Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee Meeting

The Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support Committee convened on October 16, 2025, receiving and unanimously accepting four annual reports. The presentations covered strong pension fund investment returns, police recruitment strategies, the status of the city's tow service modernization, and emergency management work plan priorities.

Discussion Items

• Retirement Plan Investment Annual Report: John Flynn and Jay Kwan from the Office of Retirement Services presented the fiscal year 2024-25 report. They stated that investment returns for the police, fire, and city employee pension plans exceeded the assumed rate of 6.625%, were in line with policy benchmarks, and performed above the median compared to peer public pension plans. Performance was largely driven by strong global stock returns.
• Police Department Recruitment and Hiring Activity Annual Report: Captain Mike O'Neill and Lieutenant Juan Vallejo presented the annual recruitment report. They reported a decline in total sworn applications but an increase in the percentage of applicants hired due to a more efficient pre-screening process and a focus on local recruitment. The presentation detailed extensive outreach efforts, including a new marketing contract, expansion of the cadet program, partnerships with local sports teams, and applications for programs like the Department of Defense SkillBridge. Lieutenant Vallejo noted ongoing efforts to increase diversity, specifically in recruiting more women and Asian American candidates, while acknowledging the department is below the '30 by 30' initiative goal for female representation. Committee members asked questions about social media strategy, incentives, and recruitment partnerships.
• City-Generated Tow Services Delivery Model Status Report: Captain Steve Donnie provided a status update on the modernized towing program. He reported that the digital Aries management system has improved efficiency and coordination for tows requested by city departments. A key challenge identified was tow companies refusing oversized vehicles; a recently approved contract amendment increases the fine for such refusals from $500 to $2,500. The report highlighted the successful multi-departmental cleanup at Columbus Park as an example of the system's effectiveness.
• Emergency Management Work Plan Priority Annual Report: Ray Reardon and Alvin Galang from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) presented their annual work plan. They outlined four program objectives: developing citywide emergency plans, preparing residents and businesses, building public trust through communication, and optimizing response technology. Specific priorities for FY 2025-26 include finalizing an evacuation plan for wildfire-prone areas, expanding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, preparing for major 2026 sporting events, exploring the use of artificial intelligence, and assessing feasibility for a state emergency management accreditation.

Key Outcomes

• The committee voted unanimously to accept the Retirement Plan Investment Annual Report.
• The committee voted unanimously to accept the Police Department Recruitment and Hiring Activity Annual Report.
• The committee voted unanimously to accept the City-Generated Tow Services Delivery Model Status Report.
• The committee voted unanimously to accept the Emergency Management Work Plan Priority Annual Report.