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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.15.22 Equity and Public Safety Commission Meeting MinutesCity of South San Francisco Minutes of the Commission on Equity and Public Safety Monday, August 15, 2022 Zoom Teleconference Meeting 6:00 pm Committee Members: Present: Krystle Cansino, Dr. Jasmin Flores, PaulaClaudine Hobson-Coard, Arnel Junio, Alan Perez, Carol Sanders Absent: None Staff Members: Present: Amy Ferguson, Management Fellow Maryjo Nuñez, Management Fellow Guests: Vice Mayor Nicolas, City Manager Futrell, Assistant City Manager Ranals, Police Chief Campbell Sgt. Murphy, Fire Chief Magallanes, Library Director Valerie Sommer, Parks and Recreation Director Greg Mediati, Erin O’Brien, Ercie Santos CALL TO ORDER This meeting was called to order at 6:02pm. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Vice Chair Junio presented the Land Acknowledgement to the Commission. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Cansino moved Agenda Item #7: Presentation from Commissioner Flores on Guiding Language for the Commission and Discussion of Draft Bylaws to be discussed after Item #5. PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments were made. MATTERS OF CONSIDERATIONS 1. Approval of Minutes Commissioner Sanders motioned to approve the minutes from July 18, 2022, seconded by Commissioner Hobson-Coard. All Commissioners voted 6-0 to approve the minutes. 2. Presentation Introduction to the Police Department from the Police Chief, Scott Campbell Chief Campbell began his presentation with the Mission and Vision of the South San Francisco Police Department: to proactively reduce crime, enhance public safety, and address quality of life issues through education, enforcement, and community partnerships in order to make a better South San Francisco. Chief Campbell also encouraged the Commissioners to tour the new Police Department building. The presentation detailed 3 divisions: Operations, Services, and Investigation I. Operations and Investigation Divisions The Operations and Investigations Divisions consists of many units, including the following: Patrol Unit -one of the largest, 48 officers that cover the city on a 24-hour basis -responded to over 51,000 calls -K-9 unit, 5 assigned to patrol, 1 dog for drugs, 1 dog for SWAT, 1 dog for comfort -sometimes PD will use the dogs to help integrate officers into the community Traffic Unit -traffic is the primary complaint of residents Neighborhood Response Team -to be liaison for community and police -enhance quality of life -has undercover capacity to research if narcotics in schools -keeps a pulse on gangs in SSF and in the county Criminal Investigation Unit -research on case report from Patrol team SWAT -regional team; part of North Central Regional SWAT Team: Hillsborough, Burlingame, Brisbane, San Francisco, etc. Crisis Negotiation Unit -300 critical incidents all resolved without violence; more about giving the individual the means to surrender before violence happens Training Manager -governed by state guidelines -all get principal policing, de-escalation, racial profiling, and biases Business and Planning Liaison -provide input for planning to make sure that safety can be prioritized Records -data entry, work with DA, welcome window, public request for information Communications -has contract with Colma and Pacifica to provide dispatch -has over 140 languages with AT&T language line Evidence -maintain records for evidence -keep records based on statute of limitations II. Services Chief Campbell explained the many components of the Services Division, including: Chief Campbell shared that the Services Division is the foundation of community service for SSFPD. The Services Division reviews permits, acts as media contacts, conducts the Citizens’ Academy (including Hispanic and Youth Academies), act as school liaisons, etc. Chief Campbell also shared that regarding the school liaison officers, there is now a new Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) approved, with the full intention to maintain collaborative effort to keep all actors safe. The officers will be reporting weekly to school district and City Council, so they can maintain aware. The Services Division also has a Community Outreach Team; Public Outreach; Police Activities League. As part of the Community Outreach Team, officers will be working with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and enforcing proper and legal behavior. Public Outreach involves activities like Pops with Cop, National Night Out, and more. The Police Activities League sponsors Youth Sports. Chief Campbell encouraged the Commissioners to follow SSFPD’s Social Media, adding that it is a good way to be informed of the work that SSFPD conducts. Chief Campbell also shared that SSFPD has an SSFPD Transparency Portal online. He worked with staff liaison Amy Ferguson (AF) to put this together, and it is based on current best practices for modern day policing and building trust, with more aspects coming soon. Other In addition to outlining SSFPD divisions, Chief Campbell stated that SSFPD will be reporting to DOJ on RIPA data. Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team has partnered with STAR VISTA, San Mateo, Daly City, and County, as well as Stanford. 3. Presentation on Historical and Generational Effects of Policing from Sgt. Fahmida Murphy Sgt. Murphy shared her presentation and detailed the following topics for the Commissioners to take away: -we have to understand the community members that SSFPD is serving in order to approach the job in a positive, efficient way -What role does history play in community and place? How does it affect legitimacy of PD? -define procedural justice as where citizens are treated fairly and with respect as human beings -trust takes time -the history of policing and violence is very impactful, and this is where the lack of trust comes from…we need to understand it in order to face problems from the community -Police departments have been used in the past as a tool to uphold unjust laws In terms of this history, Sgt. Murphy went over the following: -Jim Crow Laws 1876-1965 -Rampart Scandals Lastly, Sgt. Murphy invited the Commissioners to consider SSFPD like a Community Bank Account, outlining that: -every encounter with the community is either a withdrawal or a deposit: procedural justice is a deposit, hopefully all interactions can be a deposit! -not only does an encounter affect one person, but all the family members, which means that legacy is generational Questions on Presentations Dr. Flores raised a question on the community wellness and crisis response team, recalling the mentioned partnership with Gardner Center and saw that they were focuses on youth, but saw no specific mention of youth, and she would like to know how this is relevant to adults. Chief Campbell discussed taking a global view of San Mateo County and the data that (the 4 cities) are provided, and looking at all cases: whether, adult, youth, homeless/not homeless, etc. Chair Cansino asked, “is the data going to include adults? Will the data be divided by the cities or a combination?” Chief Campbell stated that both are important, so they want to see what happens with data portals for each city and then also combine to get a larger view of what’s happening in the county. Dr. Flores asked, “how does this compare with current data? What kind of analytics have been done on retrospective data?” Chief Campbell answered that all data are being provided to Gardner Center and will be released this upcoming fall. Chair Cansino asked that there business and planning liaison but no psychiatric liaison? Chief Campbell shared that SSFPD currently has a clinician at this point, and access to SMC PERT team. Chair Cansino also asked if dispatch goes through this training so if it doesn’t seem like an emergency, they can share other resources to which Chief Campbell responded that crisis intervention training now applied to dispatch and can respond. Chair Cansino asked what do the school liaisons officers do? Are they stationed at the school? What does the data say about those schools with the liaisons? Chief Campbell said that a lot of it has to do with training on bullying, gang preventions, drugs prevention, and data collected is what type of interactions and diversions are they. Chair Cansino followed up, asking so if there is an out-of-control scenario like a kid just running around? Chief Campbell said that the school liaison officer is not stationed there, but they have a school, so if they are called in, they will go there, and all officers are trained with the new MOU. Vice Chair Junio stated that it feels like there is a piece missing with youth, because we have a percent number of troubled youth, so how much involvement does PD have with troubled youth? Chief Campbell mentioned that it depends on the situation; it needs to look at it independently. More recently there have only been arrested 2 students due to violent calls… He recalls those days of where truancy, possession of marijuana, etc. SSFPD would get called in where school could have handled it, so now increasing the school’s involvement back. Dr. Flores had mentioned that she has seen that the clinician has responded to 52 cases and asked if are SSFPD is collecting data on those cases where she does not come in? Chief Campbell shared that the clinician does not work 24/7, so PD still does respond to some mental health situations, and still collecting data for review. Chair Cansino asked if there are trainings on community policing every year or just in the academy? Sgt. Murphy stated that training is done every other year, and other trainings are done too: always ongoing, like with trainings on bias, etc. Chair Cansino asked if there is an incidence that is a high profile, like a shooting, does PD come together to discuss positives and negatives? Chief Campbell: there are critical incidences even across the country, where we debrief, see what officers did, discuss what could have been done to address the situation, and videos we push out to personnel, this is constant. Chair Cansino asked, “when you discuss are there local, state, national, any other city officials that are in the debriefing?” Chief Campbell stated that it is mostly SSFPD, but if includes other city officials, then it most likely would involve major stakeholders like City Manager, Council, etc. Commissioner Hobson-Coard wanted to say thank you to Chief Campbell and Sgt. Murphy, sharing that she went to National Night Out and was a great event, had a chance to meet Chief Campbell and other officers, and realized that SSFPD offers many services, appreciate SSFPD’s presence. Assistant City Manager Ranals shared that she took SSFPD Citizens’ Academy and really recommends it, adding that it is like this presentation but more in-depth. Dr. Flores asked for more information regarding the Police Citizens’ Academy, and Chief Campbell mentioned he will work with AF to get an invitation out to the Commission. 4. Recess The Commission took a brief recess at 7:11pm and returned at 7:16pm. 5. Receive a Presentation and Provide Feedback on the Public Art Master Plan Erin O’Brien from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Art Builds Community Consultants shared a presentation on the Public Art Master Plan to receive the Commissioners’ feedback for an equity lens in art and to align with General Plan update. The presentation detailed the following format: Develop Provide Resources Invite Community Gather Community Create Art; asking community members throughout: where is public art missing? Paper versions will be available and there is a link on the City’s website. The questions to community members are: -Where do people celebrate special events in South San Francisco -Where do you take visitors to South San Francisco? -Where would you like to see public art, arts and cultural activities take place in SSF? The presenters shared that there is potential for a development of an arts district in the City. Questions Vice Chair Junio asked when you say Arts District, will that be a physical space in the City? Art Builds Community shared that they are looking at Linden but will let Erin O’Brien speak to this. Erin O’Brien mentioned that ECD and other departments are working together but nothing is set yet, still in conceptual stages. Vice Chair Junio shared he would like an example on interactive art. Art Builds Community shared that it’s like when you go to a community event, you see giveaways, so for arts focused groups like us, we will work with local artists to help facilitate a conversation and use art as a vehicle for conversation; had collaborated with the Livermore Poet Laureate, where she guided youth and adults where they would just fill in the blanks; Youth are very connected and becomes catalyst that art can have with everyday experiences and adds to free arts activities for families. Chair Cansino asked if are they are also consultants for the Cultural Arts Commission? Erin O’Brien shared that they are consultants for P&R but work closely with Cultural Arts Commissioners. Commissioner Sanders asked if there will be something that is walkable? Assistant City Manager Ranals shared that this is very preliminary, adding that this is a way to not price artists out of the city, so looking at dance studios, arts production: more a set of policies. Dr. Flores shared that she is curious as to what is it about the plan that called Art Builds Community to speak to our commission? Art Builds Community shared that the arts need to have an equity lens. Dr. Flores shared that she is confused since without knowing the overall plan, she has no clarity as to what they are asking from the Commission which could be derived from serving the general public, just not sure how to support. Assistant City Manager Ranals explained that the city has about 12-13 commissions, so each has their own focus and purview, and certainly Cultural Arts has public arts, but want cross-pollution… so the idea is that by request if there is something that the board can help out with, they would want that help. Chair Cansino stated that San Mateo County has health equity initiatives… this may be a great place to start! They have one for Chinese health, Black health, Filipino mental health, as well as spirituality, etc. so you could reach out to them and see if anyone lives in SSF and could help spread the word to them. Art Builds Community shared that they are not only are we gathering information but will use this information to inform the decisions that we will make and we want arts to be for everyone. Chair Cansino shared that the Cultural Arts Commission meeting this week too if ABC wants to make a connection. AF stated that she can set something up if needed as well. Commissioner Sanders added that she would like to be connected with more ideas because she is unsure as to what SSF has to offer in terms of art and culture. Chair Cansino also shared that city walls are looking pretty plain. Commissioner Sanders also mentioned that it would be nice to have an artistic walkway to Centennial Trail. Commissioner Hobson-Coard stated that more art or even public exhibits on Grand Ave would be great or maybe even some sort of festival or fair. 7. Presentation from Commissioner Flores on Guiding Language for the Commission and Discussion of Draft Bylaws (Item 7 was discussed prior to Item 6) The presentation detailed the following: Background & Rationale Mission & Vision Objective Key Rationale Key Performance Indicators Plan of Action Vice Chair Junio agreed with the team building aspect and is confident that the Commission can do something soon. Workplan item – 2023 Recommendation is to focus on policing (recommendation from staff) 1. Intersection of policing and mental health 2. Data on policing in SSF 3. Policing and juvenile delinquency prevention 4. Restorative Justice 6. Discussion and Feedback on Workplan and Formation of Subcommittees Commissioner Sanders likes the idea of subcommittees bc can focus in and see where they can be effective. Dr. Flores spoke with Councilmember Coleman and said that working with Council is something that they are interested in. Vice Chair Junio stated that it’s known to all of us that we are one less commissioner, but asked are we going to fill this vacancy immediately or continue with 6 of us? AF shared that she was going to bring this up in the end, but staff is are working with the clerk to appoint someone else to fill this vacancy. Chair Cansino mentioned the topics of policing, mental health, and juvenile justice. Dr. Flores stated that it depends on because don’t want to spread the Commission too thin, if data review is involved, then need to know what we are looking at … one should be mental health data specifically. Chair Cansino stated that it would be difficult to look at mental health data vs. all data. Dr. Flores mentioned that this is what she was implying. She has no idea what data we are looking for. Chair Cansino said that all of these topics will involve data. Personally, she would put data analysis to someone else, particularly someone who knows how to read data. Dr. Flores shared that she could read data. Chair Cansino stated that if data group is its own subcommittee, then she will appoint Dr. Flores to head that. Commissioner Perez shared that whether or not lead of a data commission, he would like to be part of this committee; and for question on what kind of data we will be looking at, he has those questions too, but the Chief mentioned that there is something in the works to build more data structures… Chair Cansino, asked: is there anyone else who wants to join data? Vice Chair Junio stated that data is not his forte, so will jump into the fire and will join Dr. Flores and Commissioner Perez and get out of his comfort zone to learn more, so he can be the last member of the subgroup. Chair Cansino will be on the policing and mental health subgroup. Last group is juvenile justice; Chair Cansino suggested that maybe the Commission can combine those two, sharing that restorative justice should be a constant for all our topics, so makes sense to fold it in. Commissioner Sanders shared that she will join that subgroup along with Commissioner Hobson-Coard. The Commission decided to appoint two subcommittees. The first is Policing and Mental Health, with Chair Cansino, Commissioner Sanders, and Commissioner Hobson-Coard. The second is Data-Driven Best Practices in Policing, with Commissioner Flores and Commissioner Perez. Chair Cansino asked, so that’s two groups formed, so we will fold in the juvenile justice … but does anyone want to break it down? Vice Chair Junio shared that he is hesitant to break it down too much at this point. Dr. Flores asked if since each subgroup has 3 groups, then we cannot speak with Chair Cansino because we would be violating the Brown Act, correct? AF shared that is correct. Dr. Flores asked so then would each group bring in their findings in the monthly meetings? And AF confirmed. Chair Cansino asked could we work with AF instead to keep in line with Brown Act to which AF responded, absolutely. Dr. Flores: should we have each group involve 2 members so that we can communicate with Chair Cansino? Chair Cansino stated that she appreciates them wanting to include her, but she is not an expert, so don’t want people checking in with her. Dr. Flores elaborated that this is not a check-in, more a heads up, adding that this is not because she is turning to the Chair as an expert, but because she is Chair. Assistant City Manager Ranals shared that this could be a violation of the Brown Act since this would be reoccurring meetings and that the point of a subcommittee is to do work on your own, then come together and report your findings. Chair Cansino added that Commissioners don’t need to make a big presentation but remember this should be sent to AF before the meetings to be included in the agendas. AF shared that we could always form a new subcommittee in the future. 8. Discussion of Social Gathering Vice Chair Junio suggested that perhaps we start with our subcommittees. Chair Cansino asked if Commissioners want to do a subcommittee gathering first before a whole group? No preference outright, but a whole group is needed. Dr. Flores asked why would we want staff? Assistance City Manager Ranals shared that Staff can chime in to make sure that Commission doesn’t violate Brown Act. MN also shared that with the Youth Commission’s social gathering, she was there to take care of logistical preparations, etc. so that commissioners could focus on bonding. Items from Commission Vice Chair Junio shared Stop Stigma’s website: stopstigmasacramento.org. Items from Staff Staff Liaison Ferguson extended the invitation to the Citizens’ Police Academy; would love to meet with everyone individually and look out for emails from AF. Assistant City Manager Ranals extended the invitation for the Commission to attend Movie in the Night on Friday, August 19th. Adjournment The Meeting was adjourned at 8:34pm.