HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2023-7-26DRAFT CITY OF ITHACA
COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting 4:30 p.m. July 26, 2023
Present:
Chair: Kane
Commissioners (5) Beem-Miller, Rogers, Simons, Onyejuruwa, Wright
Excused:
Korthuis
Bursic
Others Present:
Acting Chief - Schwartz
Common Council Liaison - McGonigal
Public Information Specialist – Faraday
Public Comment:
Zachary Winn, city of Ithaca, comments to express request of support of disapproval of
the funding that is currently on the table for the Unbroken Promise Initiative & Black
Hands Universal, suggests funding IPD lateral transfer/ sign on bonus with funds.
Response from Board:
Chair Kane states that the Community Police Board is not able to offer guidance or
recommendations on budgetary matters that do not directly pertain to the Ithaca Police
Department.
New business Item- Addition of Privilege of the Floor to CPB Agenda. The group agrees
that having a formal addition of should be added to August agenda. Commissioner
Simons would like to see draft language regarding the addition.
Report from Common Council:
Alderperson McGonigal reports that a number of council members, IPD, County
officials, Railroad workers, and advocacy support went to Jungle 1 and toured and
spoke. City Staff were not present in attendance. The unique challenges of the shared
jurisdiction/ ownership of this area is discussed.
Draft PILOT discussion:
• Emphasis on unhoused population as citizens; inclusive protection by public
safety bodies paramount with distinction between unhoused community: not
criminal and criminal community inflicting crime upon peers and local businesses.
• Railroad company would like the area cleared, but is not interested in performing
a “sweep” of any sort.
• Response model should be reflective of outline from Reimagining/ Plan One;
feature co-response by IPD & public outreach workers.
• Areas should be “red” and “green” only, no ambiguity/ amber zone.
• Consolidation of unhoused community will lead to streamlined public safety
response and allocation of services.
• Police must be part of response, but not the entirety of response.
Continued discussion went on acknowledging the changing population of the Jungle(s),
which was a decade ago more seasonal than today, and how there have been previous
efforts to “clear” these areas only to see folks come back.
AC Schwartz tells the group about a training that IPD attended that outlined effective
means to relocate unhoused communities.
Report from IPD:
AC Schwartz reported that there has been a retirement submitted at IPD. The deadline
to apply to take the exam for IPD has been extended to August 7th.
Commissioner Onyejuruwa stated that he would like to see the IPD’s Community
Outreach efforts forge on, despite staffing challenges.
Old Business:
Items tabled to 8/23
The group agrees to expedite draft minutes to provide a document to Common Council
ahead of the 8/2/23 meeting, bullet points to outline their feedback on the Draft PILOT
regarding unhoused encampments.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 5:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Melody Faraday,
Public Information Specialist