The Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office voted to adopt a set of priorities and a draft mission statement and discussed next steps for community engagement, work plans and how commissioners should handle emails or complaints from the public.

Chair Kalima Salahuddin led the commission through three priority areas: (1) community and staff engagement, (2) transparency and accountability, and (3) improved communication between incarcerated people and their families. Commissioners described planned work items, proposed timelines and desired outcomes. Commissioner Shirley and Commissioner Rebecca said the community‑engagement team will identify three neighborhoods by service calls, complaints and incarceration rates, develop forum questions and an exit survey, and aim to hold a minimum of three forums with at least 25 attendees each; the group proposed an April timeline to identify neighborhoods. The communication team (Commissioners Michael and Alexis) said it will research post‑Measure A planning and options for an inspector general dedicated to the sheriff's office; another group (Commissioners James and Bill) will study mail and communication practices for people in custody and associated staff‑safety risks.

Commissioners moved and passed adoption of the priorities by voice vote. A commissioner motioned to adopt and a second was recorded; the chair called the ayes and recorded no nays or abstentions on the public record.

The commission also discussed a proposed post‑Measure A public communication plan that Chair Kalima Salahuddin said she is preparing for the Board of Supervisors. Salahuddin told the commission she wants the plan to explain the Board's authority and timeline if voters authorize Board action, include a community review component for any selection process the Board uses, and outline next steps if Measure A does not pass. "I recommend that the following items happen after the special election and that the board develop and implement this communication plan," Salahuddin said, summarizing the draft she circulated to commissioners for feedback.

Commissioners and staff then addressed an operational question that arose repeatedly at the commission's retreat: how commissioners should respond when community members email complaints. County counsel and staff recommended that complaints alleging misconduct by a particular deputy be referred to the Sheriff's Office complaint process or the county whistleblower hotline so they can be investigated through the appropriate channels. Counsel said the county has a whistleblower process that routes complaints to the county attorney’s office. Commissioners asked staff to draft standard guidance and an email response template and to clarify how the commission can publicly escalate recurring themes without creating an unauthorized meeting under the Brown Act.

The commission reviewed a draft mission statement drafted from its value statements: The mission of the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office is to provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the Sheriff's Office to enhance public confidence and foster mutual respect and trust internally and externally; to advocate for policies, programs and practices that reflect community needs; and to support a sheriff's office that upholds accountability, transparency and principles of justice. Commissioners agreed to refine the wording and return the mission for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting.