REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Whether to Accept a Formal Recommendation from the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Regarding the City's Model for Electing its Chief of Police (Deferred from December 14, 2021)
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
On September 29, 2020, Council established the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to support the development of a Santa Clara Plan to address the four (4) components of former President Obama's "Commit to Action" Initiative (Attachment 1). The report (RTC 20-875) from Mayor Gillmor and Chief Nikolai on this issue included a proposed mission statement, timeline and goals for the Task Force as well as a defined role for City staff to support the Task Force (Attachment 2). Specifically, the Task Force mission statement reads as follows:
In response to the national call for police use of force reform, the City of Santa Clara created the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Through an open dialogue with the communities of Santa Clara and directed by community input, the Task Force shall make recommendations for changes in government policies, structures, services, and culture that negatively impact or do not fully benefit historically disenfranchised communities. The Task Force will continuously involve the communities on recommendations and progress.
The Task Force's workplan for the first year included the following objectives:
1. Identify and make recommendations to complete the appointment of a seven-member Task Force;
2. Develop a robust community engagement process to ensure that the voices of communities of color are incorporated as the Task Force develops its policy and strategy recommendations. This would include conducting community listening sessions to facilitate public dialogue regarding systemic inequalities with issues identified serving as the basis for the Task Force's future work; and
3. Report the findings and ma...
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