Great Neighbourhoods ARPAOctober 30, 2009

• Great Neighbourhoods

•Introduction•Evolution of GN•GN ‐ this is it!•Wrap Up and Jim Diers

•Question and Answer

Presentation Overview

The Evolution ofGreat Neighbourhoods

• Research• Framework• Corporate Improvement Team Process• Governance• Transition to Operational

Researched Other Cities

• Toronto• Vancouver• Seattle• Baltimore• Philadelphia• Washington

Researched Other Cities

• Best practices– Strong Commitment to neighbourhoods– High impact strategic investment– Coordinated multi departmental approach– Ensure city building Strategies and Service match with district

neighbourhood service delivery– Web pages devoted to neighbourhood service delivery– Neighbourhood Service Centers

Creating the Made in Edmonton Approach

Framework

Governance Structure

Corporate Improvement Team Process

• Provided feedback on the framework

• New ideas

• Challenged the Framework concepts

• How to make Operational

Corporate Improvement Team Process

• Short focused and intensive

• 16 - three hour session in one month

• Over 60 staff from across the corporation

• 5 Teams broken into corporate improvement areas

• Final review of recomendatons

Great NeighbourhoodsThis Is It!

Great Neighbourhoods Goes Operational

• Incremental• Budget• Staff• Infrastructure• CIT Process• Committee

Office of Great Neighbourhoods

• Director of the Office of Great Neighbourhoods

• Great Neighbourhood District Coordinators

• Senior Planner

• Revitalization Coordinators

• Capital City Clean Up

• Neighbourhood Empowerment Team

Great Neighbourhoods Corporate Steering Committee

• High level

• Identify people and resources

• Approve/Support strategy, direction and scope

• Approve recommendation from OGN and other GN committees

Great Neighbourhood Advisory Committee Role

• Review recommendations

• Scrutinize plans

• Review issues

Great Neighbourhood Advisory Committee Role

• Discuss solutions

• Assign department staff

GNDC

Coordinate – Streamline - Facilitate & Influence

GNDC Connection

• Influence• Connecting

people and Departments

• Information• Coordination

OGN

GNDC

Projects, Programs, Services

Issue Resolution

District, Cross/Multi Departmental

•Social Worker

•CRC

•Transportation Engineer

•Land Use Planner

•Parks Planner

•Bylaw Enforcement

•EPS (Community Liaison Officer)

•Neighbourhood Revitalization Coordinator

•Project Managers

City of Edmonton/Admin.

Web Portal

Neighbourhood Revitalization

Alberta Avenue

Project leadership

Shared Vision

Challenges

Attributes

Process

Community Consultation

Physical Components

Community Components

Streetscape Improvements

Safe Streets

Beautification and Cleanliness

IMPACTS

Impacts

“Think about the many good, the many excellent things happening in this city. Along 118th Avenue east of 97th Street, a slow transformation is happening, from grungy pawn shops and bums to a colourful close-knit community. The city is doing its bit with a first-rate streetscape retrofit.”

-- Edmonton Sun Columnist Graham Hicks,September 10, 2009

Top of the List

Before

After

16 busineses have had façade improvements

Façade improvements

• Develop community directory, community events, and resource centres. Eight annual events now take place.

• Develop activities to build a sense of community

Programs and services

• 19 new businesses on 118 Ave

• Nina Haggerty Centre for Arts built, reinforcing area’s arts focus

Business development

• Departments already have resources assigned to the area.

• Revitalization Strategy focuses those resources on achieving the priorities and vision of the community.

• City Council investing over $35 million over 5 years in Alberta Avenue.

City investment in Alberta Avenue

• City Council has committed $150 million over 10 years to support neighbourhood revitalization projects.

• City Council also created a $150,000 matching grant to help start and sustain community improvement projects or activities.

City investment in Alberta Avenue

Alberta Avenue

Jasper Place

McCauley

RESULTS

Handy Bakery, before and after façade improvement

• Five blocks have undergone streetscape improvements. Five blocks are underway.

• More than 1,200 items picked up from homes, alleys

• 92% compliance on 300 community standards bylaw notices issued

Clean Up

• Good progress, still some work to do

• Actual crime dropped 24%

• 107 drug houses were reported

Crime Statistics

Sense of community

• Community Art Coffee House• Gallery, live performances, meeting place

• City staff need opportunities to work on solutions together, and to work collaboratively with the community.

• Housing section was not involved. Community did not identify housing specifically as an issue. Those staff would have provided a different perspective.

Learnings

• Design charrette workshop important.• International experts brought instant credibility.

Dan Burden and Jim Diers led various workshops.

• Focus was on what was possible (not whether it was possible)

Learnings

• Timing is everything.

• Council’s leadership, designated City staff, resources, investment, and a community willing to participate – all key components.

• Duration of activities is important

Learnings

Physical improvements, community events, business development, community involvement, reduced crime: factors in changing Alberta Avenue.

Neighbourhood Engagement

• Aim: To inspire staff and community volunteers to make their neighbourhoods the places they want them to be by engaging assets in the community and increasing connections to build a sense of community ownership.

• Key Message: People are the answer to many of the challenges Edmonton’s neighbourhoods are facing.

• In mid-November 2009, the City will conduct three "Community Evenings" with Jim Diers, renowned community engagement expert. 800+ participants expected.

• In February 2010, Jim Diers will return to Edmonton for workshops with select grassroots community volunteers and stakeholders. This will lead to small grants in late Spring 2010.

Neighbourhood Engagement

Jim Diers

Thoughts to Leave With• Build from the strengths of your neighbourhoods

• Partner where ever possible

• Coordinate across municipal departments

• Coordinate with the community

• Invest now or risk the cost be greater later

Questions