Title
Reimagining Public Safety Launch of Listening-and-Learning Sessions
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a Committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive an update on the Reimagining Public Safety process and the launch of the community listening-and-learning sessions
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the Reimagining Public Safety process and the launch of the community listening-and-learning sessions
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning and Performance Manager, Office of Performance, and Innovation, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning and Performance Manager
Chris Belton, Community Work Group Member
Todd Monohon, Community Work Group Member
Background and Analysis:
In February 2021, the Olympia City Council approved a community-led process to reimagine public safety for the City to produce a public safety system that fosters trust and works for everyone.
The City launched this community-led and inclusive process in July 2021 to evaluate and recommend enhancing its public-safety system. While recognizing that many far-reaching societal factors can influence public safety in general, this process looks specifically at the City’s public safety system, including areas like policing, corrections, prosecution, defense, courts, and medical and fire response.
The process is led by a Community Work Group (Work Group) made up of nine community members who represent a cross-section of Olympia’s demographics, expertise, and experiences. They are dedicated to listening deeply, working collaboratively, and reflecting on what they hear from the community.
Continuing through August 2022, the reimagining process will culminate with the Work Group delivering a set of recommendations to the City Council for ensuring the City’s public safety system is based on trust, justice, equity, and without bias.
To develop their recommendations, the Work Group will host listening-and-learning sessions to hear individuals’ experiences connecting to the City’s public safety system, how the system responds to the needs of community members, and how it supports those who are navigating through it transitioning into the community. The following are goals the Work Group established for hosting listening-and-learning sessions:
• Create safe spaces for honest sharing and dialogue amongst participants.
• Listen to and learn from a diverse and inclusive spectrum of community member perspectives and experiences.
• Listen to and learn from the perspectives and experiences of marginalized community members.
• Listen to and learn from the experiences of individuals who have been in the City’s public safety system.
• Learn about the outcomes from individuals’ and groups’ experiences.
These goals guided the Work Group in determining who to outreach to in the community, partner with, and invite to participate in listening-and-learning sessions.
This agenda item aims to launch the community listening and learning sessions. On behalf of the Community Work Group, members Chris Belton and Todd Monohon will share their perspectives on their goals for the listening-and-learning sessions. Staff will follow up by sharing the different sessions hosted by the Work Group, an overview of what the sessions will be like for participants, communications strategies for collaborating with partners, and inviting community members.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is broad community member interest in hosting a community engagement process to reimagine public safety in Olympia.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing.
2. Do not receive the briefing.
3. Receive the briefing at another time.
Financial Impact:
The City’s approved 2021 Operating Budget included $100,000 to support the Reimagining Public Safety process.
Attachments:
Project Overview
Engage Olympia Webpage
Listening and Learning Sessions Overview