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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: STUDY SESSION
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: April 21, 2025
Report #:2504-4482
TITLE
Semi-Annual City Council Discussion with the Independent Police Auditor (IPA)
RECOMMENDATION
This Study Session is a semi-annual opportunity for Council discussion with the Independent Police Auditor. There is no recommended action.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
This is the study session with the City’s Independent Police Auditor (IPA) from the representatives of the OIR Group, the City’s contracted consultant for the Independent Police Auditor function. It is the first of two discussions in this calendar year. The previous discussion took place with the City Council on November 18, 2024.1 Purpose: In the amended contract scope with the OIR group, it states the following related to the IPA meetings with the City Council:
Beginning in the second half of 2021, CONSULTANT shall meet with the City Council two times per year to discuss trends in criminal justice and policing, policy and training matters, recommendations made by CONSULTANT, and other City Council concerns.
CONSULTANT’S conferences with City Council are not for the purpose of elaborating on published reviews of specific incidents and shall not include discussion of personnel matters prohibited by law. Semi-annual conferences shall be scheduled after publication of the CONSULTANT’S report, according to availability of City Council and the CONSULTANT.
Consistent with the description above, the City Council discussion with the IPA is not directly focused on the OIR review of specific cases. While the most recent report from OIR Group is included as an informational report in this same April 21, 2025 packet, the discussions between 1 November 18, 2024 City Council meeting, Item #1:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14487
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the Consultant and City Council are not for the purpose of elaborating on published reviews of specific incidents and should not include discussion of personnel matters prohibited by law. The IPA will be discussing general topics the City Council expressed interest in periodically discussing.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
No additional funds are needed for this study session.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The discussion with the City Council is an opportunity for the public to also share feedback related to issues covered by the IPA.
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager