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 th...
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