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City outlines 'Roots' community-responder pilot, plans 2–3 responder positions and 211 follow‑up
Summary
Acting City Manager Dominic Rekio and Mona Lita Smiley described a phased Roots responder pilot that would place two to three city employees under the city manager to take handoffs on nonviolent calls and connect residents to 211 for follow‑up. The city plans to fund the pilot with roughly $750,000 spread over three years and hopes to stand up an initial, smaller program by late fall.
Acting City Manager Dominic Rekio said the Roots responder pilot grew from recommendations in the city’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative and aims to offer an alternative‑response for certain nonviolent calls.
"We're calling that a community responder program at this stage," Rekio said, describing a proposed staff of two to three responders who would sit in the city manager’s office and work in partnership with police and community partners to accept handoffs on nonviolent calls and provide outreach, trust and support.
Rekio said the city has set aside about three‑quarters of a million dollars to fund a phased, three‑year pilot. He framed the program as small initially — “on a much smaller scale than what we had anticipated before” — and said staff and partners conducted 17 formal interviews with community agencies while designing the model.
Mona Lita Smiley, director of the Community Justice Center for Reimagining Public Safety, described an operational partnership with 211: responders will pass contact details and identified needs to 211, which will follow up directly with the resident to close the referral loop.
"Instead of us referring, 'Oh, go to 211,' we'll reach out to 211 with contact information and how they can reach the community member," Smiley said. She said subcommittees are writing job descriptions, training and policies, and the team hopes for a late‑fall launch this year.
Board members asked whether lived experience would be required for responder hires; staff said lived experience or peer experience will be an important hiring criterion, reflecting feedback from advisory groups. Implementation questions remain about equipment (radios, vehicles, bikes), supervision, and how responders will coordinate with existing outreach teams.
No formal vote accompanied the presentation; staff asked the board to note progress and continue engagement as subcommittees finalize policies and staffing.
