to address systemic racism in Alameda.
On June 16, the City Council took the following actions:
1. Scheduled a special City Council meeting on June 29 to review and provide direction on policing policies and procedures, and how the City provides community services, responses, and law enforcement.
2. Proposed holding special meetings in August to facilitate the process for transforming how Alameda provides community services, responses, and law enforcement.
3. Directed a review of the City’s budget in October to consider proposed changes identified and developed during the community engagement process.
4. Directed staff to return to Council with a proposal for changing any response protocols for the Police Department.
5. Directed staff to bring all policy changes for policing to City Council for approval before implementation.
6. Approved the 2020/21 budget for the Police Department with the following stipulations:
a. Hold current vacancies open until the October City Council meeting;
b. Grant the City Manager authority to shift funds to cover changes in service related to response policies approved by the Council;
c. Begin the process to sell the City’s Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport vehicle;
d. Funds allocated to APD may not be used to purchase, procure, or maintain military grade equipment (e.g. tear gas, armored vehicles, etc.); and
e. Support the proposed removal of APD staff from Alameda schools per an agreement with AUSD.
At its June 17 meeting, the City Council took the following actions:
1. Authorized the Mayor to sign-on to President Obama’s Pledge to introduce common-sense limits on police use of force. In addition, City Council approved creating the following five “pathways” or “sub-committees” that would be further discussed and clarified at its June 29 meeting:
a. Unbundling or “re-imagining” policing in Alameda
b. Racism and APD training
c. Review of police policies, including issues involving demilitarization of the police force, use of force, and racial profiling
d. Community oversight, including who is involved
e. Laws that criminalize “survival,” specifically homelessness.
2. Authorized the City Manager, in partnership with the Chief of Police, to evaluate and update APD policies related to the “’8 Cant Wait <https://8cantwait.org/>” Initiative. The Council also included:
a. Review of APD’s responsibility and involvement with responding to “5150” calls that relate to mental health conditions
b. Review of the public’s overuse of 9-1-1 for APD’s response to non-emergency situations.
At a special meeting on June 29, the Council authorized the creation of a Subcommittee (comprised of Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Councilmember Vella) to work with staff to formulate a plan for a community-led process to address previously identified topics, including police department services, policies and practices, and oversight possibilities, as well as systemic/anti- racism and laws that criminalize survival. The subcommittee is to report back to Council by the end of July.
On July 14, the Council considered a resolution (Attachment 1) declaring racism as a public health emergency affecting the entire city. The Council approved a motion to:
1. Direct the City Manager to produce a public report as result of the investigation into the May 23 event and any other audit recommended through the community led process
2. Declare racism a public health crisis
3. Direct the City Manager to look into training in response to the public health crisis
4. Continue this item at its July 21, 2020 City Council meeting to edit the proposed resolution.
On July 21, based on the work performed by the Council Subcommittee, Council will consider the creation of a Steering Committee responsible for determining the possible selection of the individual task force members for each topic area and developing a work plan (see Attachment 2 staff report for the July 21 City Council meeting).
Staff is presenting this agenda item to SSHRB as an opportunity for the Board members to openly discuss these issues and share information. At SSHRB’s July 23 meeting, staff will brief the Board on the outcome of Council’s July 21 meeting and any decisions made.
RECOMMENDATION
No recommendation. This item is for information and discussion purposes only.
Exhibits:
1. Resolution Declaring Racism as a Public Health Emergency
2. Staff report to July 21, 2020 City Council meeting