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
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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
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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.
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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.