Title
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFICATION BOUNDARIES FOR THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY
Body
Summary and Background Information:
Commerce City remains one of the last cities in the Denver metro area to formally identify its neighborhoods and design a process that allows residents to actively organize into recognized neighborhood groups. The proposed resolution recognizes the neighborhood identities created during an extensive, two-year grassroots process and approve establishing a registration program to provide information and funding opportunities to established organizations in the future. The following information was provided during the April 8 study session.
History
Effective neighborhood revitalization and growth depends on a unified sense of neighborhood identity and a commitment by residents to make their neighborhoods desirable places in which to live, work, learn, and play. Identifying neighborhoods and allowing residents to organize themselves into groups provide an official, recognized form of communication for residents to voice their concerns to city government and become a part of the planning and growing process. As early as 2007, city council had expressed an interest in residents self-identifying neighborhood areas to build civic pride. City staff investigated a variety of options based on this direction, presenting information on similar processes from Longmont to Denver, but none of the ideas generated consensus on how best to move forward. As the city expanded, developers identified neighborhoods with new subdivisions and residential areas, but the historic city did not have a similar process. Neighborhood Organizations draw together a great diversity of people who work together to improve their neighborhoods and are designed to facilitate resident involvement in City affairs. Neighborhood Organizations disseminate information to residents and offer an opportunity for residents to vocalize their opinions and concerns about the information. Neighborhood Organization meetings benefit city officials, government staff, non-profit leaders, and residents alike.
In addition to regular meetings, the activities and responsibilities of Neighborhood Organizations vary but could include: developing neighborhood plans and priorities; providing input on city policies and programs; establishing neighborhood watch programs; discussing crime and safety issues; neighborhood clean-up and beautification; signage; and organizing social or cultural functions such as neighborhood picnics and block parties. Neighborhood Organizations are not meant to impede communication between individual residents and the city or other organized groups and the city, but rather to serve as an additional, officially recognized outlet for resident concern. Neighborhood Organizations also do not have the ability to impose covenants or additional rules/regulations on established homeowners.
Identification Process
In 2011, Community Enterprise and the Imagine! Coalition embarked on a grassroots process with city support to name neighborhoods in the core city. Over the past two years, more than 900 residents participated in the process, completing a comprehensive survey to self-identify the names of their neighborhoods and participating in public meetings. Based on the survey, community meetings, and references to names with historical significance, a draft neighborhood map for the historic city was created and further refined. The map identifies neighborhoods and uses streets as natural boundary lines for ease of understanding. City staff used historical documents and established names to expand the map for industrial areas and established northern development. The city, in partnership with Community Enterprise and Imagine! Coalition, held two public meetings in March 2012 to obtain input on the proposed city neighborhood identity map. Approximately 15 individuals attended and asked questions regarding the names and survey data, as well as asking questions about the meaning behind the names given to the industrial neighborhoods. The majority of the feedback revolved around the selection of the historical names and boundary markers. As a result of this input, the city worked with the non-profit to revise the attached map, refining industrial areas and northern subdivision lines.
Proposed Map
The city neighborhood boundary map shows neighborhood names, identified either through the Community Enterprise process, Subdivision/PUD process, or other means by city staff. As the city continues to grow, new neighborhoods and areas are expected to be added to the map, which serves as the foundation for a self-registration program.
Process
The city initially proposes to create a self-registration program to create neighborhood organizations recognized by Commerce City consistent with the proposed boundary map. The registration program will create a singular list to share information from a variety of city departments and facilitate two-way opportunities for community input and program participation.
Definition
A Neighborhood Organization is defined as a voluntary, non-governmental, group of individual residents and owners of real property, including businesses, within a geographic area formed for the purpose of collectively addressing issues and interests affecting neighborhood and community livability. While an established homeowners' association can register as a neighborhood organization, Neighborhood Organizations are dissimilar from homeowner associations (HOAs) in a couple important ways. First, membership in a Neighborhood Organization is optional, while HOA membership is mandatory and automatic upon the purchase of property within certain developments. Second, HOAs establish private covenants and rules that apply to all properties within their area and they have the authority to enforce those covenants and rules through the imposition of fines, assessment, or fees; Neighborhood Organizations have no authority to create rules and covenants governing the property within their neighborhoods or to impose any fines or assessments.
Standards
In order to be recognized by Commerce City, Neighborhood Organizations must satisfy these standards.
1. Membership. The membership of a Neighborhood Organization shall not be limited by race, creed, color, sex, age, heritage, national origin, language, sexual orientation, or income. Any resident, business owner or owner's representative, non-profit organization's representative, or property owner who resides, owns property, or maintains a business within the recognized boundary of a Neighborhood Organization shall be eligible for membership.
2. Boundaries. The boundaries of Neighborhood Organizations were determined through a process initiated by Commerce City neighborhood leaders in 2011. This coalition of residents worked together with Community Enterprise to gauge resident opinion and input regarding the identification of neighborhoods in Commerce City. Neighborhood Organizations will follow boundaries determined by this resident-initiated process and adopted by City Council.
More than one group can be recognized within the approved boundaries of a neighborhood; however, in order to apply for small grants with the City of Commerce City, all registered groups in the defined area must collaborate to be eligible.
3. Leadership and Bylaws. Neighborhood Organizations determine their own bylaws and a method for selecting leaders. A copy of the documents should be provided to the City of Commerce City for reference.
4. Group Inactivity. In the event that a time period of one year elapses during which the established association is inactive, the association is considered dissolved. This automatic dissolution after a period of inactivity allows a new active group the opportunity to emerge as neighborhood leaders.
Recognition
The City of Commerce City will provide recognized Neighborhood Organizations with the following:
• An electronic system for neighborhood registration and recognition.
• General information regarding upcoming board and commission meetings, city services and activities available to residents of the neighborhood.
• A forum to receive resident opinions and recommendations from Neighborhood Organizations regarding neighborhood priorities and concerns about proposed city activities and operations.
• Funding for neighborhood improvement projects and programs, such as signage or National Night Out event assistance from grant funds or other identified resources. All formally recognized groups within neighborhood boundary areas must collaborate on grant applications for the entire neighborhood in order to be eligible.
Non-Profit Partner
Consistent with their mission, Community Enterprise is committed to supporting residents in their work towards building sustainable, healthy and inclusive neighborhoods. To facilitate local identification and organizing, the non-profit will provide residents and Neighborhood Organizations with the following:
• Support to neighborhood residents/leaders when forming a Neighborhood Organization (such as facilitating public meetings and writing bylaws).
• Assistance with creating a neighborhood plan upon initiation by a Neighborhood Organization. This should include but not be limited to technical assistance with neighborhood mapping, research, plan layout and structure, and printing.
• Support, as necessary, for implementing designated activities contained in a resident adopted neighborhood plan.
• Facilitation of conversation and connections with city of Commerce City.
• Assistance to Neighborhood Organization in writing small grants to use for neighborhood improvement projects.
• Facilitation of community-wide meetings that bring the different neighborhood associations together to discuss city-wide issues on an as needed basis.
Next Steps
Pending city council's approval, city staff will undertake the following steps:
• Build the online registration form (see example from City and County of Denver <http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/646/documents/RNO/RNO%20Reg%20Form%202012%2013.pdf>) and incorporate the neighborhood boundary map and registration program within the city's website (Living In/Neighborhoods).
• Work with Community Enterprise and Imagine! Coalition to communicate council's actions and offer next steps for interested residents to form organizations.
• Reach out to established HOA list to encourage participation.
• Partner with established HOAs and Community Enterprise to support neighborhood summer block parties to kick off process and create sense of place throughout the city.
Staff Responsible (Department Head): M. Halstead
Staff Member Presenting: Jenny Axmacher
Financial Impact: $0
Funding Source: N/A
Staff Recommendation:
Approve resolution as drafted.
Suggested Motion:
I move to adopt resolution 2013-03 recognizing neighborhood identification boundaries and authorizing the creation of a registration program.