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Introductory guide Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor

Community PlanningThe Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance is a neighborhood-based planning initiative proposed by Mayor Masiello, as part of the City of Buffalo’s ongoing Comprehensive Planning efforts, that will seek to involve citizens in the creation of Community-Based Action Plans.

The Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance is also a community building process, whereby community members have an official voice in determining the future direction of their own neighborhoods. It builds off of past planning and visioning efforts, including the Mayor’s Neighborhood Summits, the vision for tomorrow process, and other citizen participation efforts.

• Include diverse individuals and groups in the process of improving the community;

• Establish new partnerships within the community; • Build the community’s capacity to address complex problems;• Improve conditions such as housing, education, recreation

and the physical environment;• Improve public policies and services that impact the

community; and• Improve the quality of life for all.

As a result, the City of Buffalo’s Comprehensive Plan will become a dynamic document that guides the future of the City according to a common vision, with corresponding goals and objectives, developed within the community. It will be a unique partnership between residents and the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

The Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance will employ a collaborative community planning process that will work to:

Why do we need the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance?

As we begin the 21st Century, Buffalo, the City of Good Neighbors, must recognize that community members possess valuable insights with regard to what makes a healthy, viable community. As the primary stakeholders, residents should have an opportunity to proactively guide how public resources are invested in their own back yards and what their neighborhoods will look like in the future.

Introductory guide Good Neighbors’ Planning alliance

What are the projected benefits of the Planning Alliance?

The benefits of the Planning Alliance will be a healthy, energized community with a renewed sense of pride and ownership. Through the Planning Alliance the citizens will chart a course for the future of the City that will include improvements in public safety, infrastructure, recreational opportunities, sustainable economic growth, cultural riches, and a diverse and participatory governmental process. In essence, the benefits of the Planning Alliance will be a renewed celebration of Buffalo - the City of Good Neighbors, and Good Neighborhoods.

Who will be the primary Partners in the Planning Alliance?

The City of Buffalo, led by the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning will be the primary sponsor of this process. United Neighborhoods has been signed on as a formal partner in this unique effort, and will provide training and community outreach assistance. Other partners will be recruited, including neighborhood residents, local churches, colleges and universities, neighborhood business associations, and a wide array of community-based organizations.

As sponsors, the Office of Strategic Planning has put together a dedicated team of professionals and planning interns who will be assigned to work with specific planning communities.

While in the beginning, the Planning Alliance will rely heavily upon the efforts of City of Buffalo personnel and the efforts of volunteer chairpersons, once the planning councils are formed, the role of City personnel will diminish over time. Eventually, the city will take on an advisory role as a contributing partner and assistance provider. Volunteer participation will be the driving force behind the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance.

When will the neighborhood planning process begin and what is the projected time line for action?

The process formally began with the first round of meetings in August 2001 and will follow an 18 month process of developing Community Action Plans.

It is important to recognize that other Cities have allowed 3-5 years for the process to move from organization to the creation of neighborhood action plans that are adopted as part of their City’s Comprehensive Plan. And, although we are aiming to produce such plans within a 18-month timeframe, it is important to realize that some communities may take more or less time to complete their action plans.

In addition, this is the first, and most important, step in a process that will be ongoing. Our community action plans will be evolving documents that will likely require evaluation and revision through the continued efforts of the community.

How will the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance be financed?

A proposed budget has been developed that includes proposed staffing and resource levels and has been included in the CDBG budget. It is intended that a combination of public and private funding will be secured to fund the project over a three-year pilot period, at which time the project and its budget will be re-evaluated.

The budget will be comprised of both cash and in-kind contributions. Potential funding sources include, but are not limited to: Community Development Block Grant funds, local foundations, national foundations, discretionary grants from state and federal sources; and a variety of other private sector sources.

Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning

How Can I Participate?

All Citizens are encouraged to participate in the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance, by simply signing up or coming to a meeting.

Participation can take place on three different levels. A Chair or Co-Chairs will be appointed in each community to assist the City staff in organizing the Planning Councils. A steering committee will also be established, and its members will play an active role in the planning process. All citizens may participate as a member of the community planning council at any time throughout the process.

If you are interested in playing an active role in your community, please contact the Office of Strategic Planning at 851-5035 or fill out the attached form and send it to Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance, Room 920 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202.

Again, ALL citizens will have an opportunity to participate in the planning process. Each planning council will set up its own structure of working groups to address particular issues of concern to their community. This is where the real work of the planning councils will take place, and participation on this level is very important to the success of this effort.

What Resources will be available for implementation of Community Action Plans?

The specific actions identified by the community action plans will serve as a guide for future public investments, including the distribution of Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG), capital improvement funds, and the Mayor’s Neighborhood Matching Fund.

What tools will the Neighborhood Planning Alliance provide or produce?

Throughout the process the planning councils will receive valuable training from a variety of sources, that may include national as well as local training providers. In so doing, existing talents will be combined with outside knowledge to strengthen and enhance the ability of residents to successfully lead the revitalization of their community.

A Community Planning Handbook is being developed that will be distributed to all participants. It will outline the process and provide valuable information on how neighborhood plans can be created and implemented.

In addition, the Community Action Plans themselves will become a tool for revitalization. They will contain a set of very specific actions, outlined and prioritized by neighborhood residents, and could have an immediate impact on neighborhood quality of life.

Who will be responsible for implementation of Community Action Plans?

All Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance participants will share responsibility to ensuring that our plans are implemented.

Throughout the process of developing and prioritizing the action plans, responsibility will be established and assigned for each individual action. Some actions will naturally be the responsibility of the City of Buffalo. Other responsibilities will be taken on by existing community-based organizations, not-for-profit agencies, private sector stakeholders, and/or the planning councils themselves.

Only through active partnerships between the City of Buffalo and the various stakeholders within the community can the residents’ vision be realized. The City can not do it alone, and that is a driving force behind the entire process. Although the City will have very specific obligations, many of the actions will be implemented through partnerships and creative collaboration between a variety of community stakeholders.

Similar programs in other cities have been very successful.

Process Outline Introductory guide Good Neighbors’ Planning alliance

Any interested residents or business representatives have the right to participate in the work of the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance and their Community Planning Council at any time throughout the process. Each Planning Council will follow a community planning process as outlined in Figure 1 below:

Figure 1. Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance Process Outline

Getting Organized1

Info Gathering2

Creating a Vision3

Goal Setting4

Developing an Action Plan5

Implementing the Plan6

Evaluating Efforts & Further Implementation7

Develop appropriate and workable committee structures within each Planning Community; Ensure broad public participation in and support for the planning process; and develop an appropriate process to allow for expression of a full range of viewpoints, opinions, and concerns that will come to light throughout the planning process.

Inventory the planning communities in terms of planning-related information and community assets. Review current investments, ongoing projects and recommendations of the Draft Comprehensive Plan. Evaluate and identify community-based resources within the planning community.

Engage the community in a visioning process that provides an opportunity to develop a statement of what the community wants to be and how it wants to look in the future. The vision statement will be a source of pride for community members who are motivated to work toward the best possible future for their neighborhood.

Establish goals that summarize where each planning community would like to be in the future, based on the vision statements and information acquired during the information gathering phase. The community’s goals will provide a foundation for the planning process to follow.

Identify, clarify and prioritize the strategies and action steps that will be necessary to accomplish community goals and realize community visions. Think creatively about the community’s desired future and the actions that will be necessary in order to get there. Identify partners and responsible parties who will be called upon to assist in accomplishing those goals.

Implement the action steps contained in the action plans and monitor progress being made in completing those action steps. Mobilize community resources and assets to address identified problems and to implement priority action steps. Recommend modifications to the City’s Comprehensive Plan based on the identified priorities.

Continue implementing action steps within the action plans and to monitor progress. Continue to mobilize resources and assets to address problems and implement actions. Evaluate effectiveness and re-assess priorities on a continuing basis in light of progress and unforeseen events.

Community Outreach & Recruitment Will Be Ongoing

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Community Planning

Sign Up To Participate Today!

How Can I Participate in the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance?

Residents of Buffalo are encouraged to continue their involvement in the City’s Comprehensive Planning process by signing up to participate in the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance.

On the form below, please provide your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address so that we can contact you to participate. Please indicate below the level of involvement you wish to have with this process. Remember, ALL Citizens will have an opportunity to participate in the community planning process, at any time throughout the process.

I want to participate in the Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance

I want to be considered for a leadership position on my Community’s Planning Council

I am a resident of the _____________________ Planning Community. (Please use the Community Planning Area Map on the back of this form to determine planning community)

I am not a resident, but would like to participate in thePlanning Community because, (Please explain, for example: “I own a business in the area”.)

Name:

Address:

Telephone: (H) (W)

E-Mail:

Mail to: Good Neighbors’ Planning Alliance Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning Room 920 City Hall Buffalo, New York 14202

Phone: (716) 851-5035

Fax: (716) 854-0172

E-Mail: planning@ch.ci.buffalo.ny.us

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Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning

City of Buffalo

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