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Attachment 17_Neighborhood Development MemoMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Spepiaaist Safe Community Task Force Recommendations August 4, 2010 Following is a summary of efforts currently underway relative to some of the Safe Community Task Force recommendations. Neighborhood Engagement and Social Capital 3. Increase resident participation using such vehicles as clean up campaigns, neighborhood picnics, new neighbor welcome events and other strategies developed by residents. Dubuque All- America Cly 1 2007 Through encouragement and support of neighborhood organizations and neighborhood based non profit organizations; the city has actively promoted resident participation. The city has provided both technical assistance and grant funding (in low and moderate income neighborhoods) through the CDBG funded Neighborhood Grant Program and the Community Building Grant Program. Following is a listing of some of the neighborhood based events of the past few months. Events that are new this year are indicated with an asterisk. August 2010 *Street Jam, August 6 *National Night Out Event at Comiskey Park *Movie at Comiskey Park, August 18 Music in Jackson Park, August 8 North End Neighborhood /garage sale & fundraiser, Comiskey Park Langworthy Neighborhood Annual Block Party Crescent Community Health Fair, Aug 14 *Bike Safety Rodeo, Jackson Park, August 21 *Neighborhood Ice Cream Social, Comiskey, sponsored by Holy Spirit Pastorate July 2010 *Point Neighborhood — Fireworks gathering Music in Jackson Park (event postponed due to rain) *Movie in Comiskey Park June 2010 Hilltop -Ivy League Neighborhood Picnic *Eat N Greet Event— Orange Park, Washington Street Music in Jackson Park June 13 Hilltop Ivy League Neighborhood Clean -up May 2010 Valley View Neighborhood (clean -up Pot Luck) Marshall Islands Constitutional Day Anniversary @ Prescott School *Point Neighborhood "junque in the trunk" fundraiser Langworthy Neighborhood Clean -up (and coffee /juice) April 2010 Downtown Neighborhood Clean -up /cookout at Boys and Girls Club * indicates new event in 2010 I am aware that there are a number of other informal neighborhood block parties /picnics throughout the City as well as events sponsored by local churches. For example, the Downtown Dubuque Christian Organization has sponsored an annual block party downtown before the start of school. Management of Physical Environment 6. Increase the number of neighborhood clean -ups and educate the community on city waste disposal policies in an effort to clarify the purpose of neighborhood clean up programs. The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) offers free use of litter cleanup equipment to community organizations in Dubuque county. The litter cleanup equipment includes gloves, safety vests, litter tongs, and disposal bags. Volunteers are asked to complete a liability waiver form and cleanup information form. Free pickup and disposal of the collected materials can be arranged ahead of time through the City of Dubuque Public Works Department and the Dubuque County Road Department. For more information, contact Bev Wagner at the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency Education office at 563- 588 -7933. The program has been running about three years and there have been nine groups that have used the materials in the City of Dubuque for neighborhood and river cleanups. In 2010, the Hilltop Ivy League Neighborhood, the Langworthy Neighborhood, Historic Bluffs Neighborhood and the North End Neighborhood took advantage of this program for their neighborhood clean- ups. (See attached newsletter article from the North End Neighborhood Newsletter on their first ever neighborhood clean up held in May, 2010. The Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green (KDCCG) citizens group is the local affiliate of Keep Iowa Beautiful. Its focus is on litter and illegal dumping prevention, waste reduction, and community beautification in the rural and urban areas of Dubuque County. KDCCG is made up of representatives from several city and county agencies and civic groups, as well as individuals interested in community improvement and environmental stewardship. If you would like more information about Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green, call the Swiss Valley Nature Center at (563) 556 -6745 or the DMASWA Education Office at (563) 588 -7933. For more information about Keep Iowa Beautiful, visit its website at www.keepiowabeautiful.com. For a number of years, the City has provided funding assistance to neighborhood groups through the Neighborhood Grant program for neighborhood clean -ups. However, some groups have realized that there were some abuses of the dumpsters. There has been some evidence that residents stockpiled old furniture, appliances, tires, and refuse waiting for the "clean up" which allowed free disposal. The original intent of these neighborhood clean -ups was to clean litter and debris from the public right of way, alleys, etc. In recent years, we have encouraged neighborhood groups to provide information to residents on options to dispose of old furniture and recycling options as well as encouraging the litter pick -ups. Both Paul Schultz and DMASW Education Coordinator Bev Wagner have spoken at a number of neighborhood association meetings regarding this topic. The City has also funded a number of neighborhood beautification efforts initiated by neighborhood groups including landscaping improvements in the Washington Street traffic diverters, flower planting /landscaping at Grant Park, Jackson Park, Avon Park, 1 1 th Street gateway, and the 2 Street Island across from Cathedral. The Community Development Advisory Commission could review the Neighborhood Grant Program. One possibility for the Commission to consider would be to prioritize funding for proposed projects which address one of the recommendations of the Safe Community Task Force. Encl. 1 Annual NENA Neighborhood Cleanup — A Big Success !! The first annual NENA Neighborhood Cleanup project was held on Saturday, May 15 2010 from 9a.m. to noon. The weather cooperated with a perfect bright, sunny summer day. About thirty volunteers pitched in to cover the north end area from east of Central Avenue to Pinard St. and north to south from 22n up to 32n Sts. Participants included the energetic Boy Scouts from Troop 94 (sponsored by UAW) along with Scout leaders and parents; the officers and regular attendees of North End Neighborhood Association monthly meetings, and several high- spirited Neighborhood Children who gladly pitched in with the volunteers on their street. Th group split into six teams to cover the whole area. Thanks to Neighborhood Development Specialist Jerelyn O'Conner for arranging a Small Neighborhood Grant and the City for providing supplies — trash bags, grabbers gloves and safety vests. Volunteers wore lime -green Tee Shirts with "NENA — Keeping It Clean" on the front. We received compliments from neighbors who appreciated our efforts to help keep our North End neighborhoods CLEAN, QUIET, and SAFE. Afterwards, everyone met back at the Comisky Community Center to enjoy a free lunch and refreshments, as well as some good old neighborly fellowship. C1) RO ® Inside ➢ Upcoming Meetings ➢ Annual Yard Sale Coming Up ! ➢ Past Meeting Highlights ➢ NENA Spring Clean -up 2010 ➢ Upcoming Events North End Neighborhood Association 2528 Jackson St. Dubuque, IA 52001 NEWSLETTER North End Neighborhood Association ffs Happy Volunteers at our 1S NENA Neighborhood Clean -up We Care About Our Neighborhoods I T I 111 d11 ' I III iIn i"11II'11 1111 1 'IP ""`AUTO"SCH 5 -DIGIT 52001 JERELYN O'CONNOR 50W13THST DUBUQUE IA 52001 -4805 PRSTD STC US POSTAGE F DUBUQUE.] PERMIT #47