Historical Note
The Neighborhood Planning and Assistance Program was established in 1988
with Resolution 27709, which was passed in 1987. The City Neighborhood Council
(CNC) was created by the same Resolution, and part of its initial purpose was
to implement the Neighborhood Planning and Assistance Program. The initial
responsibilities of CNC were to review and make recommendations regarding City
budget issues and provide advice on policies necessary to the first year
implementation of the Neighborhood Planning and Assistance Program.
Composition of the CNC included two representatives from each District
Council. The CNC was staffed by the Office of Neighborhoods, which was also
established in 1988. Community Service Center areas were designated as the
neighborhood districts from which the District Council members were chosen.
The resolution was amended in 1989 to add Downtown as a neighborhood
district and to make District Council membership more flexible. The CNC's
responsibilities included coordinating and reviewing the Neighborhood Matching
Fund process, the Neighborhood Budget Process and Neighborhood Planning
activities. It also provided a means for the discussion of common problems and
their solutions. The CNC met monthly at locations rotated around the City.
In 1993, the role of the CNC was re-examined. Although disbanding the
CNC was considered, the concept of using the District Chairs as the backbone of
the CNC was approved. The resolution passed in 1994 designated the CNC
representative to a single District Chair, opening the task force membership to
all interested people. The functions of the CNC continued much the same and
included reviewing Neighborhood Matching Fund awards and developing ways for
neighborhood organizations to influence the City's budget and engage in
neighborhood planning.
The CNC continues as a citizen-led advisory group, comprising elected
members from each of the City’s thirteen Districts. Its purpose continues to be
to provide city-wide coordination for the Neighborhood Matching Fund,
Neighborhood Budget Prioritization, and Neighborhood Planning programs. The CNC
also continues to provide a forum for a discussion of common neighborhood
issues and is available for advice on policies necessary for the effective and
equitable implementation of the Neighborhood Planning and Assistance Program.
Its monthly meetings are open to the public.
Content Description
The records of the City Neighborhood Council (CNC) date from 1988 to
1996 and measure 2.2 cubic feet. The records are arranged in three subgroups:
Organization and Committees, Minutes and Agendas, and Audiotapes. Through CNC
agendas, minutes, and committee correspondence, the CNC records reflect issues
of importance to the CNC. These include the Matching Fund, district boundaries,
the role of the CNC, and neighborhood planning. Skip Knox, Joan Bateman, Susie
Groves, Suzie Burke, Jan Drago and Chris Leman are a few of the individuals
active in the CNC and whose work is reflected in the records.
The Committees and Agendas date from 1988 to 1994 but are supplemented
by audio cassette tapes of the meetings. The guest speaker or topic of the
meeting is noted, if there was one, as well as the location of the meeting,
since the location affected who attended the meeting. There are neither agendas
or tapes for every meeting. The tapes for which there are no agendas or minutes
date from 1997 to 1999. There are neither agendas nor tapes for meetings dating
from years 1995 to 1996. Committee records augment the regular CNC meetings for
these years and can be used to document the CNC's activities during this time.
Arrangement
The records are arranged in three subseries:
Subseries I: Organization and Committees
Subseries II: Minutes and Agendas
Subseries III: Audiotapes
Within each subseries, materials are arranged chronologically.