UNCO Minutes

• April 23, 2009
• February 24, 2009
• December 9, 2008
• August 12, 2008
• July 22, 2008
• June 24, 2008
• June 10, 2008

UNCO Reports

• NC/NCPC Self-Assessment Survey Results (August 2008). This report summarizes the findings of a survey of leaders from 16 NCPCs as to how their NCPC is run and how UNCO can facilitate their NCPC's mission. Highlights include:
  • 94 percent of NCPCs reported NSCs attend meetings "always or "usually."
  • 73 percent of NCPCs reported PSOs attend meetings "always or "usually."
  • On average, 26 people attend NCPC meetings citywide.
  • NCPC leader are most interested in trainings on boosting attendance (80 percent) and closing problem properties (50 percent).


• Oakland Crime Stats Overview (July 2008). This report provides an overview of crime stats in Oakland, as compiled by the FBI, from 2000 through 2007. Highlights include:
  • There were fewer than 100 homicides in Oakland in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2005.
  • There were fewer than 6,000 violent crimes in Oakland from 2000 to 2005, but more than 7,000 in 2006 and 2007.
  • Oakland's violent crime rate per 10,000 residents is more than double that of neighboring cities and other mid-size California cities.

City of Oakland Reports

• Report and Recommendations to Improve Community Policing... (April 2005). This report provides several recommendations for how the NCPC system should be reformed to improve its efficacy. Highlights include:
  • Make the Home Alert Program (neighborhood watch) part of the city's integrated approach to Community Policing and bring it under the management of the Neighborhood Services Manager
  • Expand the job description of NSCs and require them to perform door-to-door outreach.
  • Move Neighborhood Services personnel out of police stations and centralize them at City Hall, but keep the program under OPD.


• Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils' Evaluation (September 2002). This report evaluates to what degree NCPCs are performing as intended. Of the 20 NCPCs surveyed, the report found that "for the most part, NCPCs adhered to the requirements set forth in Resolution 72727." Highlights include:
  • All NCPCs met at least quarterly; 80 percent met monthly.
  • Attendance ranged from 3-100 people per meeting, the average being 23. In less than one-third of the meetings did 25 people or more attend.
  • All meetings were democratically governed and had citizen participation but less than half were following written rules or approved the minutes for the previous meeting.
  • NSCs were present for all meetings; PSOs attended 63 percent of meetings.

External Reports

• NCPCs - Community Engagement in Community Policing: How does it work in Oakland? (Evaluation Consultant Kim Gilhuly - September 2008). This exhaustive report, commissioned by the Neighborhood Services Division, evaluates how well the NCPCs are meeting their four organizational goals. The report includes recommendations on policy changes. (Large File: 2.5 MB) Highlights include:
  • Goal 1 - Concrete Improvements: NCPCs have made notable differences in their neighborhoods; Most NCPCs do not rank violent crime as their top concern; NCPCs priorities and activities are not well published.
  • Goal 2 - Empowerment: NCPCs are developing community leaders and teaching people how Oakland Gov works.
  • Goal 3 - Building Strong NCPCs: NCPCs are acting according to Resolution 72727; 19 people attend NCPC meetings on average; Latinos and Asians are underrepresented in the NCPCs; More trainnings are needed for NCPC members and NSCs and there is a need for greater cross-NCPC communication.
  • Goal 4 - Linking with institutions of power: NCPCs are well-connected with their PSO; Rotation of PSOs has hurt community policing efforts; NCPCs relationship with the City Council is ambiguous.
  • Priority Recommendations: NSCs should ensure that NCPC priorities are being tracked; NCPC meetings need publicly-available minutes; Neighborhood Services should create a best practices manual and website and offer development trainings; Cross-NCPC fertilization should be promoted; Limit PSOs to 1 NCPC and NSCs to 2 NCPCs; The City Council should attend NCPC meetings.


• Tools & Tactics for building NCPCs (Oakland Sharing the Vision - January 2000). This manual offers the basics in estabishing and effectively running NCPCs, from building an effective organizational structure to doing community outreach. (Large File: 7.5 MB) Highlights include:
  • Ch. 2 - Starting an NCPC
  • Ch. 3 - Key Components of an Organizational Foundation
  • Ch. 6 - Building Partnerships with Young People
  • Ch. 8 - Effective Outreach Techniques
  • Ch. 9 - Techniques for Running an Effective Meeting
  • Ch. 12 - Incorporation and Tax Exempt Status

Copyright UNCO 2008