National City Municipal Code Ch. 16.04 Community and Police Relations Commission

Pursuant to the authority granted by Sections 36505 and 36506 of the California Government Code, there is hereby created a community and police relations commission, consisting of eight members to be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council, and serving at the pleasure of the mayor and city council. Of the eight members, seven shall be voting members, of which at least five shall be residents, and up to two may be non-residents. The non-voting member shall be a member of the National City Police Officers' Association. A commission member need not be an elector of the city.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

A. The members of the community and police relations commission shall be appointed for staggered three year terms.

B. If a vacancy shall occur other than by expiration of a term, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of said term in the same manner as original appointments are made. Each member of the commission shall serve until their successor is appointed and sworn into office.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

The community and police relations commission shall annually elect its chair from among the appointed members and, subject to the provisions of law, may create and fill such other offices as it deems necessary. The city council shall provide such staff assistance to the commission as the council deems appropriate.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

The community and police relations commission may adopt bylaws and operating procedures from time to time, which shall be approved by the city council, provided that if any provision of such bylaws or operating procedures conflicts with this Chapter 16.04, this chapter shall prevail. The bylaws shall contain provisions relating to attendance of commission members.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

The following shall be the mission statement of the community and police relations commission:

The commission will 1) provide a forum for citizens to voice their concerns about police conduct, practices, and policies; 2) examine police practices and policies as they pertain to conduct issues; and 3) identify opportunities to ameliorate adversity between the National City Police Department and citizen complainants. It is the intent of the mayor and city council that because of the commission's actions, the relations between the citizens of this city and the police department will improve, and positive communications and cooperation between the police department and the community will be facilitated.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

The community and police relations commission shall:

A. Determine the order of business for the conduct of its meetings, and hold regular meetings once every three months, and such special meetings as are necessary on call of the chair or a majority of the members of the commission after at least twenty-four hours' notice in writing has been served upon the members. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of a quorum is necessary to act upon a matter. All meetings shall be conducted in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (the "Open Meeting Law," California Government Code Section 54950 et seq.).

B. Receive and monitor or investigate citizen complaints regarding police conduct, but without interfering with the administration of the police department.

C. Request and receive supplemental information from the police department regarding citizen complaints and such other matters as the commission may request.

D. Allow parties the opportunity to mediate their disputes.

E. Make recommendations to the city council regarding additional duties that the commission may perform.

F. Make an annual report of its activities, findings and recommendations to the city council.

G. Advise on police department operations, and make recommendations on police policy issues.

H. Conduct investigations and hold public hearings. The commission has the power to examine witnesses under oath and compel their attendance or production of evidence by subpoena issued in the name of the city and attested by the city clerk. It shall be the duty of the chief of police to cause all such subpoenas to be served, and refusal of a person to attend or testify in answer to such a subpoena shall subject the person to prosecution in the same manner as set forth by law for failure to appear before the city council in response to a subpoena issued by the city council. Each member of the commission shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses.

I. Keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, which record shall be a public record unless the city attorney determines otherwise.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)

Members of the community and police relations commission shall serve without compensation, except that the city council may from time to time pay such expenses of commission members that are incurred during the conduct of commission business as the council deems appropriate.

(Ord. No. 2013-2381, § 1, 2-5-2013)