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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-2022 Community Relations (Signed) SOUT11 f`1 U C7 A CE 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DAWN M. JON EIS, CITY CLERK COMMUNITY RELATIONS FEBRUARY 23, 2022 4:00 P.M. Committee Members Present: Troy Warner, Lori K. Hamann, Eli Wax, Canneth Lee Committee Members Absent: None Other Council Present: Rachel Tomas Morgan, Henry Davis Jr. Other Council Absent: Karen L. White, Sharon L. McBride, Sheila Niezgodski Others Present: Dawn Jones, Bianca Tirado, Victoria Trujillo, Bob Palmer Presenters: None Agenda: Review of Committee Scope of Duties &Annual Report Update on Community Police Review Board Director Position Update on Community Police Review Board Nominations Committee Chair Troy Warner called to order the Community Relations Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m. Full audio dialogue of the meeting is available upon request from the City Clerk's Office. Chair Troy Warner read the objectives of the Committee and the ordinance on the Community Police Review Board (CPRB). He recommended amending the ordinance so that each Councilmember gets one (1) appointment to the CPRB, subject to the approval of a resolution by the simple majority. There should be a background check of all appointments. Committeemember Lori K. Hamann stated the appointment process is to be transparent and public, and it would go against this for each Councilmember to get to select a CPRB member. Committeemember Eli Wax stated the current ordinance is unwieldy and could result in unintended consequences, and the suggested amendments make sense to him. Committeemember Canneth Lee stated the CPRB should be representative of the districts. Each Councilmember should get the opportunity to interview people from their districts. Committeemember Lori K. Hamann stated this is how the ordinance is currently written. Committeemember Canneth Lee stated that he agrees with Chair Troy Warner. Committeemember Eli Wax requested confirmation that, with the proposed amendment, a majority would still have oversight on the selection of individual members. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TfD574.235.5567 WWW.soi.Itlibendin.gov •CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Chair Troy Warner confirmed. Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan stated the current ordinance is ambiguous and lacks clarity. She is open to considering the amendment. She asked how Council can ensure diversity across the members. She suggested Councilmembers could put forth more than one (1) recommendation. Committeemember Canneth Lee requested elaboration on the background check and what would disqualify someone from serving on the CPRB. Chair Troy Warner responded that this can be further discussed, and it could be decided whether there would be any hard disqualifications. Committeemember Lori K. Hamann stated there have been lengthy discussions on background checks and what would disqualify nominated members. Unless there were active criminal investigation underway, previous convictions were not seen as a disqualifying factor. Committeemember Henry Davis Jr. asked how there is a document which has been voted in but not put into practice, and then there are proposed amendments through a resolution when no Councilmembers have the document. He stated that this document should not be discussed if it has not been presented. Committeemember Eli Wax stated this ordinance was drafted one and a half(1.5) years ago, and no members have been appointed, so he appreciates the Chair proposing a way to move forward. Committeemember Lori K. Hamann stated that she feels blindsided by the fact that this document was not presented to Councilmembers prior to this meeting. In 2021, she sent out three (3) emails imploring Councilmembers to nominate members, with little response. Committeemember Canneth Lee stated he took this as a suggestion for a way to move forward. There must be a process put in place. Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan stated Council did not move forward with nominations because the process had not been articulated. That is what is being attempted at this point. Councilmember Henry Davis Jr. stated there was a clear process. A Director was selected and there were issues with that position, but there were applications for Board members which were being reviewed. Committeemember Lori K. Hamann stated that Council has to take responsibility for not moving forward with the process. Committeemember Eli Wax stated there was a Community Relations meeting in which a document was shared that outlined potential procedures, but there was still a lack of clarity on what the procedure would be. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.2355567 www.southbendin.gov 2 •CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Councilmember Rachel Tomas Morgan stated this was her recollection as well. She drafted a document on the potential process and requested to meet several times, with no result. She agreed Councilmembers have to take responsibility. Committeemember Canneth Lee stated it is a new year and all Councilmembers should commit to bringing this process a new life to move forward. Ricky Hurts, 702 Philippa Street, South Bend, Indiana, thanked Council for having this discussion today. Chair Troy Warner's proposal fits within the current ordinance. He is concerned at the degree to which the community has been engaged, and transparency. Stating that "no active criminal investigations" is the only disqualifying factor that could encourage more applications. Chair Troy Warner noted he used some of Ricky Hurts' notes when drafting the amendment. With no further business, Chair Troy Warner adjourned the Community Relations meeting at 4:39 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, 1 Troy W er, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD574.2355567 www.southbendin.gov 3