REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Waive First Reading and Introduce an Ordinance Approving a Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy Pursuant to Assembly Bill 481; and Note and File Recommendation Submitted by the Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to Adopt AB481 Policy and Ordinance
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
On September 30, 2021, Governor Newsom signed a series of policing reform bills aimed at increasing transparency of peace officer misconduct records, improving policing responsibility and accountability guidelines, raising eligibility standards, banning harmful restraint techniques, and creating a public forum for the purchase of military equipment. Assembly Bill (AB) 481 codified law enforcement's acquisition, use, and funding of military equipment. The information presented in this report and its attachments fulfills the requirements of AB 481.
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Clara is in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Fortune 500 company headquarters, California's Great America theme park, Santa Clara University, Silicon Valley Power and Levi's Stadium. In turn, it serves as a destination for corporate board meetings, dignitary visits, major events, and visitors from around the globe. The community assets county-wide and throughout the region are even more significant. As a result, the risk of domestic terrorism or a high-level terrorist incident in the area is real.
In enacting AB 481, the Legislature stated that the public has a right to know about any funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment by state or local government officials in an effort to increase transparency, accountability and oversight. The same applies to the public's right to participate in any government agency's decision to fund, acquire, or use such equipment. Furthermore, the state legislature stated that local agency decisions regarding whether and how military equipment is fu...
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