Work Session Meeting March 11, 2024 MINUTES Work Session Monday, March 11, 2024 @ 1:00 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall PRESENT: Councilor Johana Bencomo, Councilor Yvonne Flores, Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Becky Corran, Mayor Eric Enriquez, Councilor Cassie McClure, and Councilor William Mattiace ABSENT: 1. JOBS OF THE WEEK 1.1 Sarah Raney and Jacen Bernal Workforce Connections presented Jobs of the Week. 2. PETS OF THE WEEK 2.1 Amy Defelix, ASCMV presented Pets of the Week. 3. AGENDA ITEM 3.1 5TH SEMI-ANNUAL POLICE AUDIT REPORT PRESENTED BY THE OIR GROUP. Stephen Connolly, OIR Group gave an overhead presentation. Teresa Magula, OIR Group continued overhead presentation. Stephen Connolly continued overhead presentation. Teresa Magula continued overhead presentation. Page 1 of 12 Councilor Flores said on page 15 could you please explain what directed training means, you said it was occurring more frequently and there was release of information and fraternization? What does that mean, they can’t be friends, they can’t socialize with each other, they can’t talk to each other, what does that mean? Teresa Magula said to your first question the directed training would be if through the course of investigation it was determined that misconduct occurred and sometimes even if misconduct didn’t occur. They identify the officer might need a little refresher on a certain topic, those officers are directed by command to attend a certain type of training. It could be as simple as, perhaps you need to go to a class on report writing so you can be a better report writer. The officer will take that class it will be logged in their training record and hopefully that issue is remediated through that directive training. Fraternization is as Stephen mentioned is the structure of this organization is such that there are ranks and so if a supervisor is having a relationship, meaning of a romantic nature typically someone who is a subordinate or vice versa. That can create some challenges for the reporting structure, for assignments, could indicate or give the indication of preferential treatment and so on. Policy around that essentially is telling those members who wish to engage in those types of relationships, of course of their choosing, the types of reporting that they have to do. So for example, let’s command know that we’re in a relationship. I should not be reporting to this person, they should not be in my direct chain of command for example. Councilor Flores said so those person’s involved would be reassigned or whatever. Teresa Magula said it would be up to the department how to manage that most appropriately. Councilor Flores said you also mentioned promising new developments, so you saw there were promising new developments insofar as the findings in procedural matters or just generally? Teresa Magula said that was referring to the alternative complaint resolution model that Stephen spoke of so to us that is something of a new development to the department and one that we think that will really payoff both for the community as well as for the department. Councilor Graham said I think your first report was one of my first Council meetings so we all kind of came on at the same time and it’s been interesting to watch this develop. One thing I do always like to point out if it doesn’t show up in the slide show is that you share in the larger report, numbers of external complaints versus calls for service. It is always such an illuminating number so for this 6 month period 85,908 calls for service. So in half a year almost 86,000 calls for service with 12 external complaints. I always think that sometimes it’s going to be overwhelming when you’re reading everything after, after everything and it’s so illustrative to see this is a Page 2 of 12 vanishing small number of calls for service that end up with these kind of complaints. Overall I think this report more that any is starting to reflect the shifts in culture that I think we’ve all been really happy to see and just wanted to shout out our leadership, thank you so much for what you’re doing as we try to grow and evolve. Councilor Flores said so there is a lot of intermittent training. I know there is a law firm that comes down, in fact they’re in Los Angeles. How often is that and how does that work with what OIR does? I think that kind of training that they do reflects a lot of the improvements here, I might be wrong. Chief Jeremy Story, LCPD said when it comes to training that is a very broad topic, so I’ll narrow it, well it’s happening weekly. Really with briefing training is happening daily. When it comes to legal training, which I think is what you’re asking about the firm we brought in from Southern California for specific classes but our New Mexico attorney we’ve retained is doing stuff all the time, so he’s teaching things like report writing, search and seizure update, his regular search and seizure class, use of force. He’s taking part in scenarios, he's doing briefing training, he’s doing the bathroom bulletins, so we are already seeing the fruits of that, in a year or two it’s really going to show how much of a benefit that’s had, because it does take time, it’s a lot of information. I don’t that we can increase the frequency much more without completely breaking the system. We’re pushing him pretty hard and the staff and the supervisors pretty hard to get all this training done. Councilor Flores asked how long have you had that outside firm do their training? I think the fire department is also involved with that, right? Chief Jeremy Story said not with the legal side of things, but I’ve been bringing them in for classes for three years, but we’ve only had them for less than a year, probably six or seven months with an actual contract where the frequencies are a lot more. Councilor Bencomo asked can you give us an update on the CALEA certification process? Chief Jeremy Story said we are making our way through the proofs right now and just for context we have been accredited by the Municipal League for the past ten, eleven years. So, it’s not the first time seeking accreditation, CALEA is kind of the next level, and it is more cumbersome, but my guess would be approximately fifty percent through proofs. We have dedicated more people to that section and just change the accreditation manager so that delayed things a little bit, but I think it’s going to speed things up in the long run. Councilor Bencomo asked on the report the LCPD management response is that usually from Chief? That is, ok. On the community meetings will you be reporting to us in a similar manner? Teresa Magula said yeah the intent is to hopefully combine the community sessions with a report like this so that we would report to you, we would meet with community, we would be able to report that back to you about what community might be Page 3 of 12 concerned with. Really we’re looking at having it be a pretty fluid process where this all comes together. Councilor Bencomo said I just wanted to say in relation to the mental health crises calls that I think for the mission originally for me bringing you all on was around accountability and transparency. I think more and more I also feel like it’s a lot of policy learnings for us as well. I think even as I hear Chief Smith with the fire department talking about how much their field is changing. How more and more they’re responding to behavioral health calls. We’ve been having a big conversation about fentanyl and what that does to peoples bodies and minds. The reality that both fire and police are sort of the frontlines of that. I think that for me it’s important to hear these things too because I think it gives us an important insight on, it’s not just their jobs to handle this. This is really a community effort and so we have to understand also what the resources is that they need. I think Project LIGHT has been transformative frankly and I think we have a lot of work to do around opioid crisis and responding to mental crises in that way. I do just want to reiterate my gratitude towards you all and to the police department for the collaborative effort that I think has brought about a lot of important policy changes and I think a lot more to come as well, especially when it relates to this session. Mayor Enriquez said I would just like to echo what Councilor Graham said. I’ve seen some of these reports, come this is the fifth one. I see the progress. I see the work in progress going in and the partnership the collaborating looks well, very good. I just want to ask Chief Story or Staff if they wanted to add anything else on this presentation on their perspective on the internal and how it’s going? Chief Jeremy Story said I will give kind of my big picture on OIR, and we have many conversations that we don’t always agree on everything, we go back and forth. The way I see it, I’ve given this metaphor before. When you plant a tree and you’re trying to make it stronger you know, you stake it, so the wind doesn't uproot it. But you don’t want to push too hard because then the tree would either be uprooted or wouldn’t grow. If you stake it so tight that it cannot move it has no pressure, the tree doesn’t get strong either. Hopefully that makes sense. What I’m saying is pressure force you, to think about things differently, ultimately it does make you stronger as long as it’s with balance. OIR has done that for us, I think if you zoom out for this entire period you’ll see a lot of positive change, that resulted because of our relationship with OIR, that might not have happened otherwise. I still am appreciative of this relationship, and I actually enjoy the conversations we have, even when we don’t agree. 3.2 FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 BUDGET REVIEW. Leeann DeMouche, Finance Director gave an overhead presentation. Josie Trevino, Interim Finance Deputy Director continued overhead presentation. Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer continued overhead presentation. Leeann DeMouche continued overhead presentation. Page 4 of 12 Councilor Flores said I have a question that goes to the services of the Telshor Fund and the entities that receive the benefit of that fund. I have a constituent who asked me, how was it that the different 501(c)(3)s, the recipients were determined and whether those that do fall under the categories listed, they all go a lot to health and what not. How exactly is it publicized and how often is it publicized and is there a call out to 501(c)(3)s to apply and then how are they selected? Leeann DeMouche said it’s my understanding that she puts out an RFP (Request for Proposal) those proposals come in. I think she has an advisory committee that goes through these proposals and then she takes those funds and then she distributes those funds. She has the $600,000 and she tries to fill as much of that money as she can. Councilor Flores asked my question goes to who makes the final determination and how is that reached? You said there is an advisory committee so that advisory committee it’s not a directive it’s an advise. Who ultimately makes the decision, is it only one person that makes that decision? Leeann DeMouche said this advisory committee I think advises on what they should, she actually brings to Council a resolution. In that resolution it lists who all the proposals and how much they award so at that time you have the opportunity to say yes or no, even at that time at the resolution. Councilor Flores said I am aware of that. The designees of the recipients are taken from a pool or anyone who qualifies is given the money or receive fund money. So if there’s X amount of dollars and then there’s ten applications they’re reviewed and once they’re reviewed, who determines who is going to receive the money and how are the amounts factored in, all that sort of stuff? It is a mystery to me, and I haven’t been able to get a clear answer. Natalie Green, Housing & Neighborhood Services Revitalization Manager said so there is a health related public services program guide with the application so we will make sure you get a copy of that. It has a step by step process on the allocation methodology. It is a competitive process conducted every other year, so we are in the middle of that process right now. There off the top of my head I want to say was about 15 to 18 applicants. Those applications are reviewed by the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, and they present to that committee and answer any questions. Then that committee votes and makes a recommendation to Council on who should be funded, and that recommendation meeting is either this week, maybe tomorrow I saw the agenda go out and there is a staff liaison that monitors that committee. Councilor Flores asked and insofar as the applications by the 501(c)(3) that are applying for those funds who reviews them and who makes the ultimate decision? I know you say we make the ultimate decision, but I know what we get is what has been narrowed down at your level. We don’t get the bulk of the applicants, we don’t review and weigh which entities will be receiving Telshor Funds. Page 5 of 12 Natalie Green said the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee made up of seven members appointed by each Councilor on the dais including the Mayor and so it’s your representatives who are appointed to that board that review those applications. They see all the applications and make those recommendations to Council for final adoption. Councilor Flores said but we the Council never see those applications, we just get the whoever, however. But you make the ultimate decision don’t you Miss Green? Natalie Green said the Health and Human Services makes the recommendations because they review the applications. This year’s process I myself have not seen the applications. I have another staff member who supervises that process. I do know it’s a similar organizations that have previously applied. Councilor Flores asked when the decision is made to allocate monies or to fund the certain 501(c)(3) who determines the amount that is distributed to them? Natalie Green said the Council has an investment strategy that they adopt every two to four years. This Council adopted one I believe about two years ago that setup a budgeted amount of $600,000 for the next four fiscal years, we are now in year three of that 4 year allocation, so it’s set by this body and this body also adopts the allocation process. Councilor Flores said yes but the allocation process that we get is what has been finalized by you or the advisory committee is that correct? Natalie Green said there’s two, one is the final recommendation of who should be funded every budget year, but the overall program policy determination is also set by this body. This Council adopts an application and policy guide that outlines how the program is to be managed and run. Councilor Flores asked do we get that now or you say something is coming to us soon so when do we get that? Natalie Green said I can send you a copy of that resolution that adopted that process. Councilor Flores asked who makes the ultimate decision to where the funds will be going, that $600,000 and you have different entities applying? Natalie Green said you’ll make that decision on your May 2nd meeting. Councilor Flores asked ok, how does your committee reach their recommendations? That is what I’d like to see quite frankly, and the reason is because there are 501(c)(3)s that feel that they have not been justly served. That is my concern and it made me think about the process and not really knowing so what you present to us is basically your decision. We don’t get to see the final determinations by the advisory committee and they’re only advisory so you would be the person perhaps making the Page 6 of 12 decision as to who’s going to get the money. Then we get to rubber stamp that and that’s pretty much how it’s been coming. Natalie Green said on the competitive years staff has puts out a notice of funding opportunities to the public and it’s advertised both on our website and through the newspaper. It’s a call for applications and then agencies submit what is called a letter of intent to apply and they submit a competitive application with questions and information that’s been adopted by Council. Council set those questions, what’s the objective of your program, how much money are you asking for x,y,z. There’s some mandatory requirements, such as having a financial audit. Again those are all policy decisions that were set by the committee and Council who adopted the application process, and that process is managed by staff. The agencies go through the submission process, they’re reviewed for their audits, their fiscal soundness, their program requirements, that was also adopted by Council and then all of that is given to the committee. Councilor Flores asked how often does that advisory committee meet? Natalie Green said they meet about four times per year, that is a pretty regulated process and so they’re in the middle of that process right now. Councilor Flores asked how many 501(c)(3) apply for those funds? Natalie Green said it can vary from year to year typically for the $600,000 pot we see about twenty agencies apply and the alternate years is our CDBG public services funding, and we only see about 6-7 that apply for that process because it’s a much more rigorous financial commitment to run a Community Development Block Grant. Councilor Flores asked what determines the allocation of those funds, what factors are used in determining whether that particular 501(C)(3) meets the criteria? What is the criteria? Natalie Green said there is a weighted scoring system that the committee has as part of the questions, off the top of my head I can’t tell you the specifics, but they weight anywhere from five to 20 points in each category. They calculate all of their scores then they meet, and I believe it’s this week. They will meet at a public meeting, those scores will be presented to both the non-profits and the members of the public and so you’ll see all the scores and you can see the committee talk out their recommendations and they’ll vote on a final recommendation to come to Council for adoption. Councilor McClure said so we’re getting disbursements and so is the county and I thought to myself each body will have its own priorities, but is there ever a way we would overlap on projects and kind of have a sense on that? If we do, do we want to re-work the wheel or is there things that both of us can benefit at the same time? Barbara Bencomo said there are so many potential programs or mechanisms for utilizing these funds, that I could definitely see that there would potentially be a Page 7 of 12 category of expenditures that could say that both the City and County would want to undertake but in a coordinated manner whether it’s education, prevention, etc. I know that the State has already been very specific on what they are spending their funds on and a lot of it is related to treatment. Again we would just be mindful of not wanting to duplicate some of the uses of the funds, but we would certainly want to leverage it if we think that both entities could benefit from whatever recommended uses the Council brings forward and then the Commission and City Council adopt. Councilor McClure asked who would be the one kind of coordinating with the County in that scenario? Barbara Bencomo said right now I am the liaison to the opioid settlement advisory council. We have a staff member who is at the County level funded by Vital Strategies which is our non-profit partner in addressing the harms of opioid use disorder and that person is coordinating for example, all of our council meetings, the documentation, resources required, the NMSU Crimson Research data collection process, etc. We do have some support at the County level for this and it was the County that reached out to us to ask for a joint committee so that we could move forward in a coordinated manner. We’re just trying at this point to make sure that we bring forth options for you all that are beneficial for our entire community. I think that once the recommended uses are agreed upon by both governing bodies as I mentioned we need to have an implementation plan so then that could potentially involve other City resources, depending on the use of funds. I’m afraid the answer to your question is it depends at this point what the uses will be, but we’re certainly trying to keep all manner of possible uses available to the community and keeping in mind that we want to be as transparent and accountable as possible, that’s why I mentioned we will also be regularly reporting this out as part of our transparency efforts on our website. Councilor Bencomo said I did just want to gently push back on the idea that one staff person decides who the Telshor Fund Grants go to. The committee is our committee, the Health and Human Services Committee currently has a couple of vacancies and it’s my understanding that the committee often struggles with quorum issues. I would highly encourage each of you to check in with your person and make sure this is something they’re really interested in doing because if there’s any concern that maybe one person is making those decisions really it comes down to this committee. If this committee is not engaged then it does leave a lot of that work to a couple of members of the committee. I know that I picked my person very intentionally for this committee and that they’re a very engaged member. I would just encourage you all to check in with each of your appointed folks and revisit their interest in being part of that committee and being part of this process. Honestly at one point I think it should have a review it put a lot of burden on non-profits, and we should consider looking at it, but I did want to note that I was not comfortable with some of that conversation. There was but a program on there that I think the very bottom one, the homeless opportunities. I think it’s outreach can you talk more about this? Natalie Green said that is the homeless outreach program, that’s our mobile street outreach program. It’s two staff members that go out and encounter folks where they’re living across the community, make sure that they have things they need, that Page 8 of 12 they’re accessing services, that they’re meeting with housing navigators. Then often times they assist them in gently moving to other areas when they’re in places they don’t need to be in. They collaborate very intentionally with our Mano Y Mano hotspot truck so that’s been a fairly successful program, the street outreach. Councilor Bencomo said I often use this program, like the other day I called because I saw an elderly woman who looked unhoused and I was very concerned about her safety, so I called them, and they went in and checked on her. I thought that’s what it was. I’ve been saving this article that I found, I swear months ago. I’ve been saving it on one of my tabs. It’s the Center for American Progress had a great article a while ago about community based violence intervention programs. Proven strategies to reduce crime and I would love to see, obviously I would want to bring them into a conversation we can’t just tell Community of Hope what to do. I would love to bring them into a conversation about actually expanding this program. I think it does a lot of good work and I think it has potential to do a lot more. I talked to you briefly about what it would look like to do a model like Mano Y Mano where it was an outreach program that was peer to peer for folks who have been there, like there is no better strategy or intervention in violence, addiction, in anything that’s proven that peer to peer support is really powerful. If we did sort of a Mano Y Mano model where these weren’t just volunteer, peer to peer, they were paid folks who are part of street outreach, who are conducting surveys or conducting one to one with folks. I mean this article, I will send this to Christine so she can send it around to everybody. But community based violence intervention programs work to reduce homicides, shootings, through trusted partnerships with community stakeholders, individuals most affected by this kind of violence. The programs connect individuals most at risk of committing or experiencing violence or crime with community members who have walked a similar path, with whom they trust and respect. There’s many kinds of models out there. I would just love to have a conversation about how we could grow this model that is already working and exists. Especially as we talk about Municipal Court and having them do outreach court. What it would look like to have a really vibrant peer to peer violence intervention street model. Obviously there would be a lot of training, a lot of safety issues. I don’t know if it will happen by May probably not, but I would like to at least continue this conversation. While you were here I wanted to name that and name that publicly. Thank you for mentioning both cannabis and Telshor, just to clarify I had heard that by the end of fiscal year it might be on cannabis $2 million is that correct or did I hear wrong? Josie Trevino said the projected at the end of the fiscal year, this fiscal year June we’re projecting about $1.8, so we’re looking at another $300,000 from here to then. Councilor Bencomo said that is still a solid great number. Josie Trevino said we’re looking at FY 2024 and 2025 about the same number for the fiscal year. Councilor Bencomo said I would really like to see a dedicated Work Session for the possible uses, I‘ve been really intrigued by the idea and have talked to folks about utilizing cannabis for the MRA’s for jump starting the MRA’s so funding wouldn’t have Page 9 of 12 to stay there permanently because the MRA’s will start eventually building their own revenue. I would really love to see a dedicated Work Session for this, and I know in conversations with Chief and the Mayor that the Real Time Crime Center could be an allowable expense out of here. I know that we are about $500,000 short on that currently, right? My ask is that we have a dedicated Work Session for this. Just given how the Budget Retreat ended with the Parks presentation that I think struck a chord within all of us and as you were reading the Telshor Fund the current by Ordinance mission or definition that I very much feel like supporting Parks through the Telshor fund fits this already on a physical, mental, and social well-being aspect and as I said at the Budget Retreat specifically for who primarily uses our parks and I think that is a lot of our low to moderate income families. I would also really love a dedicated Work Session for that conversation. Josie Trevino said so the cannabis is unrestricted which means anything is allowable. If you wanted to restrict then you could do that by resolution, and it would get done by Council. The other thing the Telshor Fund this description right here was approved in 2005, so this can always be looked at and be reworded or added if that is what Council would like to do or keep the same. What we do now is it’s usually the $600,000 that Natalie brings in. If we have other uses for it we will bring a resolution so they could allow for other uses for the Telshor Fund. This one is restricted to this, but we can add but those are done by resolution. Leeann DeMouche said by resolution we’re also supposed to bring to Council on an annual basis the report, the financials for Telshor and at that time we always do ask if there is any changes in the definition that you would like to have at that time as well. Also too as far as the cannabis for, that you mentioned you would like to see a separate Work Session. I’m pretty sure that I’m looking at either, Elizabeth and Chris they’re planning a Work Session for the MRA in May 13. Councilor Bencomo asked for the MRA specifically or cannabis? Leeann DeMouche said strictly for cannabis but that could be one of the possible uses that they may bring up at that time as well. Councilor Bencomo said I think it would be important to do, this is for Mayor. Some context given that recently Chief Story sent us hotspot maps honestly a lot of those hotspots are in the designated MRA’s. I think often they’re community members have been coming to us and asking for solutions to safety, often we get really narrow on what those look like. But I do think that the Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas and revitalizing historically blighted neighborhoods is community safety. I think it’s actually deeply intersectional and deeply intertwined in the conversation around the Real Time Crime Center and what it could do. I think it would be great to have that conversation together as a community safety or well-being conversation Mayor. The more I think about this the more I think it would be a great and rich discussion. I know Barbara sends us updates on the opioid settlement and I look forward to the potential session in the summertime where they’ll be coming to give us recommendations. Actually on this do you think it will be a joint session or do we expect it to be separately? Page 10 of 12 Barbara Bencomo said actually we will take direction from which how you would like us to conduct that. Certainly if you think that it would be beneficial to have a joint session with County Commission then certainly the Mayor can make that outreach, we could as well assist with that. Again your decisions will be made for the amount of funds we have, they will be deciding for their own funds. But if we want to ask questions about the needs assessment that was done and about the potential recommendations in one forum we could certainly go in that direction and can facilitate that for you all. Councilor Bencomo said that could be really interesting given Councilor McClure’s questions as well. I think it’s important that we forge the path forward together and in alignment. I think divvying up the funds will go less far. I think it’s really imperative that we do have a combined strategy. I know it’s happening Barbara but perhaps they would be open to the idea of a joint session. Mayor Enriquez said I just wanted to add yes I’m open to a joint session. Great question Councilor McClure, if there’s any overlapping we want to make sure to maximize the resources all the funds that we’re receiving until the whole county and city that we’re do our thing and they’re doing theirs and we’re spending the same amount of money and then getting different results. We want to maximize those resources. I was taking notes, so I was calling it kind of a Work Session in the future community livability that it fits one of the themes. We can address the Telshor Fund, and the cannabis, the opioid and look at some of the things that were addressed at the Budget Retreat such as the Parks, the MRA, the Real Time Crime Center and Municipal Court. Also in conjunction that was some of the comments that came during public comments was the request was to have a Work Session on what are the next steps. What is the City going to do and putting the funds to some of the problems that we have in the community and instilling safety but enhancing our community as well. I think this would be a great time to if we could schedule that and open it up so that the public can know that we are listening to their comments and we are addressing it with a Work Session, that ties into the budget and their concerns. I will get with the City Manager on that. 4. ADJOURNMENT 4.1 Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becky Corran, to Adjourn at 2:56 p.m. RESULT: Carried MOVER: Councilor Johana Bencomo SECONDER: Councilor Becky Corran AYES: Councilor Johana Bencomo, Councilor Yvonne Flores, Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Becky Corran, Mayor Eric Enriquez, Councilor Cassie McClure, and Councilor William Mattiace Mayor Page 11 of 12 City Clerk Page 12 of 12