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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.18.23 - Equity and Public Safety Commission Meeting MinutesCity of South San Francisco Minutes of the Commission on Equity and Public Safety Monday, September 18, 2023 City Hall Conference Room 6:00 pm Commitee Members: Present: Arnel Junio, Alan Perez, Carol Sanders, Steven Yee Absent: Krystle Cansino, Salvador Delgadillo, PaulaClaudine Hobson-Coard Staff Members: Present: Devin Stenhouse, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Adam Plank, Captain Chanel Sotelo, Mental Health Clinician CALL TO ORDER The Mee�ng was called to order at 6:14pm. AGENDA REVIEW There are no changes to the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Minutes from the August 21, 2023 mee�ng were approved. ITEMS FROM STAFF MEMBERS DEI Officer Stenhouse acknowledges the City’s new Mental Health Clinician, Chanel Sotelo. Ques�ons: 1. Commissioner Yee: What intrigues you about this par�cular commission? a. Clinician Sotelo: I used to do crisis work in DC. We called police in to secure scenes for safety. This response model has benefits both ways. I am passionate about crisis work, and I was interested in what this looks like since it’s a different response model. So far, I’ve been impressed with what police do each day. DEI Officer Stenhouse made announcements: 1. On September 6, the County hosted a mee�ng at Rotary Terrace to share with the community their plans on Ramada Inn at Airport Blvd. The space will be u�lized as housing for the un- housed. There was some controversy, but it was informa�ve. 2. Yesterday the City celebrated its 34th Fiestas Patrias. Very successful. Tons of people. First one since 2019. It’s a celebra�on of several Central American countries’ independence from Spain. 3. Next Sunday is the first annual Festa Italiana. Starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 5 p.m. at Orange Memorial Park. There will be live music and food trucks. There will be a bocce tournament. 4. October 21 we’ll be celebra�ng Filipino American History Month. Flag raising at 10 a.m. with speakers and choirs. 5. October 21 is also Halloween Extravaganza star�ng at noon at Orange Memorial Park. 6. Last week at City Council mee�ng, we received a few derogatory public comments. Individuals called in and made hateful comments. The City Atorney acknowledged that the First Amendment allows for free speech. The Mayor exercised her right to decrease the amount of �me the individuals were allowed to speak. Councilmembers stood up and walked away. Many acknowledged that the City does not align with those viewpoints. Council was visibly and audibly upset. a. DEI Officer Stenhouse expresses that this incident provides mo�va�on to con�nue the work of this commission. b. Commissioner Yee: I appreciate you bringing this up. I was not aware. c. DEI Officer Stenhouse men�ons that other ci�es have experienced this. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comments were made. MATTERS OF CONSIDERATIONS 1. Approval of Minutes from August 21, 2023. Commissioner Yee mo�oned and Commissioner Perez seconded. The Commission voted to approve the minutes 4-0. 2. Develop the presenta�on to Council including date from the Gardener Reports, specific data collected from the police update to Council on 7/27/23, and the mental health clinician presenta�ons from late 2022/early 2023. The commission is going to develop an outline to present to Council. There is enough data from the reports received. DEI Officer Stenhouse created a proposal for an outline. This commission is recommending to con�nue the mental health clinician program. Suggested 7 steps in approximately 5-minute presenta�on: 1. Intro – state that the commission is advoca�ng for the program 2. Provide background informa�on (start of the discussion about the pilot program, recrui�ng, hiring/training). 3. Growing trend within nearby regions and around the country. 4. Acknowledge we’re mee�ng goals. 5. List the benefits to the community. 6. List the benefits to the police department. 7. Conclusion – South City wants to be at the forefront. We want to take steps forward, not a step back. Commissioner Yee: We are targe�ng the en�re community. DEI Officer Stenhouse: When there is an emergency, there are two scenarios: 1. There is a possibility mental health risk is involved to dispatch. Clinician is no�fied as the same �me as police. 2. There’s no sign of mental stress/crisis un�l police arrives on scene. Then the clinician is called if available. Vice Chair Junio: Is it possible for dispatch to see a caller’s past history with clinician and have the clinician be dispatched instead of a unit? Captain Plank: We have not seen that scenario. We have experienced where both get dispatched, the clinician is 100% comfortable, and the se�ng is right, and police le�. Otherwise, police are nearby for assistance. There have been �mes the clinician has been specifically asked for. Commissioner Yee: In terms of who we’re serving, are we serving non-residents or visitors? Captain Plank: Our impacted popula�on is everyone. People who go to work here. The dispatcher recognizes the need for the clinician, the officer arrives on scene and recognizes the need for the clinician, then ini�ates the call. Over 80% of the �me, it’s the dispatcher who sends the clinician. DEI Officer Stenhouse: SSF popula�on is around 66,000. During the workday, it climbs to roughly 100,000 per day. Commissioner Yee: Who we serve is beyond the residents. Commissioner thoughts or recommenda�ons Commissioner Yee: Sharing notable programs? DEI Officer Stenhouse: To support that police departments across the country recognizes the benefits to programs like this. Other agencies have been prac�cing for several years. The point is they’re all different, they don’t have to look the same. There is progression with each of them. Each has its own story to tell. The founda�on is there, we’re not trying to reinvent. Commissioner Yee: There’s value added by reinforcing rela�ons in the ecosystem. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Just a list of organiza�ons with similar programs. Police report shows currently the program is successful. 10% mental health evalua�ons sent to DA office (meaning 90% are not). Of the 550 cases, under 4% require physical force. These are details we can include in the report. Suggested benefits A trained, experienced clinician is beter equipped to serve during crisis. There’s follow up a�er the emergency with the person who received services. Decrease likelihood of shoo�ng occurring. Captain Plank: I would agree with that. People respond differently to fully armed officers vs someone in plain clothes ini�a�ng the response. Decrease likelihood of jail bookings. Captain Plank: Correct. Number one concern is treatment, ge�ng individual to hospital or facility. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Is it fair to say, prior to the program, there would have been more bookings? Manager Ranals: Is the final Gardener report coming? DEI Officer Stenhouse: There is a September report coming, but we don’t have it yet. Captain Plank: The final will be in spring/March. Other benefits Vice Chair Junio: Having clinician respond frees up police to do other work. There’s value there where police do not have to stay. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Frees up officers to do primary crime preven�on du�es. Is that a fair statement? Captain Plank: Yea. We don’t leave the clinician unatended, but we might free up one or two that were ini�ally dispatched. DEI Officer Stenhouse: With reduced arrests, we’re allevia�ng police �me. Commissioner Yee: Is there a way to phrase that as a cost savings? Captain Plank: That’s one of the goals in the Gardener Center. Financial impact on police/fire transport. Decrease in number of �mes transport to hospital, cost savings, repor�ng that goes along with it. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Staff �me for police and fire. Police pu�ng themselves in less risk. Captain Plank: Gardener report says that although it’s too early to tell if the pilot program reduces strain on emergency systems, we’re observing early signals of reducing strain on mental health of law enforcement. Commissioner Yee: Do we have a measurement of community percep�on of a beter community? Do we have a metric, like NPS, of recommenda�ons for people to go to South City? Manager Ranals: There may be such a thing, but we have not used that. Captain Plank: One of the goals was immediate referral to resources. We have a clinician who can immediately report. There’s no down�me to a person receiving a referral card. Poten�ally reduce the number of �mes a person experiencing crisis. Reduce the number of calls. DEI Officer Stenhouse: One of the reports men�oned that the number of repeat calls decreased with the implementa�on of the program. Commissioner Perez: One more data point to support this program is serving individuals who are disenfranchised and underserved communi�es. How is demographic makeup of those being served compare to South City. Another program to serve that group. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Maybe we compare this to census data. It looks rela�vely consistent. Same for ages. Young people. In other circumstances, mental health evalua�ons could see the jus�ce system. Carol, what are you thinking? Commissioner Sanders: I don’t object to anything so far. Commissioner Yee: I thought I read somewhere there were reduced 5150s. Captain Plank: The first two months were the highest. Since then, it’s been prety consistent. DEI Officer Stenhouse: What surprised you the most? You said individual officers were quick to get on board. Captain Plank: It wasn’t a surprise, but it was a happy, pleasant outcome. DEI Officer Stenhouse: They were happy to have the clinician with them. There was one less component to worry about. Captain Plank: A specialized individual to have with them when needed is a benefit to the officers. DEI Officer Stenhouse: That is specific to South San Francisco; it did not come from the Gardener report. It’s an internal observa�on. Commissioner Yee: A tes�monial. Commissioner Sanders: We s�ll don’t have a final report. DEI Officer Stenhouse: The goal here is pu�ng together a presenta�on. This is the content. This is a 5-minute presenta�on, maybe 5 slides. As far as a report, I can put together. For the goal of today, we just want the content to be placed on slides. Commissioner Sanders: I’m speaking to draw conclusions on results based on a complete report. DEI Officer Stenhouse: We’re not the en�rety of the clinician program. As of the day presen�ng to Council, the commission is in support of the program. Once the pilot program concludes, I think a final report will come from PD. Captain Plank: We can come up with end of program evalua�on/analysis. Manager Ranals: Was this program funded through December 2023? And then county manager extended to June 2024? I don’t know if they also gave addi�onal funding to Gardener Center to con�nue the study. They may be only funded through March. Captain Plank: I believe they got extended. Manager Ranals: That would be great. Final report won’t be un�l summer/fall of 2024. The other thing about �ming that is tricky is budget. Our budget comes together around January/February, so it would be good if commission brings this to top of mind for council. On the other hand, a single clinician needs to be a new budget request. I think we’re in posi�on for freezing mode for next year; not in posi�on of adding mode. Unless grant funding becomes available. Maybe the County can apply and extend the program. DEI Officer Stenhouse: It’s important to note if the purpose is this commission on public record advoca�ng for the program. Whether the City has the resources to con�nue the program is another story. This commission can say we’re in support of it. It’s based on this informa�on provided here. If there’s an opportunity to extend or expand, that is another presenta�on to advocate. Commissioner Yee: San Mateo, Redwood City…what are they saying about the program? Have they made any public stance or commentary? DEI Officer Stenhouse: We don’t know, but we can reach out. Based on our calls, the program is going well. We were on a call last week. Each city reports on where the program is, some recent data is put out there. In terms of advocacy and presenta�on, I don’t know. Commissioner Yee: Just curious if there’s anything interes�ng about their experience that’s a nega�ve. Captain Plank: There have been nothing in the mee�ngs. They have been nothing but suppor�ve. DEI Officer Stenhouse: That is something that can go in here. There are three other ci�es going through the same program, and all are in support. They are seeing posi�ve results just like the City here. Anything else, detail or support? History? Conclusion • In line with current trends • Advocacy forefront of community policing and community safety • This program represents steps forward • Community, police, are all benefi�ng Commissioner Yee: With the presenta�on, are you sugges�ng we have a detailed report? DEI Officer Stenhouse: I don’t think so. So, who feels comfortable pu�ng together a PowerPoint? Something to think about. Commissioner Yee: There’s a deck and presenters. Are you asking for both? DEI Officer Stenhouse: My recommenda�on—it’s up to the commission. I believe the presenta�on would mean more coming from the Chair. Manager Ranals: I think staff should put the presenta�on together, but I agree it should be presented by the Chair. Commissioner Perez: I’m happy to put the slides together. DEI Officer Stenhouse: We can collaborate. In terms of presenta�on, it’s more impac�ul coming from the Chair or Vice Chair. Commissioner Yee: Opportunity for presenter to exemplify who we are and what we’re envisioning. DEI Officer Stenhouse: If we’re coming together, collabora�ng, it would need to be at a public se�ng. Manager Ranals: Could you have a subcommitee? DEI Officer Stenhouse to Commissioner Yee: Would you like to be in the subcommitee? Commissioner Yee: Sure. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Anyone else? Commissioner Perez: I’ll do it. DEI Officer Stenhouse: We’ll include Krystle. This could be on October 11 or 25. October I think would be the goal. If our Chair is presen�ng, it would be recommended that we show in person to show support. No need for addi�onal commentary. Commissioner Yee: Are we se�ng the subcommitee �me? DEI Officer Stenhouse: I’ll put together a slide deck and share it. Manager Ranals: On the deadline, it’s due the week before. DEI Officer Stenhouse: I can share ini�ally, everyone on the subcommitee can take a look. Then we can decide if we need to meet. When you look at the slide, you can �me yourself. Then we can have a conversa�on if we need to trim. 5 minutes is the goal. ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS Commissioner Yee: I’m glad we’re finally ge�ng something put together. It’s why we’re here. We’re ge�ng to end of the year, to the new year. For long term, with all the different events, and city mee�ngs, are there thoughts about a shared understanding of truly echoing and bringing voices out? Vice Chair Junio: We should all do our parts to bring something to the table. Atending mee�ngs or sharing something you learned. Commissioner Yee: We have enough to diversify our exposures. Each person atends a different mee�ng. A regular commitment to that. Vice Chair Junio: Definitely something to discuss when we’re all present. Commissioner Yee: The next retreat. I thought the last one was nice. There could be more deliberate and tangible things coming out of it. Think about the next retreat. Vice Chair Junio: Was there a survey sent out about how that retreat went? It sounds like you have sugges�ons to improve the next retreat. DEI Officer Stenhouse: I can agendize for another mee�ng where we have a conversa�on about what we want to see at the next retreat. What did we learn, what did we like from the first one. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Go to events and spark a conversa�on. I would like us to have a conversa�on about community forums. We should be engaging with the public. It may be a public mee�ng. On this date and �me, this commission is hos�ng an open forum. This is what the commission should be doing. We should be overtly engaging with the public. Commissioner Yee: I like that. I think at least a town hall where we can be a facilitator of that. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Something to think about. A panel discussion or breakout sessions. What are crea�ve, fun, engaging ways to interact with the community? Commissioner Yee: I hear about cultures united. Maybe an opportunity to connect with that. Civic hacking. Speak to younger genera�ons. How can we get diverse members of community to come in to address issues. It’s a whole experience. Other commissions have events. DEI Officer Stenhouse: We can have a discussion about this. What are strategies to engage with the community at a higher rate than we currently are. My recommenda�on—there are already events taking place. Go on your own and experience, then come back with feedback. There are tabling opportuni�es, like LPR opening. We would need things like a tablecloth, logos, flyers, flag. The �me we meet is October 16—gives us more than 10 days. Commissioner Yee: Propose agenda items for next �me? DEI Officer Stenhouse: Retreat, further outreach to community, possibly tabling at LPR opening. You haven’t done a tour of LPR? Are there good �mes/days of the week for everybody? Commissioner Yee: Mornings, in general. Commissioner Sanders: Monday or Friday. Vice Chair Junio: I should be able to adjust my schedule. Commissioner Perez: What �me in the mornings? I have classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9-10. Manager Ranals: Not everybody has to go at the same �me. DEI Officer Stenhouse: Let’s do this sooner than later. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Junio adjourned the mee�ng at 7:44pm.