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Item # 22
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 5, 2021
TOPIC: Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee
AGENDA TITLE:
Establish and Appoint Two to Three Members of the City Council to the Police Oversight
Ad Hoc Committee
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the Mayor establish the Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee and
appoint two to three members of the City Council to serve on it.
DISCUSSION
Introduction
As local elected officials, members of the City Council engage in policymaking relating to
matters of importance for the City of Santa Ana. While some policy issues may be routine
in nature, from time to time the City Council is presented with specific issues, such as
police oversight, which may require the establishment of an ad hoc committee to meet for
a limited time duration to address such issues. Ad hoc committees are established by the
Mayor and at his discretion.
Police Oversight
At the September 7, 2021 meeting, staff presented an informational report regarding
police oversight. The informational report provided an overview of the Auditor/Monitor and
Investigation-Focused models of police oversight. Additionally, the report explored the
make-up of police oversight mechanisms in Berkeley, Oakland, Riverside, and Anaheim,
including their scope of responsibility, use of subpoena, operating budgets, and staffing.
Finally, the report shared findings of a community survey. At the conclusion of the
presentation, members of the City Council deliberated and ultimately directed staff to
return to the City Council to request that Mayor Sarmiento appoint an ad hoc committee
to discuss police oversight.
Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee
To move forward in the most efficient manner, staff is requesting that the Mayor establish
the Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act. In
Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee
September 21, 2021
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establishing the ad hoc committee, the City Council must articulate the specific task or
objective that the ad hoc committee is expected to complete or perform and further
requires the City Council to establish a time frame for the completion of that task or
objective. If established as requested, the proposed ad hoc committee will meet to carry
out a specific purpose and for a limited duration of time as further discussed below.
The proposed scope of the Police Oversight Ad Hoc Committee is as follows:
Composed solely of two to three members of the City Council
o Members are appointed by the Mayor
Serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council
Studies, reviews, or discusses the following topics:
o Identify the advantages and disadvantages of various police oversight
models.
o Assess the legal requirements to establish a police oversight mechanism.
o Discuss collective bargaining limitations.
o Identify objectives and scope of a police oversight mechanism.
o Develop a specific and detailed budget estimate.
o Receive reports from law enforcement to understand their perspective.
Reports in intervals as needed
Automatically dissolves upon the report to the full City Council
To ensure progress, the ad hoc committee should report to the City Council at regular
intervals (e.g. three months, six months, and nine months) with the expectation that a
final set of recommendations shall be prepared within one year, for consideration by the
City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
N/A
Submitted By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager