Oversight board releases Inspector General job posting, clarifies charter disqualification for law-enforcement backgrounds

Member Sue updated the board on the Inspector General recruitment process, saying the job announcement had been released and outreach work completed. Sue emphasized that the charter and the job announcement exclude candidates who have worked for police or sheriff's departments, a restriction intended to preserve independence.

Sue noted the office was renamed in the wake of Proposition C (2024), effective January 2025, and said Berkeley Consulting Services is expected to present vetted applicant lists at the board's April meeting. She encouraged board members to be available for interviews in the coming months and recommended community engagement in the recruitment process, including town-hall meetings so the public can weigh in on organizational priorities and candidate attributes.

Board members discussed the balance between open-minded recruitment and local representation; some members urged prioritizing candidates with lived-experience perspective or strong community ties, while Sue cautioned keeping an open mind about background and experience. The board also discussed logistics for community outreach and recommended at least one City Hall session plus neighborhood meetings to solicit public input.