So, I sent an email to the city council and only one person replied. Feels like the ol’ tree fell in a forest . . .
Subject: Eliminating PSRC eliminates council oversight and shirks responsibilities
While I generally disagree with eliminating the voices of the people appointed to committees and giving residents a chance to participate at a deeper level in their local government, the recommendation to eliminate the Public Safety Review Committee seems especially detrimental to the council itself.
As you know, the fire department ($76M) and the police department ($96M) are the two largest departments and have the two largest budgets in the city. Together they make up 40% of the city budget. The Public Safety Review Committee is charged with looking at services priorities, annual work plans and long-range goals of the department as well as making recommendations to the City Council and Mayor on the budgets. It is specifically created to assist the council with its statutory duties. The legistar description of the committee is as follows:
The board may review and make recommendations concerning departmental budgets; review service priorities and capital budget priorities of the Police and Fire Departments; serve as liaison between the community and the city on public safety issues; and review annually and make recommendations to the Common Council regarding the annual work plans and long-range goals of the departments.
These are a unique functions separate from the HR responsibilities of the Police and Fire Commission and the role of the Police Civilian Oversight Board. While I was on the the PSRC and chairing it, it was a struggle to do this work for a variety of reasons, I don’t believe that is a reason to eliminate its role. In fact, I think you need to put more resources in the budget to support this committee so it can thrive and function properly.
More importantly for you, the alders have no seats on either the Police and Fire Commission or the Police Civilian Oversight Board. If you eliminate the PSRC the alders will have no monthly oversight of issues that arise from the Police and Fire Departments. Practically speaking, who will sponsor legislation from these departments, where will referrals from the City Council go, where will new policies be developed, who will get reports and a heads up on upcoming issues? Who will hear and deliberate on public input on things like police in schools or body cameras, the need for additional fire stations, the CARES program and other controversial topics?
Eliminating the PSRC without a plan for how the Council will have oversight over the Police and Fire Departments in the same manner you do for every other department, especially when it represents 40% of of the budget, is not just shocking, but it’s negligent and shows a serious disregard for your responsibilities as alders.
You need to rethink this. I’m happy to talk to anyone who wants to listen about the struggles I had as chair of the committee and what other “fixes” might assist you in fulfilling your oversight responsibilities as alders. Eliminating the committee is not the answer and will cause you more headaches in the long run. Instead, you need to find ways to help that committee be more effective.
Sincerely
Brenda Konkel
WHO REPLIED?
To be fair, a handful of alders have heard me rant about this. But the only one to respond was . . . Isadore Knox! Yup.
