Ad Hoc Community Advisory Committee
Committee Purpose
Petaluma's Ad Hoc Community Advisory Committee (AHCAC) will study and discuss issues contributing to community members not feeling safe or welcome in Petaluma and to develop recommendations to improve diversity, equity, and inclusivity in Petaluma. Those recommendations will then be considered when the City Council reviews citywide and police policies.
Committee Make Up
AHCAC members will represent Petaluma’s diverse community and include traditionally under-represented groups. On March 15th, 2021, the City Council approved 28 seats for the AHCAC. The membership includes 6 At-Large members nominated by the City Council and 22 additional representatives, representing previously approved local organizations. The 22 representatives were individually nominated and brought forward by their respective memberships. Each of the following organizations will have a representative on the committee:
| 100 Black Men of Sonoma County | Petaluma Blacks for Community Development (PBCD) | Petaluma Youth for CAHOOTS |
| Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) | Petaluma City School District | Sonoma County Black Coalition |
| Indivisible Petaluma | Petaluma Community Relations Council | Sonoma County Black Forum |
| Japanese American Citizens League | Petaluma Health Center | St. Vincent's De Paul High School |
| NAACP Sonoma County | Petaluma Healthcare District | Team for Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity (TIDE) in K-12 schools |
| North Bay Organizing Project – Petaluma Chapter (NBOPP) | Petaluma People Services Center | Waugh Unified School District |
| Old Adobe Unified School District | Petaluma Pride | |
| Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce (DEI) | Petaluma Youth Commission |
Guiding Principles
Safe Expression - Staff and committee members will ensure that the meetings are a safe place for participants to share their experiences, perspectives, and opinions.
Inclusiveness and Equity - Staff and committee members will encourage all members of the community to participate. As such, Spanish language translation will be available. We will also support participants new to public engagement so they feel safe and included.
Easy Participation and Equal Access - Communications between staff and the committee will be timely, easy to understand, translated into Spanish, and offered in a variety of formats. Staff and committee members will jointly define the committee’s goals and end points.
Meaningful Engagement - The committee will hold open meetings and listen to all participant opinions before concluding outcomes and recommendations. The City will openly consider all recommendations presented.
Accountability - We are all committed to a fair and open process that allows for honest and respectful participation, informed and fact-based discussion, and outcomes that reflect input. We will also develop meaningful assessments to measure progress.
Schedule / Agenda Topics
The Committee held 6 monthly meetings. Below are the topics studied and discussed at each: