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 poli...
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