HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/21/2010 04B Minutes 08-26-2010 Council Gang Free Initiative Committee • Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
gang Free Initiative
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Members in attendance
Maureen Adkison Sam Granato
Cynthia Martinez Sonia Rodriguez — True
Pat Garcia Elias Garcia
Chris Devilleneuve Nick Marquez
Luz Gutierrez Carol Folsom — Hill
Ester Huey Elaine Beraza
Eva Valdivia Nick Hughes
Darrell Blue Dave Cortez
City of Yakima support staff in attendance
Lt. Mike Merryman
Cally Price
Mike Merryman welcomed the steering committee members and led the introductions He
a nnounced that Mr Don Jones, DSHS Regional Administrator — Juvenile Rehabilitation
dministration indicated he would like to be on the Steering Committee Unfortunately he
was not able to attend this meeting It was agreed that he would be a good addition
Approve August 11 minutes. The minutes from the August 1 1 th meeting were reviewed
Huey motioned to accept the minutes as presented and Granato seconded the motion The
motion passed unanimously
Steering Committee Guidelines update. Merryman reiterated that the OJJDP gang model
was used as a starting point for the Committee The sub- committees can request that the
suppression, intervention and prevention definitions be changed to meet Yakima
GFI Coordinator Proposal update Merryman reported that a total of seven applications were
received The Selection Committee narrowed it down to three Four proposals were
eliminated because they either did not fit Yakima, did not submit all the requested
information, and /or did not meet the basic minimum requirements Interviews were held
earlier in the week with the top 3 applicants There will be a final interview with the front
runner on August 30 If everything works out, an announcement will go out indicating who
the Coordinator will be
Merryman reviewed the roles and responsibilities for the Director and the Coordinator
Granato added that the plan is to have the Coordinator develop a job description and
direction for the Director position and assume those responsibilities in order to free up
iv erryman The Coordinator will be spending a lot of time in face -to -face meetings and
orking hands -on It is anticipated that the Coordinator will have an office in Yakima and
possibly even on city property
Review names of students for Committee. Beraza sent Merryman a list of names for
consideration There was discussion about the process Should students submit
applications and /or letters of recommendation from a counselor? It was decided that an
application would be too formal and that face -to -face interviews would be better Gutierrez
motioned to have Beraza take the lead on setting up the interview process and educating the
individuals (like a youth orientation program) Huey seconded the motion
Valdivia, Marquez, and Gutierrez offered to serve on the Interview Committee Beraza added
that if anyone has any other suggestions to get her the individual(s) name and phone
number She did ask that you make the initial contact with the individual(s) to make sure they
are interested before giving her the contact information
Finalize sub - committee assignments The Committee reviewed the organizational chart.
DeVillaneuve agreed to serve on the suppression sub - committee and Folsom -Hill agreed to
serve on the prevention sub- committee Members are welcome to attend as many sub-
committee meetings as they desire Merryman reminded the group that the people on the
sub - committee do not have to be on the Steering Committee
Retreat update. No real update It would be beneficial to have the Coordinator hired before
the retreat so that he /she can be part of it. There was discussion about when the retreat
should be held The Committee agreed that the retreat would have to be on a Saturday in
order to get the student's there Some ideas for the retreat include a presentation from Sgt.
Cortez, where gangs are at in Yakima, how they evolve, identification, etc The Committee
should also develop a mission and vision statement and goals at the retreat. If you have any
other agenda items please let Chief Granato know
True suggested that it would be beneficial to get a view of gangs from a non law enforcement
perspective (victim, gang member, etc) Huey added that Randy Town, Yakima County Gang
Commission is working on a gang assessment for Yakima County It would be good to have
his report (or something similar) to work with at the retreat.
Discuss Assessment Work Group. There was open discussion about the Assessment, who
would be doing it, what it would include, etc
Date for next meeting. According to the schedule established at the August 11 meeting, the
next meeting will be September 8 at 4 00 p m
Action items.
- Granato and Marquez will work on a retreat
- Trull will see about a member of the juvenile court to serve on the suppression sub-
committee
- Price will work with the Clerk's office and Y -Pac to get certain public meetings
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announced in the paper and on the website
• -Huey will talk to Town about Garcia joining the Assessment Group
J 9 p
The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be Wednesday, September 8, at 4 00
p m , in the YPD training room located on the second floor of the Police and Legal Center, at
200 South Third Street.
Approved by n r i Date
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