STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of April 22, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Joseph Vasquez, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Consideration of Making the Police Chief’s Advisory Committee A Brown Act Committee RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the Council discuss this item and provide direction to staff by minute order.
BACKGROUND:
At the February 25, 2025, meeting, Mayor Bailey requested that the City Council discuss making the Police Chief’s Advisory Committee that would be subject to the Brown Act. This would require the meetings to be publicly noticed and allow the public to attend and participate in them. Staff returns this evening to seek the Council’s direction on this matter.
ANALYSIS:
In January 2021, retired Chief of Police William Imboden and then City Manager David Biggs began discussing a proposed Chief’s Advisory Board (CAB) as part of an ongoing review of policing, social justice, and oversight of the Hercules Police Department. The CAB initiative was designed to foster trust and collaboration between the Hercules Police Department and the community. It serves as a resource for strategy development, policy awareness, and community input, but does not have decision-making authority or investigative power. Instead, it provides a forum to discuss policing trends, use of force, and other significant law enforcement issues.
In May 2021, Chief Imboden selected eight applicants to form the inaugural CAB, which began meeting in June 2021. The initial plans were for meetings to be held monthly, but after three meetings, the CAB determined that more frequent meetings would be helpful. Thus, beginning in September 2021, the CAB began meeting twice a month. Topics discussed ranged from hiring practices, officer attitudes, compliments, and complaints to use of force incidents.
Chief Vasquez took over the CAB in October 2022. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the CAB had previously met over Zoom. As COVID restrictions began to loosen, meetings began to transition to in-person. Meetings were typically 1 ½ to 2 hours in duration and were conducted monthly because of the direct impact public safety has on the community.
The CAB was designed to have two-year terms and be represented throughout various neighborhoods in the City to prevent discussions from going stale and allow others to participate on the board. The members were to serve as a direct conduit between the Police Department and the community and provide invaluable information on improving public safety services.
Only four of the original eight members remain on the board, as many of them were unable to fulfill the attendance requirement. Over the last two years, a student from Hercules High School and a college student have participated on the board, bringing a unique, youthful perspective. Both have since moved on, but staff recognizes the benefit they brought for future board additions.
The CAB currently has nine members who reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of this City. While the CAB meetings do have agendas, they are generally free-flowing discussions among the members in more of a roundtable format. This allows the CAB to have genuine and authentic discussions without the barriers and restrictions of a more formal meeting. The results have produced spirited conversations where everyone is encouraged and empowered to express their opinions, which always conclude respectfully.
This group's accomplishments include helping the Chief develop a mission and vision statement and the core values that drive all police department personnel. The board has also helped the department navigate complex topics, refine existing policies, and develop new procedures.
Should the City Council desire to refine the existing CAB or take an additional approach to discussing similar issues, staff requests that the Council provide direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attach 1- Staff Report February 23, 2021
Attach 2- Staff Report November 9, 2021
Attach 3- CAB Meeting Agendas
Attach 4- CAB Board Applications