RESOLUTION NO. XX - 2023
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE
WHEREAS, the East Palo Alto Municipal Code ("EPAMC") sets forth the authority conferred upon City officers and employees to perform the functions of their respective offices; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 13 creating the Office of the City Manager and establishing the powers and duties of the position.
Ordinance No. 13 was subsequently amended and codified in Chapter 2.12 of the EPAMC; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 49 creating the Police Department and the position of Chief of Police. Ordinance No. 49 is codified in Chapter 2.20 of the EPAMC; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager is the head administrative officer for the City of East Palo Alto, subject to the direction of the City Council. He is responsible for the administration of the affairs of the City, including management of the City's departments and divisions; and WHEREAS, the Chief of Police is the director of the Police Department, is responsible for the performance of the functions of the department and reports to the City Manager; and WHEREAS, on March 20, 2018, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 413 amending Chapter 2.20 of the East Palo Alto Municipal Code to authorize the City Manager to appoint the Chief of Police in consultation with the City Council; and WHEREAS, Ordinance No.413 and amended Chapter 2.20 provides that the form of City Council consultation shall be established by resolution of the City Council; and WHEREAS, on October 2, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 5034 defining the selection process for the Police Chief; and
WHEREAS, the selection process for the Police Chief outlined in Resolution 5034 has inefficiencies which the City Council desires to mitigate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO hereby establishes the following process for selection of a Chief of Police:
1. The City Council shall select a recruitment firm to perform the recruitment for the position of Chief of Police. Once selected, the City Council, with Human Resources (HR) support shall work with the recruitment firm to develop a recruitment brochure.
2. HR staff and the recruitment firm shall conduct a review of all applications received and reduce the candidate pool to the top 12 candidates.
3. HR staff and the recruitment firm shall: a) interview and screen the top 12 candidates, b) provide the City Council the top 12 applications; and, c) produce a confidential closed session report recommending the top six candidates for City Council consideration.
4. The City Council shall review the top 12 applications, consider the HR and recruitment firm confidential closed session report including recommendations, and, after deliberation in closed session, select the top six candidates.
5. The City Council shall meet in closed session to: a) interview the top six candidates, and b) select the top three candidates to continue in the interview process.
6. HR staff shall schedule two panel interview, for the top three candidates, including: a) public safety executives selected by HR staff and recruitment firm; and, b) five community members appointed at the sole discretion of each Council member.
7. Each panel will provide to HR staff their interview and rating sheets including comments identifying their top candidate.
8. HR staff will provide all the material from the panels in a confidential report to the City Manager.
9. The City Manager shall interview the top 3 candidates and make the final hiring decision considering the input from the Council and all panels.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of February, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Lisa Gauthier, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
James Colin, City Clerk John D. Lê, City Attorney