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Consider a Structure for the Task Force on Developing New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Chris Blue, Chief and Executive Director for Community Safety |
Police Department |
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Loryn Clark, Executive Director for Housing and Community |
Housing and Community |
Overview: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on actions taken in response to the resolution that Council adopted on June 24, 2020 <https://chapelhill.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4577151&GUID=005FFCE6-9A14-48FD-B216-80651ADFA6DA&Options=&Search=>. The Council requested that staff provide information on the following:
• Establishing a Town webpage that depicts relevant Chapel Hill Police Department data, policy changes in support of racial equity and concerns about appropriate uses of force, and a breakdown of CHPD budgetary expenditures
• Drafting a structure and charge for a Task Force on New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council receive this information, establish a Task Force on Developing New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety, and approve a charge for the Task Force’s efforts.
Decision Points:
• Consider a structure and charge for the Task Force on Developing New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety
• Approve composition and role of members to the Task Force
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Where is this item in its process?
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Staff Memorandum with Task Force Charge with GARE Process |
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• Resolution adopted on June 24, 2020 |
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE ON DEVELOPING NEW COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO IMPROVE RACIAL EQUITY AND SAFETY AND CREATING A COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND APPOINTEES (2020-09-09/R-15)
WHEREAS, June 24, 2020, resolution R-1 requested the Town Manager to develop “… Such a process should include forming a community-based, Town Council appointed task force to consider a range of issues related to public safety, including but not limited to the right-sizing of our police force; improving law enforcement practices and training techniques; alternatives to assigning responsibilities for human service needs to the Town’s public safety departments; reallocating resources as necessary, including from CHPD, to accomplish the goals set out by the task force; and coordinating with the County and other jurisdictional partners to increase investments in programs and services that keep communities healthy and safe; and
WHEREAS, the Task Force will draft a set of recommendations for consideration by the Council on specific approaches to public safety beyond policing, drawing on all available national, state, and local efforts, including the Governor’s North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, experts and evidence-based resources and research, and community input.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council establishes a Task Force on New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council establishes the charge for this Task Force as follows:
The Task Force will consider a range of issues related to the role of racial bias and institutional racism in Chapel Hill with a goal to produce concrete, actionable measures to ensure safety and equitable treatment today, and a commitment with a clear timeline and accountability to a full and open process to critically re-examine policing and re-invest in community resources in a way that continues to demonstrate that Black lives matter in Chapel Hill. The Task Force will:
1. Review all community safety and community resource data requested by Council and offered by the Town Manager.
2. Identify goals for racial equity that are grounded in community needs by collaborating with those most affected and most knowledgeable through authentic engagement with grassroots and community organizations and community members.
3. Work in partnership with community and faith-based groups to organize, publicize and hold a series of information-gathering events utilizing human-centered design and Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Racial Equity Toolkit techniques.
4. Consider a range of issues related to public safety, including but not limited to the rightsizing of our police force, improving law enforcement practices and training techniques, the recruitment and retention of the highest quality officers and alternatives to assigning responsibilities for human service needs to the Town’s public safety departments.
5. By March 1, 2021, Draft short, medium and long-term recommendations for consideration by the Council on specific approaches to public safety beyond policing.
6. By March 1, 2021, Draft goals for reallocating resources as necessary, including from CHPD, to increase investments in programs and services that keep communities healthy and safe.
The Council recognizes that once meetings begin, the Task Force may recommend changes to the charge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council establishes the task force with 13 members.
The Council seeks broad Task Force representation from persons with lived experiences related to policing. The Task Force should include both individuals who may be associated with one (or more) groups with an interest in reimagining community safety in Chapel Hill, as well as individuals who bring their own experiences to the conversation without affiliation to any particular group or organization.
The Council requests applicants submit applications by September 24,2020 for assured consideration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council also appoint Council Members _____________, _____________, and _____________ to serve as Council Liaisons.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appointed community members shall have met their charge when the Task Force presents its recommendations to the Town Council g prior to March 1, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the interest of timely appointments, the Council selects _____________, _____________, and _____________ to serve on a committee to review applications and make a recommendation by September 24 for inclusion in the September 30 meeting materials.
This the 9th day of September, 2020.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTER: Maurice Jones, Town Manager
Christopher C. Blue, Police Chief and Executive Director for Community Safety
Loryn Clark, Executive Director for Housing and Community
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council receive this information, establish a Task Force on Developing New Community Approaches to Improve Racial Equity and Safety, and approve a charge for the Task Force’s efforts.