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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/21/2020 - RESOLUTION 2020-067 MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE CITAgenda Item 17 Item # 17 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 21, 2020 City Council STAFF Elizabeth Blythe, Senior Public Engagement Coordinator Delynn Coldiron, City Clerk Carrie M. Daggett, Legal SUBJECT Resolution 2020-067 Making Appointments to the Citizen Review Board. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to appoint individuals to fill vacancies on the Citizen Review Board that exist due to the resignation of previous board members. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION This Resolution appoints two individuals to fill vacancies left on the Citizen Review Board. These appointments will begin immediately with terms to expire on December 31, 2020 (one-year terms per Council discussion at the December 10, 2019 work session). Citizen Review Board Expiration of Term Cassandra Moore December 31, 2020 Melissa Rosas December 31, 2020 ATTACHMENTS 1. Recommendations and Candidate Applications (PDF) ATTACHMENT 1 RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD APPOINTMENTS DATE: June 22, 2020 BOARD Citizen Review Board INTERVIEW TEAM Darin Atteberry, Julie Pignataro, Emily Gorgol NAME NAME EXPIRATION DATE Melissa Rosas December 31, 2020 Cassandra Moore December 31, 2020 NAME (in order of preference) BACKUP CHOICES FOR FUTURE VACANCIES NOTES By providing backup choices at this time, you can avoid the need to re-advertise and interview for mid-year vacancies that occur due to resignations. Emily Gorgol APPLICATION FOR BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP ATTACHMENTS TO APPLICATION MUST BE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT If you have questions or need more information, contact: City Clerk's Office (300 LaPorte Avenue) at 970.416.2525 Eligibility Requirements - 1 year residency within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area Board or Commission: Citizen Review Board Name: Cassandra Moore Mailing Address: Residence: Home Phone: Work Phone: Zip: Zip: Cell Phone: Yes No E-Mail Address: Have you resided in the Fort Collins Growth Management Area for at least one year? Which Council District do you live in? District 2 Current Occupation: Student Employer: Front Range Community College Recent and/or relevant work experience (please include dates) CNA at Columbine Health 2019. Rock Climbing and High Ropes Director for Long Peak Council Boy Scouts of America 2019. Recent and/or relevant volunteer experience (please include dates) Boy Scouts Of America Cub Scout adult leader and pack treasurer. Are you currently serving on a City board or commission? Yes No If so, which one? Why do you want to become a member of this particular board or commission? I have a BA in sociology from CSU where I focused on criminal justice. I'm a single mom low income nursing student. This board needs people who can impartially look at any situation. I believe I can do this. I want to support my community. Have you attended a meeting of the board or commission you are applying to or talked to anyone currently on the board? Yes No If yes, please share your experience: I am planning to attend the next meeting and reach out to any board members willing and able to discuss the position. List any abilities, skills, certificates, specialized training, or interests you have which are applicable to this board or commission: I was previously a victims advocate and completed a number of trainings for that volunteer position. I have a BA in sociology where I focused on criminal justice. I have experience with multiple computer programs including Microsoft Office. I have excellent communication skills and an eager to learn. Briefly explain what you believe are the three most important issues facing this board or commission, and how do you believe this board or commission should address each issue? 1) One of the Board's most important issues is being able to evaluate each situation without bias and without regard to political affiliation. To combat this problem the board needs members who can set aside their own personal experiences and prioritize the community. In my experience use of force issues often fall along party lines when they should be evaluated based on specific evidence. Effort should be made to find members who are open minded and enthusiastic about their role. 2) Another issue with all Fort Colin's boards is a lack of diversity. We live in an amazing community that is home to so many different people with their own cultures and values that should be represented in our government. I am a low income single mom. I'm a full-time student finishing up prerequisites for nursing school which will also be full-time. I'm also a 30-something bisexual member of the Fort Collins community. Board members should be sought for not only their experience and open mindedness but also their ability to represent the whole of our Fort Collins community. 3) Another important issue for the committee is having leaders with the time, dedication, and personality to allow the board to be successful. I think communicating clear expectations prior to board members being offered positions would help with this. This board is not all or even mostly about high excitement evaluation of police use of force. It involves clerical work and training. It involves reading, comprehending, and following board policy. Perhaps most importantly it means doing all of this with compassion and respect. I think the current board should have input on member elections. Please specify any activities which might create a serious conflict of interest if you should be appointed to this board or commission: I can't think of any issues that would create a conflict of interest. Have you ever been convicted of a crime (except for minor traffic offenses that resulted only in a fine)? Yes No If yes, please explain in complete detail. State the nature and approximate date of the conviction, the sentence imposed, whether the sentence has been completed, and any other information you consider to be relevant Upon application for and acceptance of appointment, board and commission members demonstrate their intention and ability to attend meetings. If appointed, frequent nonattendance may result in termination of the appointment. By typing your name in the space provided, I submit my electronic signature and application to the City of Fort Collins and swear or affirm under penalty of perjury pursuant to the laws of the State of Colorado: -that I meet the eligibility requirements of the position sought and -that the information provided in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Signature: Date: Optional: How did you learn of a vacancy on this board or commission: Newspaper Cable 14 City News (Utility Bill Insert) Website Other (please specify) APPLICATION FOR BOARD OR COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP ATTACHMENTS TO APPLICATION MUST BE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT If you have questions or need more information, contact: City Clerk's Office (300 LaPorte Avenue) at 970.416.2525 Eligibility Requirements - 1 year residency within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area Board or Commission: Citizen Review Board Name: Melissa Rosas Mailing Address: Residence: Home Phone: Work Phone: Zip: Zip: Cell Phone: Yes No E-Mail Address: Have you resided in the Fort Collins Growth Management Area for at least one year? Which Council District do you live in? District 5 Current Occupation: Retired Police Officer Employer: San Bernardino Police Dept Recent and/or relevant work experience (please include dates) I worked for the San Bernardino Police Department for approximately fifteen years. During my time with SBPD, I held several assignments within my career. My assignments included but were not limited to: Patrol, Southern District P.O.P. Officer (Problem Oriented Policing), Operation Safe Streets (O.S.S.) the San Bernardino Major Narcotics Unit and an Investigator on the Inland Regional Narcotics Recent and/or relevant volunteer experience (please include dates) I currently serve as Treasurer on my HOA Board for the community in which I live in. I have an understanding and ability to use Word documents along with emails to carry out my assignment as a board member of my HOA. Are you currently serving on a City board or commission? Yes No If so, which one? Why do you want to become a member of this particular board or commission? As a citizen of Fort Collins, I would like the opportunity to serve my community and police department by volunteering my time in some capacity. It is also an opportunity to see that claims of injustice are fully investigated and reviewed. Have you attended a meeting of the board or commission you are applying to or talked to anyone currently on the board? Yes No If yes, please share your experience: I made a phone call and left a message with a Lieutenant at the Fort Collins Police Department. At the time of submitting this application, my phone call has not been returned. List any abilities, skills, certificates, specialized training, or interests you have which are applicable to this board or commission: Prior training in emergency vehicle operations and an understanding of pursuit policies. I was a prior defensive tactics instructor at a police department with an understanding of use of force and the use of force continuum. I have a prior certification to monitor and record wiretaps which also brings an understanding of complex investigations and the importance of chain Briefly explain what you believe are the three most important issues facing this board or commission, and how do you believe this board or commission should address each issue? 1) Accountability. The review board is a part of the process which holds Officers accountable for their actions. I feel Police Officers should be held to a higher standard than the general public. They are trusted to uphold the law and protect the citizens of the community they serve. Therefore, if an Officer commits a crime, uses excessive force or even violates a person's civil rights, they absolutely must be held accountable for their actions. This type of behavior and misconduct can not be tolerated at any level within the police organization. 2) Transparency with investigations. If there is a major investigation into Officer misconduct, for example an Officer commits a crime, I feel the Police Department and the Citizen Review Board should be transparent with their investigation. Otherwise it gives the appearance to some of the public as attempting to cover up the investigation. This negative appearance has the potential to break the trust which the public has for the Police Department. In high profile allegations within the department, I feel a brief case summary and the findings of the board and I.A. should be made public. 3) Checks and balances: Making sure a fair investigation is completed for both the complaining party and the Officers. I feel it is imperative that a fair and complete investigation be conducted by both Internal Affairs and the Citizens Review Board. All witnesses should be contacted and interviewed and all evidence in the matter should be reviewed. Any person should feel comfortable lodging a complaint against an Officer and feel confident about the investigative process. At the same time, an Officer who has complaints brought against them by the public should also feel the same confidence. Please specify any activities which might create a serious conflict of interest if you should be appointed to this board or commission: None Have you ever been convicted of a crime (except for minor traffic offenses that resulted only in a fine)? Yes No If yes, please explain in complete detail. State the nature and approximate date of the conviction, the sentence imposed, whether the sentence has been completed, and any other information you consider to be relevant Upon application for and acceptance of appointment, board and commission members demonstrate their intention and ability to attend meetings. If appointed, frequent nonattendance may result in termination of the appointment. By typing your name in the space provided, I submit my electronic signature and application to the City of Fort Collins and swear or affirm under penalty of perjury pursuant to the laws of the State of Colorado: -that I meet the eligibility requirements of the position sought and -that the information provided in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. Signature: Date: Optional: How did you learn of a vacancy on this board or commission: Newspaper Cable 14 City News (Utility Bill Insert) Website Other (please specify) It would be an honor to serve on the Citizens Review Board. I believe with my prior training and experience, I can be a valuable asset to this board. As female person of color, I also feel a responsibility to others of color in the community, to see that any claims of injustices are reviewed thoroughly by members of their community, not just by an internal investigation. -1- RESOLUTION 2020-067 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD WHEREAS, two vacancies currently exist on the Citizen Review Board due to the resignation of previous board members; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to make appointments to fill those vacancies on the Citizen Review Board. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That the following named persons are hereby appointed to fill the two vacancies on the Citizen Review Board as hereinafter indicated, with terms to begin immediately and to expire as set forth after each name: Citizen Review Board Expiration of Term Cassandra Moore December 31, 2020 Melissa Rosas December 31, 2020 Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 21st day of July, A.D. 2020. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk