Pomona to reshape government transparency

Leaders take first steps on voter-approved police commission and charter amendments

After Pomona voters went to the polls in November and approved a long list of amendments to the city charter, questions remain on how to implement some of the changes.

At a special study session Wednesday, city leaders discussed how the eight charter amendments will reshape government transparency, elections and more.

Among the council’s chief responsibilities is appointing residents to a new police oversight commission. As approved by voters in November, the new group will replace the existing commission to review, investigate and report on incidents involving the Police Department, as well as advise city officials and do public outreach.

The council established its own police oversight commission in 2021, but the charter amendment supersedes it.

The most notable differences in the voter-backed version of the oversight commission are a reduction in members from seven to five, involvement in disciplinary decisions related to police misconduct allegations and the addition of subpoena powers.

On Wednesday, the council and city staff agreed parameters of the existing commission should stay intact as requirements established by the charter amendment are added.

Councilmember John Nolte cautioned that in doing so, the new commission should reflect the language in the ballot measure approved by voters “to stay as accurate and similar as possible.” An ad hoc committee will be formed to streamline the process for appointing the five new commissioners. Until then, the current police commission will operate.

The council also must take a role in establishing the new ethics commission approved by voters. The group will be made up of Pomona residents that would serve as city watchdogs, make recommendations and propose polices in response to residents’ concerns.

Since the ethics commission is new, “the city would be starting from scratch,” City Attorney Sonia Carvalho said.

Mayor Tim Sandoval requested city staff look at other cities with ethics commissions to try to model after them.

Noting that some of the city’s commissions rotate the same people in and out, Councilmember Nora Garcia recommended the ethics commission try to include people who have not yet served.

“The commission needs to come as free from strings as possible,” Garcia said. “We need to make sure they are held to a higher standard.”

The group will monitor, advise, educate and respond to issues involving state and local gov