Volume I, Issue III AUTUMN 2004 Neighbors on the Move: The Galveston Neighborhood ver the years, the Galveston Neighborhood Organization has become a role model for other neighborhoods wishing to organize a traditional neighborhood group or simply reviving one that already exists. They promote safety, community engagement, and focus on revitalizing their neighborhood. O “ The best leaders are very often the best listeners. They have an open mind. They are not interested in having their own way but in finding the best way.” --Wilfred Peterson The group's leader, Joe Diaz has lived in the neighborhood for more than thirty years. Joe is the quintessential leader, with a presence as warm as it is welcoming, which probably accounts for the reason that the Galveston Neighborhood meetings are so well attended. In addition to organizing the neighborhood meetings, Diaz publishes a neighborhood newsletter in both English and Spanish, which is circulated to all households within their boundaries. The Galveston Neighborhood Newsletter is unique because not only is it a vital communication tool, but it is a true grassroots effort to get the community involved in the neighborhood and sustain those efforts over time. Neighbors have formed informal partnerships with the local elementary school and the City. The bi-monthly meetings are held in the Galveston school's multi-purpose room. Inside this Issue: Neighborhood Classes Traffic Calming Building Social Capital Preservation Registry Map Grants Available 2 3 4 5 6 8 Neighbors have worked closely with the City to make enhancements. Major improvements were made to Galveston Meadows Basin, including the addition of drinking fountains, benches, soccer goals, playground equipment and lighting. In addition to the basin improvements, sidewalks were added along the perimeter of the school. The quality of the housing stock in the neighborhood has significantly improved. Through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program 34 homes have undergone rehabilitation over the past three years. When asked what makes the Galveston Neighborhood so successful, Patrick Tyrrell, Chandler Community Development Coordinator replied, “it is truly a place where dedicated neighbors have committed to helping one another. It’s the neighbors who make concerted efforts to communicate with one another about what is going on [in the neighborhood], and what resources are available." The Galveston Neighbors have learned that although neighborhood work can be a slow, messy business; consistent, long-term commitment to neighborhoods gets results. For more information about the Galveston Neighborhood Organization, contact Neighborhood Programs, at (480) 782-3227. Galveston Neighborhood Boundaries: NEIGHBORHOOD Classes The Leadership Centre Achieving CC&R Compliance October 23, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. CC&R enforcement is much more than issuing violation notices. Learn successful strategies of a master planned community and how they keep residents in compliance while creating a community atmosphere; compare Code Compliance similarities of most CC&Rs and City Codes. Legal Aspects September 25, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. The practical foundations on the legal aspects of HOAs. Learn current industry trends. Budgets, Financial Reports & Reserve Studies September 11, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Not a CPA? Learn how to build an accurate budget that will report the true financial condition of your association; Learn budget prep 101 … who to call and why; the good, the bad, and the truth behind cash or accrual accounting; reserve studiesmore than an educated guess and why they are an important budgeting tool. Transition: Developer To Homeowner Control October 9, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. This class is designed to help homeowners in new associations through the process of transition. Learn a checklist of responsibilities for developer / builders and the resident board. Landscape Maintenance & Water Conservation September 25, 2004 October 23, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Weeds, turf, trees, shrubs, drip lines, common areas, front yards ….. when to plant, what to plant and where to plant. Learn the basics of Arizona plant material and water conservation tips. Learn about common area improvements, composting, water wise plants, flowers and starting a garden. Conflict Resolution December 11, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Everyone deals with conflict on a daily basis, at home, at work or your neighborhoods. Learn what you can do to transform conflict from a negative influence on your life into a positive opportunity to reach agreement in a peaceful, harmonious way. Learn origins and responses to conflict; identify essential principles of conflict resolution; recognize and use problem-solving processes. Communication Techniques October 9, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. More than e-mail and cell phones. Learn ways to reach participants within you group, homeowners associations and community; learn creative communication techniques. HOA 101 November 20, 2004 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Your HOA is a business. Learn the basics to keep this business running smoothly. Review common language found in CC&Rs and bylaws, duties and obligations of the board, and your rights and obligations as homeowners. All classes are held at Chandler-Gilbert Community College located at 2626 E. Pecos Rd., Chandler, AZ Registration is required. Registration Cost is $25. For more information on the classes listed here, please contact The Leadership Centre: Web: http://www.theleadershipcentre.org E-mail: tlc@theleadershipcentre.org Phone: (480) 732-7174 PROCESS FOR INITIATING AND EVALUATING NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES 1) A resident calls or writes to the City's Traffic Engineering section to report a problem involving excessive traffic volume and/or traffic speed along a local or collector street through a residential area. and to form a Committee of residents willing to work on identification and evaluation of traffic calming measures. 7) City staff assists the surveys conditions (street type, street design, land uses, and traffic volume and/or speeds). Committee in evaluating the effectiveness and potential adverse impacts of neighborhood traffic calming measures desired by the Committee. 3) Based on the survey of 8) A second 2) Traffic Engineering staff conditions, measures with minor impacts are suggested to the resident, as appropriate for conditions. 4) If minor impact measures have already been implemented in the neighborhood, but these measures are not acceptable to the resident(s) and follow-up surveys by Traffic Engineering staff indicate that the minor impact measures were ineffective, a traffic calming project is suggested. 5) The resident completes a Traffic Calming Request form provided by the City, showing the names of at least five residents from separate households in the neighborhood who are willing to assist City staff with identification and evaluation of traffic calming measures. Upon receipt of this form, Traffic Engineering staff helps the neighborhood group to organize and distribute notice of a neighborhood meeting on traffic calming. 6) A neighborhood meeting is held to identify traffic-related concerns, to establish the area of concern, TRAFFIC CALMING neighborhood meeting is held to obtain comments on measures proposed by the Committee. If proposed measures are not favored by a majority of residents, the Committee may choose to continue to work on evaluating alternative measures, to circulate petitions, or to discontinue the traffic calming project. 9) When the second or subsequent neighborhood meeting(s) indicates that measures proposed by the Committee are generally acceptable, petitions provided by the City are circulated by the Committee to demonstrate the required level of area-wide support. Generally, 75 percent of the residents in the affected area must be in favor of the traffic calming measure, including 100 percent of those property owners who would be located within 100 feet of speed humps, diverters, traffic circles, chicanes, chokers or similar traffic calming devices. 10) City staff estimates implementation costs for measures found to be warranted, and the project is ranked by Traffic Engineering staff relative to other traffic calming projects under consideration. Highest priority projects will be funded to the extent of funds available for traffic calming in the current fiscal year. For more information on evaluation criteria, petition requirements, warrants for implementation and financing information, please visit Traffic Engineering on the world wide web at http://www.chandleraz.gov/ click on Transportation, click on Traffic Calming Measures and Traffic Volumes, or call Traffic Engineering, at (480) 782-3454. Civic Engagement In America Report Available Online T he Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America,an exciting initiative of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, focused on expanding what we know about our levels of trust and community engagement and on developing strategies to increase civic participation. Their final report, "Bettertogether" available free of charge at www.BetterTogether.org. What You Can Do To Build Social Capital 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Organize a social gathering to welcome a new neighbor Attend town meetings Register to vote and vote Support local merchants Donate blood (with a friend!) Start a community garden Mentor someone of a different ethnic or religious group Surprise a new neighbor by making a favorite dinnerand include the recipe Tape record your parents' earliest recollections and share them with your kids Plan a vacation with friends or family Avoid gossip Help fix someone's flat tire Organize or participate in a sports league Join a gardening club Attend home parties when invited Become an organ donor or blood marrow donor. Attend your children's athletic contests, plays and recitals Get to know your children's teachers Start a monthly tea group Speak at or host a monthly brown bag lunch series at your local library Sing in a choir Get to know the clerks and salespeople at your local stores Attend PTA meetings Audition for community theater or volunteer to usher Attend school plays Start or join a carpool 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. Answer surveys when asked Give your park a weatherproof chess/checkers board Play cards with friends or neighbors Give to your local food bank Walk or bike to support a cause and meet others Join or start a babysitting cooperative Attend Memorial Day parades and express appreciation for others Form a local outdoor activity group Participate in political campaigns Attend a local budget committee meeting Form a computer group for local senior citizens Start a lunch gathering or a discussion group with coworkers Plan a "Walking Tour" of a local historic area Eat breakfast at a local gathering spot on Saturdays Have family dinners and read to your children Host a block party or a holiday open house Start a fix-it group-friends willing to help each other clean, paint, garden, etc. Offer to serve on a town committee Offer to rake a neighbor's yard Host a potluck supper before your City Meeting Take dance lessons with a friend Say "thanks" to public servants - police, firefighters, town clerk… Join a nonprofit board of directors When somebody says "government stinks," suggest they help fix it Hold a neighborhood barbecue For 90 additional ideas, visit: www.bettertogether.org FACT OIDS: We are bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues. Quitting smoking or joining a club, it’s a tough call which would improve your life expectancy more. Joining one group cuts your odds of dying over the next year in half. Joining two groups cuts it by three quarters. Each 10 minutes of additional commuting time cuts all forms of social capital by 10 % 10 % less church-going, 10 % fewer club meetings, 10 % fewer evenings with friends, etc. Social capital is the best variable to successfully predict levels of tax compliance state-by-state. If you had to choose between 10% more cops on the beat or 10% more citizens knowing their neighbors’ first names, the latter is a better crime prevention strategy. If you had to choose between 10% more teachers or 10% more parents being involved in their kids’ education, the latter is a better route to educational achievement. Family dinners and family vacations or even just sitting and talking with your family are down by 1/3 in last 25 years. Having friends over to the house is down by 45% over last 25 years. Participation in clubs and civic organizations has been cut by more than 1/2 over last 25 years. Involvement in community life, such as public meetings is down by 35% over last 25 years. Church attendance is down by roughly 1/3 since 1960s. Philanthropy as fraction of income is down by nearly 1/3 since 1960s. http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro/factoids.htm Preserve? WHY ecoming a preservationist doesn't require learning lots of esoteric vocabularly, buying an old house, or suffering through a boring lecture. Fun, everyday activities such as going to the movies and taking a walk are great ways to enjoy America's heritage and protect it at the same time. Learn more with the National Trust's list of 10 easy ways to preserve. B 1. Explore your family's history. Show your kids the places where you went to school or where you got married; take your parents to a place that's important in your life. 2. Walk or bike. Getting out of your car allows you to appreciate the buildings and parks that make up the place you live, and you'll also have a much better chance of catching up with your friends and neighbors. 3. Shop on Main Street. Traditional commercial districts not only have appealing buildings-look up and admire the detail of the upper floors-but they also feature locally-owned stores that are vital parts of your community. 4. Tour your hometown. Visit a historic site in your area or stop by the local historical society or museum. Check the events calendar in the newspaper or on the Web, then go to one of the street fairs or ethnic festivals or neighborhood tours you've always meant to enjoy. 5. Read all about it. Every community has a book about its local history, and many have more than one. They're available at the local library (often a historic place itself) or at the historical society. 6. Entertain yourself surrounded by history. Attend live performance or movie at a historic theater, or eat at a restaurant in an historic building. If you like the atmosphere, tell the owner or host. 7. Join an organization -- even better, more than one -dedicated to preservation. 8. Sleep in a historic place. There are historic inns and B&B across the country. 9. Ask your neighbors about your neighborhood. Talk to people who've lived on your street longer than you have. Find out what they remember about living there, and about the people who have moved on. 10. Visit some sacred history. Churches are often among a community's oldest and most beautiful buildings, and cemeteries reveal the fascinating lives those who came before. Source: http://www.nationaltrust.org/why _preserve.html?cat=7 N42 Neighborhood CITY OF CHANDLER REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOODS N1 N26 N7 N44 N25 N10 N28 N35 N17 N30 N16 N43 N31 N19 N38 N22 Alamosa Estates N2 Arden Park N3 Arrowhead Meadows N4 Barrington HOA N5 Carino Estates HOA N6 Carizal HOA N7 Chandler Crossing Estates N8 Creekwood Ranch N9 Crestview Chateux N10 Dawn N11 Dobson Place N22 Old West Manor III N23 Park Village N24 Pecos Ranch Estates N25 Premiere at Desert Breeze HOA N26 Ray Ranch N27 San Marcos Estates N28 San Vincente N29 Silverbush N30 Silvergate III N31 Sonoma Village N32 Sorento N33 Springfield Lakes Reflection & Discovery N12 Driftwood Ranch N20 N40 N34 Sunbird Golf Resort N13 Evergreen Condominium Assoc. N35 Sunstone II N14 Fox Crossing N36 Superstition Ranch CA N36 N15 Galveston N3 N13 N15 N23 N11 N39 N32 N12 N41 N29 N21 N18 N27 N24 Is Your Neighborhood Registered? N37 Symphony II Estates N16 Greater Corona N38 The Cove at Tiburon N17 Highland Heights N39 The Springs HOA N18 Kempton Crossing N40 Townes at South Meadow N19 Marlboro N41 Trade Winds at Twelve Oaks N20 Mission Manor at Ray Ranch N42 Tremaine Park N21 Monte Vista No. 37 N43 Warner Ranch Phase III N44 Wellington Estates of Gila Springs HOA N6 N2 N5 The Neighborhood Partnership Program was designed to foster greater communication between neighborhood groups and the City of Chandler. Neighborhood Programs, initiated this program to identify and support existing neighborhoods, and assist new neighborhood groups. The program is designed to provide a direct link between your neighborhood and the City of Chandler. The registry is also useful to city staff, who may contact your neighborhood as various issues arise. N14 N1 N37 N8 N4 For more information on the Neighborhood Partnership Program, or to request an application, please contact Neighborhood Programs at 480-782-3214. N16 N34 N N33 SAVE-THE-DATE Did you know the City of Chandler Neighborhood Matching Grant Program provides matching funds of up to $5,000 to organized neighborhood groups and homeowners associations? The program is designed to assist neighborhood groups to strengthen the social network of their community while dealing creatively with important concerns. efforts and see choral groups as occasions of democracy. We will become a better place when assessing social capital impact becomes a standard part of decision making." Lew Feldstein Vice Mayor Phill Westbrooks Mayor Boyd W. Dunn Neighborhood Programs Mail Stop 414 P.O. Box 4008 Chandler, AZ 85244-4008 OCTOBER 2 fighting tools, treat picnics as public health Councilmembers Bob Caccamo Lowell Huggins Matt Orlando Martin Sepulveda Donna Wallace To request a copy of the guidelines and application, or to register for the orientation workshop, please contact Pam Meadows, at (480) 782-3249. "We need to look at front porches as crime Front Porch News is published by Neighborhood Programs 215 E. Buffalo Street Chandler, AZ 85225 Ph: 480-782-3214 Fax: 480-782-3009 Neighborhoods who are interested in submitting a grant request are strongly encouraged to attend a Grant Seeker Orientation Workshop. The next workshop is scheduled for October 2, 2004 at 10 a.m. will be held at 215 E. Buffalo Street in the South Atrium Conference Room.