City Council Votes to Restore Full-Time Liaison For Mayor’s Office

As part of the amendments to balance the city’s general fund operating budget, the City Council voted on Monday to restore a full-time liaison to the mayor’s office and add a management analyst staffing position for the new Civilian Police Oversight Commission (CPOC).

The addition of the two full-time employees will increase total appropriations, but budget reductions will offset the personnel expenditures. 

In 2018, the mayor’s liaison was removed from the council’s budget in an attempt to help address the city’s structural deficit and balance the budget.

“Historically, the mayor and each city councilmember have had a dedicated liaison,” according to a city staff report. “Under the direction of a councilmember or the mayor, the district liaison serves as a representative of each respective councilmember.”

Mayor Victor Gordo requested the liaison to the mayor’s office be re-established. 

Monday’s vote also established a management analyst position. The analyst will act as a liaison with Police Department staff to help facilitate Community Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) and independent police auditor (IPA) requests for records and information and provide assistance to members of the public concerning reporting and investigation of complaints regarding Police Department personnel.

The analyst will also develop, update and maintain files specifically related to the CPOC and the IPA, as well as maintain the CPOC calendar and facilitate, organize, schedule, and participate in meetings and conference calls.

The analyst will also prepare the CPOC meeting agenda and take meeting minutes.

On Wednesday the City Council’s Public Safety Committee fine-tuned some of the rules and regulations of the oversight commission.  It was not immediately known when the commission will start meeting. 

The estimated cost for the analyst position from March through June is $38,500. Ongoing funding for this position will be included in the fiscal year 2022 operating budget.