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City Council Meeting Minutes April 21, 2020 Dear Council: I write to encourage you to enact the The 6 Critical Moves for Council Success 4) Support and pass "The Clean Up Amendments": One of which clarifies that city manager is required to provide data on every instance in which an arrest was made for a citation -eligible charge (other than if there were other higher-level charges), even if it fell within a disqualifying circumstance. 5) Vote NO on a restrictive ID Policy: Mayor Jane promised to bring an amendment with a more limiting interpretation of acceptable IDs for the cite & release program, assuredly disadvantaging those who cannot afford government -issued ID, or are disallowed from obtaining it due to immigration status. People still have to get affirmatively ID'd & booked on the walkthrough when they show up for their citation to appear in court. 6) NO to any other Amendments! Do not budge on any other amendments, especially in the 11th hour! This draft ordinance was given to Council in July -- the final minutes before its passage are entirely inappropriate to be introducing changes. And we know last Council meeting, a seemingly harmless amendment from the City attorney -- which Council accepted unanimously -- ended up designed to actually limit accountability for officers who violate the ordinance. No sneaky edits to sabotage the policy! It's way too late to tinker with the ordinance! Hold your ground, Council champions! Thank you for your leadership on this pivotal issue to advance the civil rights of San Martians in a period of inexcusable criminalization and mass incarceration. Karen Brown: I am writing in support of the Cite and Release Ordinance. I have appeared before the Council asking for your support of this Ordinance. I strongly support it for many reasons. Since I can't attend, a council meeting because I am sheltering in place at home I want to request my comments are read during citizen comment this Friday, April 17. I was a social worker and social work educator who taught policy and supervised social work interns. I worked with marginalized people as a social worker and work with them now as a volunteer. I have seen with my own eyes and the eyes of my students how marginalized persons often suffer needlessly at the hands of various institutions, including the criminal justice system. This ordinance is excellent policy to help protect vulnerable citizens. As originally written, the Ordinance provides guided discretion to police officers in our community who are charged with a very difficult and dangerous job. As professionals, they can benefit from this policy which provides clear guidance. I am shocked at the harsh reaction reflected in some of the public ads taken City of San Marcos Page 4