Groups can sign up to give input, input at PFC and other ways to provide input.I completely missed this press release when it came out . . . not sure why, but I don’t think the city put it through its communications system . . . or maybe I just didn’t read it. Anyways, apparently only 2 groups have signed up to give input! Seems like everyone else missed it too? Who will replace former Chief Koval and step into Interim Chief Vic Wahl’s shoes? Here’s the press release.
Public Statement of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the City of Madison
In these unprecedented times, the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the City of Madison (PFC) understands the important role Madison residents can play in assisting us to gather information about the professional experiences and characteristics that we should consider in hiring the next police chief. The PFC continues to lay the blueprint for its work in selecting the next police chief for the city, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to pause our initial plan to host four public town hall meetings throughout the City of Madison. While we continue to cautiously weigh our options for collecting input through public town hall meetings, we have outlined various other activities that we can safely engage in to gather input.
As we continue our work with this important function of the PFC, we are committed to listening to all residents in the City of Madison, including those who have the greatest challenges to providing feedback in the technological driven environment that we are now operating in. The community input processes that we are putting forward at this time will not be to the exclusion of other activities in the future that will allow us to hear from as many residents as possible.
At our special meeting on June 24, 2020, we outlined a number of initiatives for public outreach to gather community input relative to the police chief search.
Open Call to Community Organizations to Provide Input
Commencing with our next regular meeting on July 13, 2020, at 5:30 P.M., and our special meeting on July 22, 2020, at 12:00 P.M., we invite community organizations to provide input to the PFC. These meetings will be held via Zoom and will allow registered organizations up to 20 minutes to share their thoughts with the PFC regarding the police chief search. Time slots will be designated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additional opportunities to provide feedback will continue to be available through the summer and members of the community will be provided notice of future dates as they are scheduled.
Organizations wishing to register to provide input on the police chief search may do so by completing a survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R6S8DXN.
Public Comment at PFC Meetings
At the beginning of each PFC meeting, any member of the public wishing to register to give feedback about the police chief search may do so by contacting Attorney Jenna Rousseau at 844.833.0828 or jrousseau@strangpatteson.com. Members of the public may also appear at the meeting and register their interest in speaking. The public comment period is limited to three minutes per speaker.
Community Input Survey and Other Communication Options
In the coming weeks, the PFC will launch a Community Input Survey to allow Madison residents to provide their input during the search process. Once the survey is live, the PFC will circulate the URL or link that residents can visit to complete the survey.
Moreover, the PFC will continue to accept feedback through its dedicated email address for this process: policechiefsearch@cityofmadison.com.
Letters may also be mailed to: Madison Police and Fire Commission, c/o Attorney Jenna Rousseau, 205 Doty Street, Suite 201, Green Bay, WI 54301.
Additional Opportunities for Public Input
The PFC will soon detail plans to gather input using the Local Voices Network (LVN). The PFC is also exploring opportunities to obtain public input through neighborhood associations, community centers, faith-based organizations and other community groups. We also envision opportunities for engaging with Madison residents through call-in discussions on local radio shows and webcasts.
