TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM, City Manager
FROM: Telly C. Whitfield, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager
DATE: June 7, 2021
RE:
Title
Citizens Advisory Board Proposal
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
ALL
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: Safe and Secure Community
Goal VI: Collaborate citizen and business engagement
Executive Summary:
City Council gave consensus direction to staff to formally establish a Citizens Advisory Board at the March 2021 Work Session in an effort to enhance lines of communication between the Fayetteville Police Department and residents. Staff has conducted research and identified options for a proposed charter and selection criteria. Previously, staff provided information on various board types at the November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting and January 4, 2021 Work Sessions as part of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee work. Staff now seeks Council direction on next steps.
Background:
The City Council passed Resolution 2021-018 on March 8, 2021 indicating its support and advocacy for special legislation from the General Assembly to allow the City to establish a Citizen Review Board that would provide greater transparency and accountability.
Under current law, records of criminal investigation and law enforcement agency recordings are not public records. Additionally, City personnel files are not public records and cannot be accessed except in minimal circumstances. The board would only have access to those records deemed a public record as set out in N.C.G.S. ?132.
Staff researched current law and analyzed examples of active citizen board across the state to make recommendations for the City of Fayetteville.
Issues/Analysis:
Given the legal constraints, the board should have a clearly defined mission.
* The mission of the Community Police Advisory Board (C.P.A.B.) is to provide sound advice and recommendations to the City Council, City M...
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