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Vaneesha Dave, President of the Grassroots Law Project's Pleasanton Chapter and student at Amador <br /> Valley High School, thanked the Council for listening to student voices and adding their suggestions <br /> into the MOU. She suggested adding language stating school site administrators or staff should only <br /> request SRO assistance when necessary to protect safety or when required by the law. SRO <br /> assistance should not be requested for a situation able to be handled by PUSD's disciplinary <br /> procedures. Her suggestion comes from the City of Oakland's 2014 MOU. She added SROs should <br /> make every effort to handle non-school-related law enforcement issues outside of school. She <br /> requested handcuffs not be used by officers unless there is an immediate threat. <br /> Mayor Brown closed the public hearing. <br /> In response to Councilmember Narum, City Manager Fialho stated what has been suggested by <br /> commenters is generally in alignment with what is proposed in the MOU except the requests put more <br /> barriers and restrictions on how SROs interact with administration. He stated this was discussed <br /> internally. He noted they have heard the community, Council, and PUSD with the intent of creating a <br /> very light footprint of officer interactions with students, especially when concerning discipline. He added <br /> there may be unforeseen circumstances causing an officer to be involved and there are concerns over <br /> eliminating some of the "never's" and similar language because it puts people at risk. He reported staff <br /> is comfortable with the MOU as written plus the amendments shared by Chief Swing. He stated if edits <br /> go beyond what is proposed, staff recommends going back to further analyze the suggestions to <br /> determine if they can be supportive. <br /> In response to Councilmember Narum, City Manager Fialho stated staff would be uncomfortable with <br /> some of Mr. Lopez's suggestions. He stated the idea the City's mental health clinicians will always be <br /> the primary point of intervention is a great aspirational goal, but they only have one to cover all of the <br /> schools. He added the intent is crisis response will be a wrap-around service to the use of the SROs, <br /> but there may be circumstances where they are not available. He stated a better policy discussion for <br /> the Council to have with PUSD is to challenge them to find the right clinicians to be on campus when <br /> the City cannot. He stated the City will follow State and federal law every time with HIPAA and FERPA. <br /> He added staff feels it is important to make office space on campus available to SROs. <br /> Chief Swing clarified he misspoke earlier and the law dictates a minor cannot waive the consultation <br /> with an attorney before an interrogation. He clarified SROs sometimes have paperwork administrative <br /> responsibilities and a dedicated office space maximizes the amount of time SROs can spend on <br /> campus. <br /> Councilmember Narum moved that the City enter into the MOU with PUSD for the SRO Program, <br /> incorporating the four amendments recommended by staff. <br /> Councilmember Narum thanked all who spoke on the issue and noted there are a lot of stakeholders. <br /> She stated the PUSD survey reported a clear majority wanted SROs to continue with modifications <br /> addressed in the MOU. She stated the MOU defines goals, roles, adds clarity, and creates <br /> accountability. She noted the MOU is a living document and can be changed once the crisis response <br /> team's juvenile clinician is in place. She noted the positives of the program, including building <br /> relationships with students. She stated the SROs are role models who sometimes inspire students to <br /> look at a career in law enforcement. She added anything which can be done to reduce the 5150s and <br /> 5585s is positive. She thanked Mayor Brown and Councilmember Arkin for their work with PUSD. <br /> Councilmember Balch seconded the motion. He stated he is confused about how the SROs are framed <br /> in an overtone of suspicion and mistrust. He expressed hopes the Grassroots Law Project's members <br /> see the City has done a lot to address concerns and clarify ambiguity with the MOU. He stated it has <br /> been a great program for 20 years which demystifies law enforcement for youth and builds trust. He <br /> added if there is an emergency on a campus where seconds count, an SRO will be familiar with the <br /> campus whereas a dispatched general officer may not know where the cafeteria is, for example. He <br /> City Council Minutes Page 12 of 19 November 16, 2021 <br />