East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 2.52 Public Safety Commission

There is created a public safety commission for the city which shall consist of seven members. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the council from among the list of qualified applicants who have submitted applications to the city clerk. The council shall make the appointments at a public meeting after interviewing the applicants.

(Ord. 217 § 1, 1997; Ord. 173 § 1, 1994: Ord. 155 § 1, 1993: prior code § 2-4.601)

Each member of the public safety commission shall be a full time resident of East Palo Alto and shall not serve concurrently in a similar capacity with any other public body in the city.

(Prior code § 2-4.602)

Appointments, following initial terms of one, two or three years, shall be for three-year terms.

(Ord. 173 § 2, 1994: Ord. 155 § 2, 1993: prior code § 2-4.603)

A member of the commission may be removed by a majority vote of the council. A vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A person appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(Prior code § 2-4.604)

A. At the first regular meeting in January of each year, the commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson and one of its members as vice-chairperson, who shall hold office for one year unless their terms as members of the commission expire sooner. An officer or employee of the city designated by the city manager shall serve as secretary of the commission.

B. The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson, or by a majority of the members of the commission upon written notice delivered personally or by mail to each member at least twenty-four hours prior to such meeting.

C. The commission may make and alter rules governing its organization and procedures which are not inconsistent with any applicable ordinance of the city.

D. A majority of the members appointed to the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed is required to take any action.

E. The commission shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings and transactions and shall submit an annual report to the city council with a copy to the city manager.

(Prior code § 2-4.605)

Subject to the approval of the council in each case, the commission may designate one of its members to act as a liaison representative to any other board, commission or committee of the city. The functions of such liaison representatives are:

A. To attend meetings of such other boards, commissions or committees;

B. Advise this commission of the background, attitudes and reasons behind the actions of such other boards, commissions or committees; and

C. On request of any member of such other boards, commissions or committees, to advise such other boards, commissions or committees on policy, procedures and decisions of this commission that may bear upon matters under discussion by such other boards, commissions or committees.

Such liaison representative shall have no power to vote.

(Prior code § 2-4.606)

The East Palo Alto chief of police, or some member of his office regularly delegated by him and approved by the city manager, shall attend all meetings of the commission, function as secretary to the commission and shall keep a true and correct record of all proceedings of the commission. He/she shall have custody of all reports, books, papers and records of the commission, and he/she shall be given notice of all special meetings thereof.

(Prior code § 2-4.607)

The powers and functions of the city public safety commission shall be as follows:

A. To hold hearings on all public safety matters as prescribed by the city council;

B. To conduct such other hearings as are provided by law and in accordance with its own rules and regulations;

C. To report its decisions and recommendations in writing to the city council;

D. To consider, formulate and propose surveys, plans and strategies for the efficient, cost-effective and humane delivery of public safety services in order to secure to the city and its inhabitants a better environment, adequate and suitable protection of life and property, improved public safety services, and a community that is desirable as a place in which to live, work, engage in recreation, worship and make capital investment;

E. To prepare and recommend the adoption of a comprehensive, long-term, public safety master plan for the effective utilization of local residents in the delivery of public safety services and the prevention of crime;

F. To make, in its advisory capacity, any and all recommendations to the city council relating to the above matters, including changes or amendments to the public safety master plan or any portion thereof;

G. The commission shall not have any direct authority or power with respect to police department operations.

(Prior code § 2-4.608)

The members of such commission shall receive no compensation, but shall be allowed necessary actual traveling and other expenses when the interests of the city shall require, but in each case only if and when the city council shall have first specifically authorized the purpose and expenditure involved.

(Prior code § 2-4.609)