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Council asks staff and police to produce formal media‑communication procedure for critical incidents
Summary
Council directed staff to develop a written procedure for how the police and city communicate with the media and council during incidents, including options for timely council notification such as text groups and a defined chain of command for releases.
The council asked city staff and the police department to prepare a written procedure for media outreach and council notification during incidents and to return with a staff report.
Council Member Mendoza and others said council members sometimes learn of incidents through media or social platforms before receiving official city information. Police Chief (unnamed in transcript) described the department’s internal policy and noted the operational difficulty of pausing dynamic field operations to brief elected officials. The chief said the department already restricts who speaks to the press and suggested a short notification mechanism (for example, a text message) to alert council members that an incident is underway and that fuller information will follow.
Council directed staff to prepare a formal procedure that explains who communicates with media, the timeline for council notification (including whether to notify at night), and how to correct misinformation publicly. Council asked staff to return with the procedure in a staff report.
Why it matters: A consistent notification and media protocol can reduce misinformation, ensure council members receive timely situational awareness, and clarify roles between police, communications staff and the city manager’s office.
