Community Police Review Board - Regular Meeting

5 community police review board meeting to order. Uh just some quick announcement before proceeding. I would like to provide board members some guidance on how to use the technology at the dis to speak. You will need to use the mics which are activated by pushing the talk button or the push button and you will need to wait for the chair to acknowledge the speaker before proceeding to talk. Uh will the clerk please call the role? Member Beasley Day present. Member Bryant. Member Bird. Member Christensen here. Member Drell here.

Member Grant. Member Smith. Member Han here. Chairman Sorio

here. All right. Um, do any of the board members have any conflicts of interest pertaining to items listed on the agenda tonight? Okay, seeing none, as noted on the agenda, public comment will only be in person and Zoom will still be available for viewing and wordly translation. Please note, there is no public comments for items 5 through eight. on these items are for these items areformational only. Does anyone wish to speak on any item under public or yes on any item under public comment? This is for items not on the agenda. You have three minutes to speak. Anyone wishing to address the board is asked to follow the rules of decorum. The rules of decorum are posted at the entrance of the chambers as well. I will also be reading them here. Um, please be respectful of all presenters, board members, staff, and members of the public. Please refrain from clapping other than following a presentation. All speakers are encouraged to state their name and city of residence. All questions must be directed to the chair. Please do not block the view of others by holding signs up during board meetings. Time limit for public comments is three minutes but may be limited at the discretion of the chair to manage the business of the board. Speaking over others or interrupting while others have the floor is not permitted and cell phones should be turned off or shall be set to vibrate during the meetings. Uh on to item three, consent. Uh consider approving the minutes from the Oh, I'm sorry. Actually, we should be opening up for public comment. I apologize. Um, we're going to back up here. So, if there's anyone out in the public that has uh any comments or

questions they would like, um, please come up to the dis. I do have one speaker card. Um, Harlon. My name is Harlon Divven. I'm a local attorney. I reside in Modesto. Um, the last community police review board meeting was my first and you guys made some really important decisions at that meeting. I wanted to commend you on the analysis that went into the decision that was made here. I agreed with your analysis and I looked at it really closely. Um, the first amendment is a carve out from majority rule. So, it means that our right to free expression isn't subject to the will of the majority. That also means that the survey questions that are going into the survey, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it's 80% or 90% or 100% of people that say the mask ordinance should not should um exist. What's going to happen is this case is going to go to court and court is going to find that the first amendment supersedes the mask ordinance. The case is going to be expensive. It's going to be long. It's going to be embarrassing and it's gonna eat up city resources. It's a loser. CPRB did the right thing. Um, what happened afterwards was a lack of process. We were told at city council that CPRB was the next decision maker and after that decision, it would go back to city council for movement on this case. That did not happen. You know that. I know that. Um, the lack of clarity and process here is very frustrating to the public and it's wrong. It's wrong to not have clarity of process when you have a measure that violates constitutional rights. So, I'm asking for some clarity of process from

CPRB, from city council, from the city manager. It's very important. Again, obiscating process here is dangerous. it makes the city um dangerously liable here. Um so I want to commend CPRB again on your analysis. I want to commend you on how you came out to this decision. There was a lively conversation here. Um I don't know what the next step is. This body needs to have teeth. This body needs to have decision-making power. Your um recommendations need to not be suggestions. I don't know how that happens. This body is new. It's new for Modesto. It's new for this municipal government. But we are the seat of the county and more than the county is watching right now. The state is watching. This matter has been on Cal Matters. It's been in the Merced um paper. It's been in the Modesto paper over and over again. this body needs to decide how it is going to push back against what's happening in the city right now and how you your voice is going to be um is going to hold up the rights of the citizens of Modesto. Um so I again I commend you. My hat is off to you. You have a long road ahead of you. Um but you have a lot of support. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the public that would like to come up and speak? Good evening count uh board. Um I also just wanted to commend you guys for the recommendation that was made at the last meeting. I think it was u good to make it make it made make the decision as quickly as possible. Um, I also agree that the survey is a waste of time because the um the tyranny of the majority should not overrule the rights of the minorities um especially people of color in today's world. Um but I guess I just I just wanted to touch on one point and that was that what the the chief of police said in the last meeting and that was that he would not have advocated for the existence of this board if he had known it would be acting as a watchdog group. And I think that runs completely counter to what a civilian police board should be. I think that the board needs more power. It needs more oversight, needs investigative power, needs punitive power. And I think it's not fair that um there isn't an actual system in place for the people who are subject to the the power that the police uh carry uh towards them. Um there there should be a way for for the people to um to have some sort of balance of power, I guess, between the civilians and the police. Um and I think that this board should be it. So, um I just think it's a it's a shame that basically there is no teeth here. you. All you had was a recommendation that that was pushed to the city council and now we're waiting on these these city council members who I feel are now avoiding the the subject because they're afraid of how it's going to affect their their political careers. They're afraid, oh, maybe this is an unpopular decision if we were to

actually vote on this and it'll affect our reelection chances or other other uh positions of polit other political positions we might run for in the future. And um so they would rather allow have the city waste hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to avoid risking their political careers. And I think that's really what's going on here. They're afraid of the people who want to keep the mask ordinance voting them out in the future. Um but yeah, that's all I had to I didn't have anything prepared, but that's just I'm just kind of want to vent, but still thank you guys so much for being um making the quick decision to recommend a repeal on the mass ordinance. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, board. I'd like to reiterate some of the comments made by some of my fellow community members here tonight. I think that the community police review board has been doing a great job and we really appreciate the first recommendation that y'all made to the city council and the city manager. It's unfortunate that that largely fell on deaf ears. Uh and it's also unfortunate that the second recommendation that y'all made, I think with the context of the conversations that happened here at the previous meeting that it really was about a good faith effort to collect community input. And I worry that's being warped by the city manager in order to create the narrative that the fundamental rights secured by our first amendment are somehow matters of public opinion. Our rights aren't subject to the court of public opinion. They are fundamental. They are inalienable. And I think that this board understands that. And I worry that our city council doesn't. So, thank you for doing your job. Y'all are here as volunteers. You're not getting paid. You're doing a better job than the city council. that is getting paid and frankly you aren't being given the power to do the job nearly as well as you could be which is why I think there's a call for this board to have some more teeth here tonight. Uh I've asked for expansion to this board before in the form of like a youth rep. But I think that for the work that y'all are doing at the quality y'all are doing it, you really need more power and that means having an operating budget. To that end, I think that that's investigative power. That's making sure y'all have the resources you need. I'm not even sure if y'all have business cards. I remember that being a thing for if y'all were even be able to get those. That's honestly ridiculous. If we really believe as a city in the value of a community police review board, we need to invest in a community police review board. To that end, and I would say a portion of our police budget should be going to this board. If it's really about community police relations, I would hope that while I very seldom see eye to eye with our police chief, I'd like to think that's something we could agree on. Now the particulars of is it a standing carve out you know you get 5%

or it's a set dollar value or it's part of the budget each time and that's all room we can negotiate the finer details but a portion of that budget really should be going to you all and I want to make that clear that it is a portion of that budget that's a reallocation of existing funds that is not an increase to the police budget I feel we already spend too much on an overmilitarized police force and I think a good faith effort from the police would be to say hey we want to invest in a safer community by having a portion of our budget go to the CPRB because y'all need the power to do the job that you're already working so hard to do. That's a stipen. That's an operating budget. Y'all are amazing. You all are what civic engagement looks like. I would love to see more of this energy from our city council because y'all are doing a great job. We appreciate you. Thank you for your service.

Thank you. Hello, good evening. My name is Nora. I'm a resident of Modesto. Um, and I would like to mirror what everyone else here has said and say that I truly appreciate this board taking the time to review the Modesto City uh ordinance regarding the mask ban. and I appreciate your thoughtful research and commitment to not just this matter but to police accountability as a whole. I am a bit concerned, more than a bit concerned that the hard work that went into this recommendation and the work of the Modesto Police Review Board in general is not being taken seriously by the city of Modesto or by Modesta Police Department. Following the recommendation to repeal the mask ban, the city stated that they are evaluating next steps, but so far all they've considered is the potential legal action that may come of it. I feel that the city should not use this board only as a way to protect themselves from legal repercussions. The intent of the board's recommendations and the intent of the board is to improve Modesto and its relationship and protection from law enforcement and that should be the priority. Additionally, I'm concerned that Chief Gillespiey's insulting comments about the board at and the work that you do, calling the presentation by the ad hoc committee nothing but internet research lacking in neutrality balance and sufficient research and a regulation, excuse me, regurgitation of advocacy letters. Those are only the comments that were made publicly. I can't imagine what was said behind closed doors. The report on the mask ordinance by this board included information on constitutional law, California penal code, similar ordinances in California nationally. It was very

clear to me that it was well thought out, well researched, well analyzed, and I can't imagine why the chief would say that about the recommendation just because he does not agree with it. This type of reaction to the CPRB is an insult to the board's commitment to police accountability. And we need to see Modesta Police Department cooperate with the review board, not only when they receive praise, but when they when their actions are being rightly crit criticized. Finally, I'd like to also say that I hope that the actions of the board will one day have a greater impact on Modesto legislation. Um, if the city manager can choose to ignore any of the work done by this board, it wastes your time. It wastes our time and it gives everybody a sense of a false sense that improvements are taking place. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the public that would like to come up and speak? Okay. Uh seeing none, I'll be closing public comments and we'll be moving on to consent item A. consider approving the minutes from the community police review board meeting on September 17th, 2025. Um, is there a motion to approve? So move. Okay. All in favor say I. I.

Motion passes. Um, moving on to new business. Uh, discuss and decide calendar topics for November and December of 2025. Uh quick announcement from Scotty. So this is introducing introducing Yeah. item. Okay.

Yeah. So uh here we are again. We do this a couple of times a year. Um and uh we are here to discuss the um final topics for this year. It's for November and December. um as a reminder. So there's a there's a list here and uh Sime clerk will actually put this up on the screen too so that we can all kind of follow along. So as you'll notice um there are several topics that uh were presented throughout the year um you know starting from January um all the way up until this meeting here. And uh there's several topics. Um one of the things that we're going to be doing is putting together at the end of the year is a document so that you all can take a look at that in January as we're talking about topics in January for 2026 and the board priorities. Um meanwhile and that what that will do is it'll kind of give you an opportunity to have a look back. All right, what did we do in the in the year prior and then and then this year in 2025 as you're looking forward into 2026. It also gives an opportunity for the public to see when these topics had come up. If there's something they'd like to go back and revisit, they'd like to go take a look at that. If they were unable to attend the meeting, they can still go back and view that on our website. Um, so with that, um, there's a few topics here that were for consideration, um, that haven't been brought up yet. One is the Know Your Rights Summit. I know that we had some talks uh earlier this last year and I think that there might be some opportunities here to um maybe consider because I know that this was part of one of the policy goals that were recommended by forward together. I know that in uh January there will be you know some consideration for topics next year but also kind of January February the consideration of any ad hocs that you'd like to create this next year to maybe kind of continue to focus on certain areas. So this one in particular is I believe it's policy goal number two

and uh within that policy goal um is this particular topic and there might be um some interest from board members that want to participate in that specifically so we can continue that. Um the next is the Nicole 2025 debrief presentation. I would recommend um uh having that either in November maybe December from the board members uh that are going to be attending the NL conference this year. I think that's really helpful. the last couple years we've had that and I think that that that could be a great opportunity for um a November SL or December topic. And then the finally what we have here is Brown Act training um and in consideration working with the board chair. Um January is usually the the month that we kind of do board business. So it's electing the chair, the vice chair, talking about board priorities andformational topics you all want to consider through 2026 kind of focusing on and um that's usually and we do this for you know most of our boards, commissions and committees and that's provide kind of annual board act training just to kind of just have a refresher and that would be by the city attorney. So that would be my recommendation. Um the know your right summit might be an opportunity for an ad hoc. Nicole could be considered for November December and then there's ground act training which my recommendation would be in January. So those are all for your consideration and we're here to provide any uh any assistance we can while you all determine what you'd like to discuss in November and December. Thank you.

Thank you Scotty. Is there um anyone on the board that has any comments, Kenneth? Yeah, I would be in favor of um placing the Nicole debrief in November. Um I believe that conference is the last week of this month, correct?

That's correct. Uh so uh I'm interested to know whether any of the similar um review boards throughout the country are dealing with similar issues that we are um and uh and and specifically on this um first amendment assembly ordinance if if there are other um agencies throughout the country that are struggling with the same uh issue and how if they've come to some conclusion or some uh method of approaching this. I'd be interested in hearing feedback on that. So, um and uh you know, perhaps that would inform us and be able to uh maybe more, I don't know, clearly uh suggest to the city council um what the situation looks like nationwide um relative to that topic. and and and you know maybe it won't come up but I suspect that this is a that this topic is probably um appeared before other agencies throughout the country and I'd be interested in feedback on that. So I'm in favor of putting that on the November ballot.

I'm just going to second that. Um for what you said, Ken, but also it's fresh. We have an opportunity to hear a summary from how many are going this time? three I think right two two get it while it's fresh I would look forward to hearing a where we have space and time to hear a whole presentation from those that are going to talk yeah go ahead bra

uh I think it'd be good to have a part of one of our meetings coming up carved out to talk to look at the ad hoc committee structure that we have because I think ad hoc committees are supposed to come and sunset and I think we have kind of given open-ended uh responsibility to the ad hocs instead of for instance an example would be instead of um you know the one that I'm on about uh helping with the Latino youth and police. by halfway through your goal is to have six meetings out in the public or or something like that so that we have actual uh marching orders and that they don't languish because it's easy for them to languish and because I along with what um uh has been talked about about getting out I think getting out and into the community more I think an ad hoc committee that we could discuss is one that really uh purposefully gets their job is to to make meetings for this meeting to be offsite or other kinds of activities that we do using the tent and such that we've requested that we're going to go to these five community events. All of us are going to have to do those and work on. But that group would have their charge would be okay, we're we're not going to talk about it anymore. by we're going to be for one year and we're going to do this this and this but during that year. I just think it'd be uh we'd get a lot more done that way if we had more specific goals and we can agree on the goals and change the goals and do whatever we want. But I think it might be a good exercise in kind of looking at what who we are, where we are, and and how we should um parse out the work that we need to have done and be be more deliberate

about it. I just think it it'd be worth a pretty good conversation about that, the different goals that we have and figure out which one's hot and who wants to work on them.

Okay, Mr. Chair, if I could comment just real quick on that one. So obviously we've been working with the chair on some of these topics. Um I know that kind of like around Februaryish I think there you know there is a consideration for report outs from the existing ad hocs to and then discussing the future of those ad hocs. The discussion in January would be my recommendation. you could probably put something on there and just start talking about what the formation of the next weeks could be and then deciding on those you know just so that these you know these are done because it's just you know kind of I don't want to well I'm sorry I'm just you know there's there's a lot of work that you all are doing especially on those ad hocs so that might be just my suggestion might be a good time to do that we could actually put that on the list

the ad hocs are supposed to come and go if we create a permanent committee then it starts act having to be active act like a brown act group. So, you know, then all of the the entanglements happen with that. So, if we can do and and this I think just being more specific about what we're going to do and have measurable deadlines and measurable outcomes, then I think we're going to get a lot more done. I think that time frame to me is a great time frame to do it. Okay. Um you mean February?

February. Yeah, February. Yeah, I think that it's not something has to be done tomorrow, but as we look forward to it and we can all think about what that might look like and which ones we might want to be on. Yeah. Uh I think let's go with Austin real quick and then I'll come back to you Kenneth. Um are we are we excuse me are we uh at the moment recommend recommending certain ad hoc committees at the moment? I just wanted to stay on topic. No, just right now discussion of the calendar topics. Oh, okay. Well, um

it's for November and December. Okay. Um in response to that, I do agree that, you know, the Nicole could be on November. Um because, you know, it's just right after. I mean, it's just fresh. And then, um I don't know how December looks for everyone. Um and so I was going to ask, did we even want to meet in December as a board? Because you know, everyone has vacations and everything. So, I just wanted to ask that first. One week before. Yeah, it's uh it'd be December 17th.

Um I think I'll be here, but yeah, it's up to the board. Um Kenneth, did you have something you wanted to add? Um I I agree with u member Hans's comments about um exploring this further and at our brief yesterday, Mr. Fukasawa advised us that we're probably violating the Brown Act as we sit here with these um committees that we've formed. Uh I, you know, we've got the policy goal number eight, policy goal number one, and policy goal number three. Um, and I know for a fact that our committee when I'm on policy goal number eight, we have not advertised it. We have not agendaized it. And according to what Mr. Focusawa told us yesterday, because they are standing the way they're formed, they're basically standing committees that we're supposed to comply with the provisions of the Brown Acts, which mean that that the agenda has to be posted. It has to be publicized. Uh, we have certainly haven't been doing that. So I think you know given his advice I think you know we should be cautious about meeting any further with those groups until we have the opportunity to do what Brad is suggesting you know in forming these ad hoc committees that have a limited duration. Uh that way they don't have to comply with the provisions of the Brown Act as long as there's only you know a minority of us meeting and not the majority of the board. So, uh, I just wanted to, uh, offer that comment about the the advice we were given yesterday by Mr. Fukasawa.

And Mr. Chair, if I could comment on that. So, uh, we met with M Mr. Fukusawa following um there's no violations per se right now. It's just it's that reminder that, you know, there was a particular goal time to, you know, look at forming the next version of ad hocs. you know, given that and this was in conversation with them that, you know, given that the board was brand new a couple years ago, you know, started created the policy goal uh ad hocs, it's just it's just reiterating that understanding. And so, you know, an opportunity right now just to kind of look at, okay, what aligning with the board's priorities for this 2026 year. Um perhaps there's some opportunity there to sunset the current ones, have some report outs by those groups and then form the ad hocs that are in alignment with this next calendar.

Thank you, Scotty. Um Nancy, we also have Musau online uh to advise if needed. Thank you.

Very good. We got you.

Okay. Thank you. I I think yeah, my understanding about the conversation yesterday was that we perhaps should regularize the goals and timets for those committees rather than we've been in constant violation because um I really don't believe we had it was not our understanding that we were standing committees. So, and I think it would probably be, you know, be a good idea for each of the subcommittees to try to, if not wrap up their work, come to a this is what we've done. we don't need any more time or we need maybe two more months to look at these two things and then we're ready to move on or have another group take over this topic. Um and I would say you know we've tried to meet meeting has been difficult as it has for many of the other um committee policy committees whatever um and um I don't It was so clearly defined for us because it was a new board, new committees,

what exactly, you know, what goals, timetables, what and so we were kind of we'd meet and we somebody would have read something or, you know, and we'd discuss that and we'd sometimes discuss the policies and I think we've tried to get more focused um over the past year um and have more directed meetings and I don't know if that's true for everybody else, but it they they've been sort of amorphous. Let's look at this with no goals or timet. I'm sorry, Mr. Mr. Chairman. Yeah,

it kind of sounds like uh we're getting a little bit off the agenda. Uh maybe we could focus refocus on the the calendar topics. Okay. So, we're kind of discussing the ad hocs a little too much here. Yeah, it says, yeah, the calendar topics for November, December. I I I'm hearing one. I'm trying to take notes and track that. Okay, Mr. Chair. Yeah, it sounds to me like from the ensuing discussion that just took place here that perhaps the Brown Act training is something we should have in December.

I can I can defer to Mr. Spukasawa on that because I know that he provides be providing that training. Go ahead, John. I I think that is something that we uh were planning on doing in in January. Mr. Bri, board member Brian, I'm just confirming. I think it sounded like you were suggesting earlier than that. Yeah, he was suggesting maybe in December.

But I'm fine with that as long as we understand that um the way this board was formed by the city council, we are subject to the Brown Act. I mean, I don't think there's any question about that, right? And that's why we publish these agendas and why we're uh confined by the rules that govern the Brown Act when we conduct these meetings and all that. as far as public comments and all that, um, you know, had the council not formed this this way, the city not formed this this way, we could have been a more informal committee and we could have had, you know, as many meetings as we wanted with as many people as we wanted because we wouldn't be subject to the Brown Act. But that's not the way this board was formed. And so, we are subject to the Brown Act. And as Mr. Mr. Fukasado pointed out yesterday. Um I mean the way I took it is we need a little more training.

Yeah. So that we understand it better. Yeah. I'm speaking for myself. I mean everybody else may have a very clear understanding of it. I'm speaking for myself. Thank you, Ken. Yeah. Um I was just going to say let's see if the public has any comments or questions and then we can bring it back to the board and we can bring up more topics. Yeah. Yeah. Of course.

You open. Thank you. Um, in listening to this, I personally would have a suggestion that in December, maybe we add on agenda an overview of the difference between ad hoc and subcommittee and where where we can just meet casually as that subcommittee versus more formally to help us plan when we come back in February to talk about specifics on new committees. It's a good idea. Perhaps perhaps Mr. Fukusaw can also weigh in on weigh in on that one.

Yeah, that's something that um yeah, we if the the board wants to add that to the agenda, we could we could add that. Okay. Just point of clarification, you meant prior to our discussion about subcommittees that we might want to ad hoc committees we might want to form in the future. Right Trish? Yeah.

My suggestion was that we get a better understanding of where we can meet casually as a group of three versus we should be agendaized and formalized to help us look forward to how we want to make suggestions in February for new committees.

Okay. Is there any other comments from the board at this time? Okay, I'll bring it back to you guys here in a sec. We're going to go ahead and open it up to the public. Um, is there anyone in the public that has any comments or questions on this topic? Feel free to come up. You have three minutes to speak. Um, remember it's on topics for the rest of our calendar year. If there's anything you guys would like to hear, like for us to possibly bring up as a topic for discussion. If there's anyone in the public, please come forward and you will have three minutes to speak. Hey everybody, Haren again. Um, I think I'm I'm sorry to harp on this, but process is so important here. It really is. So, knowing when you're having ad hocs and um what they're deciding, all of that is really important. I appreciate the conversation that's happening here. Um, one thing that I would like to see agenda, and I don't know how to do this, is more input from the independent police um, auditor and their updates. Um, I saw a very like at the last community police review board meeting, I saw a very kind of quick overview from them, but I don't know their role in the community. I don't know their role with CPRB. I don't know what power they have or don't have. So, I would like clarity on that. I would if you don't have clarity on it, I'd like to see that on your agenda and um really spelled out what power that body does and doesn't have. Also, power this body does and doesn't have. Um, but I I appreciate figuring out the ad hocs. I do think you're forming standing committees as well. Um, so I would urge you to follow Mr. Bryant's recommendation and be really careful about that because if those committees become permanent, like I want to know what's being decided in them. Um, it's really important. So, thank you for the conversation.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the public? Okay, seeing none, then we'll go ahead and close public comments, bring it back to the board. Um, any other topics on anyone's minds for the rest of this year? So, so far we have a debrief for Nicole in November. So, I I mean I want to quickly ask Nancy and Latricia if they feel the three weeks after Nicole should be plenty of time. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah. So then um we can we can leave NLE in November and then in December there was overview of ad hocs um versus sub versus a sub versus a standing subcommittee and then um possibleformational on the contract with the city and the IPA. so that the community can better understand their role together. That was another topic I think Stephen might be on. So I don't know Stephen if in December that could be something that's a quick um response. What do you think?

Sorry for the technical difficulties there. Yes, that would be fine. Happy happy happy to uh happy to assist with that however I can. Okay. Um what does the board feel? Do you think that would be something good in December to get combine the two? Combine the two. Yeah, Wendy. You're unmuted. I was just saying I think that would be good. Okay. Um, is there any other ideas you guys want to jot down now for maybe next year just so we can have them? If not,

think we move forward with Brown Act in January and um re-evaluating new committees of whichever form in February. February and I believe I'm sorry I believe that we also um the last time you know if you have things that you have an idea or something like that feel free to send an email to to Sammy she can kind of collect those and we can bring those back when we talk about next year's topics.

Okay. All right. Uh any last minute comments from the board? No. Okay. Seeing none, um we'll go ahead and move on to staff comments and reports. So, we'll have an update from the independent police auditor, uh Stephen.

Thank you, Chair Sorio, and good evening again, everybody. Uh I appreciate the comment from the member of the public and certainly happy to to provide um uh further illumination about the role of the independent police auditor at at an upcoming meeting and how it works. Uh the office was as as you folks know established uh back at the time of the forward together process and the and the creation of your board and it's meant to be a compliment to your board and we have published a couple of of reports the the uh agreement laying out the scope of work and the role of the independent police auditor. All that stuff is publicly available and I'm certainly uh very willing to engage and answer questions from individual members of the community as well. Uh I have heard some from some from community members recent in recent weeks with regard to all the things that have been happening in your city and have been tracking it very carefully. I don't have uh any new um content to to present to you this evening other than to just say a couple things as far as upcoming events. I know the Nickel conference is a is a uh great opportunity and I'm very enthusiastic about the city providing support for a couple of members to attend again this year and and I will not be able to make it personally because of a couple of conflicts. my colleague Mike Janako, who has worked with with your board on a few different occasions, will absolutely be there representing our office and and actually uh presenting on a couple of panels. So, I hope that uh the board members that are that are going will be able to to see him in action. And I'm looking forward to hearing about the report. It's the end of the year is is coming and I will uh be engaging with the department as things wrap up in terms of starting the new cycle for for our

annual review process which is kind of the centerpiece of of our role in Modesto. So, I will be making an in-person visit to to Modesto probably in early December or to sync up with the December meeting if if you go ahead and have that. And uh we'll start talking to the department about the the kind of universe of cases from the the current year that that we will kind of randomly pick through and and take the mandatory selections to initiate the process of of transparency and accountability for the department's internal review mechanisms. So, I uh certainly happy to answer any questions that you folks have and otherwise I will look forward to seeing you in person at an upcoming meeting soon. Thank you.

Thank you, Stephen. Um, up next is staff comments and reports. Uh, Scotty, there are no comments or reports from staff tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, Scotty. All right, moving on to board comments and reports. Is there an update from policy goal number eight? Review use of force u policy to minimize likelihood of death resulting from the use of force. Yes, we met um in September, I believe. And um we also the three of us, Austin and Ken and I met with Lieutenant Kber and Chief Plespie last Friday and we had some issues that we had spent time discussing that were brought up in old Modesto and we f felt um that the three of us at least felt that it was very helpful and productive meeting for us. Um we spent nearly two hours um at MPD and um we need to kind sit down the three of us and kind of um say

yes. So we uh need to just meet and say okay here's what we all think about that and do what if anything do we want to recommend to this board. So that's kind of where we are. Thank you Nancy. Um next is policy number one improve relations between the community and the department. We have not met since last month's meeting so not at this time but I look forward to getting our overview and restructure. Thank you. Um, next is policy goal number three, reduce youth arrest, particularly among Latino youth.

Thank you. Uh, Nico and I met with a U community citizen that was interested in um possibly collaborating with um our board to create some mentoring programs and things like that. but it's still in the infasy uh stages with him and he was working with other organizations uh like youth Christ and so we just had a preliminary uh conversation on that uh that and then also I want to say that tomorrow at 3:00 is the groundbreaking uh at the King K well the Melis Martin Luther King park um that park is going to be closed for probably year and a half or a little longer they're going to renovate the whole park. They're going to build another um building at the rear of the park that's going to be a fullcourt basketball um gym. And then they're also going to place an extension onto the King Kennedy uh center with a a multi-purpose room. So, uh, there's going to be a splash pad, um, I think soccer field and in the park, but, um, it's going to be really, really nice once it's finished. And we think that one of the things of reducing arrest is by providing more activities for young people. So, um, that's good to see. And then they're still working on the Maddox Youth Center. Um I'm not sure of the date of when that will be ready, but certainly those two um accomplishments I think will really provide um activities and services uh on the west side.

Thank you, Wendy. Is there any other updates from any other board members? Uh brief announcements, report brief briefly on his or her activities? Um can Chris, you want to go first? Suggestion. Sorry, I was battling the button with you. Um, it's it's more of a a suggestion or request that since um Scotty mentioned that our list of schedule will be posted on the website that we add the date of with the month, not just the month because it's going to become more public. It might help drive people to focus on dates and times to address topics. Thank you. That that's a very good point. You're welcome.

That's a very good point. And also just the files that we upload to the website. Sm's been doing a little bit of restructuring and adding like the dates to those as well, the full dates so that people are aware of when they occur.

Thank you, Kenneet. I just wanted to mention that um as well as my role on this board, I also serve on uh Council Member Bavaro's advisory council and he asked me to meet with his advisory uh council on the 6th, I believe is a Monday this month, a and brief them on our conversations and our process as far as dealing with the um first um the assem the first amendment assembly ordinance and u so I was able to do that u and we had a fairly robust give and take uh question and answer period um I just wanted everybody to be aware that that that I had done that and u there were about I think eight members of the community that were there in attendance

thank you Kenneth uh anyone else no okay um I I don't know uh if everyone has been able to read their emails. So, I'm going to go ahead and just report out uh the response that our board received from the city manager. Um so, I'm just going to I you know, me and the city talked on this and they said I can go ahead and read the email out to you guys. So, I'll be doing that. All right. Dear chair and community police review board members, this email is to confirm the city manager's office receipt of the recommendations by the community police review board related to the city of Modesto's public assembly ordinance. Recommendations. The CPB recommends to the city manager to repeal subsection A13 of ordinance 4-23.02 2 and the second recommend recommend recommendation that the CPRB take advantage of partnering with the city to include questions in the city's community survey. The CPRB was established by the city council to provide community insight into matters related to policing and Modesto. We appreciate the work that was done by the ad hoc committee and board and coming to the recommendations and appreciate the board's acknowledgement that additional public input may be necessary by way of survey. We agree that all voices and concerns should be considered prior to making any decision regarding the ordinance. For this reason, my office is taking several additional steps to fully evaluate potential future changes to the ordinance before bringing final recommendations and options to the city council for consideration. As communicated by members of the public who attended the CPRB and recent council meetings, there are calls from some

groups and residents for the city to take immediate action to remove the prohibition of masks or face coverings unless necessary for medical or religious purposes from the ordinance. While their voices are heard at every meeting and their input is welcome, it is important to consider the needs and opinions of the entire city of Modesto community. This includes those voices that represent the residents and business owners that this ordinance is designed to protect in the form of public safety. And equally as important, this includes hearing from individuals who may decide not to exercise their freedom of speech due to potential safety concerns if the ordinance is changed. Public input, whether for or against the ordinance provision, is always informative. The city has recently heard sentiments from community members that counter the opinions spoken by those who have been attending the council and CPRB meetings. As such, the city has moved forward with CPRB's second recommendation related to issuing a communitywide survey related to the issue of the restriction of masks or face coverings during public assemblies except if needed for medical or religious purposes. This survey is being conducted by a professional polling firm to ensure it is done in the most reliable and statistically valid manner that reaches all segments of our community. The city will also continue to work with its first amendment council to weigh all options and consult with experts to ensure we provide safe and legal environments for individuals to exercise their rights to peacefully protest. It is important that we do our due diligence given that the city has experienced violent protests in recent years. We anticipate this work being completed in the coming months. I want to express my gratitude to the board for its recommendations. The city values all perspectives and concerns from our community and we will

continue to do so throughout this process. Sincerely, Joe Lopez. And that's it. So, I just wanted to, you know, read that out for everyone and um just kind of be as transparent as we can with the board and with the community out there. Um so, yeah, that's it. Um moving on to future agenda items that just says to be determined um the topic. Yeah, perfect. Okay. And next is just adjournment. Uh our next meeting is November 19th, 2025. Uh thank you all and have a good night.