CHARLOTTE, NC — On Monday night the Charlotte City Council voted in favor of several measures aimed at improving community policing, affordable housing, and workforce development.
The vote comes after an October 3rd letter the City Council sent to the community acknowledging the anger, frustrations, and needs expressed by the community during recent protests and the September 26th council meeting.
The measures that the City Council voted to approve related to previously mentioned areas of emphasis are:
- Support recommendations from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) that include:
- Engaging the Police Foundation of Washington, D.C., to review CMPD policies and procedures, as well as its relationship with the community it serves;
- Initiatives announced by Chief Kerr Putney on Oct. 5 related to body worn cameras, the Citizenβs Review Board, and officer training; and
- Review and implement recommendations from the Presidentβs Taskforce on 21st Century Policing.
- Amend the City Council Strategic Policy Objectives to create 5,000 workforce and affordable housing units from five years to three years, and endorse hiring a consultant to develop a Strategic Housing Plan.
- Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute contracts totaling up to $1 million with workforce development service providers.
- Acknowledge staffβs efforts to develop and implement new programs and program expansions in the following areas:
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Departmentβs Youth Diversion Program;
- Expedited permitting and review process for affordable housing units;
- Mayorβs Youth Employment Program;
- Engage in Community Forums; and
- Review City policies, procedures and services to help promote economic opportunity throughout the community.
- Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $1 million from Community Development Block Grant funding ($250,000) and the Fiscal Year 2015 Capital Reserve Fund ($750,000) for the workforce development pilot program.
