Public Safety Committee Meeting on CPP Implementation - January 21, 2022
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Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Special Meeting - January 21, 2022
The Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee held a special meeting on January 21, 2022, starting at 2:00 PM, to consider the implementation ordinance for the Commission on Police Practices (CPP) and to discuss 2022 committee priorities. The meeting was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 executive order. Key actions included advancing the CPP ordinance with several amendments to the full City Council and approving the committee's 2022 work plan.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kim Knox (League of Women Voters) requested removing the statement that commission records are personnel records to ensure transparency, and requiring access to original sources and immediate incident scene access.
- Yasmin Abid (Mid City CAN) thanked the council for including two youth seats and one seat per district, but asked for removal of felony/misdemeanor exclusions and for the commission to have access to original sources.
- Pablo Martin (San Diegans for Justice) requested including original sources in the definition of investigation, removing references to collective bargaining, making all complaints and findings public, and requiring immediate access to incident scenes.
- Julie Wood (District 7 resident) asked for removal of collective bargaining references to ensure transparency.
- Lori Saldana (former state representative) emphasized the importance of the commission for accountability and measurement.
- Doug Case (CPP First Vice Chair) noted the new draft addressed some concerns but requested unfettered access to all records, including disciplinary records.
- Brandon Hilpert (CPP Chair) highlighted the need for immediate access to officer-involved shooting scenes and involvement in selecting the executive director.
- Andrea St. Julian (San Diegans for Justice) asked for a one- to two-week postponement for community review of the latest draft and advocated for removing collective bargaining language.
- Tasha Williamson supported removing felony/misdemeanor exclusions, citing that officers with crimes remain on the force.
- Layla Aziz (Pillars of the Community) requested removing the felony disqualification and ensuring system-impacted individuals have guaranteed seats.
- Francine Maxwell (Black Men and Women United) asked to keep the item in committee due to insufficient time for community review of the amended draft.
- Numerous other speakers from organizations such as Women Occupy, San Diego Pride, Center on Policy Initiatives, Youth Will, and community members echoed similar requests: remove felony/misdemeanor exclusions, remove collective bargaining references, ensure access to original sources, make records public, and allow more time for review.
Discussion Items
- Staff Presentation: Tiffany Harrison (committee consultant) presented the background of the CPP, the charter amendment (Measure B, approved Nov 2020), and the draft implementation ordinance. Key policy considerations included commission composition, qualifications, terms, duties, access to records, subpoena power, whistleblower protections, and the civil service appeal process.
- Councilmember Moreno (Vice Chair): Expressed concern about the felony bar, noting that a 20-year-old conviction should not automatically disqualify a nominee. Asked about the process for sharing complaints with the commission; SDPD Assistant Chief Chris McGrath confirmed all complaints must be accepted and routed to supervisors. Questioned the timeline for meet and confer; Mayoral staff had no timeline but would report back.
- Councilmember Campillo: Questioned the evolution of the felony disqualification language. Proposed friendly amendments: (1) add "including from original sources" to the definition of investigation; (2) add an annual special meeting for community nominations; (3) add "law enforcement practices and oversight" to at-large member qualifications; (4) change "may" to "shall" for the commission to develop nominating procedures (but Chair accepted "may" to avoid delegation issues). Also raised concerns about the definitions of findings (sustained/not sustained) and promised to bring that up at full council.
- Councilmember Von Wilpert: Emphasized that the ordinance tracks Measure B. Asked about investigator access to scenes; Richard Pierota (outside counsel) confirmed that an operating procedure will be developed. Discussed collective bargaining: clarified that meet and confer does not allow secret changes; any union requests come to council in open session. Supported removing the felony bar, but did not have specific language and agreed to continue discussion. Expressed support for moving the item forward to allow full council engagement.
- Chair Montgomery Stepp: Provided legal basis for personnel records (Penal Code 832.5) and collective bargaining (MMBA). Asked for trust from the community, noting that this is an evolving process and she will continue town halls. Accepted Campillo's amendments (with the change of "shall" to "may" for the nominating process).
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Item 1: The committee voted 3-0 (Moreno, Von Wilpert, Campillo) to advance the two draft ordinances (CPP implementation ordinance dated Jan 20, 2022, and civil service ordinance dated June 24, 2021) to the full City Council, with the friendly amendments proposed by Councilmember Campillo. The motion also directed the city's management team to begin the meet and confer process on mandatory subjects of bargaining, and for the council to seek advisory recommendations from the Civil Service Commission on the appeal process.
- Item 2 (2022 Priorities): The committee approved the 2022 work plan, including priorities submitted by community members. The motion passed unanimously.
- Next Steps: The CPP ordinance will go to the full City Council for policy consideration. Chair Montgomery Stepp announced she will hold additional town halls. The next committee meeting is scheduled for February 9, 2022, at 9:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Council members uh and it is two o'clock if you'd like me to make the webinar live. Yes, please do. Thank you. Absolutely. Whenever you're ready. Okay. Good afternoon. Uh, per executive order 29-20, which suspends certain requirements of the Brown Act. The committee members will be participating via Zoom, and no members of the public will be in attendance at the meeting in the interest of public health and safety. In addition, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the committee liaison has made arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. We appreciate the public's cooperation. I will go over the specifics of how to join the webinar and will give details on how the public can offer their public testimony. I will now call the special meeting of the public safety and livable neighborhoods committee of January 21, 2022 to order. And I'll call the roll. Vice Chair Moreno. Present. Thank you. Councilmember Von Wilfer. Present. Thank you. Councilmember Raul Campillo. Thank you. Each committee member is attending virtually. Also on the virtual meeting is Michelle Garland, Office of the City Attorney, Baku Patel, Office of the IBA, and Matt Yagegin, Office of the Mayor. The public may view the meetings on public television on City TV, Channel 24 for Cox Communication and Spectrum, or Channel 99 for ATT, or view the meeting online by going to the City Council Committee's homepage at Sandieago.gov and selecting the City TV Live Webcast blue button on the right hand side of the page. The committee meetings will be held virtually using the Zoom webinar platform. Members of the public can offer public comment on items by accessing the Zoom webinar online using a desktop computer, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, or by calling into the meeting using a smartphone, cellular phone, or landline. The link to join the committee meeting webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone is listed on the agenda on how to join by iPhone 1 tap. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, you may dial 1669 254 5252. When prompted, input webinar ID 160 780 2331 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. When I introduce the item you would like to comment on, raise your hand by either tapping the raise your hand button on your computer tablet or smartphone or by pressing star nine on your phone. You will be taken in the order in which you raise your hand. When our committee consultant indicates it is your turn to speak, she will call you by your name as it appears on the Zoom webinar attendee list, or she will read out the last four digits of your phone number if you have called uh into the meeting. That is how you'll know it's your turn to speak. If you've joined the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone, you will receive a pop-up notice to select or unmute your device. If you have called into the meeting by cell phone or landline, press star six on your phone to unmute yourself. We uh will review these instructions briefly again when the public uh comment period on an item is open. Um please wait until the item you wish to speak has been called before raising your hand to speak. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. When you're announced as the next speaker, please unmute yourself and offer your comments. Also, please mute the volume on your TV or computer before you begin to speak. Uh, a quorum is now present, and at this time, we uh will take up the uh much anticipated uh discussion agenda and start with item number one, which is consideration of policy issues related to the implementation of the commission on police practices. I'll just note a few quick things before we start the presentation. What is uh the the charter requires council to consider policy matters regarding the commission on police practices, the draft ordinance before you sets forth draft policy proposals for council's consideration. I would also like to highlight for the record that this document will continue to be noted as a working draft as it moves forward through completion of meet and confer process and uh formal action in open section from the council to codify the draft ordinance. So at this time, the public comment uh for this item is now open. Um, if you've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please uh raise your hand. Um, if you're watching on City TV or live stream online and would like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-254-5252 when prompted. Um, input webinar ID 160 7802331 pound.
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