Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL, IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 AT 5:30 PM, MUNICIPAL BUILDING I, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 50 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL Mayor Brigette PRESENT: Peterson Mayor Brigette Peterson, Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Chuck Bongiovanni, Bobbi Buchli, Yung Koprowski, and Jim Torgeson COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera and Volunteer and Community Resources Manager Melanie Dykstra CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 1. Presentation and discussion of recommendations of the Community Engagement Task Force on focus areas related to Human and Sex Trafficking and Domestic Violence. Volunteer and Community Resources Manager Dykstra introduced herself and stated the Community Engagement Task Force members would be presenting recommendations on the focus areas of Sex and Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. She said the recommendations were focused around the development of enhanced resources, education, and awareness. She shared short-term, mid-term, and long-term guidelines, and stated resources would need to be identified for some recommendations. Community Engagement Task Force Member Chris Curley shared his background in law enforcement and stated he investigated internet crimes against children. He said the recommendations were broken down in three sections of resources, education, and awareness. He stated legislative resources were a long-term goal and discussed penalties 1 and statues against sex crimes. He shared an example of an individual who was arrested and when released on bond repeated the behavior; he added that stronger penalties would minimize these types of crimes. He discussed working with the Phoenix Advocacy Center and said it was a safe spot for minors and adults who had experienced violence and threats and spoke in anticipation for the Gilbert Advocacy Center. He discussed implementing pre- employment questions related to sexual offenses and violence against youth to be added to applications for jobs working with children. He spoke about the recommendation for education and discussed curriculum development with educational and non-profit organizations; training for first responders, community and business groups, faith communities, and youth groups; and use of available mobile applications that can detect and notify parents of potential dangerous conversations. He discussed the recommendation of awareness and spoke of being factual and relevant and utilizing social media to spread awareness. He discussed the importance of being proactive in education and prevention and partnering with existing national resources, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Councilmember Bongiovanni asked about the recidivism rate for offenders. Community Engagement Task Force Member Curley responded that he did not have the exact number but said he had arrested multiple individuals multiple times. He discussed the sentencing outcomes for the crimes and said offenders had violated their probation and repeated the crimes. Community Engagement Task Force Member Alex Rodriguez discussed the recommendation of resources, education and awareness for domestic violence. She spoke of her experience as a licensed therapist treating victims, survivors and offenders. She discussed the long-term goal of legislation and penalties and partnering for services for offenders as well as victims. She spoke about the importance of education and training and supported the “In Her Shoes” simulation being accessible for teens and adults. She spoke of Bloom 365 and exploring training for front line officers. She discussed the awareness recommendation and spoke of marketing campaigns with a focus on reaching teens, and a hotline number for domestic violence. 2 Volunteer and Community Resources Manager Dykstra said domestic violence was a very heavy topic and highlighted sextortion as a concern of sex trafficking. She spoke of the opportunity to partner with school districts and share expertise, information, and help wherever possible. She said the goal was to measure the success through benchmark data and SMART goals. She stated the next focus areas were Homelessness and Low-Income Challenges and said the Task Force anticipated to present recommendations to the Council in January 2024. Vice Mayor Tilque thanked the members for their presentation and said a full report would be brought to the Council with recommendations for all the topics from the Community Engagement Task Force. She said the Council would have to decide where to put additional resources. She mentioned that Gilbert was ahead of many counterparts in the valley as far as a Domestic Violence team. She said she was also a member of the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Domestic Violence Committee and said they were also discussing legislation. Mayor Peterson stated that the Community Engagement Task Force was the winner of the Mayoral Volunteer for the Community of Excellence Award and expressed her appreciation for their presentation and hard work. ADJOURN Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:54 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Brigette Peterson, Mayor Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk 3 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 24th day of October, 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________2023. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk 4