The Citizens League has been selected by the City of Saint Paul to lead a Community-First Public Safety Commission. The Commission will help shape Saint Paul’s continued work to take a holistic and sustainable approach to building safer outcomes in its neighborhoods. Consisting of 48 members appointed by the Mayor, the Commission will bring together community members with wide ranging experiences to explore how the City can build upon its current strategy.

> Visit our project page for up to date information on background materials, recent news & media, meeting materials, and a livestream of the meetings as they are happening.

Through a process led by the Citizens League, they will examine a wide range of policy ideas for alternative response models to priority-4 and priority-5 (non-emergency) calls for service. The Commission will be Co-Chaired by Accoa Ellis of Greater Twin Cities United Way and John Marshall of Xcel Energy. Citizens League Executive Director Kate Cimino and Director of Public Policy Amanda Koonjbeharry will serve as project leads.

 “Now more than ever, amid the many crises we face, re-envisioning emergency response is a critical step toward realizing safer outcomes,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “This Commission will help us expand our Community-First Public Safety Framework, and further chart a path forward for our community.”

“For more than 65 years, the Citizens League has engaged Minnesotans to address critical issues in our community, and as we face the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, this work remains a crucial part of advancing the common good,” said Citizens League Executive Director Kate Cimino. “We look forward to supporting the Community-First Public Safety Commission in their efforts to enhance public safety in the City of Saint Paul.”

> Click to read the full announcement from the City of Saint Paul: Mayor Melvin Carter Announces Community-First Public Safety Commission To Re-Envision Emergency Response In Saint Paul

The Citizens League will be updating the community throughout this project on the web at citizensleague.org/saint-paul-public-safety. On this page, anyone can access background materials, recent news & media surrounding the project, meeting materials, and a livestream of the meetings as they are happening. Additionally, people can sign up on the website to receive regular updates emailed to their inbox.

The study committee will meet bi-weekly for five months starting this month, with final recommendations delivered to the Mayor and City Council in May 2021. Commission meetings are open to be observed by the public.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, from 9am to 12pm and will be livestreamed on our project page.