City Council Regular Meeting
April 10, 2025
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2-O (ID 25-349) Approve the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report as originally required by Assembly Bill 481, codified under Government Codes 7070-7075.
Contents of Supplement: Public comment received
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Supplemental Information:
Any agenda related public documents received and distributed to a majority of the City Council after the Agenda Packet is printed are included in Supplemental Packets.
Supplemental Packets are produced as needed. The Supplemental Packet is available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office, 2600 Fresno Street, during normal business hours (main location pursuant to the Brown Act, G.C. 54957.5(2). In addition, Supplemental Packets are available for public review at the City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers, 2600 Fresno Street. Supplemental Packets are also available on-line on the City Clerk's website.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
The meeting room is accessible to the physically disabled, and the services of a translator can be made available. Requests for additional accommodations for the disabled, sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or translators should be made one week prior to the meeting. Please call City Clerk's Office at 621-7650. Please keep the doorways, aisles and wheelchair seating areas open and accessible. If you need assistance with seatinQ because of a disabilitv, olease see Securitv.
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Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Monday, April 7, 2025 10:53:13 PM
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City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Shelly Spencer submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-O. ID 25-349 Approve the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report as originally required by Assembly Bill 481, codified under Government Codes 7070-7075.
eComment: It has come to my attention that a required community meeting has not been offered by the police dept before this report on military equipment is submitted for approval - as required by AB481. If that is correct this item should be tabled at minimum. Further, the council agenda lists the inventory but not the proposed use policy up for review. It is the council�€™s responsibility to see that the use policy safeguards the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, civil liberties. This current national moment has seen demands upon non federal agencies to comply with federal policies - which at time conflict with state regulations. This is a perfect time to be having a conversation about this here in Fresno. What commitments is FPD going to make to the public that will reassure them that their welfare and civil liberties will be prioritized above any outside demands which go beyond what is required by law? Thank you.
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Subject: FW: Re council agenda item - FPD Military Equip use Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 9:20:06 AM
From: Shelly Spencer
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 11:35 PM
To: District5
Cc: District2 District3 ; District4
>; District1 District6 District7
Subject:
Re council agenda item - FPD Military Equip use
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Hi. I’d like to draw your attention to an item on the upcoming council agenda; I submitted an e-comment. I’d like to note a small correction.
Agenda item:
2.-O. ID 25-349 Approve the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report as originally required by Assembly Bill 481
The text of my comment is below. I saw the use report link after my comment was submitted but my question still stands.
(I would omit the sentence regarding the use report here in italics but my comment cannot be edited.)
——
“It has come to my attention that a required community meeting has not been offered by the police dept before this report on military equipment is submitted for approval - as required by AB481. If that is correct this item should be tabled at minimum. Further, the
council agenda lists the inventory but not the proposed use policy up for review. It is the council’s responsibility to see that the use policy safeguards the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, civil liberties. This current national moment has seen demands upon non federal agencies to comply with federal policies - which at time conflict with state regulations. This is a perfect time to be having a conversation about this here in Fresno.
What commitments is FPD going to make to the public that will reassure them that their
welfare and civil liberties will be prioritized above any outside demands which go beyond what is required by law? Thank you.”
——-
I see that the use report includes a statement
with each piece of equipment to this effect.
“Legal and Procedural Rules: It is the policy of this Department to utilize specialized equipment only for official law enforcement purposes and pursuant to State and Federal law regarding the use of force.”
While this is appropriate, it seems that “official law enforcement purposes” could include many things. What I’m trying to do is offer FPD a clear opportunity to state for the record and to the public that they will not be doing any of the kind of alarming things we hear about these days (door to door searches to evaluate legal status for example) even if federal pressure is applied. And this is also a perfect and timely opportunity for the Council to state their affirmation for civil rights of the public.
Thank you.
Shelly Spencer
District 5 resident
PS to Councilmember Vang: Welcome! You are coming onto the council at an interesting time in history that’s for sure!
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Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 1:56:09 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Rita Townsend submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-O. ID 25-349 Approve the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report as originally required by Assembly Bill 481, codified under Government Codes 7070-7075.
eComment: The council has failed to meet state regulations regarding renewal of the use report, and further, that it is proposing not just renewal but expanded use of military equipment. This would include, apparently, the arming of robots. Yeah; what could go wrong. I expect this Council to at the very least respect state regulations. Funny how community meeting requirements just tend to slip the Council�€™s minds.
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Subject: [BULK] New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 3:22:08 PM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
City of Fresno
New eComment for City Council on 2025-04-10
9:00 AM - Regular Meeting
Mohammad Shaikh submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: City Council on 2025-04-10 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting Item: 2.-O. ID 25-349 Approve the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report as originally required by Assembly Bill 481, codified under Government Codes 7070-7075.
eComment: This item does not meet the requirements of state law AB481. Firstly, the proposed use policy needs to be reviewed, as required by law. Secondly, the required community meeting needs to be held, as required by law. The first part of supporting Law Enforcement is enforcing laws. There are huge issues related to civil liberties, public safety, opportunity cost for how funds could be spent - and the public deserves a robust discussion; this is not a item that can be passed on consent.
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