Chambana Sun

Champaign City Council met  Oct. 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Clarissa Fourman, Matthew Gladney, William Kyles, Vanna Pianfetti, Greg Stock, Alicia Beck, Angie Brix, Tom Bruno, Mayor Feinen

STAFF PRESENT: Dorothy Ann David, City Manager; Jennifer Bannon, Assistant City Attorney; Anthony Cobb, Police Chief; Tracy Parsons, Community Relations Manager; Vivian A. Gray, Project Specialist

OTHERS PRESENT: None

TIME STARTED: 7:41 p.m.

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

CU FRESH START GUN VIOLENCE DETERRENCE INITIATIVE – PHASE 1 [SS 2017-042]

City Manager David noted this session will update City Council, and the community, on the CU Fresh Start gun violence deterrence initiative. As a community, there has been collaboration on the CU Fresh Start initiative which is an approach being taken in direct response to the escalating gun violence in the community. As part of the initiative, the City has received a grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) with near completion of year one of the grant planning phase. Staff will present information regarding progress made to date, and plans for the next phase of this initiative.

Staff Presentation: Manager Parsons, Police Chief Cobb, and Specialist Gray briefly provided an overview of the discussion topics including the following:

• CU Fresh Start – A Focused Approach to Deter Gun Violence

• 2013 and 2014 Noticeable Increase in Gun Violence (Number of shootings, injuries, deaths, others impacted)

• Community Response

• What is CU Fresh Start

• Three Pillars of CU Fresh Start (Community Voices, Law Enforcement, and Social Service Providers)

• Deterrence Approach – What We Have Seen Using This Approach

➢ Successful Arrests/Better Targeting

➢ Street Crimes Successes

➢ Successful Prosecutions

➢ Impact of the Deterrence Approach

➢ History of Reported Burglaries (including January 1 – August 31 Comparison)

• Focused Deterrence

➢ High Risk Individuals (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment)

➢ What Did We Want to Know From the Data

➢ Some Things Learned – Impact 2013-2017 (Killed, Shot/Injured, Property Damage)

➢ Shootings – Shots Fired 2013-September 2017

➢ Things Learned and Things to Understand Better

• Perceptions of the Police in Affected Neighborhoods

➢ Neighborhoods Surveyed (map)

➢ Survey Target Group

➢ Data Collection (July to August)

➢ Survey of Police Officers (including various perception statistics)

➢ Call-In (Notification Meetings, Core Message, Results and Things Learned)

• Next Steps and Conclusion

(Note: Information on how to obtain staff’s written report on this subject is provided below.)

Action Recommended: The Administration seeks Council to direct staff to continue working with the steering committee to implement the initiative.

Council Members’ Technical Questions: Council Members raised the following technical questions: number differences in survey respondents, number of surveys, participants, and survey results; what people in the community can do to assist in relation to gun violence issues; use of grant funds received, e.g. gun-shot detection system and other wish list items, equipment priority, possible deadline for receipt of funds, and providing specific Champaign information; and addressing reporting regarding perception and conduct of officers.

(Note: Information on how to view video and audio recordings of the full Council Meeting is provided below.)

Public Input: The following member of the audience spoke regarding perception issues; relationship with officers, addressing gun violence, and other community programs working to address gun violence and community concerns; CU Fresh Start challenges; and the need for resources, training, and jobs for the poor:

Rebecca Patterson, Champaign

Patricia Avery, Champaign, TRUCE

Joby Taylor, Peace Seeker for TRUCE

Wandjell Harvey, Champaign, Restorative Justice for TRUCE

Donte Lotts, Champaign

Martell Miller, Urbana

Marcell McNutt, Champaign

Council General Discussion: Council Members comments included the following topics:

• thanks to the Community Coalition efforts and progress made to date

• need for resources to address things such as the impact of racism and poverty on community issues

• need to include, during Council goal setting discussions, the discussion of needed resources

• many issues noted involve many long-standing problems involving economic, cultural, and psychological issues

• need to move forward and look at bringing jobs, training, and resources into the community; and to addressing community issues

• critical piece is to help those in the program to obtain gainful employment; and consider different ways employment issues can be addressed

• thanks for the information provided; and the need to reflect and think positively at all of the things put into place in less than one year

• need to address policy issues, directing funds to the community or this program, and to support programs that keeps violence off the streets

• need to do more to address the needs of the participants of the program, and not just address equipment

• appreciate the rawness of the data, attention to detail, need for continued transparency, and appreciate the honesty provided and thorough reporting

• thanks to members of the audience that spoke about things they are doing to help the community, and for their commitment

• how the 2nd Annual Expungement program, to be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Stone Creek Church, Urbana, helps with these efforts

• noted the number of gun shots has decreased over the past 2 years with this program

• program is still new with a lot of work to be done; and those involved in the call-in want the resources to be successful, and has the potential to have a long-term impact on the community and help the program continue to grow

(Note: Information on how to view video and audio recordings of the full Council Meeting is provided below.)

Poll: No poll was taken as the report was to provide an update to Council regarding the CU Fresh Start program and to obtain input from Council.

Audience Participation:

Martel Miller, Urbana, expressed thanks to Chief Cobb for all he has done for the Police Department; and expressed the need for resources, need to provide housing, and the need for local employment to help in addressing violence issues and for uplifting the community.

Wandjell Harvey, Champaign, addressed her experience by attending the recent Neighborhood Services Regional Network Conference; and wanting to work with Neighborhood Services in addressing various housing issues such as land banking, community clean-up, addressing vacant homes, and other community issues including violence, buildings, and adding value to the community.

Council Member Comments: None

Adjournment: Council Members previously moved to adjourn following conclusion of the Post-Council study session.

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

http://documents.ci.champaign.il.us/v/1mCoRmhFdzP3kc6q8A3O-ggIOqPIQlT33