DATE: June 16, 2021
TO: Community Service Commission
FROM: Acting Community Services Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Update on Policy Innovation Workshop and Community Public Safety Work
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Community Services Commission accepts this presentation on an update on the Policy Innovation WorkSshop and Community Public Safety Work. End
SUMMARY
On May 18, 2021, staff presented to the Hayward City Council an update on the Community Public Safety Workshops. During this meeting, the Council adopted resolution authorizing funding for the public Safety Workshop Projects recommended for immediate implementation. This staff report was shared via email with the Community Services Commission on May 17, 2021. A copy of the complete report can be found online. A copy of the presentation can be found in Attachment I.
In response to community concerns around policing and public safety following the murder of George Floyd by an officer of the Minneapolis Police Department, Council directed staff to conduct community engagement efforts, including community conversations and a community survey about public safety and policing in Hayward. After receiving the results of the community engagement work, Council directed staff to convene a Public Safety Policy Innovation Workshop inclusive of community members and City staff to recommend public safety policy and programmatic changes for Fiscal Year 2022.
On May 18, 2021, staff presented to the Council an update on the Community Public Safety Workshops. During this meeting, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing funding for the Public Safety Workshop projects recommended for immediate implementation. This staff report was shared via email with the Community Services Commission on May 17, 2021. A copy of the complete report can be found online. A copy of the presentation can be found in Attachment I.
This presentation and the associated May 18, 2021, staff report detail the work completed by the workshop participants and their recommendations for addressing four key problems identified from the community engagement work:
1. There is a lack of trust between the community and government, including City Hall and Hayward Police Department (HPD), stemming from a lack of communication and relationship building and an inadequate recognition of the long-term negative impacts of systemic racism.
2. Systemic health inequities for the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community, inadequate cultural responsiveness, and a lack of resources have led to limited and/or uncoordinated response options for mental health crises.
3. There are inadequate shelter and outreach resources to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. In addition, the current outreach model and resource options are not meeting everyone's needs, and some people decline services. These challenges are especially burdensome for people that have experienced systemic inequities and other long-term traumas, particularly BIPOC communities.
4. There are limited public resources and a possible misalignment between resource allocation and community safety needs, including inadequate transparency and focus on the long-term negative impacts of systemic racism.
This past February through April 2021, over a period of ten weeks, participants have dedicated over 2,000 collective hours to interviewing key stakeholders, refining their understanding of the problems, and developing and prioritizing the solutions listed in the presentation. A copy of the Policy Innovation Workshop Project Sheets can be found in Attachment II. Staff compiled participants’ recommendations and provided additional analysis of cost, responsiveness to community input, racial equity, staffing, and intersections with existing City plans and projects.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Presentation on: Update on Policy Innovation Workshop and Community Public Safety Work Update
Attachment II Policy Innovation Workshop Project Sheets