City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 4:45 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK & VI A FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTVERNONNY "SPECiAL" PUBLIC SAFETY AND CODES RESOLUTION 1. A resolution to create the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee and Program pursuant to Executive Order 203. HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTE 2. An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an DOCUMENTS agreement W!h Double DOOr. (Youth Bureau STRONG Program) FINANCE AND PLANNING MVURA 3. An ordinance directing the Comptroller to pay the New HEALTH York State Health Insurance premiums for the retirees. INSURANCE ($395,562.29) MAR2 6 2021 A Resolution to Create The Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee and Program Pursuant to Executive Order 203 WHEREAS, on May 25, 2020, following beginning the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota, protests have taken place daily throughout the nation and in communities across New York State in response to police-involved deaths and racially-biased law enforcement to demand change, action, and accountability; and WHEREAS, there is a long and painful history in New York State of discrimination and mistreatment of black and African-American citizens dating back to the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in America; and WHEREAS, this recent history includes a number of incidents involving the police that have resulted in the deaths of unarmed civilians, predominantly black and African-American men, that have undermined the public's confidence and trust in our system of law enforcement and criminal justice, and such condition is ongoing and urgently needs to be rectified; and WHEREAS, these deaths in New York State include those of Anthony Baez, Amadou Diallo, Ousmane Zango, Sean Bell, Ramarley Graham, Patrick Dorismond, Akai Gurley, and Eric Garner, amongst others, and, in other states, include Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Philando Castile, Antwon Rose Jr., Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, amongst others, and WHEREAS, these needless deaths have led the Governor of the State of New York to sign into law the Say Their Name Agenda which reforms aspects of policing in New York State; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that the government has a responsibility to ensure that all of its citizens are treated equally, fairly, and justly before the law; and WHEREAS, recent outpouring of protests and demonstrations, which have been manifested in every area of the state, have illustrated the depth and breadth of public interest in ending institutional racism and injustice; and WHEREAS, one of the essential roles of government is to maintain public safety, which requires mutual trust and respect between police and the communities they serve; and the success and safety of our society depends on positive police-community relationships and policies that allow police to do their jobs to protect every member of the public; and WHEREAS, the Governor has determined that urgent and immediate action is needed to eliminate racial inequities in policing, to modify and modernize policing strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, and to develop practices to better address the particular needs of communities of color to promote public safety, improve community engagement, and foster trust; and WHEREAS, the Governor has enacted Executive Order 203 entitled the "New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative"; and WHEREAS, Executive Order that in coordination 203 states with the resources of the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Division of the Budget, local governments may "increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system by ensuring that the local police agencies within the state have been actively engaged with stakeholders in the local community and have locally-approved plans for the strategies, policies and procedures of local police agencies; and MAR2 6 2021 PEC!A WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive Order 203 each local government entity, which has a police agency operating with police officers as defined under 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, must adopt a policing reform plan afier performing a collaborative review of the needs of the community served by its police agency, and evaluate the department's current policies and practices to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color and promote trust, fairness, and legitimacy; and WHEREAS, on or about August 17, 2020, the Office of Budget released a Guidance Document in order to assist municipalities in the development of the Program (the "Guidance Document"); and WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City is required to convene the head of the local police agency, and stakeholders in the community to develop such plan; and WHEREAS, the City of Mount Vernon, in coordination with its police agency, must consu(t with stakeholders, including stakeholders identified in the Guidance Document as required or recommended, and create a Police Reinvention and Collaborative Program (the "Program") to adopt and implement the recommendations resulting from its review and consultation, including any changes to its policing deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, tailored to the specific needs of the community and general promotion of improved police agency and community relationships based on trust, fairness, accountability, and transparency, and which seek to reduce any racial disparities in policing; and WHEREAS, recommendations included in the Program may consider evidence-based policing strategies described in the Guidance Document, and shall consider transparency, accountability, training, community engagement, qualifications and recruitment, and policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, such Program must be offered for public comment to all citizens in the locality, and after consideration of such comments, shall be presented to the local tegislative body in such political subdivision, which shall ratify or adopt such plan by local law or resolution, as appropriate, no later than April 1, 2021 ; and WHEREAS, the City of Mount Vernon is then required to transmit a certification to the Director of the Division of the Budget to affirm that the Program has been developed and the required local law or resolution has been adopted approving the Program; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOVLED the City Council of the City of Mount Vernon hereby adopts the foregoing Resolution to establish the Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the purpose of the Program shall be aS follows: to review the needs of the community served by its police agency, evaluate the relevant policies and practices of the department, identify standards and strategies that foster trust, fairness, transparency, accountability, and legitimacy, confirm or establish policies that allow police to effectively and safely perform their duties; involve stakeholders and community members in listening sessions and elicit input from the public develop policy recommendations resulting from this review;  offer a plan for public comment; present the plan to the local legislative body to ratify or adopt it, and; certify adoption of the plan to the State Budget Director on or before April 1, 2021 . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a Police Reform and Reinvention Co((aboration Committee (the "Committee") was formed to develop the Program and accomplish the goals set forth in Executive Order 203 and the Guidance Document. This task shall be delegated to the City of Mount Vernon to select the members of the Committee. The Committee shall have up to eighteen (18) members, in addition to the Chair(s). The stakeholders who must be involved in the membership of this Committee shall include the following: Membership and leadership of the local police force; Members of the community, with emphasis on areas with high numbers of police and community interactions; Interested non-profit and faith-based community groups; The local public defender; and Local elected officia(s. Beyond this group, the City of Mount Vernon should ensure that participants bring a broad range of the perspectives, experiences, knowledge and values from the community. Specifically, the City of Mount Vernon will also consider engaging as stakeholders or as members of the Committee: Residents who have had interactions with the police; Residents who have been incarcerated; Any local police unions; Local education officials and educators; Local neighborhood, homeless, and housing advocates; LGBTQIA+ leaders and advocates; The Local Health Department and healthcare leaders and advocates; Mental health professionals; Business leaders; Transportation and transit officials; and Legal and academic experts Appointment to the Committee will follow an application process. Inaugural members of the Committee will continue to serve as members of the Committee until the Program is developed and implemented and the goals of Executive Order 203 and the Guidance are accomplished. 5. The Committee should endeavor to set the initial meeting to occur on or before September 30, 2020. Thereafter, meetings are to be scheduled as called by the Chair of the Committee on a regular basis in order to develop the Program and accomplish the goals of Executive Order 203 and the Guidance. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following the creation of the Committee, the committee shall follow a timeline that includes the four (4) phases outlined in the Guidance Document for developing the Program and accomplishing the goals of Executive Order 203 and the Guidance. A recommended timeline is attached as Appendix "A". MAR2 6 2021 APPENDIX "A" Recommended Timeline Police Reform and Reinvention Committee and Program Phase 1: Planning (September-October 2020) Create a work plan, including list of isSues to address, and identify staff to manage the information gathering and plan development. Identify stakeholders and local leaders who can work to facilitate conversations with key constituencies in the community. Assess current policing practices and procedures by gathering information on current operations including but not limited to data, policies and procedures, complaint history, budget, contracts, training, and equipment. Make this information available to the public. Phase 2: Listening and Learning (November-December 2020) Form subcommittees to examine specific areas including (1) accountability and transparency; (2) community engagement; (3) training (4) qualifications and recruitment; (5) policies and procedures. Conduct listening sessions with the public. Organize sessions thematically or focus separately on individual stakeholders. Consult experts or resources referenced in the Guidance to help consider difficult issues more fully. Request comments on draff plans from the public both before adoption and early in the development of the Program. Elicit input form people unable to or uncomfortable with joining public meetings and consider asking for written comments or suggestions. Phase 3: Draff a Plan (January 2021) Identify areas of focus or change after getting feedback and evaluating the role of the police in the community and the current state of the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In the areas identified as needing reform, identify short -term and long-term measurable goals. Draff a reform and reinvention plan. The Committee may choose to solicit suggested language from stakeholders to help facilitate draffing and to see different stakeholders' positions in writing. The Committee shall consider articulating not just policy changes but a vision for what these changes will accomplish. Include how to measure success of this plan going forward. Keep the public engaged in the process. Phase 4: Public Comment and Ratification (February 2021-March 2021) Executive Order No. 203 requires that the draft plan be posted for public comment. The Committee shall consider diversifying the ways the public can share feedback, in writing and at events - either in person or virtually. When releasing the draft plan, educate the public and consider how the Committee and other key stakeholders involved in the development will explain the proposals to the public. Consider holding events, engaging the media, or publishing an op-ed in the local newspaper. Revise the plan to incorporate public comment: The Committee should ensure the public comment is addressed in a meaningful way in the final plan and how the Committee will address those comments which are not adopted and those that highlight areas of tension and disagreement among members of the community or between community members and the police. Finalize the plan after public comment and submit to the Town Board to adopt or ratify before the April 4, 2021 deadline. File certification with the New York State Division of the Budget by April 1, 202'l, that the City of Mount Vernon has met the requirements of Executive Order No. 203 MAR2 6 202! After April 1, 202'l l Affer the plan is adopted, the City of Mount Vernon shall implement and communicate the plan progress reports and metrics to the public. The Committee will continue to monitor and respond to community concerns related to the police until the City Council determines that the goals of the plan have been accomplished; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Mayor and the Mount Vernon Police Reform Commission, the City Council hereby adopts this resolution in support of Mount Vernon Police Reform Commission Report. APPRO Assistant o ATTEST: o U) 3: o o LL APPFIOVED Dept. Mayor MAR2 6 2021 SPECMAL AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH DOUBLE DOOR. WHEREAS, by letter dated March 12, 2021, the Deputy Director of the Youth Bureau has requested legislation authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Double Door in the amount of $5,200.00 for the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau's Mount Vernon STRONG Program (Students Taking Responsibility and Ownership Now and Graduating) for the period of February 22, 2021 to March 19, 2021; and WHEREAS, the aforesaid agreement is part of a grant with New York State Education Department/21s' Century Community Learning Center that was accepted by the City through legislation dated June 28, 2017 in the amount of $1,120,000.00 annually from July 1, 2017- June 30, 2022; and WHEREAS, the aforesaid agreement will allow the City to subcontract with Double Door to provide space to the Youth Bureau to offer the "TradeGrade" program through Soulful Synergy LLC for OSHA-30 and other trainings to participants for the WDAY program. Further Double Door will provide the venue, meals, and decoration for the final event and recording of the final event; NOW, THEREFORE, The City of Mount Vernon, in City Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact: Section 1. The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Double Door in the amount of $5,200.00 for the Moiu'it Vernon Youth Bureau's Mount Vernon STRONG Program (Students Taking Responsibility and Ownership Now and Graduating) for the period of February 22, 2021 to March 19, 2021. Section 2. The aforesaid funds in an amount not to exceed $5,200.00 are available in Budget Code A7316.405 (STRONG), Youth Bureau 2021 Budget. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract. APPRO rE AS Assistant Corpo tion Cou el o o o 6y (jerk o o o Dept. APPROVED Ry ,P2, Mayor MAR2 6 2021 AN ORDINANCE DIRECTING THE COMPTROLLER TO PAY THE NEW YORK STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE RETIREES WE-IEREAS, by memorandum dated March 26, 2021, the Executive Director of the Moiu'it Vernon Urban Renewal Agency has advised this Honorable Body that the New York State Department of Civil Service (the "Department") by letter dated March 17, 2021 that the health care insurance has been suspended for the NYSHIP enrollees and has demanded that the Mount Venion Urban Renewal Agency pay the balance of $395,562.29 to reactive health insurance for the retirees; and WHEREAS, the City of Mount Vernon ("City") by legislation passed on August 20, 2019 directing the Comptroller to pay the MVURA's past due health insurance bill of $248,093.26; and WHEREAS, the MVURA has administered all federally funded programs on behalf of the City; and WHEREAS, the City acknowledges that it is and has been the Grantee of the Commiu'iity Development Block Grant ("CDBG") and the Home Investment Partnerships Program ("HOME") Grant that is fiinded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"); and WHEREAS, as the City further acknowledges that as the Grantee of HUD funds, is responsible for all grant administrative expenditures, including but not limited to, salary and fringe benefits; NOW, THEREFORE, The City of Mount Vernon, in City Council convened, does hereby ordain and enact: Section 1. It hereby directs the Comptroller to pay the MVURA's past due health insurance bill of $395,562.29 from account code A 9060.806 (Health & Dental Insurance). Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval by the Board of Estimate Contract. APPROVED AS TO FORM ANCE Assistant Corporation Counsel a) a o o o APPROVED Dept. 3