Agenda Notes:
Consent Item #29: 2009 Federal Earmarks for Gang-of-One
Staff Resources:
Deputy Chief Ruth Story, CMPD, 704-943-2476, rstory@cmpd.org
Fran Cook, CMPD, 704-336-7331, fcook@cmpd.org
At the upcoming Council Business Meeting, City Council will be asked to approve a grant application to the United States Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for money to fund CMPD's Gang of One program. The grant is a non-competitive congressional award; the City's application provides the tool to memorialize project plans.
Gang of One, established in February 2004, is the gang prevention and intervention initiative of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in partnership with local citizens and agencies as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement. The mission of Gang of One is to prevent youth from joining a gang, support youth being pressured to join a gang, and assist youth in getting out of a gang.
Gang of One is recognized as a state best practice and federal promising practice program. Since 2004, Gang of One has received over 2,700 calls to the hotline, provided gang education and gang resistance training to thousands of adults and youth in over 400 workshops, and assisted over 130 youth with agency resources in support of gang disassociation.
Additionally, Gang of One has developed three gang prevention programs that reach thousands of youth annually: Dangers Involved with Gangs; No Easy Walk; and Truancy/Safe Neighborhoods. Gang of One is developing four other programs: Security Threat Group (STG) Reentry Case Management; Racing 2 Inspire, Stimulate & Educate (RISE); Stand Up and Speak Out; and Weed & Seed Truancy Court.
Gang of One has been instrumental in the creation of the Gang Prevention Coalition established in May 2007. This multi-agency, inter-disciplinary body is chaired by the Director of Area Mental Health. The mission of the Gang Prevention Coalition is to partner with the community to eliminate gangs through collaboration, training, and technical assistance.
Since 2004, Gang of One has raised over $1,937,440 (excludes FY09 awards in the amount of $950,000) in grant funds for personnel and programs. Some of these grants have required a small match from the City of Charlotte/Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department that cumulatively amounts to $68,977 (2%). Gang of One has grown from a staff of one in 2004 to a staff of 4.5 in 2008. Positions include Gang of One Director, Hotline Manager/Administrator, Program Manager, Intervention Manager, and Education Specialist (part-time).
Information Items:
NCDOT Complete Streets Policy
Staff Resource:
Danny Pleasant, CDOT, 704-336-3879, dpleasant@charlottenc.gov
On July 9, the North Carolina Board of Transportation (NCBOT) unanimously approved a Complete Streets policy for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). This action could lead to enhanced and more consistent collaboration between NCDOT and municipalities on street designs within urban areas. Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) staff provided comments on a draft version of the policy in a letter to Secretary Conti and those comments positively affected the adopted policy.
Complete Streets are streets that are designed to be safe and functional for users of all ages and abilities, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. Complete Streets are particularly important in urban areas such as Charlotte. The new NCDOT policy recognizes the need for different and collaborative approaches to designing streets in North Carolina cities and towns.
For almost five years, Charlotte has been applying a nationally recognized Complete Streets approach to street design, based on Council's support for and adoption of the Transportation Action Plan and the Urban Street Design Guidelines. The new NCDOT policy states "…a commitment to collaborate with cities, towns, and communities to ensure pedestrian, bicycle, and transit options are included as an integral part of their total transportation vision". The new policy will greatly improve our ability to work with NCDOT on designing state-maintained roadways to better meet Charlotte's vision.
As a next step, NCDOT will develop planning and design guidelines to implement their newly adopted policy. In a letter dated July 17, Secretary Conti responded to the CDOT comments in part by stating, "…with the City of Charlotte being recognized as a leader in the area of Complete Streets, your assistance will be essential in the development of these guidelines". Charlotte staff looks forward to continuing to work with NCDOT as they implement their policy. This new Complete Streets policy strongly supports Charlotte's efforts to provide the safe, comfortable, and effective transportation options necessary to sustain our quality of life and growing population.
Savannah, GA Mayor and Aldermembers to Learn About the Charlotte International Cabinet
Staff Resource:
Dennis Marstall, Mayor's Office, 704-336-3980, dmarstall@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The Charlotte International Cabinet (CIC) will be hosting the Mayor and five Aldermembers from Savannah, Georgia on Thursday, July 23 as they visit Charlotte to learn about the merger of Charlotte Sister Cities and the Mayor's International Cabinet that created the Charlotte International Cabinet. The Savannah representatives will be attending the Charlotte International Cabinet's Open House on Thursday, July 23 in the Lobby of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. More than 200 people are expected at the CIC Open House, which will highlight the merger and the new location of the CIC offices on the lobby level of the Government Center.
