City Council Public Hearing

PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES DATE: Monday, October 4, 2021 TIME: 6 : 3 0 pm PLACE: *Via ZOOM, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801 The City Council Committee of The Whole of the City of Urbana, Illinois, met in regular session Monday, October 4, 2021, at 7:00pm virtually via ZOOM. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Diane Wolfe Marlin, Mayor; Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk ELECETED OFFICIALS VIRTUALLY PRESENT: CM Maryalice Wu, CM Christopher Evans, CM Shirese Hursey, CM Jaya Kolisetty, CM Chaundra Bishop, CM Grace Wilken, CM James Quisenberry ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jason Liggett, Darcy Sandefur, Carol Mitten, Cory Koker, Andrea Ruedi, Carla Boyd, Bryant Seraphin, Dave Wesner OTHERS PRESENT: Carlene Cardoski (Rosecrance), Minnie Pearson, Allan Max Axelrod, Giovanna Dibenedetto, Sarah Nixon, Brandy McCoy Chair: Shirese Hursey, Ward 3 1. Call to Order and Roll Call With a quorum present, Chair Hursey called the Public Hearing of the Committee of the Whole to order at 6:30 PM. 2. Presentation Mayor Marlin provided an introduction. Chief Bryant Seraphin provided a background of the previous steps taken to get to this point and named the previous collaborators. Lt. Cory Koker presented a powerpoint that explains how this co-responder model is being implemented with Rosecrance in another community in Winnibego County. He explained the benefits to the consumer and community. Reviewed stats of CIT trained officer calls and explained outcomes. Carlena Cardoski from Rosecrance presented on the co-responder from Rosecrance’s side. She explained the training that the Rosecrance staff has undergone. Reviewed lessons learned after a year of implementation in Winnibego County. Questions from council: CM Wu asked what the benefit of having the police and social workers work together and have they seen a model where police defer to social work as opposed to going as a team. CM Kolisetty asked how this model coexists with 911 crisis response versus follow up model. Why would this model work in Urbana? CM Evans asked if officers could hide their weapons more to further deescalate these situations. CM Evans asked if this is 24 hours. CM Bishop asked about the referral process and how insurance is handled. CM Wilken asked for additional information and input possibilities with future presentations and what steps will be taken next. CM Kolisetty asked how increasing police involvement is responsive to demand for accountability and change. CM Bishop asked what feedback will look like, metrics for feedback and how it will be conducted. Advised that a memo once a month would be good. CM Wilken expressed that a vote would be needed for council approval. CM Kolisetty asked why the decision was made to move forward with this model and not a study. CM Bishop asked how cultural sensitivity is being accounted for and if training for that specifically has been done. CM Wilken expressed frustration about following procedure. Asked for additional transparency. Mayor Marlin expressed that the main reason the City is moving forward with this is the emergent need in the community and the direct response to the calls for reallocating funds already in place without additional Page 1 of 2  cost. Explained that it’s not mutually exclusive from broader study of public safety. CM Evans pointed out only 8% of the contacts get arrested and 63% of the situations are solved at the scene. Expressed concern about residents experiencing crisis after hours and weekends. Asked where residents are taken and housed in crisis. CM Quisenberry expressed concerns about the display of a weapons during these encounters. Hopes to see an expansion to after hours and weekend times if effective. CM Hursey expressed support for this project as a starting point. Asked about the possibility of safe houses where residents can lay their head for the night. Feels the feedback given by those helped with this program will be the most constructive in further developing this program. Asked what is done for residents who outright refuse services. CM Wu expressed concern about ways in which minimizing police presence is done and is pleased with the suggestions put forth this evening. Heard fellow councilmember’s desire for a vote. CM Bishop asked when grant started and when it extends to. CM Hursey asked how many communities will benefit from this. 3. Public Input Minnie Pearson is going to wait to provide input on ALPR. Allan Max Axelrod urged council to read HB 2784. Proposed alternative response model in which Rosecrance responds first. Giovanna Dibenedetto asked what a call would look like. Provided an example of a scenario. Hopes to see an education of community activists about this program so they can also advocate for it. Sarah Nixon expressed frustration about the lack of opportunity for the public to be involved with this process. Urged council to not partner with Rosecrance and instead to work more closely with Officer Bennett and educating more officers in the field of social work instead. Brandi McCoy expressed confusion as to why the city is at this point because it is against state law to implement this type of model. Expressed concerns about community distrust of police. 4. Adjournment Chair Hursey adjourned the public hearing at 7:58 p.m. Darcy Sandefur Recording Secretary This meeting was video recorded and is viewable on-demand HERE. Minutes approved: 10/18/2021 Page 2 of 2