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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/14/1997 - JointI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Special Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of May 14, 1997, which were approved by the City Council on May 20, 1997. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this 20th day of May, 1997 lai„.„graar_ Armando Chapa City Secretary SEAL MICROFILMED MINUTES JOINT MEETING OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI CITY COUNCIL AND THE NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT REGARDING A COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN ON YOUTH ISSUES Wednesday, May 14, 1997 5:30 p.m. Bayfront Convention Center, Room 203b CITY COUNCIL Mayor Loyd Neal Mayor Pro Tem Betty Jean Longoria Council Members Jamie L. Capelo, Jr. Melody Cooper Alex L. Garcia, Jr. Arnold Gonzales Dr. David McNichols Edward Martin ABSENT John Longoria NUECES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Judge Richard Borchard Joe McComb Oscar Ortiz Frank Schwing City Staff Present City Manager Bill Hennings City Secretary Armando Chapa City Attorney James Bray Mayor Neal called the meeting to order at the Bayfront Convention Center. He and Judge Borchard welcomed everyone in attendance. Mayor Neal provided an overview of gangs and youth violence as a major community wide issue. He stated that this problem was voiced again and again as a major concern during the recent City elections. He further stated that it is a very complex problem and involves targeting kids at different ages and with difference needs. Resolution of the problem will require a community wide effort with multiple solutions involving enforcement, prevention, and intervention. He further discussed the historical significance of this joint City and Nueces County effort of addressing this complex issue and felt the "Master Plan presented by the Commission on Children and Youth" could become a statewide model for other Texas cities. With regard to the day's meeting, he stated that the purpose was to introduce a strategy of community involvement which would map out a process of successful follow-through as required by the Master Plan. Judge Borchard and Mayor Neal introduced various members of the City Council, Nueces County Commissioners Court, and various City/County staff members in attendance at the meeting. Mayor Neal then presented Paige Dinn, Commission on Children and Youth Minutes Special Council Meeting May 14, 1997 Page 2 Chairperson, who introduced various members of the Commission. She proceeded with an overview of the plan and implementation process. Ms. Dinn stated that the purpose of the Community Master Plan was to guide and direct a yearly planning process which would address four critical areas requiring immediate attention: child maltreatment, juvenile crime and delinquency, inadequate education attainment, and the need to effectively develop, manage and analyze information and programs. A goal was established related to each of these four critical areas, with a list of recommended community actions. These goals are: 1. Ensure Corpus Christi children and youth have the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, educated, emotionally strong, spiritual, and economically secure. 2. Ensure Corpus Christi children and youth reach adulthood in an environment free of crime and victimization by emphasizing effective prevention, intervention and enforcement programs. 3. Increase the education attainment level of all Corpus Christi children and youth. 4. Improve the current information collection and dissemination efforts and program evaluation efforts so that effective programs are developed and maintained. Ms. Dinn discussed the history of the plan's development, stating that it followed almost three years of researching the problems and needs of local children and youth by experts in this field. She emphasized that the Commission's plan will guide community policies and programs in order to aggressively address the community's current problems. Ms. Dinn felt that values which guided the Commission should also guide the entire community -- viewing children and youth as significant community resources that must be nurtured and attended to. Ms. Dinn then provided an overview of the community roles and responsibilities as it relates to expanding the Annual Community Action Plan. Eleven primary community sectors were identified which need to be involved in the implementation process. These community sectors are education, youth, criminal justice, recreation, business, health, neighborhoods, churches, government, social service agencies, and law enforcement. The recommendations made in the Commission's MasterPlan involve each of these community Minutes Special Council Meeting May 14, 1997 Page 3 sectors in dynamic partnerships. Highlights were provided of the plan as it relates to the various sectors identified. Malcolm Matthews, Director of Parks and Recreation, discussed the critical factors for successful implementation of the plan. He stated that to be strong as a community in addressing the needs of our youth, citizens must work together to ensure that each community sector identified is successful in their part of implementing the plan. This would require follow-through; communication and coordination are essential to make the most of the limited resources available. Packets containing the Master Plan were distributed to attendees of the meeting. Mr. Matthews reviewed the contents of the packets and the time schedule for implementation of the plan. He stated that the groups will meet in June to begin identifying tactical plans and implementation strategies to complete their status sheets. Spokespersons representing each Community Sector Group will form a Steering Committee which will then coordinate all the information and provide quarterly progress reports. The first quarterly report, which will be given at a joint meeting of the City Council and Nueces County Commissioners, is scheduled for September 17, 1997. Mayor Neal invited members of the City Council and Commissioners Court to comment. Council Member Cooper discussed the Mayor's Task Force on Youth Violence, referred to future meetings, and volunteered that group to aid in implementation of the plan. City Council Member Betty Jean Longoria inquired if any one was present from the Corpus Christi Independent School District and stated that she felt strongly that their active involvement was critical to the success of the plan. County Commissioner Joe McComb referred to the packet and expressed the importance of intervening with children prior to problems occurring. He explained that he supported the consolidation of current programs instead of the creation of new programs. Mayor Neal stated his support of Commissioner McComb's comments stressing that this plan involved prevention, intervention, and punishment through current programs. The intent is not to create new ones. Mayor Neal referred to the cards which were passed to attendees at the meeting. One side of the card solicited ideas and the other side asked for volunteers to help implement the plan. The volunteers would be assigned to one of the eleven sectors identified which would aid in organizing the community's efforts. Minutes Special Council Meeting May 14, 1997 Page 4 He reiterated the importance of the community working together to make a difference before the youth issue becomes unmanageable. He emphasized that the leading quality of life issue facing our community is our children and reiterated his request for volunteers to aid in the plan's implementation. City Council Member Alex Garcia discussed the need for everyone to work together to eliminate duplication of effort. Council Member Cooper referred to a guide developed by the Mayor's Task Force on Youth Violence which lists resources available in the community and can be obtained through Susan Cable, Director of Communications and Quality Management. Various groups present identified themselves in response to a request of Council Member Arnold Gonzales. There being no further comments, the meeting was adjourned.