Chapter 2.54
CITIZENS ADVISORY REVIEW BOARD
Sections:
2.54.020 Purpose and objectives.
2.54.030 Number of members – Appointment procedure.
2.54.040 Term of office and filling of vacancies.
2.54.010 Created and defined.
The Sausalito Citizens Advisory Review Board for police matters is created and established. For purposes of this chapter, the term “Board” shall refer to the Sausalito Citizens Advisory Review Board. [Amended during 2013 reformat; Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.020 Purpose and objectives.
The purpose of the Board is to:
A. Enhance citizen understanding of the process of submitting, processing and responding to citizen complaints regarding police officers;
B. Add a citizen perspective in developing or revising police policies or practices perceived to infringe on civil liberties and civil rights;
C. Receive quarterly reports from the Police Department concerning the type, number and disposition of citizen complaints;
D. Recommend alternatives for investigating complaints alleged to infringe upon civil liberties and civil rights;
E. Make a report, at least annually, to the City Council on its work. [Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.030 Number of members – Appointment procedure.
The Board shall consist of five members who shall be appointed by the City Council and shall serve without compensation. City Council appointments to the Board shall be governed by the provisions set forth in Chapter 2.58 SMC. The Board shall annually elect its Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
All members shall be residents of Sausalito who in the judgment of the City Council have a basic understanding of police policies and practices. Such knowledge may be a result of, but is not limited to, attendance at a citizens police academy, work for a probation department, legal services agency, district attorney’s office, public defender’s office, juvenile or adult criminal division of the court system, children’s social service agency or organization with exposure to the criminal justice system, or civil rights organizations. The City Council shall endeavor to reflect community diversity in its appointments including income level, ethnicity, age, gender and experience. Appointed members of the Board shall be encouraged to attend the citizens police academy within a short period of time after the appointment if they have not already done so. No office or employee of the City shall be appointed to the Board. [Amended during 2013 reformat; Ord. 1133 § 5, 1998; Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.040 Term of office and filling of vacancies.
The term of office of each member shall be two years commencing June 1, 1998. Any vacancy occurring during the term of any member shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner in which regular appointments are otherwise made.
When the board is initially appointed, the terms of three members of the board shall be for three years. Thereafter, the terms shall be for two years. [Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.060 Removal from office.
All Board members serve at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed at any time by majority vote of the City Council. If a member of the Board does not attend three consecutive regular meetings, unless excused by the Chairperson, his or her membership shall automatically be terminated, and his or her successor shall be appointed by the City Council to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. A breach of confidentiality by a member of the Board shall result in removal from the Board. [Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.080 Meetings.
The Board shall establish a regular time and place of meetings. Meetings shall occur no less frequently than quarterly. Special meetings of the board may be called by the Chairperson or by a majority of the Board.
A majority of appointed Board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
All meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with the Brown Act, except for statutorily authorized closed sessions. [Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.100 Powers and duties.
A. To act as a liaison between the community, the Sausalito Police Department and the City Council;
B. To hold hearings to enhance citizen understanding of the process of submitting, processing and responding to citizen complaints regarding police officers;
C. To recommend to the Chief of Police and City Manager programs and/or projects that improve delivery of police services or enhance preservation of life and property to such neighborhood watch or school outreach programs;
D. To recommend to the Chief of Police and City Manager revisions of police practices and policies perceived to infringe on civil liberties and civil rights;
E. To receive quarterly reports from the Police Department concerning the type (for example, excessive force, violation of civil liberties or civil rights, police misconduct), number, disposition, and manner of investigation (for example, internal, external, or a combination of investigative methods) of citizen complaints;
F. To recommend to the Chief of Police and City Manager alternatives for investigating complaints;
G. To provide the City Council one or more reports of its work, but in no event less often than annually and to provide summary notes of each of its meetings;
H. Other duties as directed by City Council.
In making its recommendations to the Chief of Police and City Manager, the board shall not attempt to direct the method of implementation of any resulting changes to Police Department programs, policies or procedures. [Amended during 2013 reformat; Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.110 Staffing.
The City Manager shall provide or cause to be provided adequate staff and clerical help, and shall, as City Clerk, maintain files and records of the Board. The Chief of Police or his or her designee shall provide technical expertise to the Board about police policies and practices and, where deemed appropriate by the Board, City Manager, or the Chief, legal counsel shall advise the board on recommended revisions to police policies and/or practices. New Board members shall receive orientation and/or training on the work of the Board and on the police officers’ bill of rights as well as any other matters deemed appropriate by the Chairperson or City Manager. [Amended during 2013 reformat; Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]
2.54.120 Severability.
If the title or any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is, for any reason, held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter and its title and each section, subsection, clause and phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that the title or any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. [Ord. 1129 § 1, 1998.]