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Mayor Brown recessed the meeting at 9:00 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9:05 p.m. <br />19. Continued from November 2, 2021 — Approve Memorandum of Understanding for School <br />Resource Officers between Pleasanton Unified School District and the City of Pleasanton <br />Chief Swing stated the item is a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the <br />Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) and the City codifying the framework for the roles of the <br />School Resource Officer (SRO) and school administration along with the cost -structure of the program. <br />The goals of the program include providing a safe atmosphere for students and staff, developing <br />greater understanding and bridging support between police and students, balancing enforcement needs <br />while creating support and confidence, and reducing the number of 5150 and 5585 mental health <br />detentions. <br />Chief Swing reported the PUSD Board of Trustees (Board) voted unanimously to support the MOU in <br />late October and requested regular updates on the program's goals and efficacy. The Board <br />recommended two changes to the language by adding the phrase "build relationships" to Goal B along <br />with adding "including, but not limited to, using restorative practices, verbal and non-verbal <br />communication techniques and non -confrontational practices to gain control" to the definition of de- <br />escalation. He stated City staff recommends approving the addition of "build relationships" to Goal B. <br />He added staff recommends deleting "restorative practices" from the definition and adding "when <br />possible" before "non -confrontational." He stated restorative practices happen post -incident and are not <br />a form of de-escalation and there are times in law enforcement when confrontation is necessary. <br />Chief Swing reported the PPD's bi-annual Council updates will now include an SRO update. He added <br />there is also an amendment stating school disciplinary matters related to the safety of the school site <br />may be shared with the SRO. He added there is an amendment to the protocols for arresting a student <br />to specify the act of handcuffing. He noted there is also an amendment to specify adherence to State <br />law about interrogating a suspect without them having the ability to consult with an attorney. <br />In response to Councilmember Testa, PUSD Director of Student Services Leslie Heller clarified none of <br />their staff could put a student on a 5585 hold, and normally they would call the SRO to make the <br />determination. Chief Swing added at the high school campuses there are no resources available other <br />than the SROs to write a 5585 or 5150 because it requires a licensed clinician or licensed therapist — <br />certifications the school counselors do not have. He added the PPD has handled about 250 calls from <br />ValleyCare related to mental health holds, but they are starting a new program allowing the hospital to <br />take on this responsibility. <br />In response to Councilmember Testa, Ms. Heller clarified the agreed -to process between PUSD and <br />the PPD calls for PUSD staff to bring concerns to either the SRO or a dispatched PPD officer to <br />determine if the SRO is unavailable. <br />In response to Mayor Brown, Chief Swing stated if a member of the community is placed on a mental <br />health hold, they try to request an ambulance to handle the transport. He added if an ambulance is <br />unavailable, an officer can provide the transport. For someone at the school to have the authority to <br />authorize a 5150 or 5585 hold, they have to be trained per County protocol. <br />In response to Councilmember Testa, Chief Swing reported the Diversion Program is on pause and not <br />operational. He expects it to be back running by March and any referrals will be held in the interim. <br />They are also evaluating when officers issue juvenile citations and there is a possibility it could become <br />a direct referral. He clarified the City's Diversion Program stopped in May of 2019 and since then <br />offenders have been referred to the County's Diversion Program or its juvenile justice system. <br />In response to Councilmember Testa, Lieutenant Erik Silacci clarified anything short of a serious felony <br />would go through the Diversion Program, particularly if it was a first-time offense. He added the goal is <br />City Council Minutes Page 9 of 19 November 16, 2021 <br />