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• Strengthening the family unit must be high on the priority list. The Commission <br />heard from community members who emphasized the importance of the family in <br />reducing delinquency and increasing the likelihood of graduation from high <br />school. <br />• Community-based infrastructure must become a priority with government at all <br />levels, including streets, lighting and general maintenance. There is frustration in <br />some neighborhoods with regard to police services, having a clean community, <br />public maintenance, education and job training. <br />• Graffiti continues to be a critical problem in many parts of the City. This is a <br />critical issue that can lead to more serious violations. <br />• The private sector needs to get more involved in early prevention and <br />intervention efforts by working with the Commission and other organizations, <br />both public and private. <br />• The Commission has to become better connected to other groups, government <br />and the community in order to be successful. Efforts must be made during 2008 <br />to provide better coordination of programs and services and avoid duplication of <br />effort. <br />• Youth must be set as a highly important priority by the City and the Council, as <br />well as all other government organizations. <br />• The Commission has diverse and dynamic representation from varied groups <br />and organizations. <br />• Some commissioners have expressed a lack of mission clarity, especially early <br />on, due to the Commission's structure and somewhat contradictory ordinance <br />language. The Commission will review the ordinance in 2008 and will make <br />recommendations for any needed changes. <br />• Awareness and visibility regarding the Commission's efforts need to be increased <br />through media exposure and attendance at meetings of other organizations. <br />• The community wants to build better and more productive relationships with law <br />enforcement agencies and other government agencies that can address at-risk <br />youth. <br />• The commission studied ten gang related areas and determined four specific <br />areas were a representative sample of city-wide gang problems for an <br />assessment. <br />EPIC Progress Report to City Council - 2008 Page 21 <br />19D-22 <br />