In June of 2020, the Rohnert Park City Council approved a review of the
City’s policies and practices to achieve greater equality. The City
Council also approved a robust plan for community engagement.
The review of policies and practices included those related to policing, as well as other City policies:
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REVIEW our police use of force policies.
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ENGAGE our community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in our review.
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REPORT the findings of our review to our community and seek feedback.
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REFORM our community’s police use of force policies.
The review was guided by these principles:
1.
Respect: All participants, including staff, residents, and appointed and elected officials, demonstrate respect in words and actions and approach decisions with open-mindedness so that everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinion regardless of differences.
2.
Inclusiveness and Equity: The City reaches out and encourages the participation of all members of the community in dialogue. Spanish language translation and interpretation are made available at all community listening sessions. The City looks at culturally appropriate ways to engage those who may not have historically been engaged, particularly community members from our Latinx and other ethnically diverse communities.
3.
Easy Participation: Promote an open and readily accessible government. Communications and information are timely, easy to understand, and offered in a variety of formats, appropriate to a given process. Information will also be available in Spanish. The City will provide clarity about the public decision-making process, including milestones and a defined endpoint. Participants have the flexibility to participate in a variety of ways, including online and in person.
4.
Meaningful Engagement: Provide opportunities for all community members to participate in an open and unbiased process, free of predetermined outcomes, to consider and deliberate feasible options. The City authentically solicits, acknowledges, incorporates, and responds to community input.
5.
Mutual Accountability: The City and community are mutually accountable for a fair process, honest and respectful participation, informed and fact-based discussion, outcomes that reflect input, and acceptance of the result. City processes will include meaningful assessments to measure progress, implementation of improvements as needed, and effective communication of both.