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...
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