Jul 22, 2026 Police Oversight Commission

[00:01:17]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER FOR JULY 22ND, 2026.

CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

COMMISSIONER BENDER.

COMMISSIONER BROWN.

COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL HERE.

COMMISSIONER OCHOA.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER ATCH.

COMMISSIONER OROZCO.

HERE.

CHAIR .

HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE RECORD.

COMMISSIONER BROWN IS EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? HEARING NONE.

OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO ELECT THE POC CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

THESE SEATS TAKE EFFECT AT THE NEXT POC MEETING IN OCTOBER.

UM, I ACTUALLY, THERE'S TIME FOR ME TO MAKE COMMENTS.

IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO START A, BEING AT THE START OF A COMMISSION AND GET IT GOING.

AND WE'VE GOTTEN IT GOING AND NOW IT'S TIME TO GO, UM, AND DO A LOT MORE THAN WE'VE BEEN DOING BECAUSE GETTING GOING TAKES TIME.

[ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR]

I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR POC CHAIR.

UH, POINT OF ORDER PLEASE.

CHAIR, BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE NEW COMMISSIONER, UM, INTRODUCE HIMSELF JUST IN CASE HE MAY GET ELECTED FOR SOMETHING .

AHA.

UH, HI EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS DAVID OCHOA, AND I ALMOST WENT INTO MY SPIEL FOR WORK.

UH, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

HAPPY TO BE HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH ALL OF YOU.

I WAS PREVIOUSLY ON THE CPCC, AND, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING GET GOING NOW THAT WE'RE UP AND RUNNING WITH THE POC.

SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY, AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE GUS, WHO I KNOW IN OUR OTHER LIVES.

UM, BUT HAPPY TO GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION.

OKAY.

THE NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE POC CHAIR.

EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR THE CHAIR, INCLUDING THEMSELVES.

UH, THESE NOMINATIONS CANNOT BE AMENDED OR RECONSIDERED AND DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR? ARE THERE ANY SECOND? NO.

YOU DO NOT NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND.

WE DON'T NEED THIS MOTION.

NO, NO.

I, YEAH.

I, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, THE CHAIR, THE CURRENT CHAIR, TO CONTINUE SERVING AS OUR CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

I WOULD ACCEPT THAT NOMINATION.

YEAH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS THERE? BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.

I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR CHAIR.

UM, I COULD, IT SAYS IN, IN THE ORDER NOMINATED.

SO AS THE ONLY NOMINEE, UM, I'M GONNA BRIEFLY SHARE WHILE I'LL BE, WHY I'D BE LIKE TO BE ELECTED CHAIR.

IT'S ACTUALLY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE ROLLING.

REALLY ROLLING AND HEARING,

[00:05:01]

SO I'M HAPPY TO BE CHAIR AS WE DO THAT, AS WE ROLL IT OUT.

UM, SO THAT'S IT.

UM, CLERK, CAN WE DO A VOTE FOR NA TOUCHNET FOR CHAIR.

OKAY.

IS THAT MOTION CARRIES? OKAY.

UM, I WILL NOW OPEN IT UP TO THE, I WILL NOW DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR POC VICE CHAIR.

EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR VICE CHAIR, INCLUDING YOURSELF.

THESE NOMINATIONS CANNOT BE AMENDED OR RECONSIDERED AND DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE COMMISSIONER BENDER.

GOOD.

I'M .

UM, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS? COMMISSIONER BENDER, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT THE NOMINATION? I'LL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION.

.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, THERE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.

I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR VICE CHAIR.

COMMISSIONER BENDER, YOU MAY SPEAK IN YOUR OWN BEHALF AT THIS POINT.

SMILE, BUT DON'T LAUGH.

, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE NOMINATION.

I AM HAPPY TO WORK WITH, UH, CHAIR NATA TO KEEP THINGS GOING AND KEEP US MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING PROGRESS.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, RECOMMENDATION.

OH, FIRST WOULD, CAN WE, UM, HAVE AN ELECTION FOR THE CHAIR? FOR THE VICE CHAIR? I'M SORRY.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.

IF THE CHAIR COULD PLEASE DECLARE THE ELECTION CLOSED.

OH, I'M SORRY.

IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.

OKAY.

I DECLARE THE ELECTION CLOSED.

I WILL KEEP READING THIS AND IT'S MISSING THINGS.

.

I'LL TAKE CARE, PATRICK, LATER ELECTION ABOUT THAT.

NATA, DON'T YOU WORRY, .

UM, OKAY.

CLERK, PLEASE READ THE FIRST ITEM.

ITEM ITEM ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH.

2026.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, COMMISSIONERS ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM?

[1. 26-54903 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Police Oversight Commission meeting of Thursday, January 29, 2026.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

QUICK COMMENT.

I'LL BE ABSTAINING JUST 'CAUSE I WASN'T HERE AT THE LAST MEETING.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS, CAST YOUR VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION MEETING HELD JANUARY 29TH.

2026.

WHY ISN'T IT GOING THERE? MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, THAT MOTION WAS CARRIED.

UM, CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.

ITEM TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.

I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE ETHICS OFFICER HEATHER VAN WICK WITH THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING A PRESENTATION ON THE ETHICS PROGRAM FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UM,

[2. 26-54904 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Annual Update from the Office of Ethics and Transparency.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

I'M THE ETHICS OFFICER, UH, MANAGING THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY, AND WE ARE HOUSED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

UH, THIS IS, UM, AN ANNUAL ISH UPDATE THAT WE LIKE TO DO.

WE, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,

[00:10:01]

UM, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ETHICS, SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR OFFICE.

UM, AND THEN AFTER MY PRESENTATION, UH, MILLICENT, WE'LL GET MORE IN DEPTH ON THE BROWN ACT.

SO WITH THAT, JUST, UH, UM, AND WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS THAT WEREN'T HERE THE LAST TIME I WAS.

UM, SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.

OUR MISSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT'S TO BUILD TRUST AMONG THE PUBLIC, OUR EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS, AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN ALL MAKE IMPARTIAL DECISIONS AS STEWARDS OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.

AT THE CRUX OF WHAT WE DO AS GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION, UH, WE ALSO MANAGE AN ETHICS HELPLINE.

WE OFFER ADVICE, UM, AGAIN, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST.

SO, UH, MY OFFICE MANAGES THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT PROGRAM, OF WHICH WE GET SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THOSE REQUESTS A YEAR, UM, ALWAYS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.

UM, AND THAT INCLUDES, AGAIN, THE MAYOR, OUR ATTORNEY, OUR CLERK, HUMAN RESOURCES.

SO I LIKE TO SHARE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

I KNOW THIS YEAR'S ALMOST OVER, UH, BUT IN 2025, UM, WE ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A FEW BIG THINGS INCLUDING, UH, LAUNCHING A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC ROADMAP.

UH, WE ALSO ADVANCED A UNIFIED CITYWIDE ETHICS FRAMEWORK, UH, THAT IS NOW CALLED THE FAIR ACT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL WANNA PAY ATTENTION TO.

UM, IT STARTED AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ETHICS COMMISSION, WHICH IS UNDER, UH, THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND THEN AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS OF WORKING ON THIS RECOMMENDATION, IT, UH, WENT TO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR INTRODUCED IT AS THE FAME, AS THE FAIR ACT.

EXCUSE ME.

SO ONCE, ONCE IT GETS APPROVED AND THEN SENT BACK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FINAL DRAFTING, UM, IT WILL BECOME AN ORDINANCE THAT REALLY JUST WORKS TO CENTRALIZE ALL OF, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICIES THAT TEND TO BE SCATTERED RIGHT NOW, OUR BEST PRACTICES AND OUR PROCESSES.

SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.

UM, I DON'T IMAGINE THAT THIS WILL BE IN ORDINANCE FORM UNTIL AT THE END OF THE YEAR AT THE EARLIEST.

UH, WE ALSO DEVELOPED THE CITY'S FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING.

WE BUILT OUT OUR MASTER COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION PLAN, AND THEN CONTINUED OUR OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND STAFF LIAISONS.

AND THIS, UH, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT OUTREACH.

AND THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE FRAMEWORK I JUST MENTIONED.

UM, IT'S A FIVE STEP PRACTICAL TOOL, UH, THAT WE'VE INTRODUCED TO EMPLOYEES TO, UH, HELP THEM NAVIGATE, UM, SITUATIONS OR QUESTIONS THAT MAY NOT BE SO OBVIOUS.

SO, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS YEAR, UM, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE FAIR ACT, UH, REALLY WORKING ON PRACTICAL DECISION MAKING TOOLS, TRYING TO MAKE ETHICS A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, UH, LEADERSHIP SUPPORT.

SO I'VE DONE A LOT OF TARGETED, UH, TRAINING AND OUTREACH OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS OR SO.

UH, REALLY FOCUSING ON OUR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS, UH, WORKING ON OUR COMMUNICATION.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE BUILT OUT A MASTER COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PLAIN LANGUAGE ETHICS.

AND THEN, UM, JUST EMPHASIZING OUR HELPLINE AND GUIDANCE.

SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ETHICS AND THE OTHER REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

SO I WANTED TO CHAT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ADVISORY BODIES AND WHY ETHICS MATTERS.

UM, MOST OF OUR BODIES, OUR COMMISSION PROGRAM, ADVISE, RECOMMEND, AND INFORM.

AND ALL OF THIS REALLY SHAPES PUBLIC TRUST.

IT INFLUENCES CITY DECISIONS.

SO I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOUR ROLE MATTERS AND YOUR DECISIONS EVENTUALLY, UM, DO BECOME POLICY.

THEY DO INFLUENCE COUNCIL ACTIONS.

THEY INFLUENCE CITY STAFF ACTIONS AND ULTIMATELY PUBLIC, UH, PERCEPTION.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT INFLUENCE, OUR CONDUCT, UH, OUR ETHICAL CONDUCT AND ADHERENCE TO THE CITY'S VALUES ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

YOU'LL SEE LITTLE POINTY FINGERS THROUGHOUT, UH, THIS PRESENTATION.

THESE ARE JUST FRIENDLY REMINDERS.

UM, ANNUAL REPORTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS COMMISSION HAS TO DO AN ANNUAL REPORT.

UM, BUT A LOT OF THEM DO.

SO THOSE ARE DUE ON JUNE 1ST FORM 700.

THOSE ARE DUE APRIL 1ST.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY THOSE ARE ALL IN BY NOW.

IF NOT, YOU'RE STILL HEARING FROM OUR CITY CLERK.

UM, FAIRNESS AND PROCESS, THEY MATTER.

SO, COMMISSION MEETINGS MUST BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, YOUR BYLAWS AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

AND AGAIN, MILLICENT WILL TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT AFTER THIS PRESENTATION.

THESE RULES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE

[00:15:01]

UNBIASED DECISION MAKING.

SO JUST A REMINDER, COMMISSIONERS MUST REMAIN IMPARTIAL AND OBJECTIVE.

YOUR DECISION SHOULD BE BASED ON THE RECORD, ON FACTS AND ADOPTED CRITERIA.

SO EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF BIAS CAN REALLY UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST.

SO AGAIN, ALL DECISIONS.

WHAT I'M ESSENTIALLY SAYING IS NEED TO BE MADE BEHIND THE DAIS AND NOT BEFORE YOU GET BEHIND THE DAIS.

PUBLIC CONFIDENCE DEPENDS ON FAIRNESS AND NOT JUST OUTCOMES.

SO ANOTHER REMINDER, ONLY THE CHAIR OR ANOTHER FORMALLY OR ANOTHER MEMBER FORMALLY AUTHORIZED BY YOUR COMMISSION, CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION.

SO THIS APPLIES WHEN YOU'RE ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL OR AT OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS, EMAILS OR LETTERS, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, SIGNATURES, ENDORSEMENTS, OR PUBLIC STATEMENTS.

THIS MATTERS BECAUSE FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESSES HELP ENSURE STATEMENTS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE MEETINGS, REFLECT THE COMMISSION'S COLLECTIVE POSITION AND NOT JUST A PERSONAL AGENDA.

ALIGN WITH ADOPTED OBJECTIVES AND DON'T PROMOTE YOUR PERSONAL AGENDAS OR BIASES.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN SPEAK PERSONALLY AS A RESIDENT, BUT NOT OFFICIALLY AS A COMMISSIONER WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.

THIS IS CALLED MISUSE OF AUTHORITY AT TIMES AND CAN OCCUR WHEN YOUR PERSONAL VIEWS APPEAR TO BE THE OFFICIAL POSITION.

REQUIRED TRAININGS, WE ALL HAVE THEM.

UM, JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT THOSE ARE FOR, UH, APPOINTED OFFICIALS.

WE'VE GOT OUR CITY REQUIRED CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS.

THIS IS ANNUALLY, UH, THE BIENNIAL, STATE AND CITY REQUIRED HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES.

ALSO, ALLY IS THE STATE REQUIRED AB 1, 2, 3, 4 ETHICS TRAINING.

AGAIN, THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS TRAINING.

AND THEN, UH, NEWER COMMISSIONERS HAVE, UH, THE MAYOR REQUIRED TRAININGS THAT YOU ARE TO TAKE WITHIN 120 DAYS OF ASSUMING OFFICE.

ALL OF THESE TRAININGS LIVE AND LEARN.

YOU GET YOUR REMINDERS.

UM, IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE ACCESSING THAT ACCOUNT, JUST REACH OUT TO PATRICK.

AND PATRICK WILL REACH OUT TO, UM, OUR LEARN STAFF HELPLINE.

THIS IS THE HELPLINE I MENTIONED EARLIER.

UM, IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UH, CONFIDENTIAL AND ANONYMOUS.

AND JUST SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS AND REMINDERS.

AGAIN, YOUR ROLE IS ADVISORY.

KNOW WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING PERSONALLY VERSUS OFFICIALLY, REMEMBER THAT FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESSES MATTER.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMAIN FAIR AND PARTIAL AND UNBIASED.

FOLLOW MEETING RULES AND PROCEDURES, COMPLETE REQUIRED TRAININGS AND DISCLOSURES, AND ASK WHEN YOU'RE UNSURE.

THESE ARE RESOURCES THAT I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

THESE ARE ALWAYS KEPT UP TO DATE.

THERE'S A COUPLE WITH A LITTLE POINTY FINGER NEXT TO IT.

UH, THE ETHICS GUIDE FOR LONG BEACH CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES.

THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND THIS, UH, GUIDE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GIVING YOU A HIGH LEVEL, UM, OVERVIEW AND EXPLANATION OF YOUR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE STATE AS, UH, APPOINTED OFFICIALS.

AND THEN OUR COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE HANDBOOK.

THIS IS MANAGED BY OUR CITY CLERK.

UM, AND THIS REALLY IS SHOULD BE YOUR GO-TO GUIDE AS A, NOT ONLY A NEW COMMISSIONER, BUT AS A COMMISSIONER THAT'S BEEN HERE A WHILE, JUST TO REVISIT FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND WITH THAT, THAT'S MY ANNUAL UPDATE.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

THANK YOU.

OH, CHAIR.

CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONERS ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? CLERK? CAN WE DO A VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? OKAY, WHY ISN'T IT COMING OUT? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, CLERK.

PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.

ITEM THREE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.

[00:20:03]

[3. 26-54905 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Ralph M. Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order from the Office of the City Attorney.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THANK YOU CHAIR, AND, UM, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW COMMISSIONER.

UM, AS HEATHER SAID, WE DO THIS TRAINING PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR-ISH.

IT'S A GOOD REFRESHER, UM, FOR ALL, ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONS, UM, BECAUSE THE BROWN ACT IS, IS, UH, THE FOUNDATIONAL LAW OF HOW THIS, UM, BODY CONDUCTS ITSELF.

SO THE BROWN ACT, UM, WAS A RESULT OF A SERIES OF, UM, REPORTS BY A SAN FRANCISCO REPORTER WHO REPORTED ON SECRET MEETINGS OF, UM, PUBLIC AGENCIES.

UM, AND SO IN RESPONSE, THE STATE LEGISLATOR ENACTED THE BROWN ACT TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THE, THE PUBLIC BODIES THAT GOVERN AND, AND ADVISE, UM, OUR RESIDENTS, UM, UH, HOLD THEIR MEETINGS IN PUBLIC.

UM, IT'S ONE OF THE MAIN, UH, CALIFORNIA'S MAIN SUNSHINE LAWS.

THE OTHER ONE IS THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, AND IT'S CALLED THE SUNSHINE LAW, BECAUSE THE IDEA IS THAT SUNSHINE IS THE GREATEST DISINFECTANT OF, UH, OUR GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE DO SHOULD BE OPEN AND PUBLIC.

UM, AND I LIKE TO, IN THIS PRESENTATION, LIKE TO READ A LITTLE BIT OF SOME, UH, SURPRISINGLY AND ART ARTFULLY DRAFTED LEGISLATION, UM, THAT KIND OF INTRODUCES THE BROWN ACT.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I READ THAT TO, TO CENTER OURSELVES, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION.

SO, UM, ONE SECOND.

SO THE, THE BEGINNING OF THE BROWN ACT, UM, STATES, THE LEGISLATOR FINDS AND DECLARES THAT THE PUBLIC COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COUNCILS AND OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES OF THE STATE EXIST TO AID IN THE CONDUCT OF THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.

IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LAW THAT THEIR ACTIONS BE TAKEN OPENLY AND THAT THEIR DELIBERATIONS BE CONDUCTED OPENLY.

SO THAT'S THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF THE BROWN ACT, RIGHT? WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS, UM, OPEN IN IN PUBLIC.

WE TAKE ACTIONS IN DELIBERATIONS OPENLY.

THERE IS NO SECRET VOTING.

WE VOTE IN PUBLIC.

UM, ANOTHER FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF THE BROWN ACT IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND SPEAK AT, UM, ALL THESE MEETINGS.

AND ANOTHER FOUNDATIONAL, UH, CONCEPT IS ONLY MATTERS ON THE AGENDA MUST BE DISCUSSED.

UM, SO DISCUSSION OR ACTION BY THIS BODY OR ANYBODY SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT IS NOT ALLOWED, RIGHT? WE WANNA, UH, NOTIFY THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S GONNA BE CONDUCTED, UM, BY THIS BODY.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE CAN ONLY DISCUSS MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF THE BROWN ACT IS THAT WE WANT TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF, SO IF THERE IS ANY, UM, UH, THOUGHT OR INKLING FROM THE PUBLIC, THAT THIS BODY DISCUSSES ITS BUSINESS IN PRIVATE, UM, THAT JUST, IT ERODES PUBLIC TRUST.

UM, AND ALSO BY HAVING OUR BODIES OR OUR MEETINGS IN, IN, IN THE OPEN, IT HELPS PROTECT THE DUE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF PARTIES APPEARING BEFORE THIS BODY.

THIS, THAT CONCEPT DOESN'T NECESSARILY APPLY TO THIS BODY.

UM, BUT IN, IN CASES OF LIKE COUNSEL, WHEN THEY HAVE HEARINGS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHEN THEY HEAR APPLICANTS, UM, FOR PERMITS, UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE, UM, THE BROWN ACT IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE APPLICANTS AND PARTIES, UH, HAVE PROPER DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

SO, WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT? OF COURSE, OUR CITY COUNCIL IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT.

UM, AND ANY, UM, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, BOARDS THAT, UH, WERE CREATED BY FORMAL ACTION BY COUNCIL.

SO THAT'S THROUGH AN ORDINANCE, THAT'S THROUGH A RESOLUTION.

UM, THAT COULD ALSO BE THROUGH A CHARTER AMENDMENT BY THE PEOPLE.

UM, ULTIMATELY THE, THE, THE COUNCIL PUTS THAT CHARTER AMENDMENT ON FOR A VOTE.

BUT AGAIN, ANY OUT ACTION, FORMAL ACTION BY COUNCIL, UM, THAT BODY IS, IS SUBJECT TO THE BROWN ACT.

UM, ONE IMPORTANT CONCEPT TO, UM, UNDERSTAND, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE, ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, IS, UM, SOMETIMES MEETING EVERY MONTH TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, UH, IS IN INSUFFICIENT, RIGHT? SO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME MECHANISM FOR THIS BODY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS EFFICIENTLY WITHOUT HAVING TO MEET EVERY TIME.

AND SO THAT'S WHY IN THE BROWN ACT, WE, THERE IS A, UM, PROVISION THAT SAYS TEMPORARY AD HOC COMMITTEES MADE UP OF SOLELY OF COMMISSIONERS THAT CONSTITUTE LESS OF A QUORUM CAN MEET WITHOUT THE NOTICE AND AGENDA REQUIREMENT.

SO LESS THAN THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION CAN MEET, RIGHT? WE WANNA CONDUCT BUSINESS EFFICIENTLY.

THAT AD HOC CAN MEET, UM, TEMPORARILY AND DISCUSS A CERTAIN SUBJECT, UM, WITHIN THEMSELVES.

AND THEN THEY PRESENT WHATEVER THEY FOUND OR

[00:25:01]

THIS IS A WAY TO CONDUCT MORE BUSINESS MORE EFFICIENTLY WITHOUT HAVING TO MEET AND, AND HAVE A NOTICE AND AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING.

SO, SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS, THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE A HARD CONCEPT, UH, WRAPPING THEIR HEADS AROUND, BUT THINK OF IT AS A, UM, KIND OF DAISY CHAIN COMMUNICATION.

IT'S A LINK OF COMMUNICATION.

SO IF ONE COMMISSIONER TALKS TO ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, ONE-ON-ONE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THIS BODY, UM, COMMISSIONER B TALKS TO COMMISSIONER C, COMMISSIONER C TALKS TO COMMISSIONER D.

THAT BECOMES A SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT CONSTITUTES A MEETING.

AND THAT IS NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE THAT MEETING WAS NOT NOTICED INIZED IN ADVANCE, RIGHT? WHENEVER A MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION MEETS AND DISCUSSES, UM, THERE, IT HAS TO BE AGENDAS AND IT HAS TO BE GIVEN NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WITHOUT THAT NOTICE AND A, AN AGENDA THAT'S, UM, INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE, THAT IS AN ILLEGAL MEETING UNDER THE BROWN ACT.

SO, UM, THESE ARE, UH, ADDITIONAL TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE PROHIBITED.

AND I'LL JUST GO THROUGH, UM, EACH OF THESE TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS, UH, IN TANDEM.

SO THE FIRST, UM, TYPE OF PARADE COMMUNICATION IS THE HUB AND SPOKE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, LET'S SAY ONE MEMBER AND A FIVE MEMBER COMMISSION INDIVIDUALLY, UH, CONTACTS ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO, UM, UH, WHIP UP VOTES, RIGHT? THAT'S THE COMMISSIONER IS THE HUB, AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE THE SPOKE IN THAT COMMUNICATION.

AND THAT IS NOT ALLOWED, THAT IS A SERIAL COMMUNICATION.

UM, ALSO, IT'S, IT'S NOT, OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO TRY TO WHIP UP VOTES IN SECRET.

AGAIN, WE SHOULD BE, UM, DOING OUR BUSINESS IN PUBLIC AND TAKING OUR VOTES IN PUBLIC.

SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE DAISY CHAIN COMMUNICATION.

SO IN THIS EXAMPLE, UM, MEMBER BLUE CONTACTS, MEMBER GREEN, AND THEN MEMBER GREEN CONTACTS, MEMBER ORANGE, UM, AND THEN MEMBER ORANGE CONTACTS, MEMBER PINK.

UM, SO WE HAVE A WHOLE RAINBOW OF COMMISSIONERS CONTACTING EACH OTHER ONE-ON-ONE.

UM, BUT THOSE, UM, COMMUNICATIONS ARE, UM, NOT ALLOWED.

UM, THIS OFTEN COMES UP WITH TEXTS OR EMAILS.

SO IF AN, IF ONE COMMISSIONER EMAILS THE ENTIRE COMMISSION, UM, AND ONE OF THE, UH, RECIPIENTS REPLIES, ALL THAT BECOMES A MEETING, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU'RE DISCUSSING BUSINESS, UM, WITH, AMONGST THE MAJORITY OF YOU VIA EMAIL.

THAT'S WHY STAFF WILL BLIND COPY COMMISSIONERS ON EMAILS SO THAT IF A COMMISSIONER REPLIES, THEY CAN, THEY CANNOT REPLY ALL.

THEY ONLY REPLY TO STAFF FOR THAT REASON.

SO ANOTHER TYPE OF PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION IS BY REPRESENTATIVE.

SO, UM, YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR SPOUSE, UM, ADVOCATE FOR YOU OR TALK ABOUT COMMISSION BUSINESS WITH OTHER COMMISSIONERS, UM, IF THAT CONSTITUTES A MAJORITY.

SO IF, IF YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER TALKS TO EVERY, IF YOU TALK TO YOUR PARTNER ABOUT COMMISSION BUSINESS, THEN MAYBE YOU WANNA PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA AND YOUR PARTNER TALKS TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID TO YOUR PARTNER.

THAT IS, UM, A COMMUNICATION BY REPRESENTATION.

UM, SAME THING GOES FOR STAFF.

LIKE WE, WE ALSO CANNOT HAVE THIS, UM, UH, COLLECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF YOU ABOUT A SINGLE SUBJECT THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

THAT'S WHY STAFF IS VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF YOU IN A MEETING OR WE COMMUNICATE ONE-ON-ONE WITH YOU.

UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, UM, ELECTRONIC MESSAGING, EMAILS, TEXTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, IS ALSO AN AREA THAT GETS TRICKY.

UM, IF YOU, OF COURSE, YOU WERE ALLOWED TO POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF THIS COMMISSION.

UM, THE BROWN ACT EVEN SAYS YOU CAN, UM, AND THE TEXT ITSELF, UM, HOWEVER, UH, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS NOT LIKE, OR RETWEET OR COMMENT ON ANOTHER COMMISSIONER'S SOCIAL MEDIA POST, BECAUSE EVEN A SIMPLE, LIKE ON A FACEBOOK POST CONSTITUTES A COMMUNICATION.

AND IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OF YOU LIKING A POST, UM, BY A COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE COMMISSION'S BUSINESS, THAT BECOMES A PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION.

SO WHAT TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE ALLOWED, AGAIN, INDIVIDUAL ONE-ON-ONE, UM, CONTACTS, AND ALSO YOU OF COURSE, UM, ARE FREE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE COMMISSION'S BUSINESS.

OF COURSE, THAT'S ONE OF YOUR, UM, DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH, OF COURSE, UM, THAT'S ALLOWED.

UM,

[00:30:01]

HOWEVER, THEY'RE VERY FACT SPECIFIC.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF YOU CAN ATTEND A DOG'S BIRTHDAY PARTY.

THAT'S FINE.

YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE PRESUMABLY NOT GONNA, IT'S A SOCIAL OUTING.

IT'S NOT ABOUT COMMISSION BUSINESS.

UM, AND SO THAT IS EXPLICITLY STATED IN THE BROWN ACT.

THAT THAT IS, THAT IS OKAY, BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU ATTEND THIS DOG'S BIRTHDAY, YOU CANNOT DISCUSS THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION ACT, THAT EVENT.

SO, UH, FOR AGENDAS, I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THIS.

THEY HAVE TO BE POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE, UM, FOR REGULAR MEETINGS AND FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS.

THEY ONLY REQUIRE 24 HOURS AND AGENDAS MUST, UM, ESSENTIALLY INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT'S GONNA BE DISCUSSED.

UM, THEY HAVE TO INCLUDE WHERE THE MEETING IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, WHAT TIME, THE DATE, UH, AND A BRIEF GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH, UM, ITEM.

UM, MEETINGS CAN ONLY BE HELD WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF, UM, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND OF COURSE, OUR MEETINGS ARE ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE A DA.

SO THE PUBLIC HAS CIVIL RIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE BROWN ACT.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COMMENT, UM, ON, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ONE, ANY MATTER WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE BODY SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMENT ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

UM, AND I'LL GET BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND AND WHY THAT MATTERS.

UM, THE RIGHT, THE PUBLIC ALSO HAS A RIGHT TO RECORD THE MEETING.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REVIEW THE AGENDA AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED, UM, TO THIS BODY, THIS PRESENTATION, BECAUSE IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU, IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WAS HEATHER'S PRESENTATION.

UM, THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE TO GIVE THEIR NAME WHEN THEY WANT TO SPEAK.

UM, THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE THEIR NAME, BUT THEY CAN DO SO IF THEY CHOOSE.

UM, AND THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO WITNESS, UM, VOTES.

UM, AND JUST, I JUST WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THERE'S, I I HAVE SEEN SOME CONFUSION ON THIS AS TO WHY COMMISSIONERS CAN'T RESPOND WHEN THEY RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE, UH, THIS BODY CANNOT DISCUSS ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.

SO IF SOMEONE MAKES A PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE, THE AGENDA, UM, THE COMMISSION CANNOT THEN RESPOND AND DISCUSS AMONGST THEMSELVES, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT WASN'T AGENDAS AHEAD OF IN ADVANCE.

SO WHAT, UM, YOU'LL SEE CITY COUNCIL DO, AND WHAT, UM, COMMISSIONERS DO IS DIRECT, IS DIRECT QUESTIONS TO STAFF TO REPORT BACK, UM, OR TO BRIEFLY RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTER.

OR, UM, AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE OFTEN HAVE STAFF GO, UM, AND TALK TO PUBLIC COMMENTERS ABOUT WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY JUST SAID, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY YOU CANNOT RESPOND, UM, TO PUBLIC COMMENT OTHER THAN A BRIEF RESPONSE TO STAFF OR, OR OTHERWISE.

SO, UM, THE VI UH, THE BROWN ACT IS SUBJECT TO, UM, CIVIL ACTION AND, AND ALSO CRIMINAL ACTION.

UM, AND, UM, IT IS ENFORCED BY THE PUBLIC.

UM, SO AGAIN, THIS IS A, UM, THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S, THE PUBLIC'S LAW, AND IT IS, IT IS ENFORCED BY THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND SO I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDERS, UM, WHICH WAS, UM, UH, FOUNDED BY A US ARMY RETIRED GENERAL IN THE 19 HUNDREDS.

AND HE, UM, DEVELOPED A SERIES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, UM, THAT ARE LOOK DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE ENGLISH DID AND ARE, UH, BUT ARE WIDELY ACCEPTED IN THE STATES CONGRESS AND OTHER, AND OTHER BODIES.

THE THE REASON WE HAVE RULES, AND THIS MAY SEEM SELF-EVIDENT, IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME RULES TO, TO DISCUSS WHAT YOU WANNA DISCUSS AND GET THINGS DONE.

SO WE NEED RULES ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE, UM, TALK, UH, TALK ABOUT THINGS OFF TOPIC.

WE NEED RULES ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE DO WHEN PEOPLE TALK OVER EACH OTHER.

UM, THE REASON WE HAVE RULES, PARLIAMENTARY RULES IS SO THAT THE COMMISSION WALKS OUTTA THE MEETING AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND WHAT EXACTLY THEY WERE THEY VOTED ON.

UM, AND THAT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMISSION AND, AND FOR THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND ANOTHER, UM, BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ROBERT'S RULES IS THAT DECISIONS ARE, DECISIONS ARE DONE BY MAJORITY VOTE.

UM, THE IS CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

UM, EVERY MEMBER, UM, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, AND RULES SHOULD HELP NOT, UH, HINDER US IN OUR DISCUSSION.

SO THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR SIMPLY PUT, IS TO BE A FACILITATOR.

THEY'RE FACILITATING THE MEETING.

THEY RUN THE MEETING EFFICIENTLY, THEY MAKE SURE ALL MEMBERS THAT WANNA SPEAK HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

UM, THEY DETERMINE WHETHER A MOTION IS, UM,

[00:35:01]

UM, YES, SO ESSENTIALLY THE CHAIR IS A FACILITATOR, A MEDIATOR, UM, REALLY, UH, DRIVES THE MEETING TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, UM, DURING DISCUSSIONS.

SO WE HAVE, UH, THE AGENDA ITEM IS CALLED, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND THEN WE HAVE DISCUSSION.

AND AGAIN, THE ROLE OF THE CHAIR IS VERY IMPORTANT DURING DISCUSSIONS.

UM, ESSENTIALLY IT'S TO MAKE SURE EVERY MEMBER IS HEARD, UM, AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK AND MAKE SURE DEBATE IS CENTERED ON THE ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM THAT IS ALSO A BROWN ACT, UM, UH, CONSIDERATION IS THAT THE COMMISSION CANNOT DISCUSS, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA DURING THAT, UH, DURING THAT ITEM.

SO YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT ONCE, UH, THIS SLIDE ISN'T ENTIRELY ACCURATE BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPUTERS THAT DO THIS.

BUT, UH, THE, THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE MAKER OF THE MOTION IN THE SECOND.

UM, AND THEN AFTER THE MOTION IN THE SECOND, THE MOTION IS THEN DEBATED OR, AND VOTED ON.

UM, THERE ARE SUB SUBSTITUTE A MOTIONS AND FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS.

I DON'T LIKE, I DON'T LIKE TO GET INTO THAT.

I, IF YOU WANNA MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION, THAT'S FINE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT IT'S CALLED.

UM, BUT THAT IS, UH, THE, THE MAIN THING YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT AMENDMENTS IS THEY HAVE TO BE GERMANE.

THEY HAVE TO BE GERMANE TO THE ITEM THAT, UH, TO THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE THE BODY.

UM, SO WE CAN'T MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE ITEM ACTUALLY IS BEING IS ABOUT.

AND OF COURSE, THE CHAIR CALLS FOR THE VOTE.

AND AS I SAID, BALLOTS, SECRET VOTING IS PROHIBITED UNDER THE BROWN ACT.

UM, IF THE VOTE IS A TIE, THAT MEANS IT FAILS, UM, BECAUSE A TIE IS NOT A MAJORITY.

UM, I, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT SILENCE IS CONSENT.

IF YOU DON'T VOTE, THAT MEANS YOU VOTE YES WITHOUT YOUR VOTE, UH, WITHOUT YOU VOTING YES OR NO.

IT'S, IT IS ESSENTIALLY A YES, UM, BECAUSE OF A COMMISSIONER ABSTAINS THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON, UM, THEN, UH, THEIR, THEIR VOTE DOES NOT MATTER.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? OH, GUS.

YEAH.

HI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS VERY, UH, VERY INFORMATIVE.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE WE LAST HAD IT, SO IT'S, IT'S A GREAT REFRESHER.

UH, TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.

SO, UM, IN AN AD HOC, UH, MEETING, IS IT THE MAJORITY OF THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS SEATED, OR IS IT THE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POTENTIAL COMMISSIONERS? THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IT IS, UM, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE, UM, CURRENT COMMISSIONERS FOR, UH, AN AD HOC.

OKAY.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTES, IT'S THE, UM, MAJORITY CONSTITUTES THE, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE PRESENT DURING THE VOTE, UM, FOR AD HOC, UM, IT, IT ACTUALLY IS THE SAME.

IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE, THE SEATS THAT ARE FILLED.

OKAY.

YEAH.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN SECOND, UM, WITH SB 7 0 7, TAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING ROLLED OUT, UH, ACROSS THE STATE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HERE AT A COMMISSION LEVEL, OR IS THAT JUST AT A COUNCIL LEVEL AND ABOVE? YEAH, IT'S MAINLY AT A COUNCIL LEVEL.

I, I LIKE TO CALL SB SEVEN OH SEVEN.

THEY'RE SUPER SUPERCHARGED, SB 7 0 7, AND THAT APPLIES TO CITY COUNCIL.

AND THEN THERE'S OTHER PARTS OF THE SB 7 0 7 THAT APPLY TO ALL LEGISLATIVE BODIES.

AND THOSE ARE MAINLY, UM, RULES AROUND TELECONFERENCING.

IT, IT KIND OF CLEANS UP SOME OF THE TELECONFERENCING, UM, PROVISIONS THAT WERE PASSED DUE TO COVID.

UM, AND THOSE ARE THE, THE MAIN CONCERNS, UM, THAT YOU SHOULD BE, UH, THINKING ABOUT.

IF YOU WANT A TELECONFERENCE, JUST LET STAFF KNOW.

SO THERE'S THIS, LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT.

BUT THAT, THAT'S THE MAIN, UM, CHANGE TO THIS BODY IS, IS TELECONFERENCING, IS, IS, IS DIFFERENT.

IN FACT, THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO TELECONFERENCE.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SO, AND ABSTENTION BECOMES A YES.

THE WAY YOU EXPRESS METAPHORICALLY.

YES.

METAPHORICALLY.

WHAT ABOUT A RECUSAL? WHEN SOMEONE, UH, RECUSES THEN, UM, THE MAJORITY IS WHO IS AT THE DAIS OR WHO IS, UM, AMONGST THE DISCUSSION.

SO THAT'S A NEUTRAL, IT'S IT'S JUST THROWN OUT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

OKAY.

YEAH, THAT VOTE, THAT THAT MEMBER OBVIOUSLY CANNOT VOTE.

UM, RIGHT.

SO THEY'RE, IT, IT'S AS IF THEY WEREN'T AT THE MEETING AT ALL FOR THAT VOTE.

OKAY.

[00:40:01]

THAT WAS, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, ABOUT THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? UH, OKAY.

UH, CLERK, CAN WE DO A VOTE TO APPROVE ON THIS ITEM? WHY IS THIS NOT GOING WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO? MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM FOUR IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS.

I WILL NOW HAND IT OVER TO PATRICK WEERS WITH THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.

UH, THANK YOU CHAIR AND, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

SO I'LL BE DOING A, UH, VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR, UH, OUR OFFICES COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, UM, THROUGH 2025 AND, UH, FROM THE START OF 2026 TO, UH, TO THE TODAY.

SO,

[4. 26-54906 Recommendation to receive and file an update on the Office of Police Oversight’s community outreach efforts.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UM, AND SO, UH, JUST TO GET TO THE NUMBERS, UM, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2025, UM, WE'VE ATTENDED A COMBINATION OF, OF NOW, UH, 47 COMMUNITY EVENTS AND, AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

UM, AND WE HAVE, OUT OF THOSE 47, UM, WE PRESENTED AT 10 OF THOSE, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

UM, INSTEAD OF UPDATED NUMBER OF 10 INSTEAD OF THE NINE, UM, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF, UH, 2026, UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO AN NOW UPDATED NUMBER OF 108 COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UM, IN AN EFFORT TO PRESENT TO THEM ABOUT, UH, OUR OFFICE AND ABOUT THE COMMISSION AS WELL.

UM, AND ALSO TO GATHER FEEDBACK.

UM, TO DATE, WE ONLY HEARD BACK FROM 13 OF THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUT WE, UM, LOOK TO, UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO THE, UM, THE REMAINING, UH, GROUPS THAT HAVEN'T RESPONDED BACK, UM, TO SEE IF WE COULD, UH, BASICALLY PRESENT TO THEM AS WELL.

AND, UH, ALSO WE CREATED AN ONLINE SURVEY, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO GATHER FEEDBACK FOR POTENTIAL AUDITS, UM, OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, BASICALLY YOU WOULD JUST SIMPLY SCAN THE QR CODE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE SURVEY.

UM, AND YOUR BAGS, UH, THAT WE, UH, PROVIDED TO YOU ALL EARLIER.

WE, UH, THERE ARE SHOULD BE WALLET SIZED CARS IN THERE WITH A BARCODE ON THERE, UM, CONTAINING THE QR CODE.

AND ALSO, UM, A LARGER, UH, FLYER AS WELL.

UM, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE ON THE BACK TABLE BACK THERE FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

UM, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, SCAN IT AND TAKE THE SURVEY OR SNAP PICTURE OF IT, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SHARE IT WITH ANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN LONG BEACH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, AND, UH, FOR THE LARGER, UH, SHEET ALSO, UM, THAT'S BASICALLY FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY EVENTS THAT WE MIGHT TABLE AT, UM, ANY COMMUNITY EVENTS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT EITHER US STAFF OR, OR, UM, YOU ALL MIGHT TABLE AT.

AND SO LOOKING FORWARD, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE, WE'RE LOOKING TO SCHEDULE PRESENTATIONS WITH, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, JUST OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UH, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CITY EVENTS THAT WE COULD TABLE AT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE REMAINING OF THE YEAR.

UM, AND, UH, WE'VE, FOR THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS WE PURCHASED, UM, A TABLE COVER AND ALSO A BIG, UM, A BIG CANOPY, UH, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T GET BURNED UP IN THE SUN OUT THERE.

AND LASTLY, UH, WE FINALLY HAVE SWAG.

SO, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU ALL HAVE SOME OF THOSE ITEMS THERE AND, UH, JUST TO KIND OF ALSO BE, BE ABLE TO HAND OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THESE EVENTS AND EVENTS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TABLE AT.

UM, AND JUST A REMINDER JUST TO PLEASE, UH, CONTINUE TO CHECK YOUR INBOXES EVERY FRIDAY, UM, FOR WEEKLY EMAIL LISTS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD POSSIBLY ATTEND AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

UM, AND WITH THAT, UH, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND WE'RE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU, PATRICK.

UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON, ON THIS ITEM? IT COULD STAND WITH MY BACK TEETH.

AWKWARD.

HI, MARYANNE DRUMMOND.

UM, I'M IN DISTRICT FOUR.

UM, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE, UM, THE EVENTS, UM, THE, THE OUTREACH EVENTS WHERE YOU DID PRESENTATIONS AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.

I'M WONDERING 'CAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE MORE THAN A HUNDRED, I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHO THOSE GROUPS ARE AND WHAT KIND OF, JUST KIND OF WHAT KIND

[00:45:01]

IF YOU COULD, UH, ADDRESS HER COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR NEXT TIME AND THEN THE CHAIR CAN TALK TO STAFF ABOUT YOUR COMMENT.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SO PATRICK, CAN YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF EVENTS? UH, I'LL SPEAK TO THAT IF THAT'S OKAY.

OKAY.

UM, SO WE DO GO OUT TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION GROUPS WHERE WE'VE BEEN RE REQUESTED TO DO PRESENTATIONS.

WE SOLICIT THOSE INVITATIONS.

UM, SO BASICALLY WE SENT OUT EMAIL BLASTS WITH THE INTRODUCTORY LETTER ABOUT THE OFFICE AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY EXIST AND WE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO COME OUT AND SPEAK TO THEIR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

UM, MOST RECENTLY WE WENT TO THE, THE WILMAR CITY, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING.

WE'VE DONE BELMONT HEIGHTS.

UM, SO WE BASICALLY GO WHERE WE'RE, UM, ASKED TO COME, WE WENT TO THE LONG BEACH ADULT SCHOOL.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PICTURES THAT WAS IN THE PRESENTATION.

UM, AS WELL AS I'M MISSING A BUNCH, BUT WHEN WE DO OUR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS, WE ALWAYS PUT OUR OUTREACH, UM, EFFORTS IN THE NEWSLETTER.

SO IF YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR OUR LISTSERV, WE SEND THAT OUT QUARTERLY, BUT WE ALSO POST IT ON OUR WEBPAGE AS WELL.

SO IF YOU CHECK THE WEBPAGE, PREVIOUS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERS ARE ON THERE WITH OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS.

THANK YOU.

ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YES.

OKAY.

I ACTUALLY DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THE UPDATES IN THE INBOX.

IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS ENGAGED WHEN WE COME OUT TO THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS? WHAT'S OUR ROLE IF WE COME OUT? SO, BECAUSE THE COMMISSION ITSELF IS MOST SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH AUDITS.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH THE LITTLE SURVEY.

AND THE LAST MEETING WE, IN-PERSON MEETING WE HAD, WE KIND OF GAVE A PRESENTATION ON HAVING A QUICK PULSE SURVEY BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW BASICALLY THREE THINGS.

WHAT IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOING WELL WHEN IT COMES TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS? MOSTLY WHAT ARE THEY NOT DOING WELL, UM, AND WHAT ARE THEY NOT DOING AT ALL THAT THAT ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WOULD HELP THEM BE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH WHATEVER THEIR MISSION IS? BECAUSE WE WANNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO INTEGRATE THE WORK OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY WORK TO MAKE THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MORE SUCCESSFUL IF NECESSARY THROUGH THE HELP OF THE POLICE.

WHETHER THAT BE INTERVENTION OR GET OUT THE WAY.

UM, SO WITH THOSE SURVEYS, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY IN EVERY GROUP.

YOU GUYS ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DEALING WITH DIFFERENT SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR, UH, WHETHER IT BE THE JUVENILE, THE YOUTH, THE VA.

SO HOW ARE THE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS YOU'RE INTERFACING WITH AS COMMISSIONERS NEEDING ASSISTANCE TO, MAYBE IT'S ABOUT POLICIES, MAYBE IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATION OR EDUCATION OR WHATEVER IT IS, SO THAT WE CAN FOCUS OUR AUDITS ON THOSE THINGS TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, CLERK, CAN WE DO A VOTE ON THIS ITEM? IT'S NOT COMING UP.

WHY IS MINE NOT COMING UP? OH, THERE YOU GO.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

I WILL RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE CLERK PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.

OH, THAT VOTE CARRIED.

YEAH.

CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE POLICE OVERSIGHT DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU.

UM, DIRECTOR CARRIAGE IS, UM, I WILL NOW HAND IT OVER TO YOU FOR THE QUARTERLY REPORT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONER.

UH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE THAT AS WE'RE MOVING

[5. 26-54907 Recommendation to receive and file a quarterly update from the Police Oversight Director.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

WE DO HAVE

[00:50:01]

UM, THE AUDIT IS MOVING ALONG JUST TO REMIND YOU, IT'S REGARDING THE REDRAFTING AND REWORKING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION PROCESS.

UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS IS A VERY TEDIOUS REVIEW.

WE DID THE, UH, WORK ON THE FRONT END TO LOOK AT OVER A HUNDRED CASES, UM, WHICH THAT REPORT WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE, UM, REGARDING CLOSE OR COMPLETED IA INVESTIGATIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BOTTLENECK IS.

UM, CURRENTLY THE TIME FROM COMPLAINT TO COMPLAINT CLOSE IS ABOUT 11 AND A HALF MONTHS.

UM, WHICH IS EXTREMELY LONG FOR US.

I KNOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHIEF IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PACE AT WHICH THESE, UH, INVESTIGATIONS ARE GETTING DONE AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT A BETTER WAY TO GET IT, UM, MOVED ALONG, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH TRIAGING CERTAIN CASES AND COMPLAINTS.

UM, SO THAT IT ALSO GIVES A BETTER OUTCOME TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBER TO GET RESOLUTION TO THEIR ISSUES A LOT FASTER.

SO I WOULD SAY IF I WERE TO JUST ARBITRARILY COME UP WITH A NUMBER, WE'RE ABOUT 87% DONE.

I LIKE THAT NUMBER.

I JUST MADE THAT UP .

UM, SO IT, WE'RE, THERE ARE STEPS TO IT.

WE HAVE TO HELP THEM, ONE, CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HOW THEY DEFINE ALLEGATIONS.

INSTEAD OF USING POLICIES, WE WANT THEM TO BE MORE SPECIFIC WITH WHAT THEY CALL MISCONDUCT.

UM, THAT MEETING IS NEXT WEEK.