La Mesa Community Police Oversight Board

Minutes of a Regular Meeting

Meeting #:
Date:
-
Location:
La Mesa Police Department Community Room, 8085 University Avenue
La Mesa, California
Present:
  • Chair Leroy Johnson
  • Vice Chair Janet Castanos
  • Board Member Brianna Coston
  • Board Member John Fonseca
  • Board Member Aaron Landau
  • Board Member Jeffrey Scott McIllwain
  • Board Member Susan Wayne
Absent:
  • Board Member Denise Carlson
  • Board Member Lauren Cazares
  • Board Member Christian DeMent
Staff:
  • Assistant City Manager Amanda Lee
  • Chief Ray Sweeney
  • Assistant to the City Manager Lyn Dedmon
  • General Counsel Dale Larson
  • Independent Police Auditor ("IPA") Rick Rasmussen
  • Deputy City Clerk Stacy Ready

1.
CALL TO ORDER

  

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 

1.1
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - ROLL CALL

  

Chair Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.
ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

  

There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.

3.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – (TOTAL TIME – 15 MINUTES)

  

There were no public comments.

4.
CONFLICT DISCLOSURES

  

There were no conflict of interest disclosures.

5.
CURRENT BUSINESS

  

5.1
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE COMMUNITY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD REGULAR MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

This item has attachments.  
  • Moved byBoard Member Fonseca
    Seconded byBoard Member McIllwain

    Approve minutes.

    Yes (6)Vice Chair Castanos, Chair Johnson, Board Member Fonseca, Board Member Wayne, Board Member Landau, and Board Member McIllwain
    Abstain (1)Board Member Coston
    Absent (3)Board Member DeMent, Board Member Cazares, and Board Member Carlson
    Motion Approved (6 to 0)

5.2
INTRODUCTION OF NEW CPOB MEMBER BRIANNA COSTON

  

Board Member Coston, La Mesa Spring Valley School District Representative, introduced herself and expressed her interest in serving on the Community Police Oversight Board.     

5.3
LA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES

  
  • STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT
  • PAST AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Chief Sweeney provided an update on the staffing, recruitments, and vacant positions of the La Mesa Police Department ("LMPD"). He commented on the success of this year's Oktoberfest event.

Chief Sweeney commented on September and October community events and activities. 

Following Board questions and comments, no action was taken.

5.4
INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR UPDATES

  

IPA Rasmussen provided an update and shared that the 2024 Third Quarter Report had been submitted to staff for review.

Following Board questions and comments, no action was taken.

5.5
PRESENTATION BY HILARY EGO, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, REGARDING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE

  

Environmental Sustainability Manager, Hilary Ego, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update highlighting the CAP strategies, measures, and actions to enhance the Environmental Sustainability Program.

Following Board questions and comments, no action was taken.

5.6
CPOB SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

This item has attachments.  

Assistant to the City Manager Dedmon opened the forum for nominations of appointments to the CPOB Ad Hoc Subcommittees.  He explained the objective of each ad hoc subcommittee and its relevance.

Board Member Landau and Chair Johnson proposed the Community Policing, Outreach, and Engagement Ad Hoc Subcommittee and Community Engagement Ad Hoc Subcommittee be integrated, due to their similar purpose and goals.

Board Member McIllwain and Board Member Coston were nominated to the Policies, Operations, and Trainings Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

The Hiring Practices, Promotions, and Employee Wellness Programs Subcommittee assignments were reviewed.  No changes were made.

Board Member Landau was nominated to the Mediation Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

The Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) Ad Hoc Subcommittee had one vacancy.  Board Member Landau and Board Member Coston volunteered to be on the subcommittee. 

Board Member Landau was nominated to the RIPA Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

  • Moved byBoard Member McIllwain
    Seconded byBoard Member Landau

    To integrate the Community Policing, Outreach, and Engagement Ad Hoc Subcommittee with the Community Engagement Ad Hoc Subcommittee.                                                                

    Yes (7)Vice Chair Castanos, Chair Johnson, Board Member Fonseca, Board Member Coston, Board Member Wayne, Board Member Landau, and Board Member McIllwain
    Absent (3)Board Member DeMent, Board Member Cazares, and Board Member Carlson
    Motion Approved (7 to 0)
  • Moved byBoard Member Landau
    Seconded byBoard Member Fonseca

    Appoint Board Member McIllwain and Board Member Coston to the Policies, Operations, and Trainings Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

    Yes (7)Vice Chair Castanos, Chair Johnson, Board Member Fonseca, Board Member Coston, Board Member Wayne, Board Member Landau, and Board Member McIllwain
    Absent (3)Board Member DeMent, Board Member Cazares, and Board Member Carlson
    Motion Approved (7 to 0)
  • Moved byBoard Member Fonseca
    Seconded byBoard Member McIllwain

    Appoint Board Member Landau to the Mediation Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

    Yes (7)Vice Chair Castanos, Chair Johnson, Board Member Fonseca, Board Member Coston, Board Member Wayne, Board Member Landau, and Board Member McIllwain
    Absent (3)Board Member DeMent, Board Member Cazares, and Board Member Carlson
    Motion Approved (7 to 0)
  • Moved byBoard Member Fonseca
    Seconded byBoard Member Wayne

    Appoint Board Member Landau to the RIPA Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

    Yes (7)Vice Chair Castanos, Chair Johnson, Board Member Fonseca, Board Member Coston, Board Member Wayne, Board Member Landau, and Board Member McIllwain
    Absent (3)Board Member DeMent, Board Member Cazares, and Board Member Carlson
    Motion Approved (7 to 0)

5.7
2024 CPOB ANNUAL REPORT DISCUSSION

This item has attachments.  

Assistant to the City Manager Dedmon provided an overview of the 2024 CPOB Annual Report, including the update and approval process.

Following Board questions and comments, no action was taken.

6.
COMMITTEE REPORTS (3-MINUTE LIMIT)

  

There were no committee reports.

7.
STAFF AND BOARD MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

  

Board Member Wayne recommended attending webinars on the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) website and participating in NACOLE conferences to gain a deeper understanding of bylaws and procedural law related to law enforcement.

Deputy City Clerk Ready informed those Board Members with terms expiring December 31, 2024, and reminded them to submit their applications for consideration of reappointment no later than Tuesday, January 7, 2024.  Interviews were tentatively scheduled for the City Council meeting on  Tuesday, January 14, 2024.  The following Board Members whose terms were expiring were:

  • Janet Castaños, Helix Charter High School representative
  • Susan Wayne, Older Adult (62+ years old) representative
  • Lauren Cazares, Younger Adult (18-30 years old) representative
  • John Fonseca, La Mesa Business Community representative
  • Rev. Christian DeMent, La Mesa Faith Based Community representative
  • Vacant, Police Beat 3 representative

8.
ADJOURNMENT

  

Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 5:18 p.m. 

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