Modesto CPRB approves 2025 calendar; sets timeline for OIR response, annual report and homelessness briefings

The Modesto Community Police Review Board voted to approve its calendar of topics for the rest of 2025 at its May 21 meeting and set a timeline for the board’s annual report process and several public presentations.

Deputy City Manager Scotty Douglas presented a proposed schedule and supporting materials and recommended sequencing the remaining items so presenters would have time to prepare follow‑up information after initial briefings.

Under the calendar agreed at the meeting:

- June: Modesto Police Chief Jeffrey Gillespie is scheduled to present a response to the Office of Independent Review (OIR) annual report covering Jan. 2024–Dec. 2024. - July: The CPRB will receive a draft of its 2025 annual report for review and feedback from the full board. - August: A presentation by the Homeless Alliance is planned. - September: A presentation on policing and homelessness is planned (intended to follow the Homeless Alliance session so MPD can respond to questions raised). - October: Chief Gillespie’s formal response to the CPRB annual report is expected to be scheduled, subject to city review timelines.

Deputy City Manager Douglas said staff recommends placing the CPRB annual report draft on a future agenda only when the subcommittee is ready to present it and that the Homeless Alliance briefing be followed by a policing session the next month so police staff can prepare answers to any questions.

Board members and the city attorney discussed how the Brown Act (California’s open‑meeting law) limits communications outside public meetings. City Attorney Alex advised that the board must avoid deliberations by a majority of members outside of a publicly noticed meeting, meaning individual board members should not coordinate recommendations among a quorum by email or other off‑record means. Alex said that a subcommittee smaller than a quorum may meet and coordinate drafts, but any broader board discussion must occur in open session.

The board discussed options for collecting input on the annual report without violating the Brown Act. Some board members suggested providing a draft to the full board with several weeks’ notice so members could review it and bring comments to a public meeting; others suggested the subcommittee solicit input through the public agenda process. Deputy City Manager Douglas and subcommittee members agreed staff would attempt to provide board members with a draft sufficiently in advance to permit informed comment at a public meeting.

The clerk recorded a motion to approve the calendar. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the meeting minutes record the vote as "Aye." Individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

Ending

The board approved the calendar and left November and December open for additional topics. The CPRB subcommittee agreed to continue drafting the annual report and to coordinate with staff on a timeline that will allow city review and attorney comments before a final board vote.