Title
Acceptance of the Community Work Group’s Reimagining Public Safety Recommendations
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee met on November 9 and unanimously accepted the Community Work Groups Recommendations and directed staff to forward them to the full Council for consideration.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to accept the Community Work Group’s Reimagining Public Safety recommendations.
Report
Issue:
Whether to accept the Community Work Group’s Reimagining Public Safety recommendations.
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
Background and Analysis:
In February 2021, the Olympia City Council (Council) approved a community-led process to reimagine public safety, with a goal to ensure the City’s system is just, equitable, and without bias. The process launched in July 2021, led by a Community Work Group (Work Group) whose role it was to learn about the City’s public safety system, hold listening sessions with the community, and reflect what they learned in a set of recommendations to the City Council.
The Work Group hosted extensive public engagement opportunities, made shifts to their approach and timeframe, and worked to remove barriers to community members participating and feeling safe to share their honest input. They gathered input by hosting surveys on Engage Olympia, broad-based listening sessions, and small focus groups.
The purpose of this agenda item is for Council to consider accepting the Community Work Group’s final recommendations, which include four guiding principles, five goals, and 21 strategies with associated actions.
Councilmembers held a Study Session and received a brief overview of the process, community input on the draft recommendations, and the recommendations themselves, including any changes made since the Work Group’s November 9 Work Session with the Community Livability & Public Safety Committee. Councilmembers participated in a panel discussion with the Community Work Group, during which members shared their experiences leading this process, and how what they learned is reflected in their recommendations and priorities.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There has been broad community member interest in a community engagement process to reimagine public safety in Olympia. After the Work Group completed their recommendations, staff notified community partners who supported listening sessions and focus groups and launched an Engage Olympia survey that resulted in feedback from over 65 respondents.
Options:
1. Accept the Community Work Group’s Reimagining Public Safety recommendations.
2. Accept the Community Work Group’s Reimagining Public Safety recommendations with changes as directed by the City Council.
3. Do not accept the Community Work Group’s recommendations; refer to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for additional discussion.
Financial Impact:
The City’s proposed 2023 Operating Budget includes $287,000 to support furthering the analysis and implementation of the Reimagining Public Safety recommendations.
Attachments:
Reimagining Public Safety Recommendations
Project Overview
Engage Olympia Site