(a) The COB shall be comprised of seven members, and two alternates, to be recommended by the Boards and Commissions Review Committee, and appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Commission. The COB members, as nearly as possible, shall reflect a range of the city’s demographics in regard to racial and gender identities, ages, skills and lived experiences. Preference will be given to community members representing marginalized communities. For the purposes of this Chapter, “marginalized communities” means groups of people who experience social, economic, and/or political exclusion or discrimination based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability, or religion. The members shall serve without compensation. The following conditions shall apply to the COB voting members and alternates:
(1) Must be residents of the City of Battle Creek; with the potential exception of one non-resident as noted in below subsection (a)(2);
(2) Up to one resident of any municipality other than the City of Battle Creek may be appointed, provided that resident’s municipality of residence has a current police services contract with the City. The term of this non-City resident shall end immediately upon the termination of the police services contract, the member relocating outside of a qualifying municipality, or upon the stated end of term at the time of appointment, whichever event occurs first, thereby creating a vacancy to be filled as set out above;
(3) Two residents of the City of Battle Creek, designated as alternates and who shall fit the desired characteristics set out in above subsection (a). Alternate members act in the absence of a regular member, have all the rights, responsibilities and obligations as members when serving in that capacity, and are expected to attend all COB meetings;
(4) At least four COB members shall be actively serving marginalized communities in the City of Battle Creek, and/or have expertise in the cultural nuances, language barriers, or disabilities of specific populations that may impact interactions with law enforcement;
(5) Three members shall be appointed, with one representing each of the below three community-based organizations that actively serve and advocate for marginalized communities in Battle Creek:
A. One representing the local Chapter of the NAACP;
B. One representing Voces of Battle Creek; and
C. One representing The Burma Center.
Applications for the three COB members of this subsection should include a cover letter from the above organization of which that person is a member, setting out the organization’s nomination and support of the applicant, addressed to the City Manager. If an organization declines to submit an applicant for recommended membership, then the Boards and Commissions’ Review Committee shall select a candidate(s) to recommend to the Mayor and City Commission that is a member of one of the above three community-based organizations which is not already represented or who fits the desired characteristics set out in above subsection (a).
(b) Two additional non-voting, ex-officio members shall be appointed by the Mayor and the City Commission: The City of Battle Creek Human Resources (HR) Director and the City’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, whose terms shall coincide with their employment with the City in the stated positions.
(c) The following individuals shall be ineligible to serve as a member of the COB:
(1) Current City of Battle Creek employees (with the exception of the HR Director and DEI Officer as ex-officio members as noted above);
(2) Immediate relatives of City of Battle Creek employees. Immediate relatives are defined as siblings, children, spouses/partners, parents, or household members;
(3) Active employees and immediate relatives (as defined above) of other area law enforcement agencies; and
(4) Former or retired law enforcement personnel that worked and served within Calhoun County.
(d) The City Manager, with the concurrence of the City Commission, shall designate someone to serve as Secretary to the Board and shall provide such administrative support as may be required.
(e) Membership on the Board may be terminated by the City Commission upon a finding of good cause. Among others, three consecutive unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings shall be considered good cause.
(Res. 41. Passed 4-29-80; Res. 512. Passed 2-1-83; Ord. 06-2024. Passed 5-14-24.)