Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-11-2007 workshop agenda — reading text

WALTON BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM Date: September 4, 2007 To: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager From: Missy McKim, CDS Director SUBJECT: Great Neighborhood Partnership Program REQUEST City Council has requested a report on the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program. This memorandum and the attached documents summarize the program for the last year and a half. BACKGROUND Outing the 1994 Vision Plan process strong public support was expressed for establishing a neighborhood planning program to encourage neighborhood pride and ensure planning for specific issues unique to each neighborhood. Neighborhood planning provides the framework for each neighborhood to have its needs and desires heard and implemented by the City, and for the City to communicate policies and decisions to the neighborhoods. Based on this, the City' s Comprehensive Plan delineated thirteen neighborhood planning areas. The Great Neighborhood Partnership Program began in 2001 with each of the 13 neighborhoods. City staff held 2 meetings in each neighborhood. The purpose of the first meeting was to identify issues within the neighborhood with a second meeting to prioritize the issues. It took over a year to hold these meetings with each of the neighborhoods. Once the two meetings were held, Plans for Neighborhood Action were developed for each neighborhood based on the input from the residents of that neighborhood. Each Plan includes the following four chapters and an appendix: I. Great Neighborhoods Partnership Program II. Neighborhood Establishment III. Identified Neighborhood issues/ community Vision IV. Capital Improvement Plan Appendix with facts on the neighborhood In 2003, the neighborhoods were asked to provide input into the Vision Plan, which was in the process of being updated. Neighborhood meetings were held over several months in mid 2003 to get citizens' input on how to preserve the great and unique qualities of our City and how to create a well- balanced community. Public comment throughout the Vision Plan update process indicated that the neighborhood program should be continued and on-going planning strengthened. The following Goal and Objectives were adopted in Focus on the Future, Update of the Vision Plan for the City of Fort Walton Beach: GOAL: To build upon existing neighborhood assets to create safe, stable, beautiful neighborhoods that are the pride of all City residents. Objective 1: Expand the neighborhood planning process  of Objective 2: Ensure that all Plans for Neighborhood Action ( PNA) address a reange planning issues, even if they are not identified as problems or concerns. Objective 3: Implement at least one capital improvements project within each neighborhood on an annual basis. In 2006, City Council developed a strategic plan goal to re- energize the neighborhood program. They recognized that the program could not maintain enough momentum without a person dedicated to the program. A full-time staff person, Dan Bubis, was hired in November 2005. With a full time staff person, the neighborhoods began meeting monthly, with individual monthly neighborhood newsletters. The neighborhoods are encouraged to have residents become members of CERT teams and be trained. Neighborhood Watch Groups are also encouraged. The attached " State of the Neighborhoods" briefly describes the status of each neighborhood. In 2006, the number of neighborhoods was reduced to 11 based on input from the residents, the issues of the neighborhood and the attendance record of certain neighborhoods. DISCUSSION Attached are the following documents which will provide the City Council with information on the program, each neighborhood, and their concerns. They cover the attendance purpose of the program, the status of each of the neighborhoods, meeting of neighborhood concerns, by neighborhood, newsletter mailing dates, a spreadsheet the plan for the program for the remainder of this year and the Implementation Plan from the Vision Plan, Focus on the Future. 1. Purpose of the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program 2. State of the Neighborhoods 3. Meeting Attendance by neighborhood Fiscal Year 06/ 07 4. Meeting Attendance by Neighborhood Fiscal Year 05/ 06 5. Newsletter mailing dates by Neighborhood 6. Neighborhood Concerns 7. Great Neighborhood Partnership Program 2007 8. Focus on the Future Implementation Plan Objective and Action Items Item # 7 describes the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program planned for the remainder of this year in order to accommodate the elimination of the full-time position dedicated to this program. Staff will be closely monitoring the attendance and the are falling behind and need progress of each neighborhood and try to coach those that make the neighborhoods more encouragement. It is the intent of the new format to independent.As discussed at the budget workshops, staff will provide City Council with a status report in January 2008 of the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program to determine if the new format for the Program is successful or not. Submitted 11. }J1 q'~ b.;-:) Reviewed and Concur:  1 Purpose of the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program The Great Neighborhood Partnership Program is designed to develop community building partnerships between the City and its residents and Neighborhoods. A vehicle for neighborhoods is to create a Neighborhood Association to coordinate projects and to act as the central voice. and Through the development of these partnerships, we hope to promote and foster participation communication from residents, Neighborhood leaders and City representatives to enhance and maintain the appearance, character, and community spirit of our Neighborhoods. The objectives of the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program are: To create a partnership between the City and its Neighborhoods in order to provide the Neighborhoods with the tools and resources to address the Neighborhoods' concerns and issues. To strengthen and coordinate the various City Departments' responses to Neighborhood problems and requests for assistance. To educate residents and Neighborhoods about the organizational structure of the City and its services, resources and procedures. To ensure the limited resources of the City are directed to the highest priorities of the Neighborhoods. To encourage and facilitate Neighborhood Pride and enhance the involvement of residents in taking responsibility for and solving issues and concerns in their Neighborhoods. The purpose of the Great Neighborhood Partnership Program is to preserve and enhance the and quality of the community through: coordination of City services to neighborhoods, education technical assistance, neighborhood clean up projects, and code enforcement services. Benefits of Strong Neighborhoods BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. Residents of a neighborhood can live a lifetime without bond that knowing their neighbors. A neighborhood group or association provides a common draws all residents together. Organizing an association is one of the best ways to build positive with A spirit of warmth and neighborliness can be generated within . relationships your neighbors. the neighborhood CREATE A STRONG VOICE. It is often said that there is strength in numbers. A can be neighborhood group or association can address local concerns and set goals which reached more readily with everyone working together. Information requested concerning city services can be provided to a greater number of residents through association newsletters or flyers, thus benefiting the neighborhood as a whole. IMPROVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. If your neighborhood needs a beautification project, make such as trees, parks, or a community clean- up, local residents are the best resource to help of a those improvements. Working together with your neighbors in the planning and completion project helps build astronger neighborhood. Neighborhood groups or associations are also great resources to assist city staff in long range planning for neighborhood improvement projects. BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. By fostering a neighbor helping neighbor philosophy, neighbors will build a strong community. SAFETY. Knowing and looking out for your neighbor makes your neighborhood a better and safer place to live. f Potential Proiect Cateaories for consideration to enhance your neiqhborhood: Safety Street lighting improvements/ enhancements Security lighting in alleys Unique Sidewalks Neighborhood Watch Signs with the neighborhoods name Public Space Drinking fountain in parks Playground equipment in parks Tourist Oriented Directional signs Housing Purchase paint for houses Purchase gutters to refurbish houses Demolish unsightly structure in neighborhood Work with community groups to repair, rebuild structures Environment Projects that promote alternate forms of transportation sidewalks, nature trails, bike paths, rollerblade/ skateboard paths, transit shelters) Permanent plantings ( perennials, trees, shrubs, camellias) Curbs Alley improvements Underground utilities FWB or e logo on street signs  A State of the Neighborhoods Beal Parkway Beal Parkway Neighborhood has an elected Board and has adopted Bylaws. They have several projects in the pipeline: 1) A Master Plan for Chester Pruitt Park, 2) Gateway feature which includes a clock tower on City property south of Walter Martin, 3) Streetscaping along Carson. For the most part the group is in the freshman stages and could use continued guidance in running their meetings and adhering to Robert' s