January 23, 2024 — Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Manually captioned by City of Boulder staff. All segments attributed to uploader — not individual speaker labels. [MM:SS] timestamps correspond to the YouTube recording.

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[5:02] Currently on the audio testimony. Please allow online. So I will stop sharing my screen and pass the mic to KH. Our, our, our chair. Correct. Good evening. Everyone. today is that's January twenty-third. That's probably the first meeting of the year of 2020. Fourth call to order one part of the Hrc. Meeting. It is time, and we it is 6 15 pm. Right now. January 20, third and 2024, and we officially started this meeting. My name is Jean, and I'm the chair of the Commission and thank you and welcome everyone. We now move on to the to any agenda adjustment. Any commissions have been an agenda address with

[6:21] great moving on to approving our previous meeting minutes. At every meeting our secretary takes notes. Those notes are called minutes every month. Minutes are edited in our packet. We review them and approve them a following month, and that is always part of the agenda. Any adjustment to the minutes exercise coverage. Yes, excuse me. Hello. you know, with the meetings first. Okay.

[7:04] Can we go? We'll try to approve the minutes for Christine. So October 2020, third meeting. Sorry. Yeah, I motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held in October of 2023, all in favor. I second Epstein. Second, yeah. So all in favor. Please give it thumbs up. I'll say, Hi! If you approve of me. I've stayed since I was not at that meeting.

[8:01] Christine O'brien. so that brings us up to the item for which is community participation. community participation. Members of the public join all meetings of contribute. They have 3 min to share, and Staff has time to respond. The meeting members can sign up in advance. Angry. Has anyone signed up to speak? No one sign up? Can we check if there's anyone in the spiritual world who would like to participate, at least available to be able to check on the participants. Yes, and see if anyone has raised their hand and I was logged in.

[9:02] Thank you. I can discuss. Let's both look. I see 2 community members. Would you like, would you please raise your hand if you wish to participate in community community members in this portion of the meeting and to do so in your device you can look at the icon of Raise your hand. Okay, I don't see any options. let me move on to our action items. The meeting where we had discussion and informal items

[10:02] as a reminder. We do not need to vote, but I invite you all to participate, all of you. Well, okay. okay, whether I propose to. although it's somehow something like you want to say about what are your expectations for this year? Yeah. And we went up. Every one talk about what we just played this year on the Hrc. Or the release of it. So

[11:00] I would say, as a chair, I already think of this. we have lost 3 meetings already for me on Monday. TV. Ethnic. Correct. Thank you, too. We had to cancel 2 meetings. Yeah. remember, in December. Yeah. So yeah. So my expectations are things that I think they could try see was pretty much created for. That's what I was expecting us to work, but I feel like it's there's always way that's like to to make things work. But one of the big issues for me is homelessness. and the second one will be the police of the site panel. And the third thing for me will be the protection. You know, person protection. Like, you know, people with no voice in the community. And how do we protect them?

[12:02] like, I say, I know, like on my term. Now I feel like 2 meetings already lost, and you're at 4 meetings and a year. and I don't know how many more we're gonna lose. We might schedule reschedule for some other reasons. So my thing is is like, you know, if you guys have any other ideas feel free. But he's online expectation to themes that I want more. Okay, my kosher is. Hmm. I think we haven't had any meetings with their person. I hope the city there hmm great. And but I think when it flew we talk more of that. Play. Consult the city council things.

[13:07] We need to move forward to talk today, and and what I would like to know what they expect from us. And because I feel like, yeah, everything happening ending with them. And another thing that I want to say is that I wanna do more with their fisher? C. But I wonder you give me your feedback to what are you feeling about. or what do you think that we need to do what else we need to do? Let's get this.

[14:05] surely go ahead. Okay. was it? Carlos just just said about what we need to do. Maybe for me, it's more important how to let people probably need to know about human rights like more available information. especially because they spoken about police. What rights people have when police come, for example, in domestic violence case and supposed to, it's supposed to be woman police present one woman instead for the missing because of husband. Go home here, and of this stuff. How people can know their rights in this situation. especially for just

[15:02] last year I learned a lot about children became child friendly, but it's new, but I want to know more about how to participate in child. Friendly? Right? The children. Yeah. I think. Yeah, we skip few meetings. Maybe we need to make speak more and make people know more about this meeting. This, I mean, like Commissioners, will be exist and be here for them. People as well, I think awareness about what the Hrc does for people support

[16:06] or women's rights. Sheltering rights are also things that are important to me. Homelessness. Yeah, creating awareness, I would say. And I think consistency in our meetings with anyone way of doing that for sure. Ii know it's big, but II just hope that we can look back on the year and say, as a as an Hrc. We are able to make this change happen, even if it's you know, whatever it is, if it's smaller big, I think we can definitely look back and say, like, because of Hrc, we're able to fund these events. So we're able to bring people together at this community. And you know that brings people comfort. That's something I can sleep with confidence that we have been able to do as an Hrc. But maybe another like I don't know. It's outside of events. I don't know if there's something I can say who really made this change happen, so

[17:00] I don't know. That's kind of my I don't know if that's an expectation, but something I hope for for this year. I'll I'll I'm happy to wait, and II think that's all of you. How I submitted my resignation. Effective at the end of March. Which is primarily due to family issues going on. And unfortunately I don't have the capacity to participate beyond March. But I do have a lot of wishes for the Hrc. And I do have some things I want to get done in the next couple of months. I think you all saw in my later to city council that one of the one of the issues that I've had with how the Hrc. Has have been operating last few years since I've been on, which is really, I think, a result of systemic issues rather than any anyone specific. But I feel like the Hrc. Has kind of been tucked in a corner, and we exist. But there has been

[18:10] not sufficient communication between the Hrc. And the community at large, except through us as individuals, and not really as a session organization. And then, more critically, I think there's been a complete lack of communication with City Council. and I think there are 2 issues there. One is, I think, on the occasions over the last 3 years, since I've been on the Hrc. Where the Hrc. Has reached out City Council to advise on certain things. My personal opinion is that there's been a very polite acknowledgment of communication. And then that's it. It hasn't. The substance of what we've said has not really been under consideration. It's just been a very thank you very much. And then we hit a wall.

[19:00] And then on the flip side, you know the entire time that I've been on the Hrc. And I spoke to some previous Hrc. Members who said it was saying for their terms which preceded mine. That city council has not once reached out to the Hrc. For advice, and if you look at the charter of the Hrc. This is supposed to be our mission. So I think. there are a couple of things one since I submitted my my resignation letter I've heard from the majority of city council reaching out to be individually asking, you know, sort of welcoming more feedback and dialogue. So I'm going to take advantage of those offers and take those meetings where I can, and offer my opinion. I think to. I think the city is making good headway on revamping and rethinking the roles of boards and commissions. I think we are. It's a very good step. I don't know if you all had a chance to look at the presentation that was given city council last month.

[20:05] But I thought that great task force working on this did a really good job of reaching out to various boards and commissions sort of some interesting feedback of what can be done better. So I think, to that. And there are 2. There are sort of 2 things. One is just process and procedure around how all boys and commissions operate. And you know, then, specifically, eventually have specifically, the Hrc. Can operate, and what the mandate of Hrc is and then, secondly, I think it goes more to the scope of what falls under the Hrc. Because one of the things II pointed out in my resignation resignation letter is that during the 3 years I've been on the Hrc. There have been so many crises directly related to human relations, and yet dialogue between city council and the Hrc. So II really wanna encourage

[21:04] the city and city council to really get specific about about what that means. And and what should be under the purview of Hrc, and then the. So that's sort of the main thing. I think I would hope for the Hrc. The the second, and this is more a wish for everybody for the future, because I think this is more of a longer term thing is I think it would be really great if there were more formalized ways for the Hrc. To engage with various community members. because right now it happens really on an individual level and the various communities that we are plucked into. But you know, II recall, sort of hearing or reading about many years ago, where the Hrc. Was a form for which community members really could

[22:00] come in and bring their concerns. And I think. currently, that is under the scope of what we can do. And my hope is that there'll be a way of maybe formalizing that or bringing some process around that, so it can actually happen on a more regular basis. Oh, thank you, Chris. So when you say that, I just want to add something before I became the chair of this commission. Hopefully, I could find up here. So when I became the chair, I think one thing that I didn't. News is reaching out to all members. And one thing that was surprising to me, it's because, those members told me that city Council is to pressure agency to the work. you know, related to human Religion Commissioners.

[23:02] and I think one of the members told me, if you go to the boulder, revise code 2, dot 3, 6, and like section C, so the function of the term issue are to foster mutual respect and understanding and to create a sphere conductance to the relationships about all members, and receives community to serve as a vehicle to which citizens can convey their suggestions and city policies which respect to social problems, to be sensitive to the social needs of citizens, and to revise and assist city government, and relate in urban so and social services to the needs of the city residents and addition. The other pass that the city council will be assigned to it. So again, like Kristen, say I probably the oldest member here

[24:07] so far, I don't think like, you know, Christian used to be really engaged with writing letters. and it's I'm not gonna say, it's frustrating that sometimes it's really discouraging after you put work through something. And like, she said, the only thing you get is so thank you, which is, you know. And when you look at the it's like, Okay, I'm asking myself the same question after I saw your resignation. What is my goal here as well. Can I do more science while staying here? What is that? What can I bring to the community as a church? And if we're doing meetings the same way. I think I don't think we're gonna get anyone. And my goal is to as well. It's hard to change that, because, you know, I spent a lot of time reading the audience that made

[25:01] it creates created the agency. So I think you know, I don't know what it is. I think there's a disconnection and puzzles. we can do and can. And how do we make change? Like? How do we engage if something is gone and the community. So I just wanted to add that before Christine said, because, like I said, I will a lot more about it. But since the meeting was canceled. I did say So wait for me. And I wanna just add that, you know, because I think that's fully the task that's fully. Hfc, most of it. and I feel like the CD. Kind of goes like out with us. I don't know if it's a way to. I don't know if it's better of you know, if anybody has an idea, please just switching the inner Jackson.

[26:01] I will just add, I do. I do think there's opportunity. I do think there's a lot of opportunity, and I think it's It's it's the challenge is, there's no form to it right now. And so I think that's that's actually what happens has to happen first. What are the goals? you know we have a new city council. I think there are many new members they're very eager to engage. They also are learning about their roles. They also are learning about the roles of voice and commissions. you know I, one of the current members, one of the the members of council, who was already had a seat and still has a seat. Mentioned to me that that they thought it was interesting that city council heard more from public, from public engagement at City Council members than actually from the Hrc. So I do think there is a lot of opportunity and willingness. I think the challenge is just to figure out what that looks like.

[27:06] if I may. Well, first and foremost. Thank you for sharing your expectations. I think it's is an exercise that to open with the first meeting of the year is very appropriate and I think it's it's not a secret that The some of the findings that these consulting and external consulting agency has been doing on the analysis of all boards and commissions have similar kind of patterns of what we're sharing. So I just wanna I, I'm not intending to normalize and tell you, yeah. But we're hearing it. Not only on the Hrc, so I think it's something that.

[28:00] as Christine pointed out. officials, City Council members will will hear more about and get updates and really activate ways for ports and commissions to be more effective and for your time as volunteers to be really as best the best used. Right? That's all I have to share about that. We're taking notes again, is it? Is not our decision to really tell you what to do. And I wanna also highlight that the fact that meetings are canceled or postponed is because there's no working items. Do you all have access to the document I created? Where there's a list of the plan, the work plan. I don't know. How much are you interacting with that document? Where there also opportunities for you to

[29:04] contribute to that document, and to also follow some of the topics that you have mentioned. with the most updated information, including links to council meetings, and also all the information regarding events, community events that are funded through the Human relations fund. So again, I'm not minimizing in any way the feedback and the expectations that you're giving. I just wanna say that you're not the only one, and there are opportunities for community engagement that we share. We do have a guest speaker tonight, and out of respect for Cherry's time. Maybe the chair can move on, and if we need to continue, or you need to not be. But you have the desire to resume this conversation later on. Tonight I will invite you to do so.

[30:06] But also Sherry is here, and he's gonna step away from the meeting after her contributions and participation. So JH. You wanna maybe move on to It will be for Elizabeth. You're the tool chair. Sounds well, thank you, and apologies that I can't say later. my name is Sherry Down, and I am older. Independent police Monitor. I started in August of 2,023, after coming from Chicago, where I had

[31:00] almost 15 years of direct investigation experience, investigating allegations of police misconduct. The organization I most recently worked at was civilian office of police accountability, which is an independent office of the city of Chicago, completely independent from the police department. and and I also worked on earlier, a a project that was investigating allegations of police torture and tortured confessions. So that's the experience that I come from. And before Chicago I I grew up in very rural small town dairy farm factory Wisconsin and and started as a community college student before finishing my degree in moving to Chicago.

[32:01] II think most of you have. I hope most of you have a pretty strong understanding of the reasons for civilian oversight and good otherwise it would take all the time. So Folder has chosen to have the monitor model. which is different. Chicago had an investigatory model where I and my staff conducted direct investigations that were not reliant on the Internal Affairs Department from the police department to do the investigation boulders model is the Monitor model. So I'm the independent police model. I provide the professional oversight. And then there is the professional standards unit within the boulder police department, and that staff is who actually conducts the investigations that I monitor and participate in

[33:08] and then the pan. The police oversight panel is the community voice. and they have the opportunity to review the the cases of misconduct that that's the professional standards units completes, and that I monitor and involved with. And they have the opportunity to review and opine on those on those cases. so something that I thought you might be interested in hearing is some of the updates, because last year the the Pam, the entire oversight system had a lot of challenges. So you know me being here, I'm the new monitor. And then the in October we. the City council, passed a new ordinance that revamped and and clarified some of the components about the oversight system.

[34:10] So some of the most important parts of the ordinance are the both myself and the panel now has the ability to investigate critical incidents. and without there being a complaint filed. So critical incidents are officer involved shootings or incidents where someone is seriously hurt. So previously, neither the Independent Police Monitor nor the the panel could investigate those instance incidents unless there was a formal complaint made. So this brings us much more in line with oversight all over the country, and it was a really important step to take. To fix that that oversight.

[35:02] and the the ordinance also clarifies that the panel not only makes the the disposition and disciplinary recommendations on individual cases that they review, but they also can and should make policy recommendations and policy recommendations can come from the evidence that they review in any individual case. and they also have, are encouraged, but definitely allowed to conduct audits or analysis of the policies of the older police department. So just a quick question, this, this ability to make policy recommendations is that for the police oversight panel and your office, or, okay, thank you. And

[36:01] there. Another change in the ordinance is that the the police chief is required to respond to those policy recommendations as this. From what I've seen, this chief has, or I guess the chief, as of 2 days ago she was responsive. But the working group who worked on these revisions to the ordinance understood that just because she is currently responsive doesn't mean that she will always be responsive or that they're, you know, the next chief wouldn't be so. I thought that was a really important component of what they did was to make sure that what the practice was became codified, so that any future chiefs have to respond to the the recommendations. And another change is that if there are serious disagreements between for the cases that are reviewed, that the panel can request to have a meeting with the Chief of police and the City manager to discuss the the differences.

[37:16] and that had been lacking before. And and the final major change is that the the city manager now is the the person who has the final decision on the selection of of panel members. and, like our boards and commissions the the panel right? The oversight panel is currently also seeking applications for new members. So that is something that is is exciting. So hopefully, we can fill some of the vacancies that we have to that note. I will share the links as usual, or both the main page and the recruitment link

[38:06] for you to share with community members. So you think might might be interested, or it could be a good fit ingrid just just to ask. I believe that members of the police oversight panel do not have to be residents of the city. whereas other boards and commission members do. Is that correct? I do not know that. Yes, that is correct. They need to show strong ties to boulder. So the the 3 main ways to show a strong tie to boulder is to reside in boulder, to have children enrolled in a school within boulder or to work in boulder. Those are the expected 3 ways. But there people people need to demonstrate in one of the questions on the application, how they are, what their ties are to boulder.

[39:03] II just raise that, because if you all know people, I think it actually opens the applicant pool a little bit more. I would very much appreciate if people send out the the recruitment information. Thank you. Application period goes until the 20 ninth. I really appreciate you bringing that. So that's the main information that I wanted to to share with you, because my understanding is that you have questions for me. So I didn't want to waste all of the time giving you a presentation of things that maybe you know. If there's more details that you want, I certainly happy to to share those with you as best as I can. One question and turn out is.

[40:02] understand the part where you say the is it the monitor outlet? That is a like I can make change in policies, or both the Monitor and the panel can recommend changes in policy. Yeah. and you talk about something here that's a little hard for me is well, you said, you have experience from Chicago. And yeah. I think you look at the process you guys use here to do investigations like from my experience. One of the thing that I, if I have experience here, is you make a complaint to the police. Oversee. I don't. and the police oversight panel, sent it to the police department and investigated. and then from there their investigation sent back to the the police service panel to make a decision. Don't you think there is a

[41:07] there is a like a glitch. There were the Border police is the judge at the same time. and the investigator. Because, understand? If I make a compliance. holy suicide panel. I think it should be their job to investigate what's going on, get all the documents and everything. not to give it to the investigation of the police to investigate a cop, and I don't think it's fair for the cops when they see get a cop while it's you know, I'm just asking what you're talking about is similar in Chicago, like I said I had. I worked in that investigative model, which is, it's one of the models of oversight that is not the model that older has chosen. That is not the model that is described in the ordinance it is. it is. It is a different model. And since that break come from that is certainly a model that I'm very well experienced with and

[42:12] appreciate. But Boulder chose to use a different model of oversight, which is also very common across the country. The monitor model, like Holder, has, is quite common. We've run things best. I think. Maybe when I've had a longer time in Boulder I could answer that I could answer that better. Second question will be. Why does the police oversight panel have access to full-time independent custom, like emails that I'm not sure I was not part of of the working group that worked on the ordinance. So that is not II was not part of those discussions when they were deciding whether or how to handle that

[43:10] one was not sure that it would be. Why do you think the only service? I don't? Why was that the police? It was at trial mentioned, and did we imagined police report? Is it the intention of the police to abolish the police suicide panel again? I was not here during the the time period which I think was several years reimagining police was developed, and my experience so far with the Boulder police department is that they are and working with me, understanding that I, you know, provide staff support to the panel, and I have not heard any indication from any of the Top Level police department members that they are trying to get rid of

[44:06] oversized. Boy, okay. okay. Can I ask one more question before you guys go? Is that okay? Okay? So one of the question would be, you know, before I ask you the last question. So far, since you have been here 5 months, I think you know, it's probably to long enough. Have you seen any change that you want to make? Since you've could be a voice would change. I have I have 1. One change that I have already made is that previously the the professional standards unit in the police department, when they received complaints, they would only register it in their case management system when

[45:05] they ascertained that it. It was a complaint. and worthy of moving forward so complaints where a person didn't leave contact, information or complaints where people left contact information but didn't provide enough details to identify the incident or identify the officer. Those cases they were not. They were not documenting in the case management system. So when I realized that I recognize that that was that was a problem. And I met with the the police department, and they agreed that starting January first of this year, they would enter all of those complaints, even if they might not have enough information to move forward, they would at least be documented in the the system. So that is. that is one of the the changes that I've made.

[46:10] I've got some things in the hopper that hopefully, though. You know, bear fruit in this in in the future. And then the Christine. May I just ask the follow up on that? What frequency was that happening at? I don't know anecdotally. Were you able to police anything? No, no, I I don't. I don't know. But my expectation is that it is going to be multiple times. The complaints that we currently see and what? What do we currently see this past year? We had just over 40 cases.

[47:02] additionally, and I, when I was in Chicago, I handled the intake unit. So we received all of the complaints there. My experience there is that also. People file complaints against people who are not members of that department. So there's those complaints are also going to be included. So what I'm talking about are complaints where really the complaint isn't against the police, but against a security guard or against a like a boulder county sheriff's office officer or a Cu police department member, and I mean in Chicago we were such a big organization that I would get complaints from departments across the country just because how to file a complaint against a police officer would lead to the Chicago website. So there are going to be.

[48:00] you know. It's it's expected that there are going to be a sizable number of complaints that aren't actually complaints against the Boulder police department that they will now be registering in that system. and those would be referred to the yes, yes. and those referrals. from what I've been told we're already happening, and the same thing happens when there are sometimes complaints that involve. You know, multiple jurisdictions. So that is the practice of the Boulder police department, from what I've seen so far, is to handle the the Boulder police officers. But then make a referral to the sheriff's office or the Cu police, whatever department is appropriate. So for the complaints that we're using information that we're being documented before. I'm sorry. Can you please speak up. Yes, yes, thank you. So I was just saying that the complaints that weren't being documented before that are now going to be documented. What are you guys gonna do with the information? Is it that you just leave them documented? Or you try to call people to get more information on

[49:10] what information we thought was missing, or, yes, that that is currently what it will. And previously what the professional standards unit did. But sometimes people just don't respond, especially a web complaint where they don't leave a phone number or their name or an email address. There's very little information to to go off of sometimes that makes sense. So those cases we are figuring out a way to like administratively close them. but then also have them available in case that person follows up to be able to have that information already in the system to to match it up police, oversight, panel, monitor, online police department or sheriff. also because only the city of Boulder police department

[50:12] people, because they were both assembled. Yes. I'm I'm not sure I'm I would guess that they have some sort of Internal Affairs Department. and my second question because I do a lot of women from, say buyers before it's a lot of domestic violence, and especially if husband was charged in domestic violence. I think it's still criminal cases. And to make he started to, and my question is supposed to be woman police present when this hopping into school happened, and it's supposed to be translate per person, because sometimes someone doesn't speak. And I think these children or the inner just come to country.

[51:14] he just said. if it's no woman and it is open, and translation translation services, they absolutely should should work together. I am not sure you mentioned that earlier when you were saying the items that you would like to work on, and I'm not sure if there is requirement to have a female police officer rewrites what it's actually supposed to be. That's something I can check into to see if that is a policy or just a practice that they like to follow.

[52:00] Yeah. it's see if I was to look at thesis like struggle system. How can we put the point system? I have definitely seen complaints about the police departments, response to domestic violence cases which has. you know, traditionally in many jurisdictions been lacking and been problematic. And certainly, if you hear. if you hear incidents that sound like there is is a violation. Please refer those to me. Okay, yeah. Video. Oh. it's happening. I think that's like you have a question. Is there any way, or how can I? The issue?

[53:08] That's a great question. I think this is a good start. You're the first entity that has of your own initiative invited me to to join you. So I appreciate that. Do you have any ideas? Okay. okay. so that's a hard one. I mean. Certainly. I hope you know, if anyone given given the nature of your commission, if anyone would bring a complaint or concern about policing to your commission as a whole, or to you as individuals. Please forward them to myself or to the or to the oversight panel, and I can make sure that those are registered as complaints.

[54:01] Is that something that happens? By the way? Okay, yeah, it. It seems reasonable. It could. So I have one more question. So like Christine, say earlier, like any members from that. Can anybody that's, you know, use you use them would affiliate as a strong affiliation to go within be a member of the of the site panel. But the ease of barrier here for me. Okay. So the city manager now has full approval like they choose it. Who you want to do that? And organization that works, you know, community that could help people who have always like the end of those speed like I missed that plenty of research site, big one. So

[55:02] If the seat and the city manager as well choose the publish chief what you think there's a conflict. Think good on that. I can click conflict there, where, if the city manager choose the chief and answer full rate as well to appoint anyone to the multitudes of the site path to the police service. Let me put it well. the the way that we're doing the the recruitment for the police oversight panel in accordance with this new ordinance, is, there is a requirement that the the city manager create an advisory committee and A, and those are made up of members from community organizations. And we reached out to because of a dozen community leaders for them to be on, or to offer suggestions for people to be on this advisory committee, and those are the individuals who are going to be vetting the applicants and then interviewing the applicants and then referring to the city manager a list of suggested candidates.

[56:21] So that's where the city manager is going to be looking is based on the recommendations for approval, like, you know. Let me put it that way. Let's get 10 people. and she's good. he or she, whoever we'll be dead. We'll choose, you know, the person they feel much more comfortable with, instead of working with organization, like you know that care more about human rights, I will say, you know, like I'm I'm a close time with the Nicp that I know that belong and work

[57:02] done. You know, because done just to see the manager has that power like we're full approval, like, if if I don't want somebody, you're out. if you're you know, as we know, you know, there was a Lady Lisa Sweeney just has a small post on the twitter against the police now. So what you think that's one like, you know, as a member like, let's say I wanna be part of it. If I would post on Instagram or Facebook like Lisa did. There's no way the city manager will choose me. So that's why I'm saying I'm saying like, don't you think there is a problem there where the city matter, this power has to be more unusual. Distribute it. you know. Let's say you know, every organization sends someone to represent the community

[58:06] that would not, you know, give the city manager the power because I'm gonna play one thing that I have my experience. And I'm you know. once they investigate each other. they protect each other. they do. and if there's no if it's concentric like, it is right now. And you know again you're here like, I said, you can recharge if you would think about it. The city manager appoint the chief. you know. Choose, you know, hired a chief, or whatever you call it. and you know the the the Commission. Let's put it down. Let's go into commission on the Advisory Board that can investigate or create a situation against the police. I will see you know what I mean. Like.

[59:01] like community participation. I can say that the hope is that we get a lot of candidates. and that the Advisory Committee has a very strong voice in in recommending candidates for the city manager to to to select from, and hopefully all of those candidates are good candidates who have a lot of value to bring to the to the panel. And again, I don't want to lean on this too heavily. But I was not part of the working group that directed this this ordinance that changed how panel members are selected, but my understanding is that it was parts given out of the etc. realm of the city council to try to make it less politicized.

[60:00] but personally from coming from Chicago. the the chief of the Independent Oversight Agency and the chief of police they were. They were hired by the mayor. So I think when you're talking about city government that there, there, there is going to be the exactly what you what you brought up there's going to be some friction, but I think that is just inherent in in the system. Okay? I've got 2 questions. My first question is, you mentioned that there are other changes you are interested in, perhaps making, and I'm wondering if you can shed any light on those now morning. And I didn't. No, I don't. I don't feel I haven't. I not yet not yet.

[61:01] III do hope to be able to, you know, in the next several months be able to show some some changes. Well. actually, this is not about the police department, but one of the things that I did was the Monthly Independent Monitors report previously. It was just read aloud and shown on the screen during the panel meetings, which to me it was not the efficient way for the public to be able to you know, absorb that material. So I went through some questions with the with the city attorney's office and lots of lots of people, and made sure that the document was accessible, because there's a new accessibility law in Colorado coming up this summer. And now I'm able to post those online, so that people, you know don't have to go through a 2 h

[62:09] recording or meeting in order to to see that information again. That's a change that I made in my purview, not the police department, but I am trying to make this work more more accessible and available to to the public and to the community. Great. My! My second question is, you know you you talked. You prefer to the challenges of last year year and a half, and there have been a lot, and we've discussed some of them here. But we know we're also still now in a pretty changing and challenging situation we have police chief is outgoing and an interim police chief who has been under a lot of public scrutiny. For those of you who are not aware. I don't know. All of you are aware. But the the current acting police chief was in Aurora, and was. It was

[63:10] the Elijah Mcclain connections there. there are multiple lawsuits going on right now and then. We also have. You know, we're going to have big turnover on the police oversight panel, and from what I read just recently there, there were not very many applicants in the initial period, and now the application periods been extended. So it seems like things are still evolving and not clear how things are going to shake out. And I'm just curious to hear your take as someone who's who's new to this town and mute to all of this and you know what what your outlook is. I think evolving is like a perfect word to use to describe it. I actually feel it's a lot of opportunity.

[64:07] We have a new ordinance. There will be a new chief. a new Independent Police Monitor and and some new members to the panel. So I think it is an opportunity to to build the oversight system in in a more stable way. I think it is going to be. There's going to be challenges along the way. But II actually see it as a pretty significant opportunity. Yeah, thank you so much. Thank you. Everyone have my card. Take care. I'll take one and reach out to me. If you have additional questions, and I can try to answer them.

[65:03] Follow up question just really quickly to and that is just for ingrid. And I to be aware, is it like in the past we've we've included in updates for meetings just like links to city council meetings where the the City Council meeting, where the new ordnance was was presented and agreed upon. Is that information helpful? October? Thank you. Okay. And she did this. Thank you so much, for again, I appreciate you inviting me, if you think

[66:04] in your networks that there is anything that we can do jointly, or just any event that you think would be appropriate for either myself or the panel to try to have a presence at We are trying to just like you said for the the Hrc. Trying to figure out a way to have more communication with the public. So thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much. just a friendly reminder that The Hrc recruitment period is so based. It is It is a personally hard to see you go. and at the same time I totally respect their understanding, and you will be next Christine.

[67:09] and your seat will be open next year. I mean as of April. So Please refer people who you think might be interested. I will share this flyer with you, with a link for people to apply the application, for I would just want to point out that the application for the police oversight panel is very well. The application for the Agrar's for the boards and commissions of the city is not. But if there's that need, please reach out to the city clerk's office as it is in the website or in the flyer. So as a feed plus for a year term. And Anna, did you reapply?

[68:03] Okay. So I'm not reapplied. And that would be for a full term. And yeah. So I will share the flyer and the link for you to share your community members. I believe we have received applications and we're already set up for a couple of interviews coming up. So Remember that those members are appointed by city council. Same process that you went through, and they're looking into ways of improving the onboarding process. That's one of the recommendations that the independent contractor made. And they're working active and on improving that process. I don't know, Elisabet. If you have anything to add in regards to either opportunity.

[69:02] I would just say, and maybe just reporting back to the earlier discussion you had. about your, you know, priorities and kind of feelings about about. you know the commission or boards commissions in general, as in Brits says we know it's the questions are being asked in a lot of different settings that just the Hrc. That I my own my own experience on boards and commissions and committees for many years is that it's what we make it. And so if there are people who are inspired and want to, you know, kind of put in some work at some time like you all have. That that's who we really want. You know, people who both want to address the problems and also have an eye toward the potential and the opportunities. And really wanna work, you know, with fantastic folks like yourself. Christine shoes be very hard, so but hopefully we'll have a good, a good pool. More candidate, so please help spread the word, and and we have been doing the same.

[70:15] And I think if anyone you know who's interested but just has some questions like, it's far better to get an application in so that you can have discussion. But we're available as our others, too. to answer questions. If you do know somebody who is thinking about it just encourage it all the way around. It would be unfortunate for somebody to wish. On February one submitted an application, but didn't. So let us know how we can be supported. Oh, okay, thank you.

[71:02] Elizabeth. Clarification needed some conditions. Okay, moving on. Now, we can move on the agenda. Item 8, which is Update for Commissioner that usually we're gonna thank you. And I'm happy to start with this update. I wanted to share that the human relations bond has allocated plenty of funds to our community organizations. The second application round that, wrapped up in 2023 for events taking place from now until may have been very successful usually is the timeframe where we see the least application number of applications.

[72:04] and during this cycle, which is a little bit shorter than slightly shorter than the second one $12,000 were allocated between 7 different organizations. Well, that's not completely true. Because one is a collaboration between 3 of them. So it's been allocated between 7 groups, or 7 individual applications for a total of, I believe, 9 organizations. yes, I was curious, you know, a year and a half ago. You know, we have talked about changes to criteria, and then we made this whole change in process. And I'm just curious if you know. Are we seeing new organizations apply? What kinds of things are being funded both different than before? Both? It's been a combination and is being inspiring to see also new organizations and groups and individual supply with the fiscal sponsorship of an organization that has the status of 501. So I will be updating the spreadsheet and adding those events

[73:22] as contracts move forward. So you can see who has applied and who's hosting? What event, and in commemoration to what? Again, the second applicate I or I guess it, depends on how you see it. But the first application for 2024 will open up in April, for events are happening between June and December, which is the biggest Bcs kind of cluster. Given that there's a bunch of special holidays in the summer. So organizations tend to maximize those

[74:03] they like longer day longer days during those months, and the application leaves in the same website as always has. So please, if you know of organizations that would like to host events, or your ask about funding. please encourage them to look into the criteria and apply, and starting in April, I will provide you with a more detailed date on when it opens, and I will give you the heads up as of when it opens. I think overall. In my opinion the process improvement has give good results. At the beginning I will say some people were like, you know, navigating it because he was new is different, but overall is so much more like simple process. Their reporting pieces. Also much simpler. And our team, not because they're my peers, but they're just incredible. And they're on it.

[75:13] There is a small advisory group that reviews the applications, graze them, and then compare results and figure has been part of some of those questions about the Human Relations Fund. just to to put it on on kind of a monetary terms for this second cycle between June and December. Because it's a bigger poll of applications that we usually see. I believe it would be around $21,000. That would be allocated between applicants. I don't have access to my notes, but it's all there. So if you do not have any questions, I can move on into

[76:06] providing an update on homelessness services. Alright. and please, at least have it support me on this one. I wanted to share with you that I did share with you the on an email information about the price release on the warming shelter that happened a couple of weeks ago just last weekend here? Yeah. so definitely, the response is there the proactiveness? Is there any of us. Very well organized. Professor. Yes, yeah. Go to the cold weather. Oh, that's good to know.

[77:07] Oh, that's awesome! That's good. This warming shelter was at the East Rec Center in use. Folder they Services Center will begin this year. The boulder share shelter for the homeless location in North boulder. and you can access information. in the link that I will that is here, and that we could share. Elisa, did you want to speak a little bit about the community input questionnaire, did you? Yeah, just So ingrid. And I, our our colleagues, serve several folks who work specifically on homelessness services within our department, and they are certainly the the experts in this area.

[78:08] But the link that is in the slide deck, and we can share that separately when ingrid sent notes from the meeting. That's just really kind of brief and kind of clear information along with the timeline and the chronology of kind of what have led us to this point with day services. So if you're want more information, it's it's there. And there is a community input questionnaire. And again, the direct link is one that you can risk. You know. Get, get through this presentation. And it's also on that project page where people have an opportunity to just share input on programming to be offered at the center. There's also links where for all the community input that was received in 2022 about these services. So it's just kind of got

[79:02] what? What info? What input was provided? What's taking place now? With some additional inputs from anyone in the community to to share. So if you have questions concerns, you can certainly relay those through Ingrid and myself. And and we can get answers if we don't have them. But you're also anyone is also welcome to to share information, input and comments there as well. I was just double checking. The questioner is available in English and Spanish. And I also please excuse me, I'm looking on my cell phone because the interpreters are communicating with me when they're having a hard time. So that's why I keep checking on my phone. Not to be disrespectful. Yeah. And then there is a homelessness service update to city council. It's coming up in February 20, eighth

[80:02] regular meeting, can I? Just that's something. I was just gonna make a personal recommendation that if if you don't have time to, you know, listen to city council meetings which I don't I find that boulder reporting lab does a good job of recapping. What happens in city council meetings? If if there's no, I believe they don't operate on a subscription basis you can sign up for their newsletter, and they'll email it to you or just go to their website. I think II personally think they're a little more comprehensive of a daily camera about what's happening in city government. So that's generally where II get my information when there's topic at city council that I find interesting. And I want to learn more about what happens. Can you repeat their nicely folder reporting lab. thank you. Any questions, comments?

[81:03] Yeah, I wanna I wanna say that sometimes it's typical with the people that are based on realness. Because a when I leave there's a rubber for combat on my till the end of the go to these shelters. but sometimes they prefer to stay there. White freedom, I don't know. for for folks who are not aware of the gathering out in the lobby here earlier with people volunteers who just and city staff, who just finished the point in time. Count, which is to take a survey. We do it now twice a year, once in the winter, once in the summer for homeless individuals, and and that includes asking people

[82:06] a little bit about themselves. So we are better informed as to what their needs are. And sometimes we people share. You know why it is that they don't want to go to a shelter or don't feel they can and that information is always extremely helpful to try to figure out how we can. And our colleagues across the county and the region right? Figure out how best to provide people what they really need to be well. No. I have to say that I have the opportunity to look at the question here. and the questionnaire is very rooted on trauma, informed questions. and also a very dignified way of approaching people and getting to learn more about them. And they also share resources. What they're out and about

[83:03] doing those count counts. I'm super excited to share about our next stop. Update the elevate boulder participants. Do you remember the guaranteed income project? And I don't know how much have you been following it? But 200 community members went through the application process and the random selection. and they will. They started receiving a financial support of $500 a month. No strengths attach how many, 200 people, 200 individuals, and that number was determined, based on budget and also there was a task force that dedicated

[84:05] a significant number of months into creating the program. So they have received payments starting this month. And It's already heart warming to know that some of them are eager to share their feedback because of the impact that $500 has in their lives, and the difference that that makes I think at least of it, and under your leadership is being an incredible project to be part of for me as a staff member and learning how best how programs could look like, especially because it's changing the narrative of people being the experts of their own needs. and putting the money in the funds into people's hands for them to have a dignified experience and determine on their own. What the best use of those phones are which is very different than any other assistance programs that we see across the nation in the state and our community.

[85:20] do you want to speak a little bit about the debrief and evaluation portion of it? Sure. So as ingrid said. We just payments have started going out this month to the 200 individuals we had partnership, not only with the community members who serve this task force members for this project, starting a year ago little more than a year ago. And helping determine really the main kind of features of the program. How many people, how much money, what criteria, what outcomes, etc.! And we also worked with a number of nonprofit partners who helped with the application and outreach and enrollment process.

[86:13] And so we had last Friday just a an opportunity for those who were able to meet in person and talk about what our observations were, what went well. what you know. what surprises we had, what we might want to do better either for the rest of the program or next time. and so we will. We had some really good discussion. And there's always things that we can do better. We can recognize. We want to do better for next time. But overall people really felt like we were able to create a process that is ingrid shared the word that we keep using is dignified. Where, even if people were not selected, they felt like they. They knew what to do. They had the information they needed to decide

[87:03] whether to apply or not, and then ultimately enroll if they were selected. And it's it's an ongoing. It's ongoing work. I happen to meet one person who came in today to pick up their debit card. And, as Ingrid said, when we do have that opportunity to interact with the participants themselves. It's It's really great just to know how much it's already means to them. To have this opportunity. So the next time that we will be having evaluation information from the participants themselves. Will be probably somewhere around August or September. People had the opportunity to participate in surveys if they want. They're not required to. Most people did, which we're happy about. And they'll get compensated an additional small amount of bunny

[88:01] when they fill a survey. Right? So we're just not making it conditional. Right? As ingrid shared. So we hope that we'll have some really great data and stories from community members. What's going well, how the funds have changed their lives or not. And be able to share with the community that kind of impact this program can have. If you wanna have more information or stay tuned as usual. the webpage is updated. That's 2 years. Yeah, yes, it is. For 2 years. I also made a little plug here for these annual video. I found it super helpful for me to refresh kind of what care meant. There's so much information and initiatives that sometimes for me, it's hard to keep track and and

[89:10] refresh what's happening. But if you remember, it was probably about over a year, maybe a year ago or so, maybe a little less, when Wendy Shorts or colleague Hhs. Came presented on this initiative. Here stands for community assistance, response and engagement. And it's a program that is an alternative to respond to community calls that are not necessarily 9, 1 one emergencies or an alternative. that consists into having a behavioral health clinician, paramedic, intensive case management.

[90:01] it's not meant to substitute and or replace in any ways, or for first responders. If someone needs 9, 1 one they should call 9 1 one but care is an alternative program in response to community needs. I will invite you to check out the video to call the website as a refresher. It is a program that is already in place and I can't speak of the effectiveness or experiences, but if you want to have an update, we can always request for it. Would you add anything? We have been? Our yeah. Our colleagues, Wendy and Lucy, were kind of managing those programs that and that community. Now I'm blanking out. Search is the where behavioral health worker goes with a police officer, and this one is with, first responder, not

[91:09] We have fantastic new staff members who are those serving as these behavioral health clinicians. And we're just yeah. They're as they often say, they're they're interacting with people at their worst on their worst day, right and on the worst time. And so it it takes a special person to be able to manage and serve people in that way. And we're really, we're really glad. The program has launched long has it been in place now. I mean just a minute since it was formally launched. and lastly, I wanted to share that the conversation in minimum regarding minimum wage continues to move forward. As you may know and remember, when Taylor came.

[92:03] Taylor Raymond came, and it was in October, actually where she came and presented you with almost the plan moving forward. the the work continues, and again is a regional approach that the city is being collaborating with with other municipalities and stakeholders that are have, and should have a part of the conversation regarding minimum wage. They requested. If you are interested in having a presentation in May. It is very likely for them to present to in front of city Council, maybe by July. So in May, you will have the opportunity to

[93:02] get an update and provide feedback. Are you interested in that? We can make sure that they can get feedback? I believe they're also gathering feedback from other ports and commissions as well. You're not the only one so. But we wanna make sure you're scheduled so you can get that update in the slide that you will also have. If you notice on the stuff update on the bottom, I, pulling the Hrc work plan for you to have access to that spreadsheet. And again, if you need help navigating it or your need anything from me, please let me know I'm here to support you and make this document accessible and useful to you. So if the format doesn't work, let me know. We work on it together to make it

[94:00] a tool that you can use regularly. Any questions regarding any of the staff updates. Question I have is like her. If someone likes to call the police. there's the care automatically goes, or is it? How does that work? So so we yeah, there's actually not that we'll just pop everything to a web page. But say that because if we don't get it right or have an incomplete answer, they're all there. But basically, if someone would call 911. There's not like a separate way to say I wanna care you call 911, and that dispatcher will kind of figure out on their end, and and offer the opportunity to have that. And there are some situations where I think our understanding is that. depending on what the situation is, for example, if there is, you know, violence or something of that nature. It may be that the police would need to respond anyway. But it's particularly to try to create an opportunity for people.

[95:13] you know, who don't need to engage in the criminal justice system not to do that and just get what they need from behavioral health and and medical health teams. So. but yeah, we can. Certainly. if you all are interested again on this of any other topic. Say, we want to know more about that. We can kind of come prepared. With that information, or certainly proactively share when there's more reporting. you know, and evaluation information. The program it's too new to report on quite yet, but that will be coming, and again happy to share that following up on what Christine suggested. If you haven't done so, you will subscribe to the City Youtube Channel or

[96:02] to the city channel that connects you to videos on that are uploaded regularly on a number of issues. These videos that I link here is only 7 min for you to refresh kind of what the programs about. And you get to see when they get to see Lucy and refresh also those stuff faces. If if needed any of you have any questions again, from what you see here? Or so ingrid demand, or I guess jh, folks define if I ask, are there any other information that you've been curious about, or wondering about, that? We haven't shared ingrid, and I tend to try to kind of reflect back on a lot of the things that you said you were interested in knowing about wanted more information about. And so we we share on those topics. But obviously, if there are other things. It's helpful to know ahead of time, or you can tell us now

[97:29] first. Yes. I see. Which means yep. alright. Page. Oh, okay, thank you. Ingredient, Elizabeth. well, Iran has already asked about questions and clarifications. So moving on. Now we can move on to the agenda. Item 8, which is update from provisioners that usually include any event

[98:02] updates and other items. Are there any updates from commissioners? Nope. we are almost at the end of the meeting. With that I would like to pass it up to staff to resume the follow up items sure in the chat. So somebody put some visa. There's questions we have. It's probably one of the interpreters. I can look. yeah. So in my follow up, I have a few items to share it with you, including the slide deck

[99:00] and also information on the police oversight ordinance. The updated version of it for you to take a look at and I'm also wondering if you will be interested in getting a link on where to find the Monthly Independent Monitor reports the police side. Oversight organized. I can share that. I will share the slide deck again the slide deck. You can access all the links that are already embedded there. And if you have any questions or accessibility issues, let me know. That's all I have actually for items on the follow up. Can you send around the recruitment flyer to? Oh, yeah. The recruitment fire?

[100:00] and for Dhrc. of course, I will send you the regular business minutes and yeah, the maybe I want to know if the February meeting do do you want to hold it online or have it in person? What's the date on that February twentieth. And that day I don't. One of these weird professional development days that they have. They tack on to President's weekend.

[101:03] And so would you like to move ahead a week before or after? Think about for actors will be easier. Because I'm like. I'm gonna go out country for a week like that. Okay, so that will. that would be February 20, seventh. And I will update the website. I will update your calendar, invites and make sure that you all have that with the correct date and time, any preference whether to do it online on person. Hmm. it's the same. Okay, so what do you read? perfect

[102:03] anything else? And okay, thank you, Elizabeth. And with that we can move into a joining tonight meeting. Nice meeting 7 tonight is January 3, third, 2024, and it's 7, 51 pm. And can I have a motion to? Is that no correct? A motion to rejoin. I move to adjourn tonight's meeting. Thank you all for your participation. and thank you for inviting her. I feel like there are a lot in that post monitor. That's it's a lot, though, and I've been following it a lot. But you know, hopefully, she's do you know where? Well. thank you so much to our interpreters for interpreting this session and ensuring language access to all community members. Have a good evening, everybody

[103:13] thanks everybody.