Columbia task force finalizes plans on cutting violence

The Mayor’s Task Force on Community Violence held its retreat at Columbia City Hall Saturday.

The task force groups divided up to finish working on their recommendations for helping curb crime in Columbia.

Saturday was one of many work sessions where members have been meeting with people in the city and coming up with ideas.

One idea talked about Saturday was the implementation of a youth access center to provide a safe, neutral environment where youth and their families can come and get the necessary community service to keep early signs of negative behavior from escalating.

Members said it would also be a place law enforcement could use to help youth and children get help or guidance they may need without putting them in the juvenile justice system.

Michael Trapp, Ward 2 councilman and co-chair of the task force, says there will be a public forum to hear the community’s opinion before they present to the mayor.

“Part of this is to make sure that people are included and informed,” Trapp said. “Because we have recommendations that go beyond city government, but to what everybody in the community should be doing, like getting more involved with mentoring and those kinds of things.”

The task force will meet again October 8.

The deadline for the final recommendations to be turned in is in November. Then, the task force will present their ideas to the mayor.