CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: {{item.number}} Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-5141 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Police Department
MEETING DATE: November 04, 2024
SUBJECT:
Community Member Participation in Sojourn to the Past Training – Payment Authorization RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution to authorize the payment of City funds to Sojourn to the Past for the purpose of funding the participation of two community members in the Sojourn to the Past training, in an amount not to exceed $6,000.
BACKGROUND:
Several sworn staff members from the San Mateo Police Department recently participated in the Sojourn to the Past historical civil rights training. Sojourn to the Past is a nationally recognized non-profit which has been providing immersive social justice education for over twenty years by leading participants on study trips through the American deep south and Washington D.C. Law enforcement participation in this training fosters stronger relationships and enhances understanding of historical civil rights struggles. By engaging in this training, law enforcement officers gain a deeper appreciation for the systemic challenges and injustices faced by marginalized communities. This historical context can inform and sensitize their approach to modern-day policing, promoting empathy, reducing bias, and fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Additionally, shared experiences during the Sojourn can create a platform for dialogue and mutual understanding.
The Police Department intends to have additional staff participate in the training and would like to include two community members. Including community members in the Sojourn along with law enforcement staff is beneficial because it creates a space for shared learning, healing, and dialogue between diverse groups. This shared experience fosters understanding and unity, empowering community members to advocate for change in their own neighborhoods. Additionally, including community members in the training encourages collaboration between individuals and groups that may not typically interact, helping to build trust, reduce tension, and strengthen community bonds.
Gloria Brown has been devoted to improving the lifestyle and health of her community for almost 50 years. Over several decades, she has passionately advocated for targeting health issues of vital importance to underserved populations. Gloria co-founded the Mills-Peninsula Health Services African American Community Health Advisory Committee (AACHAC) in 1995 and has worked tirelessly to improve health conditions in her community, ultimately reaching more than 55,000 people, with lives saved each year. She has spearheaded innovative health educational programs including the Women’s Health Conference, Men’s Health Symposium, and the Soul Stroll for Health Walk and Resource Fair. She launched special programs addressing Alzheimer’s, domestic violence, elder abuse, caregivers’ education, and much more.
Angela Miller’s journey began in 1975 when she stepped into the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in San Mateo as a receptionist. Little did she know that this role would evolve into a four-decade commitment to uplifting her community— a community she herself had grown up in, witnessing its struggles with crime and poverty. Miller quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the director of the center. Under her leadership, the King Center transformed into a vital hub
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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for North Central San Mateo, fostering inclusivity and support across its diverse population. Throughout her career, Miller remained deeply rooted in the North Central neighborhood, often intertwining her personal and professional life. She nurtured relationships that spanned generations, with former participants returning to express their gratitude and share their stories with her family. Miller’s impact on the lives she touched is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her community, a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
The Police Department wishes to include these two outstanding community members in the Sojourn training. The Council can approve the use of City funds for this purpose. This is because the general prohibition on gifts of public funds does not apply to charter cities such as San Mateo. Our City Charter provides that no expenditure of City funds may be made except for the purposes set forth by the City Council, as specified. It is recommended the Council approve this expense as we further our commitment to work towards a just and inclusive future.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The Police Department has sufficient funds in the current 2024-25 operating budget to cover the cost of participation for the two community members at $3,000 each, for a total of $6,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This action is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 - Proposed Resolution
STAFF CONTACT
Ed Barberini, Chief of Police
[email protected]
(650) 522-7600