Title
Neighborhood Planning Program Selection (B)
This item involves selection of a neighborhood association to participate in the City's Neighborhood Planning Program (NPP). The NPP involves the City's Neighborhood Planning Coordinator working with selected neighborhood associations to identify the neighborhood's strengths, weaknesses, and goals; and to develop an action plan. The City Commission has set aside $15,000 per neighborhood for improvement and beautification projects in NPP neighborhoods.
Explanation
Since 1998, the City has selected 16 neighborhood associations to participate in the NPP. The program has assisted those neighborhood associations in identifying the neighborhoods' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The NPP has also assisted the neighborhoods in identifying, prioritizing, and implementing potential projects and solutions. Examples of projects completed through the NPP include (but are not limited to) landscaping public areas, installing neighborhood identification signs, installing bus shelters, and installing park equipment.
In September 2007, applications for inclusion in the NPP were mailed or emailed to each registered neighborhood association that is not currently participating, or had not previously participated, in the program. The deadline to complete and return the applications was November 26th, 2007.
Only one neighborhood association, the Greater Northeast Community (GNC), returned the application. Staff is coordinating with other neighborhood groups to determine why the response rate was lower than expected.
NPP selection criteria and procedures include both a quantitative portion based on objective neighborhood data (for example, socio-economic data) and a qualitative portion based on the subjective experiences of a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is comprised of four City Staff that work with and in neighborhoods, and are knowledgeable about neighborhood issues.
Based on the criteria, the GNC received 54 out of 100 possible points in the quantitative portion.
The Selection Committee met for approximately 45 minutes on January 11, 2008. The Committee was comprised of the Police Department's Community Resource Officer for District 2, a Rehabilitation Specialist from the Housing Division, a Code Enforcement Officer, and the Neighborhood Planning Coordinator. Because several members of the Selection Committee have experience working in Northeast Gainesville and with the GNC neighborhood association, the Selection Committee is qualified to assess the condition of the neighborhood's public and private infrastructure, as well as the neighborhood association's level of organization, participation, consensus, and potential for success in the NPP.
The Selection Committee members' scores range from 75 to 89 out of 100 possible points. The average score is 82.25. When combined with the score from the quantitative portion, the GNC's overall score is 136.25 out of a possible 200. The overall score will be used to rank applications in years when several applications are received.
The GNC has an active, well-organized neighborhood association that meets regularly and has previously initiated several successful neighborhood projects. The GNC is a diverse neighborhood of mostly modest single-family homes. The neighborhood contains many opportunities to beautify and improve infrastructure. Staff and the neighborhood association have identified numerous potential projects for which NPP funds could be used. Inclusion in the NPP would enhance the association's efforts to beautify and improve their neighborhood.
Fiscal Note
Account #123-790-N117-5150-4110 contains $15,000 allocated for the next NPP neighborhood.
Recommendation
Staff to City Commission: Select the Greater Northeast Community for inclusion in the Neighborhood Planning Program, and authorize the use of the $15,000 for this neighborhood.
Alternative recommendation: Do not expand the Neighborhood Planning Program this year.