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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-08-19 Residential Neighborhoods 1865 ;:21 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS JULY 8,2019 4:00 P.M. Committee Members Present: Karen White, Jo M. Broden, Sharon L. McBride Committee Members Absent: Regina Williams-Preston Other Council Present: John Voorde, Tim Scott, Gavin Ferlic, Jake Teshka Other Council Absent: Dr. Oliver Davis Others Present: Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer, Morgan Gonsoski, Ryan Wroblewski Presenters: Alkeyna Aldridge, Dr. Barbara Milon Agenda: Update: NRC & Economic Engagement Collaboration, Alkeyna Aldridge, Director of Engagement& Economic Empowerment- Community Investment Committee Chair Karen White called to order the Residential Neighborhoods Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m. She introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Update: NRC & Economic Engagement Collaboration, Alkeyna Aldridge, Director of Engagement& Economic Empowerment- Community Investment Alkeyna Aldridge, Director of Engagement and Economic Empowerment for the City of South Bend with offices located on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, I'm here today to update you on our collaboration with the NRC and where we are with regard to neighborhood engagement in our plans moving forward. So,the NRC has been in a major transitional year.Diana is retiring in September and we have the pleasure of welcoming a new Executive Director, officially,Dr.Barbara Milon,who will also be here.In the past year and a half,we've been working closely with them with our engagement team. We were here a year ago and the concerns were with the sustainability of the NRC and how our team will collaborate within our similar missions and interests, and what that would look like moving forward. So, I wanted to give you all a presentation.This is our mission statement(referencing a slide in a presentation which is available in the City Clerk's Office). These are the key programmatic engagements we will have, leading with the NRC. And these are the performance indicators you can expect from us moving forward. So, the NRC is a major part of how we will be implementing this work when we look at things like our Eviction Legal Defense Fund.We need to be able to talk to residents and create a structure INTEGRITY' SERVICE'ACCESSIBILITY JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TIRADo JOSEPH R.MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov 0 CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK that actually works. The struggle has been a capacity issue with the NRC in the past. This year, we've been fundraising. Councilmember John Voorde asked, In the indicators, why would you have decreases in liquid asset, instead of maybe just changes? Ms. Aldridge replied,Well,we want to see people moving out of liquid asset poverty. So,we want that to decrease. We could change the language but what we are really looking at is per capita income and that all boats are rising together and finding metrics we can actually measure that with over time. So, as we move into neighborhoods, in the past, for instance maybe the NNN has been working in there for four (4) years. Has that development changed incomes? What were the outcomes as far as education? How do we begin looking at how we are measuring our impact in that way? These are some of those ways. Councilmember Tim Scott asked,Are you going to measure per neighborhood association? Or are you going to do it City-wide? Ms.Aldridge replied,City-wide. So,you all know the City-wide survey we did. It was statistically significant, and we will use that as a baseline to judge engagements as well as resident attitudes toward their elected officials as well as City programs. So, that is a baseline for that and the NRC has a health matrix that is specific to each neighborhood association. What we want to do from the City side is incentivize, in a cash way, moving through that scale. For example, let's look at the Near Northeast. It is very active, and they have great capacity, they don't need a lot of help. But we can say, as a neighborhood association with various capacity, we offer you cash support for technical assistance throughout the year. That is a way of hopefully keeping folks engaged as well as letting people who are there and are active feel affirmed by the City in a way like we see you, we are working with you and we know it's hard.We want to give you cash and technical assistance from the City to make it easier. Right now, we are doing that through the NRC which is tough. Committee Chair White asked, As you look at your key performance indicators, as it pertains to the NRC, the NRC is really part of the engagement and empowerment team, so is that separate? I want to make sure because I know there is a relationship and as we moved forward, I think it's very important to have that clarity. We also need to talk about those neighborhood associations that are inactive. Who is responsible for working more closely for engagement? How do we collectively look at those neighborhoods that don't have neighborhood associations? Ms.Aldridge replied, So,these KPIs are shared. I shared this with the NRC as well. So,they know they are building neighborhood association capacity with new associations as well as making sure we retain the existing ones. We aren't doing that. They are the clearing house for telling us where our associations are, if they're healthy, if we have new ones, and it is contractual. So, we are basically judging their performance on these indicators. Committee Chair White stated, I think it's important to have that clarity when we look at this information before us. Ms. Aldridge replied, My team in the past few years have been very heavy handed in the transitional phase, so I think that has created a lot of confusion. Now that Dr. Milon is here, she can really outline the future and take it over. We've brought metrics, some additional capacity and EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION ( EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 i f 574.235.9173 111)574 235 5567 w.sw.southbendin.gov 2 0 CITY OF SOUTH BEND ( OFFICE OF THE CLERK we've won some grants. I think we are in a great spot to make this happen moving forward. We've been building the plane while flying it. Ms.Aldridge continued,Here(referencing a slide in the presentation)are some of the things we've done within our mission. We take a grassroots outreach and data-driven approach to research our resource development. We did the west side qualitative study and that was sort of a big part of helping us understand food insecurity issues and how we might address them moving forward. As we develop those things, it's important for there to be a stable NRC. I can develop this on the 14th floor all day.We can have great programs coming from the 14th floor all day. But,if we don't have internal mechanism and communication channels internally as well as with external partners,there are things happening that people don't know about right now.That is my sense of urgency and we need to make sure that we are sharing with folks what we are doing around poverty in our neighborhoods. One (1) thing that has been happening forever is Pathways. How many folks in our neighborhoods even know that is a thing or that you all and the Mayor have invested in this? So,we need to go to our neighborhoods and where folks are and bring these resources to them. As we do our access to capital work,that is going to be very important moving our City plans forward as it relates to small business development. Not just minorities, but the entire small business ecosystem. So again,just these communications systems. She went on, So, moving forward, we did win a grant through the St. Joseph County Community Foundation. They were thrilled that it was collaborative. We had the Council and the Clerk at the table. Moving forward with fundraising initiatives with the NRC,it seems that we have more luck when we do it together. So, we want to continue to leverage that. With that, I would like to introduce Dr. Milon who we are so thrilled to have. Like I said, for the last year and a half,we've had our engagement team and we've been muddling through the engagement piece, which often happens.We are thrilled to have her. I think her official start date was in June,but she is real South Bend. Like, last class of Central High School, South Bend. Dr. Barbara Milon, 2526 Chalk Maple Court, South Bend, stated, Go Central Bears. It's a moot point but I was the last Student Government President at Central High School.I had the opportunity to participate in other leadership roles including being a varsity debater. One (1) year we placed tenth (10th) out of eight hundred (800) students in the State participating in debate at Purdue University.But,what you want me to talk about toady is our vision at the Neighborhood Resources Connection. I hesitated for a moment because I think a vision statement within our communities is an inclusive process. It involved more than one (1) person so what I'm going to state to you today are just some ideas. Please know that we involve participation. We want to engage people. We want to support people so that they are empowered within our neighborhoods to do that work that needs to be done. Vision is involving community. She continued, A leader in the world said there can be hope only for a society which acts as one (1) big family and not as separate ones. That was from President Anwar Sadat. The engagement and participation of neighbors in the NRC is paramount to a healthy community and the quality of life for everyone. When we,neighbors and neighborhood associations,are represented at the table, this supports the work that must be done to sustain and provide for the quality of life for everyone. I mentioned I hesitated in providing a vision statement but the components of a vision statement, it has to be strength-based. A person I worked with years ago said we must first(1s) come from a EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld'South Bend,Indiana 46601;p 574.235.9221!(574.235.9173',TTD574.235.5567v w.southbendin.gov 3 0 CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK position of strength and individualized strength-based approach refers to policies and practices, methods and strategies that identify and draw upon the strengths of children, families and communities.The asset-based support supports building our neighborhoods to address community concerns in order to uncover and work toward solutions. Neighborhoods are diverse just as the scales and interests are diverse. However, working together is transformative. It is catalytic and it has a power of enabling and empowering communities. She went on, My vision is a recognition of strengths, inclusive participation, and the knowledge of the community is its commodity. We find this knowledge in our families and in community knowledge systems.These are informal lessons and practices,and mechanisms,through which for example, children learn in their home and community environments. Values such as honesty, rightness and order. This natural knowledge system is a basic component of effective families and communities and it is essential to children and the well being of who we are and what we aspire to do. Collaboration is important. The collaboration has to be inclusive. Social capital and financial capital are interrelated. According to Jed Emerson, he states that social capital involves our families, communities, firms, civil society, the public sector, ethnicity and gender. Social capital is within a context that is both dynamic, involving our financial institutions in our community organizations. It is intangible. It is something we can perceive but not something we necessarily can see such as within a building. Data and research support that it builds our neighborhoods' strengths and our community assets. Intangible assets within neighborhoods are very important. We have to find a balance as we seek to prioritize funding and resources as it relates to various different interests. The neighborhood engagement plan that Alkeyna has presented, we think is a very good start. But, there is more work yet to be done. Ms. Aldridge stated, I failed to mention that Dr. Milon has a PhD and also has come from a background in community development. She joins us, most recently, from South Bend Schools but also from Minneapolis where she worked leading the Phyllis Weekly Community Center. Every City she has worked in, she's won the Key to the City. So, I think that says a lot about her commitment and the work she has done. Some of the updates we talked about earlier, I shared with you that we spent a lot of time fundraising the last year and a half. We submitted four (4) grant opportunities and won one(1)which is the Youth Council reboot. We look forward to getting that kicked off in the fall and please keep an eye out on your emails for the next planning meeting if you would like to be engaged in that. Committee Chair White stated, I think it's very critical we have members of the Council in those meetings, especially as we begin to look at the ordinance which will have to be updated. The role of the Council as we move forward is very important. Ms. Aldridge replied, Yes, and those are still big questions that we have, so, we've been getting through an election season and a lot of other unfortunate things. The next few weeks we will have that planning meeting. She continued, We also hosted a quarter two (2)roundtable. The NRC does this roundtable,but it was specific to the neighborhood summit that I shared with you previously. This is actually the official Save the Date (handout is available in the City Clerk's Office) if you could pass those around. So,the roundtable convened,and we now have about nineteen(19)volunteers of neighbors who will be leading the planning and execution of this summit, along with our engagement team. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building;227W Jefferson BvldSouth Bend,Indiana 46601'p 574.235.9221,1574 235.9173j I I L)574 235 5567;www.southbendin.gov 4 CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Upcoming events and collaborations, some of our team is here, some community partners will be hosting a fair at the O'Brien Center on July 18th. So, mark your calendars for that. We are also looking forward to the quarter three (3) roundtable with the NRC in August. The NRC will be hosting an official reception for Dr. Milon on July 30th, so, you'll want to mark you calendars for that. We also have cake and finger foods outside here when you are finished up with your final Committees and meet Dr. Milon. She went on, In ways that you might be able to help, we need a lot of help, still, on the Fund development piece. So, we are still fundraising and looking at ways. Dr. Milon outlined what her philosophy is and that is engagement focused on intangibles as well as tangibles. We also want to get some capacity on the Board to make sure we are pushing that forward. We need an attorney, we need an accountant,we need Council Members, so basically anyone who wants to help.We've had some support from Councilmember Teshka in the way of organizing some outside residents around neighborhood associations. You guys are probably more familiar with folks in spaces where we don't have associations. How do we generate interest in those areas? We need a lot of support and engagement in that way from you all. Committee Chair White requested a list of current active and inactive neighborhood associations and Ms. Aldridge obliged. Ms. Aldridge continued, And then finally, as you mentioned, the Youth Council Planning Committee. We are moving forward and trying to answer those big questions. What is the Council's role? How will our team support this? We need to define what it will look like, even what it will be called, moving forward. So, save those dates. If you have any leads on Fund development or people who want to be on the Board, or if you know folks who might have an interest in neighborhoods, please send them Dr. Milon's way. Committee Chair White stated, I do know that this current Committee will be looking forward to pooling together targeted neighborhood associations. Based on what we've heard the last four(4) to five (5) months, there is a clear call for the Council and the Administration to look at ways to begin to address some of the needs in those areas and neighborhoods that need additional support. We will be going out and having those meetings. I will say that as you look at partners, not only this Council,but this Committee should be involved so that you know what we are doing, and we can see how we can work together. That is information we need, and I think that is so important. I like what Dr. Milon said that when we begin to look at a vision, we have to make sure that those individuals impacted have an opportunity to be empowered. The way you do that, you talk to and listen to them. Then, you begin to move forward. I think that is critical as we move forward. I appreciate the presentation. Committee Chair White opened the floor to questions and comments from Committee and Council Members. Committeemember Sharon L. McBride stated, I think this is good information and I'm excited for us to continue collaborating together. I've been fortunate enough to have active neighborhood associations in the third (3rd) district, but I know one (1) of them is inactive or hanging on by a thread. Having that partnership and getting them engaged and at the table, we have a meeting EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.92211f574.235.9173 i I 11)574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 5 CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK coming up, but membership is down. There is a lot of interest in the neighborhood, but the challenge is trying to get them engaged. We definitely need some help and support with that. Ms. Aldridge replied, We are hoping the incentive structure we build helps and will provide some context for neighborhood associations like that. So, you're barely hanging on? We've got some money. We want them to organize and mobilize. We know there are a lot of issues and concerns that people are worried about right now. We want to be able to communicate with people about where they are about those things. I think I share with you a while back, we wanted to do a Neighborhood Steering Committee. Now that Dr. Milon is here, I think she has written a letter to the Mayor about a Community Advisory Board and what that could look like.We are really pulling together the structural pieces for the communication between the Council and the NRC, those are the next steps here. Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, Thank you, Alkeyna. And it is great to meet you, Dr. Milon. As it has been pointed out,it has been tough in the fifth(5th)district and the south side where there were zero (0) neighborhood associations and we've got a group now. The NRC puts in hard work and the neighbors are replicating that. I want to replicate that at least three (3) times over in my district but I think this work in the neighborhoods, with these associations and organizations, is really the antidote to a lot of what ails us right now. Whether it is the misinformation that goes out on the internet, or the fact that people just aren't talking, all those things,there is just such a social benefit of vibrant neighborhood organizations.For us as Council Members,we need to disseminate good and true information to those groups. So,thank you for the work you all are doing,and I look forward to continuing the work with NRC in the fifth(5th) district. Committeemember Jo M. Broden stated, Thank you and welcome. Thank you for your work on this and for your Department. I am really excited about the potential that has been presented here today. I think all of these districts have these gap areas, and then, you know, some fly fairly well and independently. So, I'm actually curious about the technical assistance component and what all that will entail. I know from experience in working with the neighborhood groups that communication capacity within a neighborhood has some generational challenges within it. There may be people interested and willing to serve, but then some difficulties, right? I also think there is leadership turnover capacity issues. A component, too, I think in terms of technical assistance, one (1) of the groups in the fourth (4th) district is just sort of the capacity for resiliency and the responsiveness in emergency situations. We need to come up with plans in regard to what the emergency is. I think we are most in tune with floods but flood, tornado, whatever. I think we, as a Council,just maybe a month ago saw a plan on the county level. There are responsibilities there, but I don't think it is intergraded. I think from my experience and the experience of my neighbors, it is not robust at all. I think those are the things most challenging for us as a community, so if there are ways to help pull that along and help advance it through technical assistance, I think it will be meaningful for individuals as we are impacted by change. You talked about asset-based, and going up from that. I think this gets to vulnerabilities that are very obvious and challenging for some neighborhoods. I look forward to working with you. With no further business,Committee Chair Karen White adjourned the Residential Neighborhoods Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building i 227 W.Jefferson Bvld',South Bend,Indiana 46601 i p 574 235 9221 i f 574.235.91731 TD 574.235.5567 iwwe.southbendin.goy 6 0 CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Respectfully Submitted, Karen White, Committee Chair • • EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 if574.235.91731 I 10574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 7