Subtitle 26 – Mayor’s Task Force on Community Collaboration to Overcome Violence

As used in this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.

“City” means the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the body corporate as established by <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter">the Charter of Baltimore City</cite>.

“Task Force” means the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Collaboration to Overcome Violence.

“Violence” means:

review and understand the issue of individual, family, community, criminal, and societal violence in Baltimore City;

examine the causes of violence;

consider methods to prevent the different types of violence;

establish systems to deliver existing social, governmental, and economic resources to relieve conditions that may lead to violence;

provide information, education, and assistance to communities, businesses, and government about programs that prevent violence; and

generally address the need to develop the well being of the citizens of Baltimore City in order to eliminate violence as a means of conflict resolution.

The Task Force shall consist of 27 members.

16 members shall be appointed by the Mayor pursuant to <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter</cite>:

Representatives from the following City agencies shall serve as members of the Task Force who shall serve ex officio:

Of the members appointed under subsection (b), 1 shall be appointed from each of the 6 Councilmanic districts.

Members appointed by the Mayor shall be residents of Baltimore City.

Members shall serve for a 4-year term concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office.

Members shall serve without compensation.

The Task Force may adopt rules to govern its meetings and operations, which shall be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference.

Any member who is absent from more than 25% of the scheduled regular meetings, not counting absences excused by the chair, during any 6-month period, shall be considered by the Mayor to have resigned.

The Mayor shall designate an appointed member as Chair of the Task Force. The Task Force may select other officers.

The Chair of the Task Force may appoint committees to carry out the functions and duties of the Task Force.

Representatives of State and federal agencies and other organizations that serve the interests of the disabled in Baltimore City shall be invited by the Task Force to participate in its meetings

review and understand the issue of individual, family, community, criminal, and societal violence in Baltimore City;

examine the causes of violence;

consider methods to prevent the different types of violence;

recommend systems to deliver existing social, governmental, and economic resources to relieve conditions that may lead to violence;

provide information, education, and assistance to communities, businesses, government, and industries about programs that prevent violence;

assist in the identification, establishment, and evaluation of all City programs and services that affect violence prevention;

recommend modification of services or new services for the prevention of situations that could lead to violence;

cooperate with interested citizens, general community, business, professional, technical, educational, and civic organizations in furthering the violence prevention programs;

coordinate with other jurisdictions on sharing violence prevention strategies and information;

cooperate and collaborate with all municipal agencies, including the Division of Occupational Safety in the Department of Finance and the Community Relations Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts;

compile and provide information to the residents, community organizations, and businesses of the City, the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, and various offices of the City, State, and federal government on matters involving methods and strategies for recognizing and preventing violence;

recommend to the Mayor, City, State, and federal programs or legislation to promote violence prevention as a means of conflict resolution;

work to assure that information and referral needs are met and that information about City programs is disseminated;

hold a public forum at least yearly to give communities an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding violence and the effectiveness of violence prevention programs and to make recommendations to the Task Force;

assist in the coordination of State and federal programs and services available to the City, business, and industry to prevent violence;

coordinate economic development opportunities that may be available for those citizens and communities in need of violence prevention;

develop an information program for the media to disseminate practices, methods, and procedures to be followed to avoid violence; and

generally assist in the development of the well being of the citizens of Baltimore City in order to eliminate violence as a means of conflict resolution.

Staff may be employed in accordance with the Ordinance of Estimates.

The Task Force may expend funds authorized in the Ordinance of Estimates or any supplemental appropriations.

The Task Force shall submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council within 2 months of the end of the fiscal year.

The Task Force shall submit reports on specific subjects regarding violence at the request of the Mayor, City Council, or municipal agencies.

A copy of all reports shall be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference.