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7.A. - Page 3 of 11 <br />• The City has conducted employee listening sessions and an employee survey to assess <br />opportunities to enhance the City's organizational climate. <br />Development of Recommendations for the Creation of Committees <br />On August 10, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 15877, which stated that, "the City Council will <br />consider opportunities to increase community involvement in Police policies and activities and to <br />strengthen the City's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within the City organization and in the <br />provision of City services;" and resolved that the City will "lead by example through the equitable <br />treatment of all people by City officials and departments;" and "commit to ongoing review of City policies <br />to ensure equal treatment of all residents;" and "continue to improve in these areas in all City operations <br />and will work to promote these values in our community." On October 12, 2020, the City Council amended <br />the Redwood City Strategic Plan to make equity a foundational principle in the City's work, stating <br />"Redwood City will put equity first, urging a collective restart so that policies serve the entire community." <br />At the City Council Meeting of October 26, 2020, the Councilmembers on the Ad Hoc Committee on <br />Policing proposed the creation of a new Police Advisory Committee and a new City Council Sub -committee <br />on Equity and Social Justice. They also proposed that the Committee on Equity and Social Justice consider <br />the creation of a City Commission on Equity and Social Justice. After further research and deliberations in <br />November and December, including consideration of models for police advisory bodies summarized in <br />Attachment C, the Ad Hoc Committee finalized its recommendations for the formation of a Police Advisory <br />Committee and a Council Committee on Equity and Social Justice. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Council Sub -Committee on Equity and Social Justice <br />As proposed, the City Council Sub -Committee on Equity and Social Justice would consist of three members <br />of the City Council, appointed by the Mayor and serving for one-year terms. To ensure a wide range of <br />Council participation on the Committee, members would not serve for two terms in a row, but could <br />return to the Committee after a one -term hiatus. The Committee, with the support of the Assistant City <br />Manager and/or the Equity and Inclusion Officer, would help the City apply an equity lens to its policies <br />and delivery of services, in accordance with the City's Strategic Plan and Resolution 15877. It would <br />support the City staff's development and implementation of an Equity Plan for the City, review City <br />policies to stimulate equitable treatment of all residents, and promote the values of equity and social <br />justice in the Redwood City community. The Committee may also consider the creation of an Equity and <br />Social Justice Commission. Mayor Howard has appointed Councilmembers Espinosa-Garnica, Reddy and <br />Smith to this Committee, as reported at the January 11, 2021 City Council meeting. Initially, meetings are <br />likely to be every other month, and then generally 2-4 times per year, consistent with other City Council <br />Sub -Committees. <br />Police Advisory Committee <br />As proposed, the Police Advisory Committee would consist of 11 community representatives, with one <br />appointed by each Council Member and four appointed at large by the City Council. As provided in the <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />34 <br />