“In the times we’re in right now, I think they need to decide when they need to meet,” said Vice Mayor Anja Reinke, a former police commissioner. “I think we need to give them as much flexibility as possible.”
Commissioner Elise Stearns-Niesen last month suggested a more rigorous calendar in keeping with most other city boards and commissions. The public perception, she said, is that the commission doesn’t do anything.
“And in certain respects, meeting every [three] months, we don’t,” she said. “As we move into a new era of this commission, we’ll start to find our way.”
The last meeting, which saw the first public comments in more than two years, took on a more formal approach, with Chief Assistant City Atty. Juli Scott providing a primer on the Brown Act, the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights and the city charter.
The charter gives commissions the power to initiate studies and surveys, conduct hearings and investigations at the request of council, act in an advisory capacity to the council, field non-traffic related complaints and examine department records that aren’t deemed confidential.
The more frequent meeting schedule was an important avenue for public comments to boards and commissions, and to provide confidence in knowing there will be follow through with any concerns, Councilman David Gordon said.
“The lack of public awareness and participation at the Police Commission, thus far, has limited its effectiveness,” he said. “The Police Commission can serve a very important civic function by carefully listening to community concerns, clearly identifying police issues, and seeking direction from the council when it seems additional authority may be needed to credibly address them.”
But Councilman Jess Talamantes recommended a bimonthly schedule to avoid confusion and conflict.
