RESOLUTION NO. 051238, AS AMENDED
Establishing a Commission on
Violent Crime to report to the Council its findings on the causes of homicides
and violent crime in the City and its recommendations as to potential solutions
to address these causes.
WHEREAS, the City is
experiencing an alarming increase in the number of homicides and in the number
of violent weapons-related crimes as evidenced by the Citys recent 96th
homicide of the year in comparison to a total of 91 homicides during 2004; and
WHEREAS, the Council
recognizes that sole reliance on traditional policing methods may not
sufficiently address the causes of homicides and weapons-related violent crimes
or sufficiently protect its citizens from being victims of such crimes; and
WHEREAS, the Council
recognizes that in such times as these, the City must reach out to those in the
community whose knowledge, insight and creativity can assist the Council and
others in the City in better understanding the causes of homicides and
weapons-related violent crimes in our community and in identifying possible
solutions to this grave problem facing our community; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That
there is hereby established a commission to be known as the Kansas City
Commission on Violent Crime consisting of twenty nine members appointed by the
Mayor from the following representative groups:
a.
Six (6) persons, each representing one of the councilmanic districts,
selected from nominees residing within the councilmanic district agreed to by
both the district and the at-large councilpersons for that district,
b.
Five (5) persons representing the community at large,
c.
One (1) person recommended by the Partnership for Children,
d.
One (1) person recommended by the Kansas City Crime Commission,
e.
One (1) person recommended by the Black Health Care Coalition,
f.
One (1) person representing the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department,
g.
One (1) member of the Board of Police Commissioners of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department,
h.
One (1) person representing the Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutors
Office,
i.
One (1) person representing the faith community,
j.
One (1) person representing the Civic Council of Kansas City, Missouri,
k.
One (1) person who teaches or conducts research at a university or
college in the areas of sociology, criminal psychology or criminal justice,
l.
One (1) person representing the Citys Health Department,
m. One
(1) person representing one of the school districts situated in whole or in
part within the City,
n.
One (1) person representing the Family Court of the Jackson County,
Missouri Circuit Court, and
o.
(6) persons representing the areas of the City most impacted by violent
crime nominated by the other members of the Commission after the Commissions
first meeting.
The Mayor shall appoint the
Chairperson of the Commission.
Section 2. That the
Commission shall prepare a mission statement, shall establish the number of its
members constituting a quorum, shall discuss and research the potential causes
of homicides and violent weapons-related crimes in the City and of the increasing
incidence of those crimes in the City, shall discuss, research and develop
potential solutions that could prevent or reduce such violent crimes, shall
solicit comments and input from interested citizens in public hearings or by
other means, may form, and assign responsibilities to, subcommittees of the
Committees membership and shall submit its report and recommendations to the
Mayor and Council no later than January 12, 2006.
Section 3. That the
City Manager, the City Attorney and the City Clerk shall cooperate with the
Commission and provide staff reasonably necessary to support these efforts of
the Commission.
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