Submit an Application for Weed & Seed Offical Recognition

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RESOLUTION NO. 3 O `l 1—O RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AUTHORIZING THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA, TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR WEED AND SEED OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF THE WEED AND SEED STEERING COMMITTEE, THE MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, AND THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY PROSECUTOR. WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States of America, through Public Law 106 -553, has established the Weed and Seed Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), allowing communities to achieve "Official Recognition" as Weed and Seed areas, and entitling those communities which are so recognized with certain benefits (as provided by law), from time to time; and WHEREAS, the vision of the Weed and Seed strategy is twofold, being, 1) that law enforcement agencies and criminal justice officials cooperate to "weed out" criminals who are violent or abuse drugs to prevent them from victimizing residents in the designated area; and 2) that social services and economic revitalization are brought in to "seed" the area to ensure long- term change and a higher quality of life for residents; and WHEREAS, a community process has been set in motion which complies with the requirements set forth by the DOJ, including the creation of a Weed and Seed Steering Committee composed of persons representing the City of South Bend, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor, the United States Attorney Northern District of Indiana, nonprofit and social service organizations and community residents; and WHEREAS, the Weed and Seed Steering Committee, with staff support from the City of South Bend and the Prosecutor's office, has selected an area within South Bend which the Steering Committee would like to see officially recognized by the DOJ as a designated Weed & Seed Target Area; and WHEREAS, the Weed and Seed Steering Committee, with staff support from the City of South Bend and the Prosecutor's office, has developed general goals and objectives as part of a community- based, five -year Implementation Plan; and WHEREAS, the application to the DOJ for Official Recognition represents the collaboration and commitment of many organizations from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, to work together to improve the quality of life for the residents of the designated area in particular, as well as the residents throughout the entire city; and WHEREAS, the Weed and Seed Steering Committee has approved the Weed and Seed application at a Steering Committee meeting held on October 22, 2001.