CALL TO ORDER: 5:47 P.M.
ROLL CALL: City Commissioners present: Randy Gray, Bill Beecher, Sandy Hinz, Diane Jovick-Kuntz and John Rosenbaum. Also present were the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Community Development, Fiscal Services, Library, Planning, Public Works, Chief of Police, Acting Director of Park and Recreation, Acting Fire Chief, and the Deputy City Clerk.
Great Falls Weed and Seed Coordinator Kris Dunn presented to the City Commission information on the Weed and Seed project and added that its initiative was "Citizens working together to build a safe neighborhood." She added that Weed and Seed was a comprehensive strategy not a program. It consisted of: collaboration, coordination, community participation and leveraging resources. Weed and Seed is a multi-agency strategy that seeks to "weed" out violent crime, gang activity, drug use and drug trafficking. This program seeks to "seed" the area by restoring neighborhoods through social and economic revitalization.
Weed and Seed was a community driven strategy guided by a steering committee which produced an implementation plan along the lines set forth in the Weed and Seed Implementation Manual. The steering committee was divided into four subcommittees which included: Traditional Law Enforcement as the weed portion of the strategy, Community Orientated Policing as the bridge that links the weed and seed portions, Prevention/Intervention/Treatment and Neighborhood Restoration/Economic Development all of which represent the seed portion of the strategy.
Weed and Seed official recognition was a rigorous application process with no promise of funding to develop comprehensive community based strategy, to coordinate government and private-sector initiatives, criminal justice efforts and human services, and to mobilize community residents to participate more fully in planning and decision-making processes.
Ms. Dunn presented the Weed and Seed Mission Statement to the Commission. "Great Falls Weed and Seed strives to reduce violent crime and drug use, manufacturing, and distribution by identifying resources, cultivating partnerships and implementing actions to achieve a prosperous Weed and Seed Community where all citizens have a shared awareness of crime and its consequences. We are committed to working together for the safety, wellness and stability of our neighborhoods."
Ms. Dunn stated that it was required in every Weed and Seed site to have a safe haven. She listed the resources of a safe haven, a multi-service center that coordinates youth and adult services in a highly visible, secure, and accessible facility. Safe haven sites were the Boys and Girls Club and Cal's Vision. Cal Vision was an area that the principle of Longfellow school created.
Through the Weed and Seed program, there have been several accomplishments which were achieved through purchasing high technology equipment and using surveillance techniques. Officers and detectives have identified ten active street gangs and three motor cycle gangs. There had been twenty-two gang leaders and members incarcerated, and enforcement had disbanded two gangs. Ms. Dunn added that through the use of two police dogs, in two months, nine tracks were made, four arrests dealing with drugs that included 433.5g of marijuana, 248.2g of meth and $45,000 in seized money.
Ms. Dunn stated that Weed and Seed would be applying for the Official Recognition Award that was coming up in October 2005.
Other accomplishments of the program were: police officers had provided 92 hours of interaction with youth at three different Boys and Girls Clubs; through the Neighborhood Watch Program, officers have staffed 150 watch posts; Special Projects patrol officers had removed 1400 abandoned cars and issued 71 blight nuisance warrants through out the city; and officers have trading cards that identified them that they handed out to the boys and girls at the Safe Havens. This allows the officers to make a positive contact with as many youth as possible within the Safe Havens.
Ms. Dunn stated that through the Weed and Seed program, there had been a reduction in crime throughout the areas of Great Falls that they were involved in. She added that any incentives for their program were brought before the Weed and Seed table steering committee, and they deal with the planning strategies.
Acting Park and Recreation Patty Gumenberg provided the City Commission with an update on the up coming 2nd Annual RiverFest on July 16, 2005. She stated that they had a great turnout at last year's RiverFest with attendance between three and four thousand. Ms. Gumenberg added that there would be a few changes from last year's set-up. They changed the layout and condensed the area so that it would not be stretched so far. The motorized water sports would be discontinued, but they added several non-motorized events on the river. There would be more concessions stands and a multitude of new events.
The RiverFest would provide professional skateboard demonstrations. This was a great event and brought in a large volume of spectators. There would be three shows performed by the demonstrators. Ms. Gumenberg added that Benefis Healthcare would provide a helmet giveaway. Also, one the top winners of the Battle of the Bands would be providing music during the demonstrations. There would be a skateboard camp which was scheduled for July 18 and 19th, 2005. The professional skateboarders would be providing their services at the camp.
Ms. Gumenberg added that there would be plenty of hands-on activities for children and families. The Electric City Water Park was having a special for all ages with admission to the entire park for $6 from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. There would be parking available in designated places and transportation (people movers) to transport the public that would need the assistance.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular work session of June 7, 2005, adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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