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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 Minutes New Hanover County/ City of Wilmington Community Relations Advisory Committee January 23, 2018 5:30 PM Lord Spencer Compton Conference Room 102 N. 3 Street rd Wilmington, NC 28401 Committee Members Present: Kristen McKeithan, Lori Wainright, Jeff Hovis, Evelyn Bryant, Walter Samuels, Melanie Frank, Florence Warren and Emily Cottrell Committee Members Absent: Owen Wexler and Brenda Swartz Staff: Suzanne Rogers Others: I. Quorum established. Meeting called to order by Vice Chair, Evelyn Bryant II. Approve Agenda Jeff made a motion to approve the Agenda. Emily seconded and motion carried III. Approval of minutes: Jeff made a motion to approve the minutes for November 28, 2017. Florence seconded and motion carried IV. WPD Updates: Deputy Chief Williams presented an update on the New WPD/WFD training facility. An overview of the design, location, and development timeline were included in his presentation. He pointed out some to the training simulators planned for the facility and invited the CRAC to a demonstration of the simulators community for Boy Scout meetings and other events followed. Ms. Warren pointed out that the facility could help generate an interest in young people to pursue careers public safety. Assistant Chief Varrone presented an update on the Civil Disturbance Unit aka Peacekeepers. He provided a handout of a proposal on Verbal De-escalation and explained the formation of the unit and the selection of members. Asst. Chief Varrone described an upcoming training for the unit scheduled for February 22 rd & 23. He offered two training seats for members of the CRAC. Once the unit is established and trained Asst. Chief Varrone would like the team leader to attend a CRAC meeting. The following discussion ensued: How many women and minorities are in the Unit? 1 woman, 3 African American, 1- Asian; Does WPD have any public relations efforts to educate the public about the purpose of the Civil Disturbance Unit? - Yes, Will the WPD consult with CRAC in advance of events that may be problematic so that the CRAC Crisis sub-committee can assist with community outreach; and conversely will there be a point of contact at WPD with whom the CRAC members can relay information from the community about such events, etc..? - WPD will consider this. Civil Disturbance Unit/Peacekeepers are not members of the WPD SWAT team, the mission of these two units is not the same. - The Peacekeepers will be trained in tactics to de-escalate, mitigate risk, and organize safe, peaceful public demonstrations and similar events. WPD and NHCSO also have a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) for situations involving mental health and substance abuse induced crisis situations/calls. V. Committee Reports: Melanie reported for the Crisis sub-committee as follows: th The crisis sub-committee met Thursday, January 18 at 8:00 am attended by Melanie, Lori, Samuel and Owen. The committee identified 3 areas on which to focus: Awareness, Concerns, Advise. The committee will research and explore the following topics on which to build awareness, identify concerns and advise policy makers and others: 1- Affordable Housing 2. Low Performing Schools 3. Access to Quality Healthcare 4. Mass Incarceration/ReEntry The sub-committee will review housing research and related reports to formulate next steps on affordable housing. Melanie will reach out to contacts at NHRMC about initiatives on equitable access to quality healthcare. Melanie will reach out to the chaplain corps with NHCSO, WPD and NHRMC to explore how the members of the sub-committee trained in crisis intervention can affiliate or align with them to be of service when needed. rd Lori asked staff to find a meeting location for the Program Subcommittee to meet on the 3 Tuesday of each month at 4:00 pm. Other chairpersons will contact staff to find best time and place for meeting schedules. Lori reported for the Programming sub-committee as follows: th The programming sub-committee met Tuesday, January 16 at 4 pm, attended by Lori, Emily, Evelyn and Owen. Dr. Kristen DeVall, UNCW Social Science Applied Research Center also attended the meeting to provide an overview of the Center and to explore the possibility of assisting the CRAC to conduct an enhanced survey to gather more data and reach more people to get a more representative perspective of the community on the issues of diversity, discrimination, equity, and equitable access, etc.. Survey results will help guide the CRAC in formulating strategies for programming, public education, and policy recommendations. Lori made a motion that the CRAC approve the Program Committee to move forward with the development of a survey utilizing UNCW SSARC pending funding from the City. Discussion followed about ensuring that the survey is widely distributed and the necessity to have a point person to help coordinate. Lori explained that UNCW has multi prong approach to survey distribution that includes phone, door to door, and web. Lori said if this goes forward UNCW SSARC representatives should be invited to CRAC. Call for the vote and the motion carried without objection. Lori made a motion that CRAC host a meet and greet on March 27 th at a place to be determined. Jeff offered a substitute motion that the Meet and Greet be postponed until we know if the CRAC will be able to go forward with the UNCW survey and if so, use the meet and greet or similar event as a kick-off for the survey. If no survey then the programming sub-committee should find a speaker or presenter for the Meet and Greet. Walter seconded the motion. Discussion - Jen offered that it is best to have a clear purpose and be very organized when hosting such an event. Call for the vote and the motion carried without objection. Lori also noted that recent MLK Parade and Potluck for Peace and the upcoming Free Movement Conference. VI. Unfinished Business No unfinished business was brought forward. VII. New Business Volunteers to attend the WPD Civil Disturbance Unit Training on February 22 &23 rd: Names in the hat- Melanie, Lori, Florence, Owen, Walter Loir and Walter selected from random drawing to attend. Other volunteers will be available as alternates if needed. VIII. Public Comments No public comments IX. Adjourn Jeff made motion to adjourn, Walter seconded. Motion carried without objection.