[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6744326,"mediaKeyId","5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9","parentId",5347418,"title","Task force told RFP for data support will be reissued after one response; city, universities available to provide research","audioSeconds",1818,"startMs",1750000,"endMs",3568000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9&start=1750&end=3568","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9/thumbnail_1750000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6744326/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Task-force-told-RFP-for-data-support-will-be-reissued-after-one-response-city-universities-available-to-provide-research","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744326-0ad82162bf104a3ee0c5d2602c656f79/orig.mp4?Expires=1776143016&Signature=RBjvjSSmEQMxrpIunrPyYBNteR5U~SM~KsxkQEGm9dTeCnS9gc0h9OhSyrpwmFvHi~g1Hq7YCj9t2G1d0Q-6TAIvEW5PwV~1mfnRmlw8Gfnjcwtabyp0HWRSDiIBZxqROBR2tgFC0-ckwsb44FH7Sb9jRjpRvhfimEytj-H389IDkXRV3Z43fzW5X7o4ET8FzXL1d01gmf7UkDTaFeiJtWNLCF3pP58eMLUMKUINn61LPEfZt~xKdZtWlJVu8KTh5oKPcGsdXWXaHdMFWLF~vWO053BqyGjT7oN2cNx~szcqVB8NLxx5K0dqGYh8Ba1U9ixsGX4BRielNQg-adwwXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Portsmouth","date","2025-07-10T06:33:36.973Z","article","The Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force heard updates on data and metrics work and was told the city will reissue an RFP after only one organization responded to the initial solicitation.

A representative for the data and metrics committee said the group has not completed procurement because the city received a single respondent and wants more competition. The City Manager said staff reached out to other agencies for feedback and will reissue the RFP to encourage additional proposals. \"When we actually get, the respondents back, I'd like to put a group of you guys together as part of the team that's going to evaluate, who we, actually engage with,\" the City Manager said.

In the meantime, task-force volunteers will continue to work with the police department to gather data the committee needs. The police chief listed several existing resources for review: the Portsmouth crime-reduction plan, a 2019 property study, a Bloomberg report, and a December 2024 health-department study — and noted ongoing university partnerships with Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Safer Together for metrics and research support.

Councilman Hugo and other liaisons also reported outreach to community partners interested in supporting data and engagement work. Committee chairs said they will continue collecting available data until a contracted vendor is selected.

The city manager asked for a small group of task-force members to participate on the RFP evaluation team once responses are received; the task force accepted that approach and expects reissued procurement information to be shared with members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Crime & Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Meeting January 6, 2024 Portsmouth Virginia","oneSentenceSummary","The City Manager told the Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force the city's RFP for analytics assistance drew one respondent and will be reissued; task-force members will be asked to participate in evaluating new proposals.","taxTitle","Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia","taxId",4040,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6744334,"Assistant city attorney briefs Portsmouth task force on FOIA limits for members",407,331000,738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9&start=331&end=738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6744334/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Assistant-city-attorney-briefs-Portsmouth-task-force-on-FOIA-limits-for-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744334-88ddc854969d707ce2aaf6620e1c95bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1776143016&Signature=Wra7aueI9zkfYrl6SSO0Q2HmCJkprjJ7tB9L569e97EsumhscvC6p-MkThQhYROzuVgAnh5c~8b3qAYoKc5IxBZNpbLLobF6vYnOVzsM~pDHDTXrvrfVmgZH0U2OdQcI17cwMSOATx7m8VQBBVRhRDSfV-daHEsxJb-DB08h7abhnOBt~-NCzM1qdZEGz0bKFa~CYjyiRDD~J~s1-5rIE7lS5GkOvsZ5TwvfMDGNC6wYLA6OQ2i482jz8If0HpdBl9TRganv2IX8tjHxyvaitGrdlD-GhT5F9rVfwjL~GyevShBJJBmtRdw6bQY7hdqrM4zuHvoIa2cHipLnRrAN3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant City Attorney Burl Stromberg told the Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force on the evening it met in City Council chambers that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires the task force to hold open meetings and make records available to the public.

Stromberg said he had distributed a two-page summary and walked members through the basics of FOIA: \"FOIA stands for the Freedom of Information Act. It's a state law that, we come under and we have to abide,\" he said. He explained that a meeting is defined as three or more members discussing commission business and gave practical examples: if three members speak about task force business in an elevator or another informal setting, that could be considered a meeting subject to FOIA notice requirements.

Stromberg told members that, in most cases, meetings must be held in person and that holding meetings electronically is tightly limited to narrow emergency circumstances. He also emphasized public-records obligations: \"All public records are open to the public, and it's any writing recordings, where, city business or commission business is transacted,\" noting emails and texts that relate to commission business are subject to FOIA even if held on personal devices. To reduce exposure, members were urged to use the newly issued city email addresses for task-force business.

On enforcement and penalties, Stromberg said violations can be costly and mentioned fines of up to $1,000 as a potential consequence for noncompliance. He also described the city clerk's role in maintaining records and processing public-records requests.

The assistant city attorney answered several procedural questions from members about committee minutes, reporting back to the full task force, and whether outside contacts should be reported. He advised that committee-level minutes should be taken and submitted to the full task force and confirmed that members may report outreach from outside agencies back to the commission, but cautioned against three-or-more member discussions outside a properly noticed meeting.

Task-force members requested copies of the handout; Stromberg left the materials with the group and offered to be available for follow-up questions.","Assistant City Attorney Burl Stromberg told the Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force on the evening it met in City Council chambers that the Freedom of Information Act requires its meetings to be open and most records to be public.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6744330,"Portsmouth task force asks community engagement committee to draft public‑comment rules and considers youth participation",939,736000,1675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9&start=736&end=1675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5347418-e7491a3d4eb2fb4206e76bdb3f8329f9/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6744330/Portsmouth/Norfolk-County/Virginia/Portsmouth-task-force-asks-community-engagement-committee-to-draft-publiccomment-rules-and-considers-youth-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744330-c62cd5147498fad3658d2766274988c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776143016&Signature=IVotMJNyMqyqd8M9kLYN9f78Q5d-OKB1U6rufSMFWol031PO7khYPXXzeiGTa-1UxAcLIoGfjavuU22slrOiwPFDKOdmovGP~ML2hm3jb-rHrkYaHAgkpjj4AE42WpKE8s3jlYcSRPNvNv5H0muPZgzlEp~PxFJ8ppjcW3ZKsaqbwNR7F1~czFBtOjTjy4P9hdixAA37Rq-ks-n12CA5dcJQ0VzBVFfDVMm9QsxQEVMvYPm4LlWrOE1hFAS2BE-VNxTZQEfNLFuDoeY6VBkUMTo7hnFpFkeHsW-JfWzsP0PhqeCayQpB4GNdxrTT5BYTPDrKBY-TD3fiAm-OSxNhKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force debated a structured public‑comment process and whether and how minors should be included, and it asked the community engagement committee to draft a recommended policy for the February meeting.

Chair opened the agenda item on public comments and asked members for input on format, sign-up and time limits. Several members recommended mirroring the city council's existing sign-up and time-limit procedures; others said the task force should selectively adopt or adapt parts of the council policy to suit this body. \"I am definitely in agreeance of allowing the public to speak. I think it's critical for us to hear from the public,\" said Leticia Sessoms, a task‑force member. Multiple members urged a time limit and a sign-up process to keep meetings productive.

Members discussed how to include youth voices. Some spoke in favor of allowing juveniles to give public comment while protecting their identity or requiring parental involvement for those under 18. \"If we're gonna mirror what the city council does, then we should just be mindful that we include, or remove any language that says that adults only can speak,\" a council liaison said. Several members proposed additional outreach options — a youth forum, anonymous surveys, or ad hoc committees — so that young people or those uncomfortable attending City Hall could still participate.

Miss Matthews was asked to distribute the city council's public comment policy to members. The community engagement committee was assigned to draft recommended public‑comment language and outreach steps, including suggested survey questions, and to bring a recommendation to the full task force at its Feb. 3 meeting. Members agreed they would prefer to have a written policy in place before opening the floor to public comment.

To move the work forward, the task force scheduled a work session for Monday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m., and the next regular meeting for Monday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m.; Miss Matthews will circulate location details and the city council policy by email.

The discussion left several procedural questions unresolved for committee work: what an appropriate age policy should be for speaking at an open public meeting, how to balance on‑camera appearances with privacy for youth, and how to prioritize speaker categories (for example, business owners, parents, youth). The community engagement committee will address those items when preparing the draft policy.","The Portsmouth Gun Violence Prevention Task Force debated how to accept public comments, including whether minors may speak, and tasked the community engagement committee to draft a recommended public‑comment policy for the Feb. 3 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Task force told RFP for data support will be reissued after one response; city, universities available to provide research

Assistant city attorney briefs Portsmouth task force on FOIA limits for members

Portsmouth task force asks community engagement committee to draft public‑comment rules and considers youth participation