The combination of an increased budget for neighborhood association communications and some of the recommendations adopted from the Neighborhood Task Force will improve communication within neighborhoods and between city government and neighborhood associations.
The 07/08 budget for Neighborhood Services included $38,000 for public communications via neighborhood associations. In October, 2007, City Council decided that 25% of these funds will be spent on marketing neighborhood associations to the general public. The remaining 75% of the funds will be used to assist associations in creating websites and building internet skills, a matching neighborhood mini-grants, and increasing promotions for neighborhood association events.
On September 24, 2007, City Council accepted many of the Neighborhood Task Force recommendations that will improve public communication. Strategies to increase communication include writing Citizen Involvement Plans that will provide clear, advanced information on when and how to communicate with the City on major projects. Neighborhood associations will also be provided a permanent place on the council agenda to voice their concerns. Finally, Council will hold a Public Communications Forum to give all members of the public, including neighborhood associations an opportunity to bring issues and ideas forward.
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