TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Lisa Anderson-Ogilvie, AICP, Interim Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
title
Neighborhood Partnership Program Annual Report
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Annual Report on the Neighborhood Partnership Program
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
This annual report for the City of Salem’s Neighborhood Partnership Program (Partnership Program) is intended to highlight the successes of certain neighborhoods involved in the Partnership Program over the past 20 years, to summarize recent changes in the Partnership Program, and to outline plans for building stronger neighborhoods over the next year.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Partnership History
Through the Partnership Program, the City of Salem collaborates with selected neighborhood areas on community-building efforts. This collaboration is in addition to the ongoing support provided to Salem’s Neighborhood Associations. The Partnership Program was launched in 1997 to address a specific neighborhood that was requiring a disproportionate amount of City resources.
In January of 2011, the City restructured the Partnership Program to a “Rotating Partnership” model, giving it the flexibility to impact multiple areas of Salem while staying within the existing budget. The new structure includes a competitive application process which allows the City to support those neighborhood areas with highest demonstrated need and committed partners ready to collaborate to address that need.
Partners
The Partnership Program depends on committed partners working together to make a difference in their neighborhoods. Partners include neighbors, property owners, renters, schools, businesses, nonprofits, churches, community groups and anyone who is interested in the livability of the neighborhood area. They identify neighborhood strengths and challenges, set goals, coordinate efforts to improve livability and leverage additional resources. Some examples of past community building activities include: neighborhood celebrations, health fairs, concerts in parks, crime prevention efforts, community gardens, free activities for kids, lending libraries and walking groups.
All of the neighborhood areas that have been involved in the Partnership Program are still actively building community in their neighborhood areas in some capacity.
Current Partnerships
Currently, the two neighborhood areas receiving direct City support through the Partnership Program are Community and Partners of East Salem (CaPES), which includes the East Lancaster, North Lancaster, Lansing and Northgate neighborhoods, and the Edgewater District of West Salem. With a working budget of $5,600 in calendar year 2016, the Partnership Program leveraged $271,401 in combined donations, volunteer and in-kind contributions for the CaPES and Edgewater areas. Some indicators of community change can be found in the 2016 CaPES and Edgewater Neighborhood Profiles (Attachments A and B).
CaPES
The East Lancaster Partnership group began receiving direct City support in 2011. It has since expanded to become CaPES, collaborating with partners in neighborhoods throughout the McKay area including East and North Lancaster, Lansing and Northgate Neighborhoods. CaPES successfully applied for a fourth term of Partnership support that started in 2017.
During their time together CaPES partners have collaborated on a wide variety of efforts to strengthen East Salem Neighborhoods including neighborhood celebrations and activities, community gardens, weekly coffee hours, exercise groups, afterschool programs, skills classes and cleanup projects. The group has also helped to install six Little Free Libraries in East Salem, a part of town where none previously existed. The group just had their 3rd annual East Salem Bike Rodeo and are planning their 7th annual Day of Play and are incorporating more HEAL (healthy eating activing living) elements into their efforts.
Edgewater District
In 2014, the Edgewater District of West Salem became the fourth Partnership Program area under the City’s rotating model. The group was awarded a second two-year term in 2016. Over the past three years the group has expanded from nine original partners to 85; developed and maintained an Edgewater free resources calendar; organized an annual Super Saturday event for hundreds of neighbors; supported Nuestra Casa, a learning/community center; supported numerous neighborhood cleanup efforts and celebrations, created a monthly Edgewater Walking Cruise to showcase the neighborhood and has been developing information hubs at various locations.
New Partnerships
In late summer of this year, applications will again be available for any neighborhood group with a demonstrated need, committed partners, and ideas to strengthen its Salem neighborhood area.
CONCLUSION:
The Neighborhood Partnership Program has been successful over the past 20 years in bringing neighbors, community leaders, and local government together to build stronger neighborhoods.
Jessica Loewen Preis
Neighborhood Partnership Program Coordinator
Attachments:
1. CaPES Neighborhood Profile 2016
2. Edgewater Area Neighborhood Profile 2016