As a result of the City’s fiscal crisis, the Department experienced a 50% reduction in personnel this year. The Mayor and City Council will be deciding on the future role of the department and how city government can best support the diverse needs of its 92 Neighborhood Councils (NC) throughout the city. In the meantime, it is important that we focus our limited resources on what is most important to advancing the mission of the NC system.

In July 2009, a survey of neighborhood council stakeholders identified a list of 13 services on which the department should focus its efforts (please see attached slides). However, with half the staff to do the work, we will clearly have to target our limited resources if we are to have an impact. Of the list of 13, six were prioritized based on service demands coming into the department, such as the funding program; program and resource development to help neighborhood councils (e.g. Helpline, volunteer development); and to establish processes and systems (e.g. grievances, NC by-laws improvement).

The department is looking again at neighborhood council stakeholders to help determine and set strategic goals for the next fiscal year and into the future. We hope you will take at least 10 minutes to review the Powerpoint (click here) and complete the survey (click on the link below). Keeping the mission and purpose of NCs as established in the City Charter in mind – what do you think our priorities should be? As one of 1,700 elected board members across this great city, you represent the heart of our NC system and it is critical that our services are strongly informed by your needs. Of course, stakeholders are also welcome to participate in this survey. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful guidance.

Download Powerpoint