The goal of Neighborhood Planning is to build social capital, which is the ability of the neighborhood to organize itself to identify problems and solve them in partnership with elected officials, businesses, and public agencies. -- L. Colombo & K.Balizer
UPDATED: 5/4 - Opinion: What can the city and neighborhoods do together to improve the livability of our neighborhoods? to increase community involvement? to increase opportunities for participation? to create a safety network? to preserve scenic and recreational attributes?
Today, the only partnership the City of Redmond has with it's neighborhoods is: 1) Neighborhood Block Watch Program and 2) the beautification grant program for cul-de-sacs, etc. Can you think of others? The GreenRedmond forestry stewardship program is designed primarily for City Park restoration, though neighborhoods participate.
Last week our Police Department liaison officer sent Neighborhood BlockWatch captains a notice that over 60 of Neighborhoods in the program would have their street Block Watch signs removed owing to inactivity. An additional 10 Block Watch Neighborhoods may be delisted. for various reasons. Sadly, my East Firs Block Watch Neighborhood, of one year, might be included. Only about 20+ Block Watch Neighborhoods are still active - probably as much for the social aspects of the community as for safety and security.
What is the solution to this hollowness within our neighborhoods? One can look to the City of Bend, OR. for ideas and answers. They've organized "Neighborhood Associations" ranging in size between 3000-6000 neighbors. (The recommended size for a Block Watch Neighborhood is no more than 24). Each Association has their own Board, By-Laws, optional Budget, Website, Land Use Chair, and Annual Report. Their breadth of participation is beyond safety and is multi-dimensional. Political endorsement of candidates for elected office is dis-allowed, though city policy recommendations by majority consensus are encouraged.
Neighborhood Associations rejuvenate a city by creating social capital and make it a community. The communication and participation paradigm is turned inside out - with Associations contributing to community livability and policy rather than the city constantly putting itself upon the entire neighborhoods with public and community meetings. Councilmembers receive more value, purpose and incentive to visit neighborhoods and their residents.
The link to the City of Bend, OR. "Neighborhood Association" website is here. 13 Neighborhood Association min-websites are linked. Any thoughts?
CC: Mayor & Council
FROM A CITY OF BEND CITIZEN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION per email. 4/28:
ReplyDeleteHello Bob, Thanks !! Didn't realize that we were that far known. We think it is a great program. I wished we had started it about five years earlier. Sometimes we get frustrated, but anything worthwhile, is worth the struggle. I was in on the beginning of forming the program. Think we started in 1999. Each neighborhood has it's own commonalities, interests and goals. Amazing how things ebb and flow. Some are better organized than others. Demographics are a strange critter. I will share this with our Board members. Please stay in touch and take care.
Sincerely, Mike Lovely, President and Land Use Chair, Southwest Bend Neighborhood Association.