From: Mayor Bauman
Dear AAM Members:
I write to ask for your thoughts and ideas regarding my proposal for the development of an Office of Neighborhood Support. As background, attached is an excerpt from my State of the City speech that explains the proposal.
I introduced a Resolution to the Common Council that outlines a broad range of objectives for the Office. The intent is to use those objectives as a framework for a wider discussion. My vision is that the Office of Neighborhood Support will evolve over time into a City department. Because it is unrealistic to expect that all of the objectives will be implemented in its first years, it would be very helpful if you would let me know which objectives you think have a higher priority.
I will be conducting a workshop at the September 15, 2001 Neighborhoods '01: Tools and Tours Conference to give participants an opportunity for input in the development of this new organizational direction for Madison. You are invited to attend. For information about the conference, please contact Jule Stroick via email at [log in to unmask], or phone at 267-8744.
Please provide your comments to me via E-mail ([log in to unmask]), regular mail, or by contacting my Chief of Staff, Enis Ragland, at 266-4611. Please feel free to distribute this message widely.
I would like to have your comments by September 8, 2001. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Susan J.M. Bauman
Mayor
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State of the City Address July 17,2001
Neighborhoods are what make a city. As neighborhoods go, so goes the quality of life in the City of Madison. The Common Council, in identifying its first goal area for which it wished to develop success indicators, recognized the importance of neighborhoods. But, the Mayor's Office and the Common Council have recognized the importance of neighborhoods for many years prior to this.
Approximately 10 years ago, Mayor Soglin developed the concept of Neighborhood Resource Teams in the challenged neighborhoods of our city. These interdepartmental teams, made up of representatives from the Police Department, the Health Department, the Inspection Unit, CDBG, and in some cases, Library, Housing, Community Services, Streets and other agencies, have served to address the needs of challenged neighborhoods and provide services in a coordinated fashion. By all accounts, the Neighborhood Resource Team concept has been successful. Since taking office in 1997, I have felt the need to expand the interagency team concept to cover all areas of the City. Although perhaps there are not as many issues in non-challenged neighborhoods, we are all painfully aware of those occasions when a problem occurs in a neighborhood and there is an uncoordinated response from the many agencies that might be involved.
After almost three years of discussion of how to move from Neighborhood Resource Teams based in challenged neighborhoods to covering the entire city with Neighborhood Resource Teams, I am pleased to announce that by the end of 2001 every area of the City will be covered by a Neighborhood Resource Team. Much of the City is already covered. A recent report from an expanded neighborhood team indicated success in addressing an issue in record time due to the readiness of the team in a non-challenged neighborhood.
I have provided you with copies of the map and a brochure on NRTs and ask that you make note of which team or teams covers your district and that you work with the Neighborhood Resource Team leader when issues develop in your district that require a coordinated interdepartmental response. A website is also being developed that will allow citizens to learn more about the teams, which one covers their area, and how to make contact with the team leader.
Since its inception, Neighborhood Resource Teams have been led and guided by Enis Ragland, my Chief of Staff. The fact that the Mayor's Office has taken the lead in the development and maintenance of Neighborhood Resource Teams demonstrates the importance of these teams to the well being of the City. However, I believe it is time that Neighborhood Resource Teams be institutionalized and be recognized as part of City government, and not dependent on who is in the Mayor's Office.
While the City has emphasized neighborhoods in its discussions, its goals, and its design for the future, the organizational structure of the City does not reflect the neighborhood emphasis. As someone recently pointed out, of our 30 or so agencies, none contain the word "neighborhood" in its name. We have an Office of Business Assistance. We all know where to go when we have questions about recycling (George Dreckmann's name is synonymous with recycling).
But, we do not have a focal point for our neighborhood planning efforts, our Neighborhood Resource Team efforts, our Planning Council coordination, our community leadership development efforts, or our financial programs such as the Community Enhancement program or the Neighborhood Planning Grant program.
Over the last several months, I have had numerous discussions with Mark Olinger and the management staff of the Department of Planning and Development; the P&D Management Team has had numerous discussions; I have met with all agency heads to discuss neighborhoods; and have met with the facilitators of the Planning Councils. Tonight I am introducing a resolution that calls for the creation of an Office of Neighborhood Support as part of the 2002 budget process.
I am introducing it for referral to a number of committees for discussion purposes. I seek additional thoughts and ideas as to how an Office of Neighborhood Support, or Office of Neighborhoods, or Office of Neighborhood Life, should be designed.
I envision this as an evolving office that, ultimately, might become a new agency. If that were to happen, most of the staff would come from existing agencies. I am excited by what might be the first truly innovative structural change for the City of Madison in many years. I see this as an opportunity for better coordination and consolidation of all that we are currently doing in and with neighborhoods of the City of Madison.
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