The City Council makes the following findings:
(A) City residents find problems associated with youth gangs are a major problem facing the city; and
(B) It has been found that truancy is a high indicator of gang involvement;
(C) The city is confronted by rising juvenile violence, juvenile gang activity, and an increasing number of high school drop outs; and
(D) The crimes being committed by juveniles include serious offenses such as murders, drive by shootings, drug-related crimes and other gang-related activities; and
(E) Juveniles are particularly susceptible by their lack of maturity and experience to participate in unlawful and gang-related activities and to be victims of older perpetrators of crime.
(Ord. 48-1996)