Key Points
- Board Expansion: The new Public Safety Advisory Board replaces the Police Advisory Board, expanding oversight to include fire department and ambulance services alongside police operations
- Quarterly Public Meetings: The board will meet quarterly on the second Thursday of each calendar quarter, with all meetings open to the public
- Transition Process: Current Police Advisory Board members will be offered interviews for the new board, with remaining positions posted and filled through interviews
- Advisory Role Only: The board serves in an advisory capacity and has no investigative or enforcement authority over complaints
- 30-Day Implementation: Adopted June 16, 2025, the ordinance takes effect after a 30-day period
The Casa Grande City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 3468, dissolving the existing Police Advisory Board and establishing a new Public Safety Advisory Board with expanded responsibilities covering both police and fire services.
The Ordinance
Ordinance No. 3468 repeals the Police Advisory Board created by Ordinance No. 2041 in 2001 and establishes a broader Public Safety Advisory Board. The ordinance passed with all council members voting in favor during the June 16, 2025 meeting.
Why the Change Was Made
City Manager Larry Rains explained that the ordinance represents work that began under the previous council and continues under the current administration. The city identified the need to expand oversight beyond police services to include fire department operations.
The city now operates a full-service fire department and implemented its own city-operated paramedic ground ambulance program in November 2023, making the expanded scope more relevant to current operations.
“The newly proposed board creates a broader connection of the city’s public safety services, which not only includes the police department, but also serves the services of the fire department,” Rains said. He added that the board would focus on facilitating community involvement, including helping educate the community on available police and fire programs, volunteer opportunities, and other public safety resources.
History of the Police Advisory Board
The Police Advisory Board was established in 2001 to help provide a forum for community dialogue concerning police services within the city. The board served the community for over two decades before city officials determined that a broader public safety focus would better serve residents.
Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons acknowledged the board’s long history during the meeting. “We’ve had a Police Advisory Board for many, many years, and again, it’s just to communicate with the public being open and transparent,” she said.
Key Differences Between Old and New Boards
The most significant difference lies in scope. While the Police Advisory Board focused exclusively on police services, the Public Safety Advisory Board will cover fire department services and ambulance operations as well.
The new board will meet quarterly and will be staffed by both police and fire departments (including ambulance services), compared to police department staffing alone for the previous board.
Board Requirements and Composition
The Public Safety Advisory Board will consist of seven regular members appointed by the mayor with council approval. The mayor will seek to appoint members representing the geographic, ethnic, and economic diversity of the city within its public safety service area.
Initial appointments will be staggered: two members will serve terms expiring in 2026, two members for terms expiring in 2027, and three members for terms expiring in 2028. After these initial terms, all subsequent appointments will serve full three-year terms.
The board will elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson annually, with officers able to serve up to two consecutive one-year terms in the same position. Both the Police Chief and Fire Chief, or their designee, will serve as staff representatives.
Board Functions and Powers
Meetings will occur quarterly on the second Thursday of each calendar quarter at 6:00 p.m. All meetings will be open to the public with proper notice given in accordance with state law. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or by written request of three members. A quorum requires four board members, and all meetings will be recorded.
The board’s primary duties include reviewing and providing perspective on public safety service delivery, promoting community-based approaches to public safety, and facilitating communication between departments and the community. Members will encourage citizen input on issues including response times, criminal activity focus areas, and community-department relationships.
The board will not review specific allegations of employee misconduct and has no investigative or enforcement powers over complaints. If complaints arise during public comment, department representatives will provide complainants with proper procedures for filing complaints directly with the department.
Filling Board Positions
City Manager Rains outlined the transition plan for board membership. Staff will contact current Police Advisory Board members whose terms have not expired, offering them the opportunity to interview with the mayor and public safety directors.
“We would contact those individuals that were serving on the Police Advisory Board and give them an opportunity to not necessarily make application, but certainly come in for an interview with the Mayor and the public safety directors, both police and fire chiefs,” Rains explained.
After determining how many current members express interest and are selected, the city will post available positions and conduct interviews to fill remaining spots. This process will align with the 30-day period before the ordinance takes effect, as described by city officials during the meeting.
What Comes Next
The ordinance was adopted on June 16, 2025, and will take effect after a 30-day period. During this time, the city will complete the transition process, working to fill board positions so the new board can become operational when the ordinance takes effect.
The timing allows the new Public Safety Advisory Board to become operational as the ordinance takes effect, ensuring continuity in community oversight of public safety services while expanding the scope to include the city’s growing fire and emergency medical services.
