PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: February 18, 2025
Subject: 2024 Committee Activities and 2025 Committee Workplan
Submitted For: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Department: County Administrator
Referral No: N/A
Referral Name: N/A
Presenter: Enid Mendoza
Contact: enid.mendoza@cao.cccounty.us
Referral History:
At the end of each calendar year, the Public Protection Committee (PPC) reports to the Board of Supervisors on its activities and progress made on referrals from the Board. The report generally summarizes each referral, describes the Committee's work on the referral during the calendar year, and includes a recommendation as to the future disposition of the referral. The year-end report provides a basis for a work plan for the ensuing year and helps to ensure continuity for multi-year referrals.
Referral Update:
Staff to the PPC were unable to present a year-end report to the 2024 Committee, due to scheduling conflicts that prevented the Committee from convening for its November and December meetings. Below is a summary of all actions and activities of the 2024 PPC.
At its March 4, 2024 meeting, the 2024 Committee took action to:
CONTINUE the following referrals:
1. “Opportunities to Improve Coordination of Response to Disasters and Other Public Emergencies”.
2. “County Support and coordination of non-profit organization resources to provide re-entry services, implementation of AB 109 Public Safety Realignment, and appointment recommendations to the Community Corrections Partnership”.
3. “County Law Enforcement Participation and Interaction with Federal Immigration Authorities”.
4. “Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council”.
5. “Anyone Anywhere Anytime (A3)” (formerly entitled, Stepping Up Initiative)
6. “Holistic Intervention Partnership” from the Public Defender's Office
7. “Animal Services Department Operations”.
TERMINATE the following referrals:
8. “Welfare Fraud Investigation and Prosecution”
9. “Multi-Language Capability of the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS)”
10. “Inmate Welfare Fund/Telecommunications/Visitations Issues”
11. “Adult Criminal Justice Fees”
REFER the following referrals to other Board Committees:
12. “Community Warning System (CWS) contracts” to the Industrial Safety Ordinance/Community Warning System Ad Hoc Committee
13. “Racial Justice Oversight Body” to the Equity Committee
14. “Racial Equity Action Plan” to the Equity Committee
In addition to the actions taken by the Committee on its standing referrals, the Committee also asked the Sheriff’s Office to present a report to the Committee on the Police County Services Areas (P-6 Zone).
The following lists the status of the continued referrals and the 2024 Committee’s actions:
1. “Opportunities to Improve Coordination of Response to Disasters and Other Public Emergencies”
Since there were no updates to the Countywide Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), a report on this referral was not presented to the 2024 Committee. However, at its August 5, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) on the County’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which the Board of Supervisors later approved at its November 5, 2024 meeting. Link to the Board item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7005903&GUID=CDA6E7F1-84F8-4E5A-85F3-3DCB51B22CC2
2. “County Support and coordination of non-profit organization resources to provide re-entry services, implementation of AB 109 Public Safety Realignment, and appointment recommendations to the Community Corrections Partnership”
At its February 5, 2024 meeting, the Public Protection Committee approved the FY 2024-25 AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Community Corrections Partnership budget, as approved by the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee. Link to this agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6503206&GUID=B29C814E-00F6-4D6A-BF80-2771543F7E37
At its June 3, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report outlining the CCP - CCP Executive Committee’s initial approved AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Community Corrections reserve funding of $10,179,602 to fund one-time projects dedicated to supporting and providing reentry populations with housing and behavioral health, The District Attorney’s 3-year facility use costs for the multi public safety and justice agency Major Crimes Task Force, and other one-time projects submitted by County departments and community-based organizations including trainings and project support. The CAB and CCP-EC would return to the PPC with further funding recommendations for the remaining reserve allocation of $4,820,398 (to total the $15 million reserve project funding), once their proposal for employment opportunity services and pre-release engagement services was finalized. The Committee approved the reserve funding recommendations for the one-time projects as approved by the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee and directed staff to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors with the understanding that the CAB would continue to further develop their proposals for the remaining allocations, including working with the Employment and Human Services Department to further develop the Guaranteed Income proposal for reentry populations and return to the Committee with those updates. Link to this agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6709385&GUID=0A10C09B-8B92-4CFC-A0BD-FDE9EB8B3D0C&FullText=1
At its October 7, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the CCP CAB and CCP-EC chairs, including an addendum to their original $15 million reserve priority funding allocation recommendations. The addendum included funding recommendations for up to $5.15 million in AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Community Corrections Partnership reserve for the final one-time projects to support reentry employment opportunities, pre/post-release engagement services, and a $1 million set-aside allocation pending further consideration for a reentry guaranteed income pilot program. The Committee approved the recommendations and directed staff to forward the funding recommendations and reserve funding allocation to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration and approval.
The link to the agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6883094&GUID=55653BE0-FD7F-438D-8C2B-7C15B064CBE8
3. “County Law Enforcement Participation and Interaction with Federal Immigration Authorities”
At its June 3, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Office of the Sheriff on County law enforcement participation and interaction with federal immigration authorities for the calendar year 2023. The Sheriff's Office reported that since 2019 there have been zero requests from ICE to enter the County’s detention facilities, the Sheriff's Office solely vets the legal applicability of requests pursuant to SB 54 (The California Values Act), and there has been no physical ICE presence at any County detention facility.
The Sheriff’s Office requested that this referral to the Committee be terminated due to the Sheriff's annual reporting on its law enforcement participation and interaction with immigration authorities directly to the Board of Supervisors, during their TRUTH Act Community Forum. The committee approved terminating this referral to the Committee, with the understanding that any specific follow up items from the Board of Supervisors TRUTH Act Community Forum would be referred back to this Committee for further discussion.
4. “Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council”
At its March 4, 2024 meeting, the Committee conducted interviews and approved recommending to the Board of Supervisors the reappointment of Julius Van Hook to a community-based organization seat and the appointments of Daniel Theodore and Denise Coleman for At-large seats on the Council. The appointments were approved by the Board of Supervisors at their March 19, 2024 meeting.
At its May 6, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Probation Department on the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, including its Annual Consolidated Plan, planning processes, funded services, and the JJCPA community investment and prevention investment summaries. Link to this agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6655622&GUID=D449A42A-3D20-4D3A-9EBD-18E261DCF498&FullText=1
At its August 5, 2024 meeting, the Committee interviewed Owen Spishock and approved recommending to the Board of Supervisors the appointment to the Community-Based Organization Representative seat on the JJC. The appointment was approved by the Board at their August 13, 2024 meeting.
At its October 7, 2024 meeting, the Committee interviewed candidates and unanimously approved recommending to the Board of Supervisors the appointments of Rojan Mikael Habon and Maxwell Prost to At-large 1 and 2 seats, and Maren Shahade to the At-large Community Representative 4 seat, all with terms ending October 22, 2026.
5. “Anyone Anywhere Anytime (A3)”
The Committee was scheduled to receive a report in November then December, but both meetings were canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Further discussions with Behavioral Health staff during those months indicate that Committee clarification of the reporting expectations is necessary. To ensure staff prepare relevant reports on justice specific topics, staff makes recommendations for this Committee to consider, as stated in 8.b. below.
6. “Holistic Intervention Partnership from the Public Defender's Office”
At its October 7, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Public Defender’s Office of the Holistic Intervention Program (HIP), its goals, program design, and research supporting the program. The Committee recommended that the Public Defender provide this update to the Board of Supervisors. The Committee also approved changing the referral reporting frequency to an annual update, if needed. Link to the agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6884294&GUID=2E39C877-B669-4973-A6C7-4A3E1A2A2791
7. “Animal Services Department Operations”
At its March 4, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Animal Services Department on its Measure X allocation and program planning. The Committee requested that the department return with a report for its next meeting with information on backyard breeding. Link to the report: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6560305&GUID=18488C31-CCDA-43C1-890F-C3E7C490852F
At its June 3, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Animal Services Department on the topic of backyard breeding. The Committee discussed spay and neuter, fees for unaltered dogs and cats, and the benefits of accessibility and affordability of spay and neuter services. Challenges with enforcing mandatory spay and neuter ordinances and overall backyard breeding limitations were also discussed. The Committee requested that the department research whether all 18 cities in the County have formally adopted County Ordinance Code section 416 and return to the Committee for further discussion. The Committee also requested that County Ordinance Code section 416-6.216(b) be amended to replace two antiquated terms with “female”.
At its October 7, 2024 meeting, the Committee received a report from the Animal Services Department on spay and neuter policy approaches, including mandatory spay and neuter considerations. The Committee requested that the Department return to the next Committee meeting and include County Counsel for discussion on legal implications of various spay and neuter approaches. The link to the agenda item: https://contra-costa.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6882986&GUID=3E2F09EF-D98E-4BCC-A4AD-66D5C6CB9835&FullText=1
Based on the outcomes of the 2024 Committee’s actions and discussions, staff present the 2025 Committee with the following consideration in preparation of its 2025 work plan:
1. CONFIRM the third Mondays of each month as Committee meeting dates, and/or provide direction to staff if scheduling conflicts exist or when special meetings dates may be needed.
2. CONFIRM the meeting format will be hybrid with physical meeting locations at each members’ District office and a virtual option for staff, presenters, and members of the public.
3. CONSIDER recommending the following to the Board of Supervisors based on the 2024 Committee’s discussions and actions:
a. CONTINUE the referral, “Opportunities to Improve Coordination of Response to Disasters and Other Public Emergencies” and PROVIDE direction to staff on the reporting expectations, other than the regular updates to the Countywide Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) as needed and as the plan requires revisions.
Discussing reporting expectations will support staff coordination with the appropriate County departments, districts, and local agency partners for the preparation of relevant reports on the desired coordinated disaster and public emergency response topics. Since the PPC took action in February 2024 to refer the Community Warning System contracts reports to the Industrial Safety Ordinance/Community Warning System Ad Hoc Committee, further developments of related topics have been discussed by the Board.
The Board of Supervisors received and responded to Civil Grand Jury Report No. 2402, entitled “The Contra Costa County Community Warning System: Will Everyone Get a Warning in Time?”, which included topics related to disaster and public emergency coordination and community warning systems. Based on the Board’s response to this Civil Grand Jury Report, the County Emergency Services Policy Board, which also serves as the County’s Disaster Council, will conduct further analysis and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the feasibility of a comprehensive study of the County’s emergency management/disaster response function, including planning, communications, such as LRADs, public outreach, and training to understand the County’s disaster risk exposure.
b. CONTINUE the referral, “Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council”.
c. CONTINUE the referral, “Holistic Intervention Partnership” from the Public Defender's Office, including the 2024 PPC’s recommendation to reduce the frequency to an as needed basis.
d. CONTINUE the referral, “Animal Services Department Operations”.
e. TERMINATE the referral, “Welfare Fraud Investigation and Prosecution”. The Committee last received a report in 2016 and no further concerns require continuation of this referral.
f. TERMINATE the referral, “Multi-Language Capability of the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS)”. The TENS system is obsolete.
g. TERMINATE the referral, “Inmate Welfare Fund/Telecommunications/Visitations Issues”. The Sheriff provides annual reports to the Board of Supervisors on the expenditure and revenue activities of the Inmate Welfare Fund. The Sheriff also provides quarterly reports to the Board of Supervisors on its operations and other topics can be addressed should concern on this topic arise in the future.
h. TERMINATE the referral, “Adult Criminal Justice Fees”. Fees have been eliminated both from the County moratorium and state legislative actions.
i. TERMINATE the referral, “County Law Enforcement Participation and Interaction with Federal Immigration Authorities”, which the Board agreed at its 2024 TRUTH Act Community Forum on July 22, 2024, would return as a referral to the PPC if follow up is requested at any Board’s annual TRUTH Act Community Forum.
j. REFER the following referrals to another Board Committee:
a. “Community Warning System (CWS) contracts” to ISO/CWS
This referral was originally tied to the TENS referral (see 3.f. above) and the Committee approved referring the CWS contracts to the ISO/CWS Ad Hoc Committee. Additional information on CWS discussions, including the response to the Civil Grand Jury is included in 3.a. above.
b. “Racial Justice Oversight Body” to the Equity Committee. At the time the Committee took this action, this referral was under review by the Internal Operations Committee’s triennial review discussions, and reporting to the Equity Committee began before this Committee took action. The referral is now formally under the Equity Committee.
c. “Racial Equity Action Plan” to the Equity Committee. The Equity Committee was informed of this Committee’s action and agreed to take the lead on any necessary follow up actions required by the Board.
8. CONSIDER recommending to the Board of Supervisors to CONTINUE and RETITLE the following referrals:
a. RETITLE the referral, “County Support and coordination of non-profit organization resources to provide re-entry services, implementation of AB 109 Public Safety Realignment, and appointment recommendations to the Community Corrections Partnership” to “Public Safety Realignment and Local Community Corrections Partnership Appointments”.
The coordination of non-profit organization resources for the County’s reentry population has been addressed by the Office of Reentry and Justice, which has implemented robust community outreach and Request for Proposals processes with successful community-based organization engagement. The continuation and retitling of this referral will refocus the reporting to the Committee to the annual budgetary recommendations from the Community Corrections Partnership Executive Committee for allocation of the State AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Local Community Partnerships allocations, CCP-EC seat appointments, and other public safety realignment issues.
b. “Anyone Anywhere Anytime (A3)” to “Coordination of Health and Justice Systems to Improve Outcomes of High-Needs Residents”.
Although the County’s A3 model incorporates behavioral health into emergency response systems and provides triage services to identify and coordinate the appropriate level of care and response for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, it does not oversee the public safety or law enforcement agencies. Rather than focus on the A3 model, the proposed referral title will reengage County departments and partners in efforts to reduce the number people with mental illnesses in jails that could be better served with diversion or coordinated jail to community transition planning and seeking data collection and analysis opportunities to better inform policymaking and program development processes.
On December 1, 2024, the County began its implementation of the CARE Act, which aims to create a new pathway to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians who too often suffer in homelessness or incarceration without treatment. The referral could include annual updates from CARE Act involved departments.
1. DIRECT staff to forward to the Board of Supervisors the Committee’s 2025 Work Plan and recommended revisions to its standing referrals, if any, for further consideration and approval by the Board.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
REVIEW the 2024 Committee’s actions and activities report, CONFIRM the 2025 meeting calendar and hybrid meeting options, and PROVIDE direction to staff for preparation of the Committee’s 2025 work plan for the full Board’s consideration.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
There is no fiscal impact.