OAKLAND — In swift action, the Oakland City Council unanimously agreed to ask voters on the Nov. 3 ballot to strengthen the independence of the city’s citizens police commission.

The council, by a vote of 8-0 Thursday, agreed to remove a contested clause in the charter amendment — at the request of the police commission and Oakland residents — that would have given the police chief authority to override the police commission and the council in emergencies related to public safety.

Council member Noel Gallo, chair of the council’s public safety committee, said that, by deleting that provision, it would allow “a commission that can be more responsive to our citizens to make sure that public safety continues to be a priority.”