HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2018-07-25CITY OF ITHACA
COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting 3:30 p.m. July 25, 2018
Present:
Chair: Kane
Commissioners (4) Rogers, Wright, Beem-Miller, Onyejuruwa
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Clerk - Holcomb
Common Council Liaison – Kerslick
Aryeal Jackson – Public Safety and Information Commission
EXCUSED:
Commissioner DaGrossa
CALL TO ORDER: 3:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Approval of the minutes of the June 27, 2018 meeting was deferred to the August
meeting.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
No one appeared before the Board.
Chair Kane welcomed Aryeal Jackson, the new Chair of the Public Safety and
Information Commission and led a round of introductions.
REPORT FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL LIAISON:
Common Council Liaison Kerslick reported that there will not be a Common
Council meeting in August due to a lack of agenda items. The Mayor has issued
his budget guidelines and departmental budgets are due by August 1st. Special
budget presentations have begun, and the regular budget meetings will begin in
October.
Discussion followed on the floor regarding the Mayor’s budget guidelines and the
fact that Ithaca Police Officers are going on their 5th year without a new labor
contract.
REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT:
No one from the Police Department was present to report.
REPORT FROM STAFF:
City Clerk Holcomb shared compliments that were received for IPD Officers
including cards that were received from South Hill School first grade students
who enjoyed meeting Officers Kimmich and Conrad and their K-9 partners.
Commissioner Onyejuruwa asked whether compliments are tracked so that
leaders know which officers receive the most compliments. City Clerk Holcomb
stated that she would research the question and report back.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion with Chair Aryeal Jackson – Public Safety & Information
Commission (PSIC)
Ms. Jackson introduced herself and shared her background and experience in
education and journalism. She noted that her passion is communication with a
focus on making it more effective internally and externally.
She stated that a joint topic area for the PSIC and the Community Police Board
to discuss is the concept of peace officers. She questioned whether there was a
history in Ithaca with this idea. City Clerk Holcomb responded that the City
explored the idea of peace officers after consulting with officials from Burlington,
VT who use a combination of peace officers and an outreach worker to patrol the
Church Street Marketplace (pedestrian mall). There has been interest in
pursuing this concept for gorge patrols, the Ithaca Commons, and special events.
Common Council Liaison Kerslick noted that Ithaca’s Community Outreach
Worker has been very effective in resolving issues that may have been escalated
by the presence of a uniform officer. Discussion followed on other areas of the
City that could benefit from this program such as West Village and the Jungle.
Ms. Jackson stated that she would like to see the Ithaca Police Department
become an example for law enforcement across the State and Country and
would like to work with the CPB on community police relations and issues related
to LEAD and safe consumption spaces.
Commissioner Rogers expressed interest in pursuing the idea of peace officers
and noted that the Department of Justice has put a lot of information on their
website. Discussion followed regarding IPD staffing and the community outreach
worker program. Chair Kane offered to share the Board’s procedure notebook
with Chair Jackson so she could get a better idea of the Board’s processes.
7.2 Review of procedures following receipt of a complaint- Public Safety
and Information Specialist Faraday
This item was deferred until the August meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
By Commissioner Beem-Miller: Seconded by Commissioner Onyejuruwa
RESOLVED, That the Board enter into Executive Session to discuss ongoing
investigations.
Carried Unanimously
RECONVENE:
The Board reconvened into regular session with no formal action taken.
The Community Police Board unanimously approved the letter of Resolution for
Complaint 2018-1 without changes.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Julie Conley Holcomb,
City Clerk