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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11&12 Minutes POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD MINUTES - January 5, 1999 Lobby Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Chair L. Cohen called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ATTENDANCE Board members present: L. Cohen, P. Farrant, P. Hoffey, M. Raymond, and J. Watson. Staff present: Legal Counsel D. Russell and administrative assistant S. Bauer. CONSENT CALENDAR Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P. Hoffey to adopt the Consent Calendar. Motion carried, 5/0, all members present. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL · Defer action on approval of the PCRB SOP's until after the City Council meets with the PCRB members · Receive PCRB Public Report 98-18 · Receive PCRB Public Report 98-20 PCRB SOP's D. Russell reported on his discussion with the City Attorney about the Board's concerns regarding differences of opinion about the SOP changes. Although the PCRB minutes of 12/15/98 recommended to the Council that it defer further discussion on the SOP's until the Board and the City Council meet together, a letter (dated 12/23/98 and received on 12/28/98) from E. Dilkes indicates they do not intend for these SOP's to be delayed until the Board's meeting with the City Council, but rather for the Council to vote now based on the City Attorney's recommendations, if the Board wishes to make a recommendation to the Council, it needs to do so at the Council's informal meeting on January 11, 1999. After lengthy discussion, it was determined: · The only a. greement was on the attendance of legal counsel at all PCRB board meetings "whenever practicable." · There is disagreement about substantive issues in the remaining SOP's and the Board would like to discuss them directly with the City Council. If the Council's vote cannot or will not be deferred until after the joint meeting between the City Council and the PCRB, then Board members will attend the informal meeting on January 1 1. Board members noted they are also available at an earlier date if that were more convenient with the Council. · The Board strongly disagrees with the City Attorney's recommended change regarding the opportunity for a complainant to appear and discuss the timeliness of a complaint. · The Board strongly disagrees with the City Attorney's recommended change to delete identifying information from complaints. · Although the recommended SOP changes may appear to be technical in nature, in the Board's view they speak to the very core of its responsibilities under the Ordinance. Legal counsel was directed to contact the City Attorney to ascertain if she will recommend to the Council that the PCRB SOP's be deferred until after the Council meets with the PCRB. At the same time, a letter will be sent to the Mayor requesting deferment. If the City Attorney will not recommend a deferment, Board members will attend the meeting on January 1 1. MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL P.Hoffey and P. Farrant are preparing topics for discussion. PUBLIC DISCUSSION None EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P. Hoffey to adjourn into Executive Session based on Section 21.5(a) of the Code of Iowa to review or discuss records which are required or authorized by state or federal law to be kept confidential or to be kept confidential as a condition for that government body's possession or continued receipt of federal funds, and 22.7(11) personal information in confidential personnel records of public bodies including but not limited to cities, boards of supervisors and school districts, and 22.7(5) police officer investigative reports, except where disclosure is authorized elsewhere in the Code. Motion carried, 5/0, all members present. Meeting adjourned at 8:23 P.M. Regular meeting resumed at 8:26 P.M. Motion by J. Watson and seconded by P. Hoffey to approve PCRB Public Report #98-18, as amended, and forward it to the City Council. Motion carried, 5/0, all members present. Motion by M. Raymond and seconded by P, Farrant to approve PCRB Public Report #98-20 and forward it to the City Council. Motion carried, 5/0, all members present. MEETING SCHEDULE · Special Meeting January 11, 1999, 5:30 P.M. · Regular Meeting January 12, 1999, 7:00 P.M. · Special Meeting January 19, 1999, 7:00 P.M. · Special Meeting January 26, 1999, 7:00 P.M. · Meeting with City Council - February 11, 1999, 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. · PCRB priority-setting meeting - to be determined · Community Forum at Broadway Neighborhood Center - to be determined BOARD INFORMATION P.Hoffey - appreciated receiving information from Internet on Pittsburgh Police Review Board - wish we could get more of this information on other review boards, what their problems are, how they're solving them, etc. P. Farrant - will bring any information she receives from NACOLE (National Association of Citizen Oversight of Law Enforcement) to the Board. She will also share her book Shielded from Justicg, put out by Human Rights Watch, which is a study of more than 15 police review boards in large cities around the country. 4 STAFF INFORMATION S. Bauer - reported City of Iowa City Budget meeting on Thursday, January 14, for presentations from Boards requesting funding. Discussion followed. The board requested that there be a budget allocation to attend conferences; also membership to NACOLE. D. Russell - has two information items to present after adjournment. ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment by P. Hoffey and seconded by M. Raymond. Motion carried, 5/0, all members present. Meeting adjourned at 8:38 P.M.