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9 <br />Department is telling us what they think needs to be done to protect citizens, and he <br />thinks they are coming forward in good faith. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton noted that issues with the Fire Department’s response times are <br />more like 30 seconds, not four to 20 minutes as with CARS. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he does not dispute the need for laptops for the police, but he <br />questions the number. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro noted that there are often a lot more than 15 police cruisers on the <br />street at one time, especially for special events and assignments. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br /> Ms. Gretchen Ellis, Executive Director of the Commission on Children and <br />Families, introduced Madison Cummings, Chair of the Commission. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cummings said that the Commission recently expanded its membership to <br />include the Police Chiefs and Directors of Parks and Recreation, and had fiscal oversight <br />moved to Albemarle County. Mr. Cummings reviewed the charge of the Commission <br />and how those charges are being met, including: management of the Comprehensive <br />Services Act for the localities; Stepping Stones report; Human Services Budget; Focus <br />Areas document; commenced a Human Services Strategic Plan; provided technical <br />assistance to agencies requesting funding; worked with community partners to develop <br />coordinated strategies to address growing problem of gang involvement among local <br />youth; launched eight new initiatives to better meet the needs of local children and <br />families; received over $325,000 in grant for additional resources for local children and <br />youth; created Youth Development Network to assure comprehensive and coordinated <br />community engagement; and hosted ten forums and presentations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he especially appreciates the Stepping Stones report. He asked if <br />there is a way to get a better handle on outcomes. He said the cost for social services and <br />the number of people in poverty go up each year, and he would like to get a handle on <br />whether that is due to family breakdown, people moving into the City, or generational <br />poverty. <br /> <br /> Ms. Ellis said they are in the third phase of looking at human service needs and <br />are developing a strategic plan now. She said focus groups and data will be used to <br />identify top priority areas. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said it would be helpful to identify sources of poverty. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he supports the work the Commission is doing, but his long <br />standing concern is that a good amount of time is spent analyzing problems, but not <br />enough offering solutions. He said he would love to hear more ideas about what other <br />localities and states are doing. <br /> Dr. Brown said he is particularly excited about the engaged scholars program. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Ms. Jennifer McKeever, 1140 Locust Avenue, said that the Fire Department <br />demonstrated excellence with the fire this past weekend. <br /> <br />OTHER BUSINESS <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he would like to find time on a future agenda to talk about <br />Council’s public comment policy, particularly about allowing comments when there has <br />been a joint Council/Planning Commission public hearing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris noted that the resolution on the consent agenda, Endorsing <br />Membership and Participation in the International Council for Local Environmental <br /> <br />