AGENDA # 4g

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Youth Initiative Community Partnership

DATE:             February 14, 2005

INTRODUCTION

The attached resolution would authorize the acceptance of funds in the amount of $24,000 for development of a youth initiative community partnership with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) agency and the Chapel Hill community.  The funds were granted to the Police Department from FMCS. The attached ordinance would establish a grant project budget.

BACKGROUND

In the fall of 2004, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, an independent agency of the U.S. government, allocated $24,000 to the Chapel Hill Police Department to implement a Youth Initiative Partnership. The goal for the FMCS Youth Initiative is to help communities mobilize existing resources to prevent violence. Pilot programs across the country led by FMCS have used technological resources to identify potential youth violence issues and develop prevention strategies. The grant does not require any matching funds from the Town.

DISCUSSION

In August of 2004, the Police Department hosted a presentation by Kathy Hanson, Coordinator of the Youth Initiative from FMCS. Law enforcement personnel, juvenile court representatives and local youth-serving nonprofit agencies attended. Ms. Hanson provided information on FMCS pilot programs that use collaborative approaches to preventing youth violence. The demonstration included available technology for performing assessments of youth issues along with providing youth with a safe, anonymous method for seeking help or reporting problems. Participants in the meeting expressed interest in becoming an FMCS Youth Initiative partner to explore the use of strategies developed through their pilot programs in the Chapel Hill community.  Police department personnel met with staff from Dispute Settlement Center, Volunteers for Youth, Chapel Hill Training Outreach, the Women’s Center and El Centro Latino. As the primary stakeholders identified by Police and FMCS staff, these agencies agreed on several initiatives to implement in our community. According to guidelines issued by FMCS, the funds will be used for operational expenses and equipment to implement the goals of preventing youth violence. The stakeholders noted above will determine the use of the funds by consensus. Projects planned for 2005 and 2006 include a youth media fest, conflict resolution activities, assessment of youth issues related to violence and other youth activities to be determined. Examples of expenditures may include:

• LCD projectors to use with software provided by FMCS that supports assessment and training for youth groups.
• Expenses related to implementing a Youth Media Fest which develops a competition for youth to create public service announcements related to violence prevention.
• Conflict resolution and youth leadership training.
• Youth retreats and outdoor cooperative learning experiences.
• Violence prevention training for youth and families

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt the attached resolution approving the acceptance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Youth Initiative Partnership grant and enact the attached ordinance establishing a grant project ordinance.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE. (2005-02-14/R-6)

WHEREAS, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has made funds available to the Police Department to assist in the prevention of youth violence; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Town of Chapel Hill to provide violence prevention programs for its youth; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has allocated $24,000 for these programs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Manager to accept the Youth Initiative Partnership Grant from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

This is the 14^th day of February, 2005.

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004” (2005-02-14/O-3)

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2004” as duly adopted on June 14, 2004, and the same is hereby amended as follows:

This is the 14^th day of February, 2005.