Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - October 10, 2022
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Sacramento Community Police Review Commission Meeting - October 10, 2022
The Sacramento Community Police Review Commission met on Monday, October 10, 2022, at 6:03 p.m. via teleconference, adjourning at 9:01 p.m. The meeting included approval of past meeting minutes, discussion of city code changes restricting ad hoc committees, updates from ad hoc groups, the Office of Public Safety Accountability's 2021 Annual Report, and an emergency vote supporting Vice Chair Keyan Bliss against a potential removal action by the City Council.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes from May 9, 2022, August 8, 2022, and September 12, 2022, were approved separately by month due to commissioner preference. Each month's minutes passed with varying abstentions; all motions carried. (Motion by Commissioner Elkarra, seconds by various commissioners.)
- Follow-Up Log (File ID 2022-01764): Received and filed. (Motion by Commissioner Elkarra, second by Commissioner Guerrero; passed unanimously among present members.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barry Boyd (public speaker) expressed hope that the commission would find a remedy regarding the prohibition of ad hoc committees. He also invited commission members to the Medavie Neighborhood Association meeting on October 19, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. (virtual via sacramento-na.org).
Discussion Items
- Update on Chapter 2.40 of Sacramento City Code (Oral Report): City Clerk Mindy Cuppy presented the new code provisions effective August 30, 2022, which eliminate ad hoc committees and require subcommittees to be approved by the City Council and follow Brown Act requirements (agendas, public notice, streaming). Commissioners Guerrero, Bliss, Carter, Espinoza-Salazar, Williamson voiced frustration that the change reduces transparency and increases workload for volunteer commissioners. The city clerk clarified that working groups of less than a quorum are still permissible if not established from the dais. No action taken; item received and filed.
- Ad Hoc Committee Updates and Subcommittee Discussion:
- Implementation Ad Hoc (Commissioner Guerrero): Met with SPD to reformat recommendations from 2018–2021; will annotate implementation status.
- LGBTQ Ad Hoc (Commissioner Guerrero): No recommendations expected this year.
- Budget Transparency Ad Hoc (Vice Chair Bliss): Will reconvene to review FY 21–22 SPD budget.
- Surveillance Ad Hoc (Vice Chair Bliss): Plans to meet and may send questions to SPD.
- Community Engagement Ad Hoc (Chair Castillo-Krings): Work on military equipment use (MEU) policy continues; a public process is expected by January 2023.
- Proposed Amendments to the Commission's Rules of Procedure: Preview only; full vote scheduled for November 2022. Key changes include removing ad hoc provisions and adding small working group guidelines. Commissioners directed to submit comments by October 17, 2022.
- Office of Public Safety Accountability 2021 Annual Report: Director Dr. LaTesha Watson presented the report, noting 242 complaints (706 allegations) filed in 2021, of which 279 allegations were sustained. Improper search/seizure, neglect of duty, discourtesy, and service were the largest categories. OPSA reviewed 64% of police complaints and 100% of fire complaints. The new Inspector General responded to two officer-involved shootings in 2021. Commissioners discussed the need for training analysis, culture change, and more staffing. No action taken; report received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar items (minutes and follow-up log) were approved as described above.
- Emergency Vote (Added under Commissioner Comments): Following discussion of Vice Chair Bliss’s potential removal by the City Council (agenda item 1 on the October 11, 2022 Council consent calendar), the commission invoked a Brown Act emergency provision (two-thirds vote of members present) to take immediate action. The motion (by Commissioner Guerrero, second by Commissioner Castillo-Krings):
- Support Vice Chair Keyan Bliss’s membership on the Commission.
- Oppose City Council agenda item 1 (placing removal vote on the follow-up log).
- Oppose agendizing a vote for removal of Vice Chair Bliss. Vote: 8 in favor (Commissioners Bliss abstained; Commissioner Rose-Haymer absent; Commissioners Falcon and Jefferson absent; Commissioner Williamson confirmed by phone). The Chair will send a formal letter to the Council.
- Ad Hoc committee updates were received with plans to continue work through working groups (less than quorum) and potential subcommittee requests for 2023.
- 2021 OPSA Annual Report was received and filed; further training and staffing discussions will continue.
- City Code update was received; commission will adapt to new rules and explore subcommittee options for 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Chair staff is ready when you are great. Okay. Good evening, everyone. Are we live? Chair, we are live. Great. Thank you so much. Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful October day, uh, October 10th, the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the role and establish quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute and turn on your video. Commissioner Guerrero. Present plus one. Thank you. So cute. Commissioner Carter. Present. Thank you. Commissioner Elkara, please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm sorry. That's correct. Present. Thank you so much. Commissioner Falcon is absent tonight. Commissioner Jefferson is absent. Commissioner Marion is also absent. Commissioner Rose Hamer. Is currently absent. Commissioner Espinoza Salazar. Present. Thank you. Commissioner Williamson. Present. Vice Chair Bliss. Here. Thank you. Chair Castillo Kringles. Present. Thank you. We have a quorum. Great. This meeting is virtual via Zoom. For members of the public who wish to join, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair, when I sorry, um confirm that public comment speaking period for the desired item. Online, if you are online, click on raise hand at the bottom of the screen. If you're calling or using a moving mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping raise hand um option on more on the more tab. If you are calling in to raise your hand, please dial star nine, then unmute or mute by dialing star six. Speakers will be called on the by the last four digits of their phone number.
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