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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02011994 - S.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ��'.' Contra Supervisor Tom •Torlakson Costa FROM: Supervisor Tom Powers a l DATE: February 1, 1994 .: County ADOPT PRELIMINARY PLAN FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AS PRESENTED BY THE SUBJECT: HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND AUTHORIZE HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY WIDE ACTION PLAN SPECIFIC REOUES7I8)OR RECOMMENDATIONIS)i BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION 1 ) ADOPT the Preliminary Plan for Violence Prevention as presented by' the Health Services Department and DIRECT the Health Services Department to work with cities, school districts and non-profit organizations in our county to coordinate a county wide effort that would facilitate community input and involvement in the plan for violence prevention. 2) DIRECT the Health Services Department to utilize the same format and structure used by Contra Costa Community Wide Drug and Alcohol Action Plan utilizing the Community Advisory groups already in place in each supervisorial district. Furthermore, each Board member commits to holding regional prevention forums or summits in his/her district culminating with a county-wide summit before August 1, 1994, so that an advisory ballot measure on the Violence Prevention Action Plan can be prepared for consideration by Contra Costa voters for the November 1994 ballot. 3 ) DIRECT the Health Services Department to. act as lead agency in pursuing the action of the Board of Supervisors to approve, in concept, a fee or surcharge on the sales of handguns and ammunition to fund prevention and education efforts . 4 ) Pursuant with Board's action in item #3, join with .the Antioch Unified School District and the Antioch Violence Prevention Task Force and other agencies in immediately pursuing state legislation that would impose a surcharge on the sales of handguns and ammunition. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER IONATURE S: ACTION OF BOARD ON e ruary 1, IM APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHER XX ADOPTED the "Preliminary Plan for Violence Prevention" as presented; and AUTHORIZED the Health Services Director to develop and implement a countywide action. plan (with a request to staff to review the effort the Rotarians are developing) and to focus on law enforcement, prevention, and the integration of family services. (Phyllis Roff, 'a Walnut Creek resident, and Lisa Doby of Battered Women's Alternatives commented on the Plan. ) NOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE XX UNANIMOUS(ABSE)I,T,. AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: i1, ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Health Services Director ATTESTED February 1, 1994 County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADWNISTRATOR ( i u�a� nniaai BY /�i�:�r,,,,: .DEPUTY Violence Prevention February 1, 1994 Page TWO 5) DIRECT all our Human Service Advisory Committees (e.g. FACSAC, Juvenile Justice, CADSAC, etc. ) and Municipal Advisory Councils to set violence prevention and anger management as a top priority and participate in further developing the county wide Violence Prevention Action Plan. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: As elsewhere in the nation, violence is a severe problem in Contra Costa County. Local residents endure significant physical and emotional suffering; widespread daily fear, grief, and loss of personal safety; coupled with the burden of significant financial costs primarily in the health care and criminal justice systems . The examples below partially illustrate the magnitude of the problem. In 1992, firearms were the leading cause of injury deaths to Contra Costa residents, nearly twice as many deaths related to motor vehicles . From 1988-1990, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death for Contra Costa youth between the ages of 10 and 14 . Throughout the county, 4, 347 aggravated assaults were reported to law enforcement agencies during 1992. As reported to local law enforcement agencies, 309 forcible rapes were perpetrated on Contra Costa residents during 1992 . It is estimated that reported rapes are only 1/3-1/2 of those that actually take place. Domestic violence is a greater cause of injury to women than car accidents, rapes and muggings combined. Violent crimes appear to be increasing although crime as a whole is diminishing across the country. This is not acceptable. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors believes that violence is preventable and that we must seize all opportunities to reduce and prevent it. Therefore, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has made violence prevention a priority issue in this county. Many laudable efforts have already begun in our communities . We can assist in weaving them together, sharing good ideas and building upon ideas developed in our various and diverse communities. To effectively prevent and reduce violence, we must link together the various sectors throughout the county to further develop and implement a county-wide action plan to. reduce and prevent violence.