HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-1999 Minutes POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES - January 26, 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/O, all
members present.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
* PCRB requests a 30-day extension to March 14,
1999, to file its Public Report on PCRB 898-19
because the Board is awaiting additional investigative
information from the Police Department.
MEETING
WITH COUNCIL
Chair informed Board members that after the meeting
with the City Attorney was cancelled, Co-Chair Watkins
(with agreement of Chair Cohen) called the City Attorney
to apologize for the late cancellation. During that call,
the potential for re-arranging another meeting with Ms.
Dilkes was presented.
Motion by J. Watson and seconded by P. Farrant to
accept correspondence dated 1/25/99 to D. Russell from
the City Attorney. Motion carried, 5/0, all members
present.
Lengthy discussion followed regarding Ms. Dilkes'
correspondence, and specifically about responding to
Ms. Dilkes request for a meeting. Some Board members
felt that such a meeting would be beneficial only if it
would solve clearly defined agenda issues which the
Board defines. The officer identification/tracking issue is
a key issue.
Motion by J. Watson and seconded by P. Hoffey that
Legal Counsel contact the City Attorney to schedule a
meeting with Board representatives between February 2
and February 9. Discussion followed. Motion amended
by J. Watson and seconded by P. Hoffey directing Legal
Counsel to set up a meeting prior to February 9.
Discussion continued. Motion withdrawn.
Motion by J. Watson and seconded by P. Hoffe¥ to defer
any action on the City Attorney's request for a meeting
to the meeting on February 2, 1999. Motion carried,
5/0, all members present. Legal Counsel was directed to
write to Ms. Dilkes with this decision.,
During this discussion, the Board agreed that any
decisions on substantive issues be determined at
meetings when members are present, and not conducting
business over the phone.
With respect to the joint meeting with the City Council
on February 11, 1999, committee members presented
ongoing discussion points on agenda, issues, and format:
An overview will be presented of the Board's
understanding of their responsibilities the
ordinance assigns to it.
· An overview will be presented of the Board's
work in 1998
· The Board's perspectives and concerns:
1. Need for means to monitor patterns in
complaints, including a system for
identifying officers who are the subject of
complaints
2. Continuing problem of the existence and use
of two distinct complaint forms
3. Complainant's appearance at summary
dismissal hearing (many of the procedural
alterations seem to diminish the rights of the
complainants in the process)
4. Extension of complaint filing deadline from
within 60 days to within 90 days of alleged
incident.
5. Extension of PCRB report deadline from 30
days to 45 days.
The committee will present a revised paper at the next
meeting.
MEETING
SCHEDULE
· Special Meeting February 2, 1999, 7:00 P.M. (John
Watson will be absent)
· Regular Meeting February 9, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
· Meeting with City Council February 11, 1999,
5:00-7:00 P.M.
· Special Meeting February 16, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
· Special Meeting February 23, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
PCRB Priority-Setting Meeting, March 2, 1999,
7:00 P.M.
· Regular Meeting March 9, 1999, 7:00 P.M.
· Community Forum at Broadway Neighborhood Center
- to be determined
PUBLIC DISCUSSION None
BOARD
INFORMATION J. Watson shared an article from The Prairie Progressive
on the PCRB.
STAFF
INFORMATION S. Bauer informed the Board of her absence for four to
six weeks commencing March 1§ for hip replacement
surgery.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION Citing a conflict of interest in regard to the complaint
listed on the agenda, Chair L. Cohen recused herself at
9:02 P.M.
Vice Chair J. Watson presiding.
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 conf~clentlal 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, 4/0,
Cohen absent, Meeting adjourned at 9:03 P.M,
Regular meeting resumed at 9:10 P.M.
Motion by P. Farrant and seconded by P. Hoffey to
request from the City Council a 30-day extension of time
for #98-19 because the Board is awaiting additional
investigative information from the Police Department.
Motion carried, 4/0, Cohen absent.
M. Raymond requested that the issue of tracking
officers, given the information that the Board now
receives in the Chief's Reports, be placed on the agenda
for the next meetings. All agreed.
ADJOURNMENT Motion for adjournment by P. Hoffey and seconded by
M. Raymond. Motion carried, 4/0, Cohen absent.
Meeting adjourned at 9:13 P.M.