Title
Modifying the process by which the meeting stipend rate for commissioners of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Investigation Commission is adopted.
Body
Section 1.
WHEREAS, the 2027 Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) General Fund budget proposed by Mayor Kaohly Her includes a proposed increase in the stipend for members of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission (“PCIARC”) (“Commission”), and
WHEREAS, the current stipend for commissioners of the PCIARC is $50 per meeting attended which has been unchanged since the Commission’s establishment, and
WHEREAS, commission members are required to complete 40 to 50 hours of training on topics to serve on the Commission, including topics related to police work, investigation, relevant law, cultural competency, racial equity, implicit bias, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, mental health challenges
WHEREAS, the number of external PCIARC complaints received has been steadily increasing, with case review by commissioners has now grown to about 40 hours per month, particularly with the prevalence of body-worn cameras and surveillance footage relevant to an investigation, and
WHEREAS, commission members do not receive compensation for the time spent on training, case review, or any other activity supporting their work as a Commission member, and
WHEREAS, the work burden required of PCIARC membership, paired with the low stipend amount reduces or removes access for many community members who would otherwise like to join the Commission.
WHEREAS, because members of the Commission provide an essential function of reviewing materials and reports on all civilian-initiated police conduct complaints prior to making a recommendation to the Chief of Police, and
WHEREAS, the PCIARC is an essential element to enhance and preserve the trust between police and the communities they serve in this City,
Now, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby ordain:
Section 2.
Sec. 102.02. Commission composition.
(a) The police-civilian internal affairs review commission shall consist of nine (9) voting members appointed by the mayor and approved by the council. All members shall be residents of the city. Members shall, to the extent possible, be representative of the city's diversity of neighborhoods, races and cultures, abilities, incomes and sexual orientations. All members of the commission shall be appointed to three-year terms. No member shall serve more than two terms. A member's term may be extended to allow a new member to meet the criteria to become a voting member.
(b) The members of the commission shall be recommended by the director of the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity to the mayor for appointment.
(c) No member of the Saint Paul Police Federation nor his or her immediate family shall be eligible to serve as a member.
(d) The commission shall meet a minimum of quarterly and up to twice a month as determined by a majority of the commission. The commission shall elect a chair and vice-chair to preside over its proceedings. The chair shall be elected from among the members.
(e) The director of the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity shall set, by written schedule and subject to available appropriations and applicable law, the stipend amounts payable for each meeting attended by a commission member. Members of the commission shall receive fifty dollars ($50.00) per meeting attended.
(e) (f) The director of the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity shall, in consultation with the chief of police and the chair, appoint a review coordinator to serve as staff to the commission, manage the complaint process, and prepare minutes of commission meetings. The review coordinator shall serve at the pleasure of the director of the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity in consultation with the Chief of Police and the chair.
(f)(g) The commission's review coordinator shall be in attendance at commission meetings to facilitate commission review, serve as custodian of the commission files and record the proceedings of the commission on audio tape. Prior to a commissioner's first meeting, the review coordinator will meet with the new commissioner to explain the work of the commission and review the policies and procedures of the commission. Internal affairs staff members who attend commission meetings may only be present during deliberations for cases they investigated and as otherwise deemed necessary by the commission. Any person who has been appointed to the commission but has not yet met the criteria to become a voting member may attend commission meetings but may not vote or participate in the discussion.
Section 3.
This Ordinance will take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following passage, approval, and publication.