pages: CityCouncil/2020-06-29.pdf, 9
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CityCouncil | 2020-06-29 | 9 | Vice Mayor Knox White concurred with Councilmember Oddie; stated talking about what everyone had to say rather than focusing on a specific proposal was what he had in mind for the discussion. Councilmember Oddie stated the job of the Council as elected representatives is to set policy; the City Manager's job is to take policy direction and implement it; inquired whether Alameda Police Officers have worn Blue Lives Matter face masks. The City Manager responded that he is hearing about the masks for the first time tonight and will check on it tomorrow; stated the Police Chief may be able to provide more information. Councilmember Oddie stated if it is true; it is not conducive to working together; pretty divergent views were heard today; there was also lots of commentary about the fate of the Officers involved in the Mr. Watkins incident; requested an update on what information can be made available to the public and whether or not it is against the Charter to ask the City Manager to fire the Officers involved. The City Attorney responded it would be a violation of the Charter for Council to ask the City Manager to take any disciplinary or termination action against the Officers; stated very little information can be made public as State law makes it clear that any information related to an investigation of a Police Officer is considered confidential; the City could not invite public participation in the interview of an Officer or allow the public to review any investigator's findings or conclusions; the City could confirm the employment status of the Officer. Councilmember Oddie inquired whether the Alameda Police Union contract includes the State law regarding confidentiality. The City Attorney responded the confidentiality provision is covered by State law; the Council would not have the ability to adopt ordinances or have contracts changing the confidentiality provisions. Councilmember Oddie stated that he wants to make sure people understand Council is not taking action one way or another, which is not because they are being idle or incompetent or ignorant of the public outcry, but because it is what the State law guarantees for the Officers whether the public agrees with it or not; there is a limited amount of information that Council can provide other than employment status; he has been on the Council nearly six years and has not had an issue that was so emotional and has such a dichotomy of viewpoints; Councilmembers have been called insensitive, racist, reactionary, too slow, corrupt, and complicit, which is such a wide gamut of things that all cannot be true; what was missing from the conversation, and is disappointing, is that there is an "either/or' which is not what policy-making is about; he will never know the experiences of being an African American teen walking to his car or a Central American immigrant with a tail light out; quoted the Mayor of Chicago, Laurie Lightfoot, regarding how defunding the Police ignores how reform works and would hurt diversity Special Meeting Alameda City Council 9 June 29, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-06-29.pdf |