[Call to Order]
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THIS IS THE JUNE, 2012 MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION AT THE TIME, THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 3:01 PM, UM, WE ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY BUT BECAUSE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, I AM GOING TO START BY TAKING ATTENDANCE.UM, I SUSPECT WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS WHO WILL SIGN ON, BUT WE HAVE A LOT TO ADDRESS TODAY.
SO I'M GETTING US GOING ON TIME.
CHRIS HARRIS, CHRIS HARRIS, KATIE HAS IN BLUE AND YELLOW NUNEZ PRESENT AND I SEE THAT REBECCA WEBER HAS JOINED US PRESENT.
SO MORINGA AND REBECCA GONZALEZ.
UM, SO BECAUSE OF THE RATHER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE IN, UM, I HAVE OPTED AS CHAIR TO OPEN OUR MEETING WITH A STATEMENT THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE.
UM, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL BEAR WITH ME.
UH, I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
UM, SO JUST HANG IN THERE WITH ME FOR A MOMENT FOR MEDIA.
I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE STATEMENT ON MY PERSONAL WEBSITE SO THAT YOU CAN PROPERLY CITE ME.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE MISQUOTED.
ALL RIGHT, SO IN STARTING TODAY'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING, I WANT TO USE MY PLATFORM AS THE CHAIR TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
THIS IS NOT HOW I EXPECTED TO START OUR JUNE MEETING.
JUNE 1ST MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF PRIDE MONTH.
IT WAS MY HOPE TO CELEBRATE THIS AND HONOR THIS, BUT IT IS HARD TO CELEBRATE WHAT THE CURRENT STATE OF THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY.
I HOPE WE CAN FIND WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE FOR LGBTQ POPULATIONS, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO.
INSTEAD, TODAY I HAVE TO TURN MY ATTENTION TO THE TURMOIL WE ARE ARE EXPERIENCING ART.
I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH CITIZENS, WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND WITH OTHERS, AND THE MESSAGE FROM ALL OF THE PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN WITH IS CLEAR.
WE ARE HURTING, OUR SOCIETY IS HURTING.
I WANT ALL OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED WITH TO KNOW THAT I HEAR YOU.
I HOPE I CAN DO THE JOB OF AMPLIFYING YOUR VOICES.
I AM COMMITTED TO TRYING FOR AS LONG AS I AM ON THIS COMMISSION AND OTHER ASPECTS OF MY LIFE.
I KNOW THAT IN MAKING THIS STATEMENT I AM RISKING A LOT PERSONALLY, BUT I CHOOSE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
I KEPT RAISING MY ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES AND AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF SCHOLARS OF COLOR, DOCTORS, CARTER, JOHNSON AND JORDAN, AND THEY'RE OUR NEXT BREATH STATEMENT.
TO REMAIN SILENT IN THIS MOMENT WOULD MAKE ME COMPLICIT IN THE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES, PRACTICES, AND CULTURES THAT CONTINUE TO MARGINALIZE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW MY BACKGROUND, I HAVE A PHD IN CRIMINOLOGY AND JUSTICE POLICY FROM NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.
MY PRIMARY AREA OF SPECIALIZATION IS THE STUDY OF POLICING ORGANIZATIONS AND EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE BASED POLICY AND PRACTICE.
I ALSO HAVE A SECONDARY SPECIALIZATION AND WRITE THE NESTS IN RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
I HAVE OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS RESEARCH.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I AM BRINGING THAT EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SOCIETY.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD BE REMISSED AS CHAIR OF THIS BODY, NOT TO COMMENT ON THE PAIN THAT WE ARE ALL FEELING.
THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER, HURT, SADNESS AND FRUSTRATION.
AT THE MOMENT IT WOULD TAKE ME HOURS TO SAY THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO DID NOT HAVE TO DIE AS A RESULT OF STATE ACTION.
IT WOULD ALSO TAKE ME HOURS IF NOT DAYS TO SAY THE NAMES OF THOSE.
WE HAVE LOST A COVE 19 THAT'S THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN PREVENTED IF WE HAD ALLOWED DATA, EVIDENCE, SCIENCE AND REASON TO DRIVE ACTION INSTEAD OF PARTISAN DECISION MAKING AND EMOTION.
I KNOW THAT WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS AND LOCALLY MICHAEL RAMOS IN AUSTIN NAMED ONLY TWO NAMES, MANY FIELDS THAT THEY ARE SCREAMING IN THE VOID, INTO THE VOID, SCREAMING WITHOUT BEING HEARD.
SOMETIMES THAT IS CAUSING ACTIONS AND REACTIONS TO ESCALATE.
TENSIONS ARE BUILDING AND THE LEGITIMACY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES IS AT STAKE.
IF WE CAN BE THE BODY THAT LEADS THE WAY AND STEPPING BACK AND CRITICALLY EVALUATING THE INFORMATION, EVIDENCE AND DATA IN FRONT OF US.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A PATH FORWARD THAT HAS BENEFICIAL TO ALL AND ALLOWS US TO FINALLY START MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER.
AFTER THE PREVIOUS MEETING, I RECEIVED NUMEROUS EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS WITH CITIZEN CONCERNS.
AS SUCH, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND MY FELLOW
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COMMISSIONERS, MY FELLOW CITIZENS AND MYSELF FRANKLY OF THE PURPOSE OF MANDATE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.SOMETIMES WE NEED TO PAUSE AND RESET THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION AND AUSTIN IS CHARGED WITH PROVIDING ADVICE TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AS SUCH, WE ARE CHARGED WITH MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES AND BUDGETS AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK WHEN REQUESTED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS SUCH AS RESOLUTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE WAY AND MAKING EVIDENCE-BASED AND DATA DRIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE COMMITTED TO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND DOING THE HARD WORK TO PROVIDE THIS ADVICE AND THE NECESSARY RECOMMENDATIONS TO MOVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND AUSTIN INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
AT TIMES WE ALSO SERVE TO POINT THE MAGNIFYING GLASS AT THE CHALLENGES THAT ARISE FROM PROBLEMATIC POLICIES AND PROBLEMATIC PUBLIC SAFETY DECISION MAKING.
WE CAN BE THE BODY THAT AMPLIFIES THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE HARMED BY POLICIES AND DECISIONS.
WE OWE IT TO COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DECISIONS AND DELIBERATIONS ARE BASED IN FACT NOT EMOTION AND THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING THE EVIDENCE BASE AND THE DATA AND OUR DECISION MAKING.
BUT WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THERE IS NO DATA AVAILABLE TO US AND NO EVIDENCE BASE? I BELIEVE THAT THE PATH FORWARD IS FOR US TO HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND FOR US TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL AS WELL AS EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW TO ALL CITIZENS.
SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING FOR US TO DO IS TO LISTEN TO CRITIQUE.
WE MOVE INTO A DEFENSIVE POSITION AND CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THINGS BECAUSE IT IS THE EASY WAY TO DO IT.
WE CHOOSE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, ALL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDEED ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE RESISTANT TO CHANGE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE RESISTANT TO CHANGE ANY LONGER.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE OUR SOCIETY FORWARD.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO HEAL THE WOUNDS THAT WE ARE ALL FEELING, THE ONES THAT ARE SO RAW TODAY FOR SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS AND FOR SO MANY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A CRITICAL POINT THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED PUBLICLY RIGHT NOW.
POLICE ARE THE MOST VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE IN OUR SOCIETY.
THERE ARE UNIFORMS AND POLICE CRUISERS AND OTHER VISUAL SIGNALS MARK THEM CLEARLY AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE IN OUR LIVES THAT MAKES THEM A CLEAR TARGET FOR OUR ANGER, OUR FEARS, OUR FRUSTRATIONS, AND OUR SADNESS.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING WITH SYSTEMIC RACISM IN SOCIETY, NEITHER START NOR END WITH THE POLICE.
THEY ARE JUST THE MOST VISIBLE OUTLET FOR THOSE EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW.
WE SEE THEIR ACTIONS CLEARLY AND CAN CLEARLY ASSOCIATE THOSE WITH THE PRESENCE AND IMPACT OF THE STATE AND THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT DOMINATES THE STATE IN OUR LIVES.
THE REALITY IS THAT THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THE POLICE ARE JUST THE VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF THE DEEPER PROBLEMS PRESENT IN OUR SOCIETY.
THE POLICIES AND LAWS THEY ENFORCE COME FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE.
THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO CREATE THESE LAWS OR WHO HAVE CREATED THESE LAWS, AND OFTEN THEY ARE RULED BY OTHER BODIES THAT GUIDE THE LAWS THEY'RE ASKED TO ENFORCE.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES WHERE THE POLICE ARE ASKED TO ENFORCE LAWS THAT THEY DO NOT MORALLY AGREE WITH.
WHEN WE WANT TO JUST MANTLE THE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION THAT PROMOTE SYSTEMIC RACISM, THE POLICE ARE AN OBVIOUS TARGET, BUT IF WE DON'T START SHINING A LIGHT ON OTHER SYSTEMS THAT ENCOURAGE THESE PRACTICES, WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP A LASTING SOLUTION.
THE POLICE DO NOT CONTROL WHETHER PROSECUTORS FILE CHARGES AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE BAD ACTORS.
THOSE DECISIONS LIE IN THE OFFICES OF OUR PROSECUTORS.
THEY DO NOT DETERMINE THE SENTENCES APPLY TO THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIME WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR CARRY THE DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF PUNISHMENT IN OUR SOCIETY.
THEY DID NOT CONTROL THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THAT RESULT IN SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES IN THE QUALITY OF CARE RECEIVED AND THE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO EDUCATION, JOBS EQUAL PAY, HOUSING, WEALTH, AND MORE.
POLICE AGENCIES ARE ONLY ONE ENTITY IN A WIDE NETWORK OF SYSTEMS THAT NEED TO BE SCRUTINIZED AND CHANGED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT IT'S TIME TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND DO THE WORK.
JOHN RAWLS, HIS THEORY OF JUSTICE AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE DENSER DIFFERENCE PRINCIPLE TO POLICING.
THE KEY HERE IS THAT THE POLICE SHOULD NEVER SERVE TO EXACERBATE EXISTING INEQUALITIES IN SOCIETY IF POLICING HAS TO BE DEMOCRATIC.
INSTEAD, POLICING SHOULD SERVE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
POLICING SHOULD HELP TO PROMOTE A QUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE LAW.
THAT IS THE GOAL OF A TRULY DEMOCRATIC POLICE FORCE.
IT HAS LONG BEEN MY GOAL TO HELP PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES BECOME MORE DEMOCRATIC.
AT THIS POINT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND HAVE US ALL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE AND I CHOOSE TO SAY AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE RATHER THAN AT THE HANDS OF POLICE FOR A DELIBERATE REASON, THEY ARE DYING BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS OR INACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS. WE CAN'T NAME ALL OF THE NAMES, BUT WE CAN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE BEFORE WE START THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING FOR MIKE RAMOS AND GEORGE FLOYD AND ALL OF THE OTHERS WHO HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE.
AS WE INTRODUCE THE DIFFERENT ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, I HOPE WE CAN BE THE VOICE OF REASON AND CAN WORK TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON EVIDENCE
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AND DATA, CAREFULLY EVALUATING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY AS WE DELIBERATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.IT IS ALSO MY HOPE THAT WE CAN ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND DO THE DIFFICULT WORK OF STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP, CITY LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING PUBLIC SAFETY INTO AUSTIN IN AUSTIN INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE WAY AND BE THE EXAMPLE TO THOSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MOVING FORWARD AND FINDING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL IN SOCIETY RATHER THAN TO THE BENEFIT OF A FEW OPENING UP DIALOGUE AND ENGAGING IN CIVIL DEBATE AND DISCUSSION TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND IS THE PATH TO LASTING SOLUTIONS, BUT WE NEED TO FIND OUR COMMON HUMANITY AND LET UP AND LET THAT GUIDE US TO BETTER ACTIONS, BETTER POLICIES, AND TO A BETTER SOCIETY.
THE POWER OF THIS COMMISSION IS IN OUR MANDATE.
OUR MANDATE IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON POLICIES AND BUDGET.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THAT MANDATE TO TRY TO AFFECT CHANGE.
AS SUCH, I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THE CREATION OF THREE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION WORKING GROUPS TODAY.
THE FIRST WILL BE A WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMATIC POLICIES, LAWS AND RELATED PRACTICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DISCRIMINATION AND OR SYSTEMIC RACISM IN OUR AGENCIES.
THE SECOND PART WILL FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING AND OR DEVELOPING POLICIES TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING PRACTICES.
THE THIRD WILL BE TO REVIEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE POLICE IN A PROTEST AND RIOT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, BUT IF WE WORKED TOGETHER, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON POLICIES AND BUDGET.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THAT MANDATE TO TRY TO AFFECT CHANGE.
I'M GOING TO CALL ORDER FOR ORDER.
I'M SPEAKING AND I HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED THE SPEAKER.
WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ITEMS WHEN WE REACH THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
WHAT THAT I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF OUR MEETING IF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WANT TO RESPOND TO WHAT I HAVE SAID.
WE CAN DO THAT AFTER WE CONCLUDE THE BUSINESS OF OUR MEETING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR PUBLIC BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE.
I ALSO INVITE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR VARIOUS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO REACH OUT TO ME PERSONALLY SO THAT I CAN FIND WAYS TO USE MY PLATFORM AND MY PRIVILEGE TO AMPLIFY YOUR VOICES.
WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, IT IS TIME FOR US TO HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THAT IS DR. MICHAEL LAUDERDALE.
MR LAUDER IS DR LAUDERDALE ON THE LINE? YES.
MICHAEL, CAN YOU HEAR US? IT'S, YOU JUST NEED TO UNMUTE AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
MICHAEL, ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
I SEE HIM ON THE LINE BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY HE'S NOT RESPONDING AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE'LL GIVE HIM ONE MORE MINUTE.
UM, I DO HAVE A COPY OF THE COMMENTS THAT UH, DR LAUDERDALE WAS GOING TO OFFER AND SO, UM, I WILL MAKE SURE I SEND THOSE TO ALL.
UH, ACTUALLY MS. JACKSON, CAN YOU SEND THOSE TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEN WE CAN POST THAT AS BACKUP MATERIAL TO THIS MEETING IF THAT'S OKAY.
SO SINCE WE CAN'T GET HIM ON, AT LEAST I CAN BE IN PITTSBURGH.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO POST THE SUMMARY OF HIS COMMENT IF HE DOESN'T COME ON THE LINE.
UH, COMMISSIONER WEBER IS SEEKING RECOGNITION.
COMMISSIONER WEBER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS UPFRONT A CONTROVERSY THAT I BECAME INVOLVED WITH AFTER OUR LAST MEETING.
SO FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVEN'T MADE ANY SECRET OF THE FACT THAT I REPRESENT BRENDA RAMOS.
THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON APRIL 28TH SAYING THAT I AM MS. RAMOS AS ATTORNEY AND I SPOKE TO CHIEF MANLEY ON APRIL 30TH AND I TOLD HIM PERSONALLY THAT I WAS REPRESENTING MS. RAMOS.
SECOND, I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT WILL AND I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CITY CODE AND STATE LAW.
I WILL RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANY AGENDA ITEMS REGARDING THE SHOOTING OF MIKE RAMOS
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OR THE SHOOTING OF MAURICE TO SILVA.I WILL ABSTAIN FROM DISCUSSIONS IN BOATS WHEN I CANNOT SEPARATE MY PERSONAL FEELINGS FROM A TOPIC AS I DID ON MAY 4TH WHEN CHIEF MANLEY WAS SPEAKING.
THIRD, I WILL, I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND MY APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
AS I PERSONALLY BECAME MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN USED TO.
I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE CHAIR WAS DEALING WITH LAST WEEK AS FAR AS COMPLAINTS ABOUT ME BECAUSE I RECEIVED MANY SIMILAR ANGRY CALLS AFTER COMMISSIONER HARRIS, HIS FIRST MEETING AS A COMMISSIONER AND I HAD TO GENTLY EXPLAIN TO A LOT OF RILED UP AUSTINITES THAT NO, THEY CANNOT RECALL A CITY COMMISSIONER AND NO, THEY CANNOT VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO BE CHAIR.
I CONSISTENTLY DIRECTED THE CALLERS TO CALL THEIR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO AUSTINITES WHO HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED ME AND I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH ME OR MY VOTES ON PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION TO CALL ME UP.
I WILL LISTEN AND WE MIGHT HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU THINK.
NO, THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY STATEMENT ABOUT UM, A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT CAME IN.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WEBER AND I THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT I GOT TO DEAL WITH.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS AND I HOPE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS.
WE DONATE OUR TIME FOR THIS AND UM, IT'S ALMOST BECOME A FULL TIME JOB FOR ME RECENTLY AND IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM.
ALL RIGHT, SO MOVING ON TO, SORRY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING THIS AND OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM AND DOING THIS AT MY HOUSE AS MY STUFF IS WAY LESS ORGANIZED CAUSE MS. JACKSON, YOU KEEP US ORGANIZED.
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ALL RIGHT, SO ITEM ONE ON THE AGENDA IS OUR MEETING MINUTES FROM OUR MAY 4TH.MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU A MEETING.
UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES? UH, SO MOTION BY REBECCA BERNHARDT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER NUNEZ.
FUN POLICY PROCEDURE FOR US TO GO THROUGH.
THERE'S NO ALBERTA AND COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.
THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
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TO OLD BUSINESS.UM, SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS ITEM.
UM, SO WHEN WE WENT INTO OUR LAST MEETING, WE DID NOT HAVE A FULL INFORMATION ADD THAT THAT, UH, IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.
THAT HAS COMPOUNDED, UH, WE'VE ALL BEEN STRESSED FOR LIKE THE LAST WEEK.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING ABOUT 10 YEARS OLDER TODAY AND MOVING ON WITH MY LIFE.
WHEN WE VOTED ON THAT ITEM, UH, WE HAD THE COMPOUNDED, UH, TECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF GETTING OUR STAFFERS ON THE LINE FROM ATC, EMS AND AFD ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST A PERFECT STORM OF ISSUES THAT CAME TO THE TABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO ASK AND CHIEF BROWN WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AND INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CAUSE HE WASN'T EVEN ON THE LINE.
UM, WE HAD TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. WE'RE LEARNING TO OPERATE IN THIS BRAVE NEW WORLD.
SO, UM, AS A RESULT OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING, WHICH WAS I BELIEVE RECOMMENDATIONS ZERO ZERO TWO, UM, WERE NOT CORRECT.
UM, WE WORKED QUICKLY TO PROVIDE AMENDED, UM, DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON THAT.
AND I ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHICH I'M GOING TO ASK CHIEF BROWN TO CLARIFY CAUSE I MIGHT MESS THIS UP, BUT I BELIEVE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN ITEM SIX ON THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION THAT I SEND OUT FOR THIS MEETING IS ALREADY ENCOMPASSED IN ITEM TWO, WHICH WAS THE $642,200 TO FUND THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION INSTEAD OF IT WAS, ARE THE SAME THING.
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JUST GONNA SAY IN THE METALS FOUNDATION THEY TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, AT THE TIME WAS OUR C4 LINE, WHICH WAS A, UH, WE HAD CLINICIANS UP AT THIS, UM, NINE 11 CENTER THAT WERE HELPING TO EXPAND WHAT THE CHP, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDIC UNITS WERE DOING OUT ON THE STREET.THE IDEA WAS, IS AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, CAUSE WE COULD ONLY PUT SO MANY CHPS OUT ON THE ROAD.
AND THIS WAS A WAY THAT IF AN AFP UNIT OR AN APD OFFICER NEEDED HELP, THEY COULD CALL IN AND THEN GET SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO REACH AND THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION.
UM, SINCE THAT TIME WITH COVEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS BRANCHED OUT AND DEVELOPED INTO ITS OWN MONSTER AND IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A NICE MONSTER TO HAVE, UH, WHICH WAS THE COVEN OR THE CLINICAL CONSULT LINE, WHICH A LOT OF THE COVEN, UH, SUSPECTED PATIENTS WERE TRIAGED AND ABLE TO STAY AT HOME.
UM, SO WE REALLY SEE IT AS AN EXPANSION OF IT.
UM, AND AS COBIT STARTS TO TURN AND, AND, AND THERE WILL BE A TIME IT GOES AWAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE, WHAT WAS THE FORMER LINE INTO MORE OF THIS TYPE OF LINE.
AND SO THOSE SEVEN, UH, CLINICAL SPECIALIST, SIX CLINICAL SPECIALISTS, ONE CAPTAIN THAT WAS IN THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION, PHASE TWO, UM, THOSE ARE THE SAME NUMBERS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO CONTINUE THE COLOSSAL LINE THAT THE ASSOCIATION PUT FORWARD.
SO, UM, HAVE A DUPLICATION AND WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO BE KIND OF A COMPETING FACTOR WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION SHEET.
UM, I THINK THAT HELPS ALL OF US A LOT TO KNOW THAT THOSE TWO ARE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE SAME THING.
UM, SO OUR FIRST ORDER, UM, I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WERE SEND OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR MAY SPECIAL CALL TO MEET.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KELLY.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S UH, ON THE LINE, UH, COMMISSIONER HOLLIS VOTES? YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMENDATION TWO ZERO TWO ZERO ZERO SIX ZERO ONE DASH ZERO ZERO TWO THAT I SENT OUT, UM, THAT WE UM, APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION STRIKING ITEM SIX FROM IT AS THAT IS A DUPLICATION OF THE SAME FUNDING.
SO IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KELLY.
ANY DISCUSSION, EMOTION OR WEBER OR YOU ARE RECOGNIZED? SHARE.
CAN I RECOMMEND THAT WE ONLINE LINE ITEM TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATIVE FOR PEOPLE THAT WHAT PHASE TWO OF THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION STUDY IS, WOULD BE FULL TIME STAFFING FOR THE PARAMEDIC CONSULT CONSULT LINE.
SO FOR ME TO MERGE THE LANGUAGE FROM ITEM SIX INTO ITEM TWO, YES MA'AM.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UM, I DO WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, I'M SORRY, CHIEF BROWN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT SO MUCH TODAY, BUT, UM, I, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF BROWN AND I JUST, I WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION AS A QUICK FYI.
YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE HAD IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS, THIS, UH, COLLABORATIVE CARE COMMUNICATION CENTER, UH, INFORMATION.
SO YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT IN YOUR EMAIL INBOXES.
UM, ALSO, UH, SO CHIEF BROWN, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE LOCATION OF THE TRUCKS, YOU INDICATED THAT, UM, THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER LOCATION FOR ONE OR TWO OF THE TRUCKS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH, BECAUSE ALL OF MY CONVERSATIONS ARE RUNNING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE PERMISSION TO ALLOW US TO SERVE THE POPULATION THAT WE ARE, UH, ENTRANCE TARGETING.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
UM, SO, UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS FOR TO ADD ADDITIONAL UNITS AT MEDIC, ONE IN MEDIC FIVE, MEDIC ONE IS AT BEN WHITE AND SOUTH FIRST STREET.
AND UM, MEDIC FIVE IS BASICALLY AT CANING AND LAMAR RIGHT ACROSS FROM DPS.
UM, UH, AND I KNOW THE, THE CONCERN OR THE, UM, THE BACKUP FOR
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THE ITEMS WERE TO, UH, PROVIDE HELP OR SUPPORT INTO, UH, DOVE SPRINGS AND INTO THE RUNBOOK CORRIDOR.UM, BOTH OF THOSE UNITS, UM, WHILE THEY'RE PROBABLY THIRD OR FOURTH INTO THOSE TWO AREAS AREN'T PRIMARY UNITS INTO THOSE AREAS.
AND REALLY WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, UM, IN, IN IT'S BEEN USED QUITE OFTEN AS THE EASTERN CRESCENT OF AUSTIN.
THAT'S WHERE THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LEAST HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AVAILABLE, UM, LEAST FOOD SOURCES, AGVS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE IN, UH, NOT, UM, HOUSED IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND WE SEE THEM THE MOST MAP PATIENTS, WHICH IS THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, THAT THE CITY SPONSORS IS ALSO IN EAST AUSTIN IN THAT EASTERN CRESCENT.
AND IT KIND OF RUNS FROM RUNDBERG, UM, KIND OF IN A CRESCENT SHAPED DOWN TO DOVE SPRINGS.
SO, UM, I, I THINK IF, IF THE COMMISSION WANTS TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL UNITS, UM, I THINK IT'D BE BETTER TO, TO SAY THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO BE IS IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT OR SUPPORTING THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND NOT SPECIFY, UM, TWO STATIONS THAT REALLY DON'T, OTHER THAN THEY ARE LARGER STATIONS AND THEY DO HAVE AN EXTRA BAY.
UM, THEY'RE NOT REALLY THE FIRST OR SECOND OR THIRD INTO DOVE SPRINGS OR RUNDBERG, UH, FOR THAT MATTER.
AND BOTH THOSE STATIONS NEXT YEAR ARE GOING THROUGH MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FROM THE 2018 BOND, WHICH WILL, UH, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THOSE TWO UNITS IN THEIR AREA WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TRAILERS, BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HOUSE A SECOND UNIT THERE ANYWAY.
UM, SO FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, I THINK IF YOU'RE WANTING TO HAVE UNITS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS, UM, GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SAY WE WANT THEM TO BE IN A CERTAIN AREA, NOT IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION, AND THEN LET US FIND THE BEST LOCATIONS TO PUT THEM IN.
THAT COULD BE IN OUR STATIONS, IT COULD BE WITH THE SUPPORT OF AFD AND MAYBE IN SOME OF THEIR STATIONS THEY HAVE SEVERAL STATIONS IN, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE AREAS.
UM, VERSUS SPECIFYING SOMETHING REALLY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT SOMEBODY EXPECTS LIKE HOW COME THERE'S NOT A UNIT, SECOND UNIT AT MEDIC ONE OR MEDIC FIVE WHEN THEY'RE REALLY NEED MAYBE DOVE SPRINGS OR OTHER.
AND THEN OF COURSE, DOWN THE LINE WE DO HAVE A PLAN WHERE THIS YEAR WE'RE OPENING UP DEL VALLEY, UM, WHICH IS IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN THE FUTURE PLANS IS A, A STATION DOWN IN GOODNIGHT RANCH, WHICH IS WHEN THE FAR SOUTH END OF AUSTIN, UH, RIGHT BELOW DOVE SPRINGS.
SO THERE ARE SOME FUTURE STATIONS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE THAT ARE GONNA HELP THAT AREA.
BUT UM, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, NOT TO BE SPECIFIC, BUT TO BE GENERAL IN YOUR, UM, IN YOUR WISH TO ADD ADDITIONAL UNITS.
UH, CHIEF BROWN THAT, THAT HELPS ME ANYWAY.
UH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMMISSIONER WATER.
SO CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST AN AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION.
UNDER THE RATIONALE WHERE IT SAYS RIGHT NOW PLUS ONE AMBULANCES AT MEDIC ONE AND MEDIC FIVE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE AMENDED TO SAY PLUS ONE AMBULANCES AT TWO STATIONS THAT HAVE EXTRA BAYS.
AND THEN, UM, LEAVE THE FIRST SENTENCE, SECOND SENTENCE.
UM, COULD JUST SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT THESE ADDITIONAL AMBULANCES BE ADDED AT STATIONS ADJACENT TO LARGER CONCENTRATIONS OF HISPANIC AUSTINITES.
AND THEN JUST, IT CAN GO ON LIKE IT SAID BEFORE, WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY KOBE 19.
UM, THE GREATEST AMENDMENTS IN MY RECOMMENDED, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF BROWN, ET CETERA.
THEN LET'S GO DOWN AND VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION AS AMENDED.
UM, CAN YOU, UH, HANG ON ONE SECOND.
WE WILL RETURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER WE VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
ALRIGHT, SO VOTING ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
REBECCA BERNHARDT, REBECCA BERNHARDT SIGNALS.
UH, KATHLEEN HOWS IN BLOOD? YES.
SO ELENA ALVARENGA, THE LENA ALVARENGA INDICATES YES, DEAR LORD.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL RETURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW THAT WE HAVE SOLVED OUR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.
[00:30:01]
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION FOR MANY COMMISSIONERS, UM, I WILL RECOGNIZE WHERE IS MY PAPER? DR LAUDERDALE.UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, DR LAUDERDALE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, I HAVE, UH, PRINTED MY REMARKS, UH, AND ASK, UH, MS. JACKSON THAT THEY BE CIRCULATED.
SO I WILL MAKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY VERY, VERY BRIEF BECAUSE THE DETAIL OF MY THINKING IS IN THOSE PRINTED GOOD MARKS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IN THERE IS WHAT THE POLICE DO.
POLICE DO THREE KINDS OF THINGS.
DIRECT SERVICE ORDER MAINTENANCE AND CRIME CONTROL.
THE MAJOR THING THEY DO IS DIRECT SERVICE AND THAT MEANS THAT SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST WHEN ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED.
SECOND ORDER MAINTENANCE WHEN THERE'S A SITUATION, WHEN A STORM LIGHTS WORKING.
THE THIRD THING THAT IS DONE IS CRIME CONTROL.
IT IS THE MINOR ACTIVITY THAT POLICE ARE ENGAGED IN AND THEY'RE A PARTNER IN THAT WITH THE COURTS AND THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CONCERNED WITH, UH, BASED UPON THE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND, AND NOW ALL OF THE PROTESTS IS A GREATER NEED FOR POLICE OFFICERS THAN WE'VE HAD RECENTLY.
SO I AM SIMPLY URGING THIS TO YOU AS CONDITIONERS TO PUSH FORWARD WITH GETTING A CADET CLASS.
I KNOW IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO WHO WE SELECT, THE WAY WE TRAIN AND THE WAY WE SUPERVISE THEM.
BUT MY EMPHASIS IS THAT WE DO COMMUNITY POLICING AND THAT IS THAT THE OFFICERS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNICATE WITH US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME GREATLY IS THAT WE ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF OFFICERS WE HAVE.
SO, SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME IS RUNNING FROM CALL TO CALL, NOT DOING WHAT COMMUNITY POLICING IS.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY COMMENTS WERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I DID MENTION IN THE FIRST PART OF MY REMARKS THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION BACK WHEN WE STARTED IT IN 2009.
CHERYL COLE WAS THE PERSON THAT APPOINTED ME TO THAT AND I SERVED AS CHAIR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WAS EXHAUSTING WORK.
UH, AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SERVICE.
I HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHAT YOU DO.
UH, PROFESSOR, UM, SO EVERYONE, GIVE ME ONE SECOND.
I'M ACTUALLY SENDING YOU ALL SOMETHING COOL.
UM, IF I CAN FIND IT IN MY FILES, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
UM, SO, UH, MS. JACKSON, WE'LL SEND OUT, UM, DR LAUDERDALE'S COMMENTS.
UM, I HAVE SOMETHING I'M SENDING OUT IN RESPONSE TO A POINT ON HIS COMMENTS.
UM, WHICH IS A POLICE STEPPING LITTLE STUDY.
THAT I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL BORE YOURSELVES WITH.
UH, I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE AUTHORS ON IT.
SO, UM, THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN AREA OF EXPERTISE FOR ME.
SO, UM, IN HIS WRITTEN COMMENTS, UM, HE MAKES A COMMENT ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE RATIO OF OFFICERS BASED ON POPULATION.
WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE RATIO OF, UM, OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE DETERMINED BASED SOLELY ON POPULATION BUT ON A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS.
SO I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL LOOK TO THAT RESEARCH AND THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN AND FRANK DIALOGUE ABOUT STAFFING MOVING FORWARD BASED ON THE EVIDENCE BASE.
UM, I WANT US TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
I WANT US TO REALLY THINK THROUGH WHAT THE EVIDENCE BASED TELLS US THAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND HAVE THOSE CRITICAL DIALOGUES.
SO THANK YOU DR LAUDERDALE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAD MY THOUGHTS AND RESPONSE TO THOSE COMMENTS.
[Item 3]
TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.UM, WHAT ADDRESS, UH, THE CODE 19 AGENCY IMPACT UPDATES AND THE DISCUSSION OF THE DELAY OF CADET CLASSES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES? UM, I BELIEVE WE GOT SOME BACKUP MATERIALS ON THIS.
UM, THE FIRST, UH, PIECE OF BACKUP MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE IS FROM, UM, AUSTIN FIRE.
UH, SO SHE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD BEYOND
[00:35:01]
THE BACKUP YOU PROVIDED, UM, AND, AND THE COMMENTARY YOU PROVIDED IN THE BACKUP? I THINK I'M GOOD WITH THAT AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU GOT THEM.ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT ON, UM, THE COVEN 19 AGENCY IMPACTS AND UH, AND OR DELAY OF ANY CADET CLASSES.
YEAH, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COMMISSIONER WEBER.
JUST A GENERAL QUESTION TO ALL THE CHIEFS ABOUT, UM, COULD YOU JUST GIVE US ALL JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU EXPECT TO GET FROM THE CARE ZACK? OH, FIRE.
UH, SO WE'VE SUBMITTED, UH, THROUGH, UM, THE EMC, I BELIEVE FOR ABOUT $230,000 CALLED ME ON THE NUMBER AND REIMBURSEMENT IS FOR THINGS RELATED TO TACOMA 19.
UH, EMS, UM, SO DIRECTLY FOR THE CARES ACT.
UM, WE LAST WEEK BELIEVE AT COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, THERE WAS AN ITEM A TO RECEIVE ABOUT $300,000 FROM THE CARES ACT.
UM, AND THAT WAS BASICALLY FOR, UH, TRANSPORTATION OF COVEN, UH, PATIENTS.
AND, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL WORK OF TRACKING AND, AND WE CAN'T DO ANY BALANCED BILLING ON THOSE FOLKS OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT THAT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CARES ACT.
IT WAS ABOUT 300 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT AMOUNT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
UM, THE REIMBURSEMENTS THROUGH FEMA FOR OUR OVERTIME EXTRA UNITS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE STILL IN PROCESS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CARES ACT.
BUT, UH, WE'LL BE PUTTING IN FOR REIMBURSEMENTS THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, FOR ALL, WELL ALL THAT GREAT.
AND UH, AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF GAME, I BELIEVE THAT WE SUBMITTED AND IT WENT THROUGH COUNCIL OF AN APPROVAL OF A LITTLE OVER 800,000.
UM, ADDITIONAL, UH, WHAT ACTUALLY I'LL ASK A FOLLOWUP QUESTION.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR RECEIVING THAT REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? DO WE KNOW? I, IT'S TYPICALLY A LONG TIME.
IT'S NOT USUALLY WITHIN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IT'S USUALLY THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR WE RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT, WHETHER IT BE THE FLOOD OR OTHER THINGS.
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS ON ITEM THREE? UH, WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYONE WITH THE BACKUP MATERIALS THAT CAME FROM, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, CHIEF GAIT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO FROM THIS PRESENTATION? UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE OUT OF THE THREE? YES, SIR.
I HAVE, UH, BOTH, UH, CHIEF CHACAN, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, CHIEF DECREE WHO IS ON THE LINE TO ENTER OUR AGENCY IMPACT.
ARE YOU READY TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE LAY OF CONDUCT CLASSES OR JUST THE COBIT 19 IMPACT? UH, LET'S, LET'S ADDRESS COBIT 19 FIRST AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE DELAY OF THE CADET CLASSES CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS IS CHIEF SHOTGUN.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I OVERSEE IS OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNIT AND THEY PUT TOGETHER, UH, THE BACKUP MATERIAL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN THE FORM OF SEVERAL SLIDES REGARDING HOW WE REALLY SET UP OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER STARTING IN MID MARCH.
AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE.
I WOULD JUST SAY IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WITH REGARDS TO ANY OF THAT MATERIAL, I'M GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
UH, CHIEF ON, UM, THIS IS COMMISSIONER HOLLIS.
UH, I JUST, MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS, UM, THE EOC IS A COORDINATED, UM, COMMAND WITH SEVERAL AREA AGENCIES, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO, UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE COORDINATION IS GOING.
UM, IF THERE ARE ANY THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH, ANY CHALLENGES YOU'VE HAD THAT YOU WOULD SEEK OUR HELP AND ADDRESSING, UM, THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY? THAT'S MY BIGGEST QUESTION.
SO INITIALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS PROCURING, UH, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR PPE.
[00:40:01]
TO SUCCESSFULLY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, UM, FIND GOOD SOURCES.UM, YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE PRESENTATION WE HAD MANY, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS INCLUDING LOCAL DISTILLERIES THAT WERE PROVIDING GALLONS AND GALLONS OF HAND SANITIZER AND UM, AND OTHERS THAT WERE PROVIDING BOTH SURGICAL MASKS AND EITHER IN 95 OR CAN 95 MASKS AS DONATIONS.
UM, WE FEEL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, TO MANAGE THROUGH THAT.
THAT WAS REALLY OUR BIGGEST, UM, OUR BIGGEST AREA OF CONCERN AT THE TIME.
AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE IN A, JUST A NORMAL OPERATING STATE AT THIS POINT, JUST DOING DAILY UPDATES.
UM, DO ANY OF THE CHIEFS FOR, UH, EMS OR FIRE? DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTARY ON THAT OR ARE WE GOOD? ALRIGHT, FANTASTIC.
ANYTHING FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON THE COVEN 19 PORTION OF THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE DELAY OF CADET CLASSES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS, UM, DISCUSSION BY, UM, UH, ALLOWING OUR AGENCIES TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THE IMPACT CAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, DELAYS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
WE'VE HAD DELAYS DUE TO COBIT 19, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD OTHER DELAYS FOR OTHER REASONS.
SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE ALL THREE OF OUR AGENCIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SPEAK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IN GETTING PEOPLE TRAINED AND ON THE JOB RIGHT NOW WITH COBIT.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH EMS. THANK YOU.
UM, ARE WE HAD A DELAY IN OUR CADET, UH, HIRING PROCESS? UH, WE ORIGINALLY WERE, UH, UH, HAD SCHEDULED, UH, ORAL INTERVIEWS, UH, IN MARCH, AND ONCE THE KOBE, UH, OCCURRED IN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND TRAVEL, UH, ISSUES, UH, WE PUSHED THOSE ORAL INTERVIEWS BACK AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THEM SCHEDULED FOR JULY.
UM, THIS IS OUR INITIAL ENTRY POINT INTO THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, OTHER DEPARTMENTS USE A TEST AND THEN THEY ALSO DO AN ORAL INTERVIEW LATER, BUT THE STRUCTURED ORAL INTERVIEW IS OUR, UH, INITIAL ENTRY SCORING AND THAT'S WHAT RANKS THEM ACCORDINGLY, UM, ON THE CIVIL SERVICE.
SO, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT IN A, IN A STRUCTURED MANNER.
WE'RE ALSO CHECKING WITH CIVIL SERVICE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THOSE VIRTUALLY OR NOT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SCHEDULING FOR JULY.
THIS CLASS WAS ORIGINALLY STARTED SLATED TO START IN AUGUST, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT MAY NOT START TILL THE END OF OCTOBER.
UM, WE ONLY HAVE 40 OPENINGS CURRENTLY.
UM, THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR US.
AND OUR OTHER RANKS, WE'RE USUALLY, UH, HAD OPENINGS THERE, BUT WE'VE CLOSED THE GAP, UH, IN OUR PROMOTIONAL RANKS AND WE'RE DOWN TO JUST NOW ENTRY LEVEL IS OUR, UH, OUR LARGE, UH, UM, GAP.
AND SO WE'RE SHORT 40 PERSONNEL RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'LL HOPE TO BRING IN A 20 TO 30 IN, UM, IN OCTOBER OR EARLY NOVEMBER AND, AND WE'LL BE ON OUR WAY, UH, PROVIDED NOTHING ELSE CHANGES.
UM, AND I JUST LOOKED DOWN AND REALIZED A MISTAKE IN OUR AGENDA.
UM, I APOLOGIZE, THAT'S MY FAULT FOR NOT CATCHING THIS AHEAD OF TIME.
SO, UM, BOB NICKS AND CHRISTINE JONES SHOULD ACTUALLY BE UNDER ITEM FOUR.
IF NO COMMISSIONERS OBJECT, WE WILL HEAR THEM UNDER ITEM FOUR, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT POSTED UNDER ITEM FOUR.
IT'S JUST AN ERROR IN WHEN WE POSTED THE REVISED AGENDA.
UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CATCHING THAT SOONER.
UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOUR CADET CLASS CHALLENGES? SURE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO, TO HAVE AN EXISTING LIST IN CASE.
UH, THE FIRST 200 WERE PROCESSED AND IT FILLED OUR FIRST COUPLE OF CADET CLASSES.
THERE'S STILL APPROXIMATELY 33 PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED ALL THE WAY THROUGH OUR HIRING PROCESS OR JUST WAITING FOR ANY A JOB OFFER.
AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO FILL OUR CLASS.
THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER THE SECOND 200.
UH, THE, THE REST OF THEIR PROCESSING WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE COVERT 19, UH, ACADEMIC AND ARE THE STAFF THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY USE TO PROCESS AND THROUGH GOT REDIRECTED TO HELP WITH TESTING FOR COBIT, UH, ACTUALLY SWAB TESTING.
SO WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION WHERE THAT IS STABILIZED AND WE ARE REBALANCING THEIR, THEIR DATE, WHERE THEY'RE DOING THE TESTING IN THE MORNING FOR COVEN.
AND IN THE AFTERNOON THEY'LL BEGIN THE PROCESSING OF, UH, CADET APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH, UH, THE WELLNESS EXAMS FOR OUR INCUMBENTS.
[00:45:02]
WE'RE SCHEDULED TO HAVE TO CONNECT CLASSES IN, UH, 2021.APPARENTLY I'M FLUNKING MY USE OF TECHNOLOGY AS WELL TODAY.
UH, CHIEF GAY, CAN YOU SPEAK, UH, TO THE DELAYS THAT YOU GUYS ARE EXPERIENCING? UH, I ACTUALLY HAVE A CHIEF DUPREE OVER OUR TRAINING DIVISION, TRAINING AND RECRUITING.
WHICH IS OUR RENT TO BRAND NEW ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER THE HEADQUARTERS BUREAU.
UH, SO WE IMMEDIATELY, UH, UPON, UH, ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING WITH KOBE, WE REACHED OUT TO TICO, THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.
THEY PLAN TO CONDUCT OUR CURRENT CADET CLASS, UH, TRAINING VIRTUALLY.
UH, THEY APPROVED THE PLAN THAT WE SUBMITTED, UH, TO BOOTH COGNITIVE MATERIAL AND WE PULLED AS MUCH COGNITIVE MATERIAL, AS MUCH COGNITIVE MATERIAL AS WE COULD, UH, FORWARD IN THE PROGRAM, UH, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE CADETS HOME AND LEARNING VIRTUALLY.
UH, WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH MATERIAL TO GET US THROUGH THIS WEEK, UH, WHEN THE PROJECTED RETURN TO CAMPUS, UH, FOR THE STUDENTS OF NEXT WEEK.
UH, AS FOR OUR RECRUITING, UH, WE HAVE KEPT OUR RECRUITING PROGRAM AND, AND OFFICERS WORKING THERE, UH, FUNCTIONING AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE MOVED SOME PIECES OF THE RECRUITING PROCESS, UH, TO LATER IN THE PROCESS SUCH AS AT THE TIME, UH, WE WERE NOT SCHEDULING PEOPLE TO COME IN AND DO PHYSICAL TESTING.
UH, SOME OF THE ONSITE WRITTEN TESTING.
WE WERE PUSHING THAT, UH, FURTHER ALONG INTO THE RECRUITING PROCESS, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS, UH, CONTINUING TO DO WHAT WE COULD ON BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, UH, SO THAT WE COULD MOVE THOSE TO LATER IN THE PROCESS.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY, UH, ON TAP, UH, TO HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO STILL BE IN THE PROCESS AND BEING RECRUITED.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ON EITHER WHO HAVE A 19 AGENCY IMPACTS OR THE DELAY OF CADET CLASSES? MICHENER WEBBER, YOU WERE RECOGNIZED.
I DIDN'T SEE, I THOUGHT BACKUP FROM UM, FIRE REGARDING THE CADET CLASS.
DID I MISS BACK UP FROM APD REGARDING THE CADET CLASS ISSUE?
CHIEF GAY, UH, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER HOLLIS? YES, MS. JACKSON.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE REVISED AGENDA WEST POSTED ON FRIDAY WITH BOB KNICKS AND MS. CHRISTINE JONES ON IT SO THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEM SPEAKING.
THE ONLY ISSUE IS THAT THEY'RE ON ITEM THREE AND THEY SHOULD BE ON ITEM FOUR.
TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH AT ONCE, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE TRYING TO FIND A JOB THING KIND OF MESSED WITH ME A LITTLE BIT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER ALVARENGA? YEAH, CHIEF GAY, THE OR I'M SORRY.
UM, YEAH, SHE'S GOOD WITH REGARDS TO THE ONGOING VIRTUAL CLASS, UH, THAT WAS THE CLASS THAT WAS ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
UM, PRIOR TO THE, UM, UM, AUDIT REPORT.
AND THAT, IS THERE ANY UPDATE ON WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE WITH FUTURE
WE ARE STILL ANTICIPATING A POTENTIAL START OF AN ACADEMY IN LATE JULY AS WELL AS ANOTHER IN THE FALL.
ALTHOUGH AGAIN, WE WERE WORKING WITH CITY MANAGEMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DEADLINES THAT WE NEED TO MEET AND WE ARE WORKING TO COMPLY WITH THOSE DEADLINES.
[00:50:01]
A FOLLOW UP.DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES? UH, WE WERE WORKING OUR BEST TO, UH, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ALL THE DEADLINES THAT WE WORK IN.
THERE'S WEBER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED CHIEF DAY, WILL THE CADET CLASS NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THOSE DEADLINES ARE MET? WE ARE WORKING WITH UH, CITY MANAGEMENT CURRENTLY AND UH, I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION CALLED FOR, UH, US TO WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO DECIDE, UH, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO WE WERE WORKING WITH CITY MANAGEMENT TO UH, TO PROVIDE HIM THE ANSWERS SO WE CAN, UH, MAKE THAT DECISION.
SO IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT DEADLINES ARE KIND OF SOFT? THE CITY MANAGER HAS PROVIDED US DEADLINES AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE DEADLINES THAT HE WANTS US TO MEET.
CHIEF, I MEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THE DEADLINES ARE AND WHICH ONES YOU DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MEET? I MEAN, WELL, BUT WE GET A LITTLE MORE ON THIS.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE MEETING MOST OF ALL OF THE DEADLINES.
WE HAVE A PANEL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING WITH BOTH THE EQUITY OFFICE AS WELL AS DR AWAY.
BUT ON DOING VIDEO REVIEWS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF VIDEO REVIEWS THAT ARE BEING DONE.
WE STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS, I DO TO COPE AT 19 TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE FINISHED WITH THE VIDEO REVIEW, UM, BY THE DEADLINE ESTABLISHED.
BUT WE ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO DO THAT.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL AS WELL.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PARTICULAR DEADLINE OR OBJECTIVE THAT YOU DON'T THINK WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY LATE JULY? NO, I DID NOT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? OH, ONCE OR TWICE.
[Item 4]
ALL RIGHT.UM, SO ITEM FOUR IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE REQUESTED, I WANT TO SAY IN OUR MAIN ONE OF OUR MAIN MEETINGS.
UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON MARCH DAY 154 RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, WE ASKED FOR AN UPDATE FROM OUR THREE AGENCIES ON THEIR ABILITY TO BRING THEIR SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES INTO ALIGNMENT AND, UM, THE STATUS OF THOSE UPDATES.
I KNOW THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BACKUP.
WE HAVE THE EMS, UH, MATERIALS WE HAVE, I BELIEVE THIS IS YES, PRIOR AND THEN, UH, AT A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF FROM AT THE END, THEN THE APD POLICY.
THAT SHOULD ALL BE IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I, UH, HAVE, UH, ARRANGE FOR, UM, BOB NICKS AND CHRISTINE JONES TO BE AVAILABLE FOR US ON THIS ITEM.
UM, BOB AND CHRISTINE, ARE YOU GUYS ON THE LINE? WHOA.
CHRISTINE JONES OR OTHER OF YOU ON THE LINE? YES.
UM, I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, JUST START THIS ITEM OFF BY GIVING YOU GUYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU GUYS THREE TO FIVE MINUTES TO, UM, SPEAK BEFORE WE, UH, ENGAGE IN OUR DISCUSSION.
I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SHE COULD NOT MAKE IT AFTER ALL, BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO SPEAK TO IT.
UM, I THINK THE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE, UH, DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, RETALIATION POLICY E ONE OH 1.3.
I THINK THAT, UH, MOST OF THIS POLICY IS, IS FINE AS WRITTEN.
THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS I THINK COULD BE ENHANCED.
[00:55:01]
UM, FOR INSTANCE, UH, FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IS THAT GENDER HARASSMENT IS NOW PLACED UNDER SEXUAL HARASSMENT WHERE IT BELONGS.IT'S NOT DIFFERENTIATED IN ANY WAY.
IT'S NOT TREATED DIFFERENTLY, AS A LESSER, AS A LESSER TYPE OF HARASSMENT.
UM, IN CASES OF, UH, OF, UH, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, IT GOES TO CITY HR, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE IT'S HANDLED, UH, MORE OBJECTIVELY TO HAVE MORE EYES LOOKING AT IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT.
UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IS THAT NOT ALL TYPES OF HARASSMENT GO TO CITY HR, UH, AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S NOT HAPPY A LOT OF CASES A YEAR OF HARASSMENT, UH, TO DATE.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT IT'D BE THAT DIFFICULT TO SEND RACIAL, UH, ARRESTMENT BASED ON SOMEONE'S RACE OR DISABILITY OR FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION OR OTHER FORMS OF RETALIATION EVEN BROUGHT FORWARD, NOT JUST DONE BY THE PSO BUT ALSO BY CITY HR.
I THINK IT MAKES SURE IT'S VETTED CORRECTLY AND WE GET THE BEST, UH, JUST OUTCOME.
UM, I DO NOTICE, UH, REBECCA, WHATEVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO HELP ME WITH THIS IF YOU CAN, BUT I KNOW A WHILE BACK, I THINK IT WAS OVER A YEAR OR TWO AGO, ISSUE WAS RAISED ABOUT, UH, IF INVESTIGATIONS OR COMPLAINTS ARE BROUGHT THE COMMAND STAFF MEMBER, WHAT'S THE PROCESS? AND I THINK THAT'S ADDRESSED SOMEWHAT ON PAGE NINE OF THIS POLICY.
WHERE IT SAYS, MMM, FURTHER, UH, OKAY.
HRD WILL INVESTIGATE MOST ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT OR RETALIATION BROUGHT AGAINST US AT THESE COMMAND, UH, EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY LINE IN THERE THAT'S REALLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT I THINK YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, REBECCA A YEAR OR TWO AGO AND I WAS HOPING FOR A LITTLE MORE PROCESS THAN THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY GOES FAR ENOUGH TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, ALSO, UH, WHEN CHRISTINE, WHEN BATTALION CHIEF CHRISTINE JONES DID TESTIFY LAST TIME, SHE TALKED ABOUT HER CASE WHERE, UH, BASICALLY GENDER OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT WAS MISCATEGORIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS HORSEPLAY.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME PROCESS CHANGES SINCE THEN AND BEFORE THEN TO TRY TO MAKE IT WHERE IT'S MORE FAIR WHEN WE'RE ADJUDICATING A HARASSMENT CLAIM, NOT ONLY TO THE, TO THE, UH, THE ACCUSED BUT ALSO TO THE TARGET OF HARASSMENT.
AND WE'RE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT'S TAKEN TWO YEARS TO WORK THROUGH THESE VERY SIMPLE CHANGES.
AND WE'RE STILL NOT IN AGREEMENT TODAY WHERE WE HAVE, WELL, WE HAVE SOMEWHAT OF AGREEMENT BUT WE STILL NOT CODIFY TO PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING FOR YOU TO REVIEW.
SO I WOULD HOPE IN THE FUTURE WE COULD GO THROUGH THE NEAR FUTURE.
I WAS HOPING TODAY, BUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, UH, AFD AND AFA CAN PRESENT THOSE TO YOU AND GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS BODY.
AND THAT'S, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE AND UM, YOU KNOW, THANK CHRISTINE FOR US.
UM, I KNOW THE DIFFICULTIES AND MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE IN THE CURRENT WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT ALL THREE AGENCIES HAVE.
YOU GUYS ARE KIND OF OVERLOADED RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THAT MIGHT EVEN BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT AT THE MOMENT.
UM, SO MANY CHALLENGES COMING IN, ALL OF US, UH, AT AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, UM, OR DID, UH, EIGHT BUYERS WANT TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING RELATED TO THE FIRE POLICY? SO, UH, PROVIDE A LITTLE EXTRA BACKGROUND ON THE HARASSMENT POLICY.
WE, THE ONE THAT WAS IN EXISTENCE PRIOR TO THIS VERSION THAT YOU'LL HAVE BEFORE YOU A, UH, A WIDE VARIETY OF FROM OUR DEPARTMENT GOT TOGETHER AND A LOT WAS INVESTED IN MAKING THAT POLICY TO BEST SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WITH THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE CITY TO, TO GET OUR LANGUAGE IN LINE WITH CORPORATE HR.
WE WERE TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO, TO LOSE THE EFFORTS BY THOSE DIFFERENT, UH, BODIES BODIES WHEN THEY CREATED THE INITIAL POLICY, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HEARING TO THAT CONGRUENT LANGUAGE FROM THE CITY.
SO THE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH THAT, WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO IT.
WE RAN IT BY, UH, OUR DRAFT BY CITY LEGAL AND CORPORATE HR TO MAKE SURE IT, IT WAS IN LINE WITH THAT.
WE THEN TOOK THE POLICY AND PUT IT OUT THROUGH SHAREPOINT TO THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
SO EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO, TO UH, WEIGH IN ON IT.
AND THEN, UH, THE, I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY COMMENTS WERE WERE WITH, AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER.
WE THEN RAN IT THROUGH OUR POLICY RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE
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BEEN OUT OF SCOPE, UH, WITH WHAT THE CITY WAS ASKING US TO CHANGE.AND THEN WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON ALL THOSE THINGS AND RAN IT BACK THROUGH CORPORATE HR AND SEE LEGAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FINAL DRAFT WAS STILL ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTOR WE WERE GIVEN.
UH, BY THE TIME WE GOT THROUGH ALL THAT, THE CONFERENCE STUFF WAS EMBARKING AND WITH ALL THE OTHER INFORMATION BULLETINS WE WERE SHOOTING OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT, WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO GET LOST IN THE BULK OF THAT.
SO WE DID SIT ON IT FOR A LITTLE BIT UNTIL THE WAVE OF, OF UH, BULLETINS FROM COVE AND SETTLED DOWN SO THAT WE COULD MAKE IT MORE DISTINCT AND PURPOSEFUL.
AND AS YOU READ THE LETTER FROM THE CHIEF AND THE EXPECTATION WAS FOR EVERYONE TO REVIEW IT AGAIN AND TO NOTE IT IN THEIR DAILY LOG THAT THEY HAD DONE IT.
THE DEADLINE FOR THAT IS JULY 2ND, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOLKS DIDN'T JUST BRUSH IT TO THE SIDE BUT TOOK A MOMENT TO, TO ABSORB IT AND REFRESH AND UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE POLICY AND THE INTENT BEHIND.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS OR DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER WATER.
UM, IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING AND YOU SAW IT THROUGH TO THE END, SO THANK YOU.
UM, I DID WANT TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT BOB NIX RAISED.
AND THAT'S IN SECTION OR THE TWO WHERE, AND Y'ALL, THAT'S ON PAGE SIX OF NINE.
IT SAYS THAT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL INVESTIGATE MOST ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT OR RETALIATION BROUGHT AGAINST AFDS EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT.
AND SO THE ISSUE THAT, UM, DR LANDA AND I BROUGHT TO THIS COMMISSION YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS WAS THAT YOU JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE CERTAINTY IN CASES WHERE SUPERVISORS, COMMANDERS, CHIEFS ARE ACCUSED OF BEHAVIOR, UM, THAT IF RANK AND FILE WERE ACCUSED, LIKE WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT RANK AND FILE UNDERSTAND THAT EXECUTIVES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WERE AND THAT THERE WAS CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
AND SO I WAS JUST HOPING YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND MOST ALLEGATIONS AND THEN LET US KNOW WHICH ALLEGATIONS ACTUALLY WOULD GO TO HRD AND WHICH ONES WOULDN'T.
AND IF THEY DIDN'T GO TO HRD, WHO WOULD THEY GO TO? ALL RIGHT, SO THE, SEE, HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS? WE'VE HAD SOME, UH, CHIEF BAKER AND THE REST OF THE EXECUTIVE STAFF DO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, UH, THAT IF SOMEONE FILES A NOTICE ALLEGATION AGAINST THE COMMAND STAFF, THEN IT'D BE LOOKED INTO IT IN A PROPER FASHION.
AND CHIEF BAKER HAS HAD, UH, INVESTIGATIONS SENT TO CORPORATE HR THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE, THE, UH, SEXUAL HARASSMENT PART OF IT JUST FOR THAT VERY REASON.
THERE ARE OTHER, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MORE PROCEDURAL IN NATURE WHERE SOMEONE MAY HAVE, UH, UH, MS ACCUSATION OR ALLEGATION COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS, HEY, THERE, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND OUR POLICY SAYS YOU SUPPOSED TO DO X, Y, OR Z, AND WE DON'T THINK THAT THE COMMAND STEP NUMBER DID X, Y, OR Z.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE IN, IS A LOWER LEVEL AND FRACTION AND NATURE.
AND HE'S MAYBE EVEN MORE QUICKLY VETTED OUT THROUGH OUR PSO OFFICE, UM, TO JUST SEE IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE THERE OR NOT.
IT'S STILL LOOKED AT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WELL I THINK THAT DID OKAY, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ALLEGATION HAS FALLEN, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME ALLEGATION AS SOMEONE, UH, DID SOMETHING TOWARDS ANOTHER MEMBER THAT WAS VERY INAPPROPRIATE IN NATURE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THE CHIEF HAS LOOKED AT THE, THE, THE INFRACTIONS AND THERE'VE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HANDLED THROUGH THE PSO OFFICE AND THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO CORPORATE HR FROM THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR WITH OUR