ORDINANCE NO. 7936
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS ESTABLISHING THE LAWRENCE CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD.
Whereas, Senate Bill 77 was passed by the legislature in the last regular legislative session and subsequently became effective on July 1, 2005; and
Whereas, Senate Bill 77 requires the creation of an independent citizen advisory board on the subject of racial profiling; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:
Section 1. Article 25 of Chapter 1 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2003 Edition is hereby enacted to read as follows:
1-2501. Establishment of Advisory Board. The Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board is hereby established.
1-2502. Purpose of Advisory Board. The purpose of the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board is to advise and assist the City of Lawrence and its police department in policy development, education, community outreach and communications related to racial profiling.
1-2503. Specific Duties of Advisory Board. The Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board shall:
1. Review Lawrence Police Department policies regarding racial profiling and make recommendations to the Police Chief for the amendment of those policies or the adoption of additional policies on that subject as it deems necessary.
2. Review the Police Department’s annual training on racial profiling, and if necessary suggest substitute or additional training to prevent racial profiling, and, at its discretion, participate in such training.
3. Assist the Police Department with community outreach opportunities involving racial profiling prevention.
4. Advise the Police Department about community concerns related to racial profiling.
5. Receive annual reports regarding racial profiling from the Police Department no later than January 31st of each year. Such report shall be presented to the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board prior to its submission to the Kansas Attorney General. At a minimum, the report shall include the following information regarding each complaint of racial profiling lodged against the Police Department or any of its employees in the preceding calendar year:
a. The date the complaint was filed.
b. Actions taken in response to the complaint.
c. The decision made in disposition of the complaint.
d. The date the complaint was closed.
6. Report to the City Commission from time to time regarding its activities, including an annual report to be presented to the City Commission at the first regularly scheduled Lawrence City Commission meeting following January 31st of each year.
7. Review and render advice on such other matters related to racial profiling as are assigned to the advisory board by the Chief of Police, City Manager, or City Commission.
1-2504.Membership. The Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board shall consist of seven members. Each member shall be a resident of the City of Lawrence, Kansas. Membership is voluntary and no voting member shall receive payment for service on the Advisory Board. Members will be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Commissioners. In making the appointments, the Mayor shall include participants who reflect the racial and ethnic makeup of the community. The Chief of Police may designate an employee of the City to be his liaison to the Advisory Board, and such designee shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio member of the Advisory Board.
1-2505.Terms. Voting members of the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board shall serve three year terms, except that when making the initial appointments the Mayor shall designate that two specified members have a one year initial term and that two other members have a two year initial term in order to stagger the expiration of the terms of service. There is no limit to the number of terms that an individual may serve on the Advisory Board. Upon the resignation of any such member, the Mayor, with consent of the City Commission, shall appoint a new member to serve the unexpired portion of the resigning member’s term. The Chief of Police’s designee shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief of Police.
1-2506.Meetings. Each year, one member shall be elected by the members of the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board to be the Board Chairperson, who shall preside at meetings. The initial meeting shall be at a time and date specified by the Mayor. All subsequent meetings shall be as called by the Board Chairperson, the Chief of Police, or by a majority of the members of the Advisory Board. At least one meeting shall be held quarterly. The meetings shall be subject to all applicable provisions of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. The Advisory Board shall prepare and approve minutes of each of their meetings, which shall be forwarded to the City Commission.
1-2507.Decisions and Procedures of the Board. Recommendations of the Lawrence Citizen Advisory Board shall be approved by majority vote of the members present and voting. The Advisory Board shall adopt any lawful rules, regulations and by-laws it deems necessary for its operation. Such rules, regulations and by-laws shall be submitted to the City Commission and shall become effective upon approval by the City Commission.
Section 2. Severability. If any section, clause, sentence, or phrase of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or is otherwise held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect the validity of any remaining parts of this ordinance.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect following its adoption and publication as provided by law.
Adopted this _______________ day of ________________, 2005.
PASSED:
Dennis Highberger, Mayor
ATTEST:
Frank S. Reeb, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
David L. Corliss, Assistant City Manager
and Director of Legal Services