July 9, 2020 City Council Meeting

TL;DR

The City Council Oversight Committee discussed budget priorities for the community needs reserve fund, focusing on developing an alternative public safety program inspired by Eugene, Oregon's CAHOOTS model. The meeting also addressed potential bans on police neck holds, no-knock warrants, and the city's use of civil asset forfeiture funds. Strong emphasis was placed on community engagement, particularly with marginalized communities, for future program development and policy changes.

Key Decisions & Votes

Exploring Alternative Public Safety Programs

30:00

The committee reached a consensus to continue researching and pursuing the CAHOOTS model from Eugene, Oregon, as inspiration for an alternative public safety program, particularly focusing on mental health crisis response.

Consensus to pursue

Police Policy Reform

01:59:00

The committee expressed a strong intent to explore and implement policy changes regarding bans on neck holds, no-knock warrants (with potential exception for hostage situations), and the city's acceptance and use of civil asset forfeiture funds.

Intent to pursue policy changes

Financial Matters

Community Needs Reserve Fund

Discussion on prioritizing the $630,000 in the reserve fund for alternative public safety programs, with a focus on mental health crisis response.

$630,000

CAHOOTS Program Budget (Eugene, Oregon model)

Discussion of the Eugene, Oregon CAHOOTS program's total budget and city contribution as a model, noting potential cost savings through ER and jail diversion.

$2.1 million a year

Civil Asset Forfeiture Funds

Discussion on the practice of law enforcement seizing property without criminal conviction and the committee's intent to ban or restrict the city's use of these funds.

null

Public Comments

16 citizens spoke

Public comments overwhelmingly supported reallocating funds from the police department to community programs, particularly mental health crisis response teams modeled after Eugene, Oregon's CAHOOTS. Many emphasized the need for non-police responders, addressing systemic racism, affordable housing, and ending practices like civil asset forfeiture and SRO programs. Concerns about police violence and the criminalization of social issues were prominent, alongside calls for greater accessibility to government meetings for all community members.

Mental health crisis response teams Defunding/reallocating police funds CAHOOTS model Systemic racism Affordable housing Eviction relief Public transportation Transformative justice for domestic/sexual violence Abolishing SRO program Banning civil asset forfeiture No-knock warrants Police accountability and transparency Decriminalization of social issues Community-led initiatives Accessibility to government meetings

Coming Up

Watch For

Continued discussion on alternative public safety programs and police reform at next month's Oversight Committee meeting.
Listening sessions and community outreach efforts, particularly in marginalized communities, using non-traditional methods (rec centers, libraries for computer access, direct outreach to tribal governments).
Updates from City Attorney and Chief Foster on proposed policy changes for neck holds, no-knock warrants, and civil asset forfeiture.

Agenda Summary

Discussion to determine budget priorities for the community needs reserve fund

Explored the creation of an alternative public safety program, reviewing NPD call data, nationally recognized alternative policing programs (CAHOOTS, Memphis), community partners, and methods for generating community input, especially from marginalized communities.

Information Only/Discussion

Discussion regarding bans on neck holds, no-knock warrants, and the use of civil asset forfeiture funds by the police department

Reviewed current practices and discussed the potential prohibition or restriction of neck holds, no-knock warrants, and the city's acceptance and use of civil asset forfeiture funds, including personal testimony against the practice.