MINUTES OF THE JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE
AND COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE COMITTEE
SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2024
A Special Joint Meeting of the of the City of San José Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee and County of Santa Clara Public Safety and Justice Committee: Strategies for Serving Individuals with Frequent Justice System Involvement, was held in the Council Chambers and teleconferenced from remote locations. The meeting was called to order at 10:09 a.m.
Present: Councilmembers - Jimenez, Doan, Kamei, Torres, Batra.
Absent: Councilmembers - All present.
Present: Board of Supervisors - Ellenberg, Chavez.
Absent: Board of Supervisors - All present.
City Staff: Assistant City Manager, Lee Wilcox.; Senior Deputy City Attorney, Terra Chaffee; Mayor’s Office, Sara Garcia; and Deputy City Clerk, Yasmin Johnson.
County Staff: Deputy County Clerk, Nancy Guerrero.
(b) REPORTS TO COMMITTEE
1. Introductory Remarks and Review of City of San José/County of Santa Clara Collaboration for Calendar Year 2022-2023.
Assistant Police Chief, San José Police Department, Paul Joseph; Supervising Deputy, Public Defender, Avi Singh; Deputy Public Defender, Brett Hammon; Public Defender, Molly O’neal; District Attorney, County of Santa Clara, Jeff Rosen; Chief Operating Officer, Office of the County Executive, Greta S. Hansen; Santa Clara County Supervisor, Cindy Chavez; Supervisor, Susan Ellenberg; and Supervising Deputy District Attorney, Brandon Cabrera offered the (b)1 presentation and/or responded to questions.
Public Comment: None provided.
- 2 - February 15, 2024
Action: Upon motion by Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, seconded by Councilmember Bien Doan, and carried unanimously, the Committee received the report from the Office of the County Executive, Office of the Public Defender, and San José Police Department relating to collaboration between the City and the County for Calendar Year 2022-2023 and information regarding individuals with frequent justice system involvement. (5-0-0)
2. Strategies in the Field and After Detention for Serving Individuals with Frequent Justice System Involvement.
Director, Behavioral Health Services Department Bruce Copley; Police Communications Manager, San José Police Department, Jennifer Hern; Deputy Chief, San José Police Department, Brian Shab; Deputy Police Chief, San José Police Department, Jaime Jimenez; Police Captain, San José Police Department, Brian Spears; Director, Office of Diversion and Reentry Services, Javier Aguirre; Police Captain, San José Police Department, Jason Dwyer; Sheriff, County of Santa Clara, Robert Johnson; Director, Behavioral Health Services Department, Soo Jung; Program Manager, Behavioral Health Services Department, Lan Nguyen offered the 2(a) presentation and/or responded to questions.
The presentation for Item 2(b) was not presented.
Public Comment: None provided.
Motion: Councilmember Bien Doan moved approval of the staff recommendation. Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei seconded the motion.
Councilmember Omar Torres expressed his concerns and questions with the information that was to be provided for 2(b) and the importance of the full City Council hearing the presentation.
Friendly Amendment: Councilmember Omar Torres requested to bring back the presentation for 2(a) to the PSFSS Committee and the presentation for 2(b) to the full City Council. The friendly amendment was not accepted by the maker of the motion and seconder.
Action: On a call to question, the motion carried unanimously, the Committee (a) received the report from Behavioral Health Services Department, San José Police Department, and Office of Diversion and Reentry Services relating to strategies in the field such as 988, behavioral health field response programs, the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team and call transfers from 911 to 988, alternative destinations after arrest, and the Mission Street Recovery Station Misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence Pilot program; and (b) received the report from the Office of the District Attorney and Office of the Public Defender relating to strategies after detention such as Mental Health Treatment Court, efforts to increase early representation and access to treatment, and the Safety Through Wellness Court Pilot Program; with City Staff direction to return to the PSFSS Committee with the presentations for 2(a) and 2(b) first in coordination with County Staff not as a Special Joint Meeting, then cross-reference the presentations for 2(a) and 2(b) to the full City Council after it has gone to the PSFSS Committee. (5-0-0) - 3 - February 15, 2024
OPEN FORUM
1. Raymond Goins (Silicon Valley Debug) expressed how Santa Clara County services failed his family member during a crisis incident, and expressed his concerns with the current services provided to residents with mental illnesses, formerly incarcerated, and addictions.
2. Cynthia Dalcourt Longs (Silicon Valley Debug Organizer) addressed her concerns with the 70 people the study/presentation focused on and suggested that there also be a focus on the following major crimes: crimes against children, seniors, fentanyl incidences, serial killers, murders by police, and city and county corruption.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez and Supervisor Cindy Chavez adjourned the Special Joint Meeting at 12:10 p.m.
Minutes Recorded, Prepared and Respectfully Submitted by, Yasmin Johnson
Deputy City Clerk, City of San José
Approved at Council on: 12/03/2024
Attest By:
Toni J. Taber, CMC
City Clerk, City of San José