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CITY COUNCIL GOAL: Neighborhood Empowerment <br />Redesign the neighborhood initiative to support the neighborhoods .which <br />includes public participation in the livability and protection of neighborhoods <br />and identifies specific redevelopment strategies that preserves the integrity <br />of residential uses, including design standards, site review, down zoning, infill <br />regulation, and bolstering and empowering neighborhood associations to get <br />more involvement. <br />Contact: Renee Grube, Executive Director, Library, Recreation and <br />Cultural Services, 682-5067 <br />Carolyn Weiss, Staff Lead, 682-4909 <br />Reporting period: January -March 2007 <br />The goal statement for the Neighborhood Empowerment initiative will be finalized at a City Council <br />work session on May 9, 2007. The draft goal statement as proposed at the January 2007 City <br />Council Retreat is as follows: <br />`Redesign the neighborhood initiative to support the neighborhoods which includes public participation in the <br />_ ~ livability and protection of neighborhoods and identifies specific redevelopment strategies that preserves the integrity <br />of residential uses, including design standards, site review, down ~onin~ infill regulation, and bolstering and <br />empowering neighborhood associations to get more involvement. " <br />OUTCOMES <br />Increase public involvement and engagement process related to neighborhoods. <br />• Improve the quality of life on a neighborhood basis. <br />• Improve the neighborhood associations, leadership and participation. <br />PROGRESS SINCE LAST REPORT <br />• Neighborhood Matching Grants (Action Item #4) -Sixteen applications were submitted, <br />requesting a total of $94,291. The Department Advisory Committee is scheduled to review the <br />applications in April with a recommendation to be forwarded to City Council on May 14, 2007. <br />Neighborhood Summit (Action Item #7) -The first Neighborhood Summit was ,held on <br />February 17, 2007. Approximately 150 individuals attended, including neighbors from all <br />nineteen residential neighborhood associations and community organizations, elected officials, <br />City staff, and other interested persons. <br />Involve neighborhood associations earlier in land use proposals (Action Item #11) -Land use <br />planners are strongly encouraging applicants to meet with neighborhood groups before <br />development applications are submitted. Additionally, as part of the minor code amendment <br />process that is currently underway, a requirement that applicants meet with neighborhood <br />groups as a condition of application completeness is being considered. <br />• Increase density in existing neighborhoods thoughtfully (Action Item #12) - A Senior Planner <br />position was hired in October 2006 to work on opportunity siting and infill compatibility <br />standards. An Associate Planner position, with an anticipated hire date in April, has been posted <br />to assist with this work. The draft timeline targets September 2008. for bringing initial code <br />recommendations to the council. <br />-11- <br />