ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.22 OF THE COTATI MUNICIPAL CODE IN
ITS ENTIRETY TO REPLACE THE COTATI POLICE AUXILIARY COMMISSION
WITH A COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, Ordinance 214 was adopted on February 18, 1975 establishing a Community-Police Advisory Commission, codified within Chapter 2.22 of the Cotati Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 2.22 was, thereafter, amended in 1987 (Ordinance 475) and gain in 1995 (Ordinance 638) to re-define the roles of what ultimately became known as the Cotati Police Auxiliary Commission; and
WHEREAS, on May 24, 1995, the Cotati Police Auxiliary Commission was dissolved, with no similar advisory group in effect since that date; and WHEREAS, in discussions over recent years, the Cotati City Council has expressed a desire to re-establish an advisory committee with the Cotati Police Department in order to further enhance community and police relations; and
WHEREAS, on May 28, 2024, the Cotati Chief of Police provided a staff report and subsequent presentation and recommendations for a community-police advisory committee to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, on May 28, 2024, the Cotati City Council discussed and defined guidelines and parameters for the creation and establishment of a new Community-Police Advisory Committee.
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Recitals. The above recitals are hereby declared to be true and correct findings of the City Council of the City of Cotati.
SECTION 2: Amendments to Chapter 2.22 of the Cotati Municipal Code.
Chapter 2.22 of the Cotati Municipal Code is hereby retitled, amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
Chapter 2.22
COMMUNITY-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.22.010 Created – Defined.
2.22.020 Purpose and objectives.
2.22.030 Membership and term of office.
2.22.040 Committee Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson selection.
2.22.050 Meetings.
2.22.060 Removal from office.
2.22.070 Duties.
2.22.080 Staffing.
2.22.090 Qualifications.
2.22.010 Created – Defined.
This ordinance shall be known as the “Community-Police Advisory Committee Ordinance.” The Community-Police Advisory Committee is created and established. The term “Committee” shall refer to the Cotati Community-Police Advisory Committee. The police auxiliary commission is hereby dissolved.
2.22.020 Purpose and objectives.
The purpose and intent of the Committee is to serve as an advisory committee for the City Council to further community partnerships with the Cotati Police Department in a constructive way, provide an advisory forum for discussions between community group members and the Chief of Police, afford a platform for direct community feedback about public safety, and involve citizens in community based safety programs as defined by the City Council, City Manager, and Chief of Police.
2.22.030 Membership and term of office
A. The Committee shall consist of five members, selected through an application process and interview panel comprised of two City Council members and the City Manager.
B. The term of each member shall be three years after the initial appointments. Of the five members initially appointed, two shall be for a term of two years and three shall be for a term of three years.
C. All terms of office shall commence of January 1st of the year of appointment. Any unexpected vacancies on the Committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner in which regular appointments are otherwise made.
2.22.040 Committee Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson selection.
The Chairperson of the Committee shall be elected by a majority vote of Committee members in January of each year. A Vice-Chairperson to serve in the absence of the Chairperson shall likewise be elected in January of each year.
2.22.050 Meetings
A. The Committee shall meet regularly and no less than once every quarter (once every three months throughout a calendar year). Meetings shall be held at City Hall in the City Council chambers, unless otherwise authorized by the City Council. Special meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chairperson or three members of the Committee.
B. A majority of appointed Committee members shall constitute a quorum for any transaction of business that would require a vote.
C. The time and place of all Committee meetings shall be posted in advance, with meetings open to the public according to state law.
2.22.60 Removal from office
Any of the Committee members may be removed at any time by a majority vote of the City Council. If a member of the Committee does not attend two regular meetings in any twelvemonth period, his or her membership shall automatically be terminated. His or her successor shall be appointed in the same manner in which regular appointments are otherwise made.
2.22.070 Duties
A. To act as a liaison between the community, the Cotati Police Department, the City Manager, and City Council
B. To assist in the development of community policing concepts that increase public awareness and address community-police relations regarding public safety.
C. To engage in discussions, as permitted by law, to include the following:
a. Arrest and crime statistics
b. Use of force statistics and summaries
c. Complaint statistics, allegations and findings/outcomes d. Notable crime trends and public safety initiatives
e. Notable community events and engagements
f. Giving and receiving input and suggestions on ways to better engage with the community
g. Police trainings
D. To have the Chairperson or delegated Committee member appointed by the Chairperson participate in oral boards and/or panels for applicants to the positions of Chief of Police and Police Lieutenant.
E. To report annually to the City Council on the Committee’s activities.
2.22.080 Staffing
A. All departments of the City, through the office of the City Manager, shall, when reasonably practicable and in accordance with law, furnish necessary existing public information and data, as well as provide technical assistance and advice as needed, to aid the Committee in the performance of their designated duties.
B. The City Manager shall provide or cause to be provided adequate staff to help maintain records for the Committee.
2.22.090 Qualifications
A. During the selection process for Committee members, City Council and the City Manager are encouraged to seek a diverse pool of applicants who reflect and represent multiple races, ethnicities, genders, orientations, backgrounds, and perspectives from the community, to include residents, business owners, faith-based members, and community and public safety advocates.
B. Applicants for the Committee will be required to submit to a criminal screening investigation conducted by the Cotati Police Department prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not move forward in the process and be appointed to the committee.
C. Applicants and Committee members shall not have a history involving incidents of violence or moral turpitude, defined as one who engages in behavior, actions, and/or criminal conduct with the intent to deceive, defraud, or harm another person, or have been convicted of a felony.
D. Inquiries into a Committee member’s history may be made by the City Manager or their designee after appointment to ensure public safety.
E. Committee members shall not be city employees or members of an employee’s household, attorneys involved in cases with law enforcement, nor involved in any criminal, civil, or administrative cases with the City of Cotati or the Cotati Police Department.
F. Committee members shall participate in a “ride along” and training with the Cotati Police Department within (3) three months of appointment.
G. Committee members who do not meet the above requirements to serve on the committee shall be automatically removed.
SECTION 3: Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. This Ordinance is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Sections 15061(b) (3) and 15378 in that neither the Ordinance nor its implementation could foreseeably have any significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 4: Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable and if any provision, clause, sentence, section, word or part thereof is held to be illegal, unconstitutional or inapplicable to any person or circumstance, such illegality, unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, sections, words or parts thereof of this Ordinance or their applicability to other persons or circumstances.
SECTION 5: Judicial Review. The time within which judicial review must be sought is governed by California Government Code Section 65009.
SECTION 6: Posting. The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance to be published and/or posted within fifteen days after its adoption.
SECTION 7: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect 30 days following its adoption.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on June 25, 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing ordinance was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on July 9, 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approved:___________________________
Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk
Approved as to form:
______________________________
City Attorney
This document is a true and correct copy of Ordinance Number ### and has been published or posted pursuant to law. California Government Code § 40806
______________________________
Kevin Patterson, Deputy City Clerk