Title
Special Recognition - Reimagining Public Safety Community Work Group
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Recognize the Reimagining Public Safety Community Work Group
Report
Issue:
Whether to recognize the Reimagining Public Safety Community Work Group
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning & Performance Manager, Office of Performance & Innovation (360.753.8046)
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning and Performance Manager
Wade Uyeda, Community Work Group Member
Chris Belton, Community Work Group Member
Christina Daniels, Community Work Group Member
Larry Jefferson, Community Work Group Member
Malika Lamont, Community Work Group Member
Vanessa Malapote, Community Work Group member
Todd Monohon, Community Work Group Member
Ally Upton, Community Work Group Member
Background and Analysis:
In February 2021, the Olympia City Council approved a community-led process to reimagine public safety, with the goal of ensuring the City’s public safety system is just, equitable and without bias.
The process launched in July 2021, led by a nine-member 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. One group member, Dr. Matt Goldenberg, needed to step down mid-way through the process due to professional obligations.
The remaining eight Community Work Group’s members represented a diverse cross-section of Olympia’s demographics, expertise, and experiences. They put in the time to learn about the public safety system, one another’s personal and professional experiences, and community members’ experiences with Olympia’s public safety system.
Over the last 18 months, the Work Group met over 20 times, held two retreats, and has hosted two surveys on Engage Olympia, seven listening sessions, and ten focus groups. They extended the project timeline and their participation in this work twice, so that they could engage more community members and work together to deliver recommendations that are inclusive and represent the needs of our community.
The purpose of tonight’s special recognition is to acknowledge the leadership and collaboration the Work Group demonstrated throughout this process, and to celebrate the group’s exceptional commitment to delivering their recommendations to the City Council.
Attachments:
Project Overview
Engage Olympia Site