Neighbor to Neighbor. Neighborhood Coordinator Information Packet

Transcription

1 Neighbor to Neighbor Neighborhood Coordinator Information Packet

2 Why Join the Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative? A measure of residents satisfaction in the community is the relationships neighbors have with each other. The Highland Park Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative is designed to improve communication, increase public safety, and create a stronger sense of community within neighborhoods. Residents who wish to register their neighborhoods for the Neighbor to Neighbor initiative will have the opportunity to serve as Neighborhood Coordinator. Improve Communication The Neighbor to Neighbor initiative will allow for better collaboration among neighbors, easier expression of neighborhood concerns and improved communication between neighborhoods, and the City. Neighborhood Coordinators can improve communication by: - Developing and sharing neighborhood rosters - Organizing Block Parties, Neighborhood Watch and emergency preparedness training. - Relaying neighborhood concerns to the City and likewise, providing City information to neighbors - Welcoming new neighbors Increase Public Safety The single most important determinate of our safety is the extent to which we know and trust our neighbors. In major emergencies, such as flooding or severe storms, neighbors will be the first responders. Likewise, the best way to deter crime is by neighbors watching out for each other and reporting suspicious activities before a crime can occur. Stronger Sense of Community The Neighbor to Neighbor initiative will increase social connectedness in the neighborhood which can: - Help solve common problems because neighbors know each other - Increase leisure activities with fellow neighbors - Increase social networks which could lead to potential job opportunities for family members

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4 4 Reasons to Get to Know your Neighbor 1. Block Parties During block parties, the city temporarily closes residential streets so neighbors can stay in touch at their front doorsteps. This free program is a great opportunity for neighbors to become acquainted before an emergency. Residents may request appearances by Highland Park Fire and Police units at block parties. Block parties may be held for celebrations, sports, games, barbeques, and other neighborhood activities 2. Neighborhood Preparedness The single most important determinate of our safety is the extent to which we know and trust our neighbors. In major emergencies, such as flooding or severe storms, neighbors will be the first responders. To become more prepared as a neighborhood Highland Park s Fire Department can make presentations at neighborhood preparedness meetings to go over the proper techniques and preparations during natural disasters. Individuals may also take Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn the safety skills to help you or your family be better prepared for emergencies. CERT classes are offered through the Police Department. 3. Prevent Crime The best way to deter crime is by neighbors watching out for each other and reporting suspicious activities before a crime can occur. Eventually neighborhoods can develop a neighborhood watch program where police officers can make presentations on home and community safety. 4. Create Community To create community, neighborhoods need a sense of social connectedness. More interaction between neighbors will lead to a greater sense of trust and ultimately a greater sense of community. Neighborhood Coordinators will provide essential communication that brings neighborhoods together and serve as vital links between the City and the neighborhoods. New and established block leaders meet several times each year to trade neighborhood tips and to learn communications techniques.

5 Frequently Asked Questions How much territory should I try to represent? Some neighborhoods have logical boundaries that are easy to recognize, while others require more judgment on the part of the Neighborhood Coordinator. In general, about can be targeted at first with about 5-10 initial responses. As Neighbor to Neighbor becomes more established, neighborhoods may choose to expand their area, but the bottom line is, the number of people and area you coordinate is always up to you and how much you re willing to take on. How do I get people interested and motivated to participate? One of the first things you can do is ask yourself why you were motivated to become a Neighborhood Coordinator. It could very well be that many of the same reasons that engaged you will be the same reasons that will motivate your neighbors. You may also want to begin your initial introduction to your neighbors by letting them know why you have chosen to become a Neighborhood Coordinator and the benefits of living in an active and involved neighborhood. What is the first event I should host? This depends on whether your neighborhood has already begun to work on a common issue together. Sometimes a block party is the most casual way to get neighbors together. However, if your immediate concern is to increase neighborhood safety or preserve natural resources, you may consider other alternatives such as coordinating a Neighborhood Watch or emergency preparedness meeting or coordinating a clean-up of the ravines in your neighborhood. What should I do if only a few people respond? Well first, congratulate yourself on your efforts because you re on your way! Getting started is the hardest part, but once you have obtained the interest of a few neighbors, they can help get the ball rolling and others will follow as they become energized about the successes of the program. What tools can I use to show neighbors that I am a legitimate representative of the City? There are several ways you can show your neighbors your official affiliation as a Neighborhood Coordinator. You should receive a letter of introduction from the City which can be used to show neighbors. If you meet someone who is still wary, you can have him or her contact Karen Berardi, Assistant to the City Manager, at (847) for official confirmation of your affiliation. What assistance can I expect from City Staff or Officials? Karen Berardi, Assistant to the City Manager, is available to answer your questions, provide suggestions, or refer you to other Neighborhood Coordinators. She can arrange for City Staff to copy your neighborhood forms, letters, and fliers, at no cost to you. City officials, such as the Mayor and City Council, are often available to attend your neighborhood meetings upon request.

6 Conducting a Block Party in Highland Park In order to have a successful Block Party, an application must be submitted and approved by the Highland Park Police Department. This sheet will serve as a checklist to properly fill out the Block Party application. Immediately 1. Residents designate a block party representative (permittee) 2. Print block party application off of the City of Highland Park s website ( or Home > City Government > City Departments > Police > Forms), or use attached form 3. Pick a time and location of your event Note: The date and time must be 30 days after the application is submitted to the Police Department 4. Fill out the application 5. Retrieve the signatures of each residence within the block party boundaries Note: A person must be at least 21 years of age in order to sign the application. If a resident refuses to sign the application they must contact the Police Department and voice their concerns 6. The block party representative must request barricades on the application and select a time in which Public Works will drop them off Note: Public Works will drop off the barricades at the address of the block party representative 30 Days before Block Party 1. Block party representative turns in application Note: Police Chief or designee will either approve or deny block party application 2. Block party representative may call the Fire or Police Departments to request an appearance at the block party after application has been approved During Block Party 1. Ensure that telephone number that was provided by the block party representative is manned at all times during the block party in case the Police Department needs to reach him/her 2. Provide space for emergency vehicles and residents within the block party to enter/exit After Block Party 1. Pick up debris after the block party 2. Place barricades at the block party representative s home address where Public Works can pick them up

7 Easy Recipe for Throwing a Block Party Before you start: If you are not the block party throwing type, skip this section. If you assume throwing a block party will be hard and that no one will show up; first, decide what the worst thing is that could happen. Then come up with a contingency plan. If only 3 houses show up all with dessert, go out to dinner together and eat dessert at your house afterwards. Now you know the worst case and have a plan anyway. Anything else should be considered success! Gather: Decide on the following. Input from the neighborhood is nice, but since you are the one throwing the party, choose what is convenient for you. Date Time / lunch or dinner Location Ingredients: Minimally, people need to bring food, drinks, paper items, and enough tables to put this stuff on. Here is one simple way of dividing the responsibilities: A main dish plus a bottle of soda An appetizer or salad plus a bottle of soda A dessert plus a bottle of soda (100) plates and napkins (100) cups and silverware A cooler of ice Ask people to bring tables. Chairs are nice, but not necessary. Trash bags are also very valuable. Steps: Four weeks before 1. Choose date, time, and location, and get permission from the neighbors whose homes will be impacted. 2. Determine number of paper items needed. Use the following equation: (60% Number of houses x 4 people per house) 3. Send telling people to save the date and to start thinking about what they want to bring. One-Two weeks before 4. Flyer the neighborhood. Ask people to begin to RSVP and tell them how (phone, , etc.). 5. Collect RSVPs. (You can post house number and item to a web page so neighbors themselves could decide what else needed to be brought. That was lower-maintenance for me, but may not be for everyone.) Week before 6. Send reminder . Suggest people bring chairs to sit on.

8 On the day-of 7. Bring a sign-in sheet and pen if you keep track of neighborhood watch numbers for the Police Department. (And something so they won t blow away.) Bring some trash bags, too. I also brought name tags so neighbors could get to know one another. *Note: For an extremely low-maintenance block party, just do steps 1, 2, and first half of Enjoy! Sit back and relax and watch the party take care of itself! Serves

9 Sample Introduction Letter to Neighbors July 15, 2013 Dear Highland Park Neighbor, My name is, and I am the Neighborhood Coordinator for our neighborhood. My family and I have lived in this area for ten years and believe that Highland Park is a great place to live and raise a family. To further increase the quality of life in Highland Park, the City is encouraging our neighborhood to take advantage of some of the ways we can become an even more connected community. Some of our options include: having a block party, forming a Neighborhood Watch program, or having an emergency preparedness event in our neighborhood. Additionally, as a neighborhood, we can come up with any number of ways to get to know each other better, help each other as neighbors, and increase the safety of our block. As one of my first steps as a Neighborhood Coordinator, I am compiling a contact list of our neighbors, and would like for you to be included. You can include as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with. The most basic information would include your family name and phone number and address. Other items you could share would be your family members names and ages and your hobbies or interests. Currently, I am also working on planning a Block Party for our neighborhood for sometime in late August. I welcome your feedback on planning the event, as well as the participation of your family in our block party. I d also like to hear if you have other ideas for events or activities in our neighborhood. In September, or early August, I will be hosting some small group conversations, so that we can all get to know one another better, and so that we can find out what issues are of concern in our neighborhood. Please let me know if you, or your family members, would like to be a part of this process. I d love the opportunity to talk with you, so feel free to contact me at: (847) , or by at.com. Sincerely, Your Neighbor Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035

10 Sample to Neighbors From: Neighborhood Coordinator Sent: To: Neighbors Subject: Hazel Street Paving 6/3 to 6/7 Hello Neighbors, Good morning and good day to you all. The City has informed me that the Hazel Street Paving project will begin Monday, June 3 and is expected to continue until Friday, June 7. During this time, you may not be able to get in and out of your driveways and therefore, the parking ban located on Elm Street has been temporarily lifted to accommodate the inconvenience of the project. Should the project be extended for any reason, the City will notify me once that has been determined. For updates on other City projects in the neighborhood scheduled later in the summer, go to Thank you, Your Neighborhood Coordinator

11 Neighborhood Contact Form Street Number Street Name Last Name First Name (Adults) Children Phone Numbers + Who is likely to be home? Special circumstances (medicine, wheelchair, pets) Permission to enter, if emergency? (Y/N) Information will be kept confidential and used for emergencies only

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