March 19, 2024
Mayor's Office
DATE: March 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Subject:
Reducing the Reimaging Public Safety Community Task
Force from 21 to 14 members
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
On June 30th 2020 the City Council directed staff to create a 21-member task force for the Reimagine Public Safety
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
There are currently 21 authorized seats on the
Reimagining Public Safety Community Task Force. The
Mayor has identified a need to reduce the maximum
number of seats to 14.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the reduction of Reimaging Public Safety
Task Force from 21 to 14 members.
DISCUSSION:
On June 30, 2020, the City Council heard Item I-1 to direct staff to prepare a plan to transition from Richmond's current "community policing" model to a plan conducive to a reduced police force and return to Council with the preferred policing model and a plan AGENDA
REPORT
March 19, 2024
for implementation by the end of Fiscal Year 2020/2021. AGENDA REPORT September 15, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Creation of a Task Force Following discussion on the item, the City Council further wanted to “create a transition accountability task force composed by members of the public, including community organizations, individuals who were impacted by law enforcement, and law enforcement.” Within a series of friendly amendments, the City Council specifically wanted to include representation from Safe Return Project, RYSE Center, members of the Community Police Review Commission, Office of Neighborhood Safety, the police department, and Contra Costa County amongst possible additional representatives. Following the approval of this item, there was no formal appointment of members, nor was there a clear structure laid out for the function of the body. Given the formal action taken by Council to create the task force, it was determined that it is within the charter-appointed duties of the mayor to nominate candidates for appointment to the task force, as is done for the city’s boards and commissions. In lieu of exercising his ability to be the sole nominator of candidates for the task force, at the September 15, 2020 City Council meeting, the mayor plans to recommend that each member of the City Council nominate three members of the public to the task force, thus appointing a total of twenty-one individuals. Council members will be encouraged to nominate individuals who are active in the various community organizations mentioned in the City Council discussions. The City Council may wish to recommend additional components of this process, such as an application process. It is understood that one or more community groups have formed to begin conversations surrounding this topic and to develop recommendations for City Council consideration. Staff truly appreciates the initiative taken by these groups, and, pending Council direction, believes that there is a way to work collaboratively with the community groups and/or incorporate members of these groups into the proposed structure of a formalized task force.
It was in this meeting that 21-member task members were created. There is no ordinance or resolution with this formation; it was done through council direction.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – September 12, 2020 Agenda Report (update on Reimagine Public Safety)