Item A: Downtown Public Safety Zone

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ATTACHMENT B - Public Comments Received ordinance. Lt. Mozan responded the officers are given in-service training, with additional training provided by the City Prosecutor and the department’s legal trainer when the ordinance was last amended. Ms. Phelps commented the courts were required to draft and release the brochure, and Police staff provided assistance and support, but that the City Council was clear that the brochure should originate and be distributed by the Courts. Mr. Mueller asked if the effect of the DPSZ is to move the behavior to other locations. He also noted that African Americans are disproportionally represented, accounting for only 2% of the population but 6% of the arrests. Sgt. Fitzpatrick responded the current gang-involvement, particularly from a group attempting to lay claim to downtown was largely responsible. Several of the people in that gang were African American. Sgt. Fitzpatrick also noted that Caucasians are also disproportionately represented when comparing their percentage of the population to the percentage of citations. He stated the downtown officers focus on the illegal behaviors, regardless of the color of the offender. Mr. Lohrke suggested that the brochure should more clearly lay out the standards for obtaining a variance. He also suggested that the hearing date could be set for the same time as the arraignment date. In response to a question from Mr. Walker, Lt. Mozan responded that offenders are issued an exclusion citation as well as a citation for the underlying behavior that caused the exclusion citation. In response to a question from Mr. Valle, Lt. Mozan responded that if someone is coming to access government services, they are allowed to travel through the exclusion zone. Ms. Miller suggested that unless there were additional public comments, the public forum should be concluded and the discussion continued at the next Police Commission meeting. Ms. Conover concurred. Mr. Muelller asked how many people who have been excluded who are downtown and also asked what happens if someone has a legitimate reason to be downtown. Sgt. Fitzpatrick responded that officers investigate the reasons, and that considerations are made for people with legitimate reasons. Ms. Berg-Caldwell commented that frequently the charges are reduced to a misdemeanor, which eliminates the possibility of jail time, but also eliminates court-appointed attorneys. She asked whether court-appointed attorneys could be afforded to these people. She also asked what outreach has taken place to public defenders. Finally, she asked if the police explain that the show cause notice permits the person to continue to be downtown. Too often, she's seen examples where people believe they've been excluded and they haven't even been to court. Mr. Valle closed public forum. The meeting adjourned at 7:50pm. Attachment B - Page 8