AgdaPkt 2020-10-05 Special Study Session

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4.A. - Page 3 of 98 In an effort to hear more community voices more thoroughly, the City contracted with the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC) to conduct a series of six online Community Dialogues on Racial Equity throughout the summer. The sessions were intended to help the City create meaningful change in City policies, service delivery and policing. The Committee also asked PCRC to design the sessions with the objectives of: sharing personal stories and perspectives in order to gain understanding and build trust among participants; deepening everyone's understanding of these complex issues; and seeking ways for policing and all City services to work better for everyone. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Policing, as well as additional members of the City Council, attended the Community Dialogue sessions to listen directly to input from the community, as did several City staff members including the Police Chief, City Attorney, City Manager and Assistant City Manager. PCRC supplemented this virtual outreach with in-person "pop-up" outreach to under -represented groups in Redwood City. PCRC's report on community perspectives shared through this process is provided as Attachment B, and PCRC representatives will provide a presentation at the Study Session. The outreach process coordinated by PCRC is an important subset of a much larger range of initiatives and events underway in Redwood City related to these issues. The Redwood City Council has repeatedly declared its commitment to racial equity and inclusion as a matter of public policy. In 2017, the City Council adopted a resolution designating Redwood City as a Welcoming City, noting that Redwood City is "a diverse multi-ethnic community that celebrates and embraces its many cultures" and seeks to "value the contributions of all members of the community including newcomers and immigrants." Last fall, the City Council issued a proclamation for United Against Hate Week, which stated the City's strong support for "honoring and protecting every individual regardless of race, creed, color, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, orientation, or identity." In January, the City Council adopted its 2020 Strategic Plan with the Mission Statement: "Building a welcoming Redwood City through collaboration, responsiveness and excellence." It also featured the City's Vision Statement: "A community where people of all backgrounds and income levels can thrive." On August 10, the City Council adopted Resolution 15877 declaring that Black Lives Matter and reaffirming the City's commitment to racial equity. The resolution stated, "members of the City Council believe in the values of equity, equal justice and equal opportunity, and are dedicated to diversity, inclusion and equal justice as core parts of who we are and what we stand for, and we recognize that we can always do better." Among other forward-looking and action -oriented steps, Resolution 15877 commits the City to: • Improving diversity in its hiring practices, promotions within City departments, and appointments to City boards, committees and commissions, as well as rooting out all forms of bias, discrimination or harassment within City government, wherever that may exist; • Considering opportunities for increasing community involvement in Police policies and activities; • Strengthening the City's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within the City organization and in the provision of City services; • Conducting ongoing review of City policies to ensure equal treatment of all residents; and • Listening, learning, and collaborating with our community to seek the change that we need and to identify clear actions going forward. Page 3 of 17 dM� City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 5