MEETING MINUTES OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
AND MEETING OF THE WHOLE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Consistent with AB 361 and City of San Jose Resolution No. 79485, 80237, 80266, 80290 and 80323, this meeting will not be physically open to the public and the Committee Members will be teleconferencing from remote locations. Public comments were accepted via eComment, email, by phone/Webinar or online.
The Committee meeting was teleconferenced from remote locations and convened at 1:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Councilmember Raul Peralez, Chair; Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, Vice Chair; Vice Mayor Chappie Jones , Councilmembers Councilmember Sylvia Arenas, and Councilmember Matt Mahan, Members.
ABSENT: All Present.
STAFF: Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox ; Senior Deputy City Attorney Rosa Tsongtaatarii; Paul Pereira, Mayor's Office; City Clerk Toni Taber, Grace Turner and Deputy City Clerk Ruth Krantz.
(b) Review of Work Plan
None provided.
Public Comments: Blair Beekman spoke on inflationary practices.
(c) Consent Calendar
1. Bi-Monthly Financial Report for September/October 2021.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Matt Mahan, seconded by Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and carried unanimously, the Bi-Monthly Financial Report on actual revenues and expenditures as compared to the 2021 -2022 Budget for the four months ending October 2021. (City Manager - Budget/Finance) was accepted. (5-0.)
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REPORTS TO COMMITTEE
1. Downtown and High Need Neighborhoods Foot Patrol Status Report.
Police Chief Anthony Mata offered introductory comments, and Captains Carlos Acosta, Todd Trayer, Jason Dwyer and Brian Shab offered a presentation.
Public Comments : (1) Paul Soto offered appreciation for the advocacy offered to his neighborhood and spoke against redlining. (2) Blair Beekman asked for more statistics and addressed crime concerns. (3) Brian Darby addressed the legacy of redlining and the impact of criminal activity on its victims. (4) Scott Largent addressed issues at Starbird Park , citing dangerous conditions where children are present and the need for more outreach. (5) Eric Glader spoke to enhanced trust and sense of community as a result of foot patrols.
Police Chief Anthony Mata and staff responded to questions.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Sylvia Arenas, seconded by Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, and carried unanimously, the status report on the Downtown and High Need Neighborhoods Foot Patrol program, including outcomes of prior year spending and how the walking beats were filled (Police) was accepted. (5-0.)
2. Strategies to Combat Hate Crimes and Violence Against Asian -American/Pacific Islanders Status Report.
Zulma Maciel, Office of Racial Equity; Chris Cambises, Office of Racial Equity, and Lt. Jorge Gutierrez provided a presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comments: (1) Blair Beekman offered appreciation for discussion on a volatile subject. (2) Paul Soto spoke to importance and validity of victim’s impact statements and politicizing of apologies.
Following the vote on this item, Councilmember Sylvia Arenas returned after a brief break and provided additional requests to staff. She spoke to leveraging efforts for high-need areas and coordinating efforts that are taking place, and she suggested a separate meeting to include Councilmember Maya Esparza where this could be discussed in greater detail.
She additionally asked that a breakdown be provided and personalized strategies be implemented for those groups that are being targeted the most. Zulma Maciel, Office of Racial Equity, spoke to the data -drive approach a nd offered to drill down with crime analysis to provide this information. Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox committed to an information memo mid-year responding to Councilmember Sylvia Arenas’ concerns.
Elle Washburn responded to questions.
(Item Continued on the Next Page)
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2. Strategies to Combat Hate Crimes and Violence (Cont’d.)
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, seconded by Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, and carried unanimously, the status report on the implementation of strategies to combat hate crimes and violence against Asian-American/Pacific Islanders. (City Manager - Racial Equity/Police) was accepted. An original vote of 4-0-1 was revised following Councilmember Sylvia Arenas input to reflect her vote: (5-0.)
3. Retirement Plans Investments Annual Report.
Jay Kwon, Office of Retirement Services provided an annual report.
Public Comments: (1) Paul Soto asked where investments are in petroleum, mining cobalt and other areas with social ramifications. (2) Blair Beekman addressed workers’ rights issues and those that Paul Soto discussed that are human rights driven.
Action: Upon motion by Councilmember Matt Mahan, seconded by Councilmember Sylvia Arenas and carried unanimously, the Annual Pension and Healthcare Investment Performance Report for the Police and Fire Department Retirement Plan (P&F) and the Federated City Employees’ Retirement System (Federated System) for Fiscal Year 2020 -2021. (Retirement Services) was accepted. (5-0.)
OPEN FORUM
1. Paul Soto spoke to redlining and his feeling that he should be allowed more time to speak following Councilmember Arenas’ comments on Item #2.
2. Call-in User 1 spoke to honoring Christmas and need for more night beats for the Police Department.
3. Blair Beekman commented on PG&E’s report to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), reimagining, sustainability and accountability in 2022.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
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Councilmember Raul Peralez, Chair
Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee RP/rmk MIN20211216