Ad hoc committee outlines work plan: outreach, audits and training for surveillance oversight

Members from the ad hoc committee presented a proposed work plan focused on four priorities: community engagement, an audit policy, training for board members, and exploring outside professional expertise.

On community engagement, the committee proposed multiple tactics including tabling at the farmers market or piggybacking on existing police community events; members emphasized the different public perception when events are "community‑led" rather than PD‑led. "It's the difference in the message that we send when it's PD led versus community led," a committee member said.

On audits, the committee proposed an overarching framework to monitor actual use of surveillance technologies, not just device-level compliance. The purpose would be to identify unusual or unauthorized access patterns—"if person A is using the system when they shouldn't be," committee members said—and to provide monthly or bimonthly audit summaries to the board.

Training proposals included periodic Brown Act and political reform refreshers and technical briefings about surveillance tools. Staff noted budget and contract limits for paid outside experts but said some presentations could be provided without fee or by existing contracted vendors.

Members asked that the ad hoc committee refine the work plan, identify likely costs, and return with a proposed calendar and suggested speakers or partner organizations.