Introduction
City of Valparaiso Neighborhood Toolkit The City of Valparaiso thrives when our neighborhoods are vibrant, safe and strong. The Neighborhood Toolkit has been created to support residents who have an interest in coming together to start or strengthen a neighborhood through organization. The Toolkit offers information on how to organize your neighborhood, launch projects, celebrate with neighborhood events and more. These tools are all available to neighbors, making Valparaiso a great place to live, work and play.
Introduction
Table of Contents Introduction Welcome Letter Introduction to Valparaiso’s Neighborhoods
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Organizing your Neighborhood Creating a Neighborhood Association Key Ingredients for a Successful Neighborhood Association Running an Effective Neighborhood Meeting
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Hosting a Neighborhood Block Party
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Talk to Us City Resources Available for Neighborhoods Navigating Your Local Government
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Ideas for your neighborhood Engaged Green Healthy Safe
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Conclusion
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Resources and References
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Templates
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Survey Data Map
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Guide for Planning your First Meeting Meeting Flyer Sample Meeting Agenda Meeting Sign-In Sheet Sample Association Bylaws Sample Bylaw Organizational Outline
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Introduction
Dear Neighbor, Thank you for your commitment and service to your neighborhood and to Valparaiso. Your hard work, civic engagement and leadership help strengthen and support the City of Valparaiso in the mission to improve the quality of life for all residents. Our city staff and elected officials are here to work with you to create a more livable, vibrant and welcoming city for everyone. Neighborhood groups are an important part of the Valparaiso community. They help identify and address issues and provide opportunities for fellowship. However, neighborhoods are only as strong as the bonds between their residents. As leaders or future leaders of your neighborhood associations, you have taken on the responsibility of fostering those relationships and advocating for the betterment of your community. To support you in your endeavors, we are pleased to present Valparaiso’s new Neighborhood Toolkit, a guide and resource for neighborhood groups. This kit introduces our enhanced neighborhood supports, provides advice on organizing and finding success and shares ideas for how your neighborhood can become more engaged, healthy, safe and green. We hope this is a useful tool for you and your neighbors. We also welcome your ongoing input and invite your feedback. We thank you for your commitment to your neighborhood and community. I look forward to working with you. Sincerely,
Mayor Jon Costas
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Introduction to Valparaiso’s Neighborhoods
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Organizing your neighborhood
Neighborhood Organization
Creating a Neighborhood Association Why Create a Neighborhood Association? Neighborhoods come together for a variety of reasons. Some neighbors may want a more close-knit social feel and envision friendly cookouts, activities for youth in their neighborhood park and book clubs. Others may see a need to be more service-oriented and seek ways to help senior members in the neighborhood, plan for clean-up projects or build a community garden. Some Valparaiso neighborhoods just want to see a former or existing association re-energized and engaged. However, often, neighbors are coming together because of a shared concern or problem in the neighborhood – assembling a collective voice to seek positive change. Knowing why your group is coming together is key to understanding what you want a neighborhood association to look like and what you think it will do for your community in terms of setting realistic goals and action plans. Longterm success depends on seeing the strengths of your neighborhood and understanding how you contribute to the overall health and quality of life in Valparaiso. Please note that building an organization is a process. It can’t be done overnight – be patient. Identify your priorities and build them step by step. Start small and build upward with people who are willing to step up and get involved. Benefits of a neighborhood association include: • Enhanced quality of life; • Creation of a unified voice for your neighborhood; and
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• Empowering neighbors who are willing to make improvements and take on new initiatives.
First steps for your neighborhood organization
What is the difference between a neighborhood association and a homeowner’s association?
Decide how you’re going to define your neighborhood. That means setting physical boundaries for what it means to live in College Hill, Jesse-Pifer or Keystone Commons. This toolkit has a helpful map of some Valparaiso neighborhood boundaries (as defined by residents through a survey). Check out our Neighborhood Directory to see if any of your surrounding neighborhoods have already taken the steps to organize. They could be a great resource to share stories of success and best practices to consider.
A homeowner’s association (HOA), also known as a property owner’s association (POA), is formed by a developer and pertains to a specific subdivision or project. The association provides the framework for the future maintenance of the development’s common grounds and amenities, for instance a pool, clubhouse or common area landscaping. All homeowners are compelled to follow the codes, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs) governing the development and pay association dues.
Once you’ve decided on what neighborhood boundaries make sense, it’s time to spread the word
A neighborhood association is a section of a city with a common identity. Neighborhood associations offer a place to meet friends, exchange information, create projects and priorities, propose solutions and have fun. Your neighborhood will have a clear, organized way to speak to stakeholders and city government so that your voice will be heard as a united message. The City of Valparaiso aims to support both HOAs and Neighborhood Associations with our services and we often refer to both as neighborhood groups.
and, if possible, a simple printed flyer with the meeting time and location (sample included in the toolkit). Include contact information for someone in your volunteer group who can field any questions. Before the first meeting you’ll want to work together to create some common ground rules for the group. Examples may include acting for the benefit of the group, being inclusive and welcoming, tracking meeting attendance and contact information and accepting consensus when the group’s decision isn’t the same as your own. Keep in mind that the people stepping up to improve the neighborhood are volunteering their time to lend a hand, so you want to make sure that everyone in the group feels respected and welcomed. View our Guide for Planning your First Neighborhood Meeting in the Templates section of this Toolkit for more considerations to keep in mind.
Determining the organizational structure of your neighborhood group
Figure 2: Cooks Corners Elementary that a group is forming. There are several ways to reach out to your neighbors. The most effective is simply talking to people and getting to know them and what they think of the neighborhood. You might also consider delivering flyers door-to-door, creating a Facebook group, promoting through yard signs and building an email contact to keep people you meet in the loop. Once you’ve identified a handful of neighbors interested enough to start an association, schedule a meeting at a nearby, accessible location. For example, Central Neighborhood Association meets at the library and Banta Neighborhood Association gathers at the Banta Center. Encourage your volunteers to promote the meeting by walking the streets to meet people, offering information
You have two important decisions to make regarding the kind of organization you will establish: 1) whether or not you wish to incorporate; and 2) what tax-exempt status you will apply for if you choose to become exempt. It is recommended to consult an attorney in these areas – perhaps one of your neighbors has this expertise! You may decide that it’s best for your association to become an incorporated nonprofit and tax-exempt. A corporation is simply an intangible entity that is recognized by the law. An advantage of incorporating is that the corporation provides liability protections to its members. The corporation, not the individuals, is the legal entity responsible for its actions. To become a corporation in Indiana, you must file an Articles of Incorporation form with the Secretary of State’s Office. Find an application online1 or call 317-232-6531 . You must be incorporated
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Neighborhood Organization before you can become tax-exempt. Tax-exempt status is determined by the Internal Revenue Service and must be applied for with specific forms, depending on which status is best suited for your association. Make sure you understand the ongoing legal and fiscal requirements before becoming an incorporated, tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Developing a mission statement is another important decision for your group to make early on. While it seems simple, creating a mission statement for the neighborhood association can unify and clarify the goals of the community. The mission statement should be on all agendas and on any communication materials. For example:
and election procedures, methods of filling vacancies, methods for amending bylaws, and procedures for dissolution. Bylaws usually include the method of electing the first board of directors, which may or may not be slightly different from subsequent elections. The terms of the initial board members are often staggered so there will never be complete board turnover in future elections. Check out a set of sample Bylaws in our templates section at the end of this Toolkit.
Key Ingredients for a Successful Neighborhood Association
The mission of the ABC Neighborhood Association is to enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood by providing a forum for sharing information, connecting neighbors, promoting activities and fostering civic involvement. We affirm our intent to build active consensus, broaden participation, act collectively, capitalize on opportunities and manage problems.
• Volunteers – Neighborhood associations typically come together after a core group of volunteers help convene and outline the first few meetings. As more neighbors continue to get involved, your volunteer capacity will grow, and your neighborhood will be able to take on more events and celebrate larger success.
The mission statement should clearly state the aims and values of your association. A mission statement is usually supported by written objectives and goals.
• Leadership – To keep a neighborhood association running smoothly, there needs to be a system of leadership roles and responsibilities. With input from association members, a leader may be elected and can help streamline communication with other members, neighborhood event planning and improvement projects.
Nonprofit organizations and associations usually keep written records in the form of bylaws to guide the organization and provide authorization for its existence. Bylaws are desirable because they define the internal structure of an organization and will serve as a guideline for board procedures long after the group’s founders have moved on. Wellconstructed bylaws are a useful tool in building the organization and attracting new members, because they reflect the image of an organization that is professional, well-managed and aware of its legal responsibilities. The following are matters typically covered in association bylaws: membership categories and qualifications, application and resignation procedures, membership privileges, board size, qualifications of officers, duties and terms of office, description of standing committees, nomination
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• Clear Goals - It is very difficult for a neighborhood association to work together when there is not a clear objective in mind. Defining goals and initiatives will help keep the group on task and moving forward. • Public Input – Possibly the most important part of any neighborhood association is receiving public input. It is critical to keep a pulse of neighbors’ interests and make sure that everyone feels they are being heard. • Partnership – A neighborhood association can receive additional help from organizations
within their community to help strengthen itself. The organizations could be the city, universities, religious institutions or other businesses in the area. • Funding – Many neighborhood projects and events may have a financial component. There are grants that may be available to your neighborhood or you may find someone who has experiencing in fundraising to assist you.
Running an Effective Neighborhood Meeting Regular meetings are important to keep members informed and to discuss neighborhood goals and concerns. Here are some key things to keep in mind to make your meetings as effective as possible. • Publicize the event about three weeks in advance and try to schedule for a repeated date (i.e. 2nd Tuesday of every month) and communicate the meeting through flyers, social media or other ways that your neighbors communicate. • Make an agenda and stick to it. Have copies of the agenda available when members arrive so they can familiarize themselves with the topics and structure while waiting to begin. Encourage participants to speak their minds freely, but stay on schedule. • Sometimes a regular meeting will be scheduled without pressing issues to discuss. Don’t cancel! It is important for groups to have consistent contact. This is an opportunity to bring in a guest speaker, have a neighborhood roundtable discussion, organize a neighborhood tour or have a potluck. Get creative! • Choose a central location that is familiar to the neighbors. Try to estimate the number of attendees so you can choose a space that is comfortable but not so big that people feel lost.
Keep in mind venues like your neighborhood park, the local library (free!) and nearby businesses and organizations. • The space should be arranged to encourage participation. Avoid having all the chairs face the speaker and go for a more engaging set up by placing chairs in a semi- or full circle. • Meetings should be orderly, democratic and efficient. Your association should set some ground rules, so meetings run smoothly. These could be included in the bylaws, so all members are aware of them, such as one person speaks at a time and avoid all derogatory remarks. Many groups choose to use Robert’s Rules of Order2 but use whatever method works best for your group. Remember that after the meeting you’ll want to communicate clearly with your neighbors, so they know what happened and who’s involved. Take formal minutes or even notes to share with others and keep a record of decisions and plans. • To prevent burnout, ideally meetings should not be longer than an hour. • Make everyone feel welcome and keep the meeting upbeat. Encourage everyone to fill out and wear nametags. • Offering cookies, coffee or other snacks is a friendly way to have a more enjoyable meeting. Neighbors can take turns bringing in goodies, or if your budget allows, consider setting aside $10 per meeting for refreshments. • It isn’t always necessary to gather the full group for minor decisions. In these cases, the executive committee or board is better. A scheduled, monthly board meeting is a great way to address these types of issues. • Thank everyone for their time and commitment to improving the neighborhood!
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Hosting a Neighborhood block Party
neighborhood events
Hosting a neighborhood block party There’s no better way for neighbors to start building a better neighborhood than to just get together and have fun. Block parties bring people together and allow neighbors to connect with each other and their neighborhood organization to get involved in what’s next. • Getting started The idea of a neighborhood block party is to bring neighbors together. It’s a good idea to find one or two neighbors to help you with the event. The first step is to create an Organizing Committee that can help coordinate the details. • Time and Location A weekend date mid-May to end of August is a good time to host a block party. It’s a good idea to have alternate rainout day plans. Keep in mind who lives in the neighborhood when setting the hours for the party. If young children or seniors are living near the party area, plan to finish by 8 or 9 p.m. Which location works best may vary depending on your neighborhood. Options may include: a neighbor’s backyard, house, garage, common room in an apartment/condo unit, alley, street or park. Safety and accessibility are important factors when planning! If you want to close down a street or re-direct traffic, you will need to submit your request to the City of Valparaiso’s Board of Works and Safety. Call City Hall a few weeks in advance to learn more at 219-462-1161. To host the party at your neighborhood park, be sure to make the reservation in advance with Valpo Parks3, 219-462-5144. Remember that at the end of the function, public sites need to be cleaned and left in good condition.
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• Neighborhood Outreach Promoting the event to your neighbors is a critical step and should be done at least a couple weeks in advance. Be creative with flyers, social media and word of mouth to spread the news of the block party! A casual approach can be used to inform neighbors as you see them out working in their yards. Using yard signs similar to garage sale signs might be a good way to grab the attention of folks as they are driving in and out of the neighborhood. To reach neighbors in townhouses, apartments and condos, it is best to approach the manager. They will let you know how to get in touch with the residents. You may also want to invite your city councilperson to the event to help build the relationship.
maintained. Decide if pets and alcohol are going to be allowed. Establish a clean-up crew to help make sure the space is picked up before leaving. While the purpose of the block party will be to bring neighbors together for fun, you may also want to take advantage of having your neighbors convened in one place. Set up a sign-in sheet to collect names and contact information to keep the conversation going forward.
• Food Having food at the Block Party is probably the most essential element of a successful event. There are many different options you could use to provide food. Some ideas include: organizing a pot luck where everyone brings a dish; having a barbeque or chili cook-off contest; picnic style where everyone brings their own food; cater the food and have everyone pitch-in for the expense; or see if a neighborhood restaurant or grocery store will donate. Try to keep it simple. • Entertainment and Activities Plan ways to keep children of all ages and adults entertained and engaged throughout the party. Chalk, finger painting, bubbles and hula hoops are all easy activities to keep kids happy. Ask around to see if any neighbors have corn hole or other backyard games that they would be willing to set out for the day. Perhaps a neighbor knows a few good magic tricks or has a karaoke machine to lend their talents. • Details The final event planning details can often go overlooked. Be sure that you have tables to set out food, coolers for drinks and plenty of trash bags ready to go. Nametags can also be a great help where guests can write their names and house number. Institute a bathroom policy “everyone to use his or her own”, so that home security is
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Talk to us
talk to us
Talk to us
Meeting and Group Facilitation Support
City Resources Available to Neighborhoods There are a number of resources available to neighborhoods within the City of Valparaiso that can help your group enhance the quality of life for your neighbors. The Community Engagement Department4 is your partner to connect you with these resources. Contact us today at 219-4621161!
Is your neighborhood group thinking about goal setting, next steps or a vision plan for the future? City staff can facilitate the dialogue with your neighborhood group to help guide the conversation in a productive, positive and meaningful way. Contact us7 at City Hall, 219462-1161, to discuss what would work best for your group! Figure 2: Tower Park
Neighborhood Improvement Grants
Neighborhood Toolkit The Neighborhood Toolkit is a resource for your neighborhood group that may be just forming or who have been established over a period of time. This toolkit offers a variety of information on how to organize your neighborhood, run an effective meeting, host a block party, navigate your local government and more.
The Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program6, funded by the Redevelopment Commission, gives neighborhood groups an opportunity to have direct input and influence into the improvement of Valparaiso’s neighborhoods. Grants are available to neighborhood groups within the city limits with the goal of bringing neighborhoods together, encouraging partnerships between the city and neighborhoods and funding projects that provide community-wide benefit.
Figure 4: Valparaiso Public Library
Neighborhood Directory Determine a key contact to sign up your neighborhood group to be listed on our citywide Neighborhood Directory5. The city can also use this information to send you updates on neighborhood programs, services and opportunities! Learn more and sign up !
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Figure 3: Berkley Park
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talk to us
Navigating your Local Government Since a large part of a neighborhood associations time may be spent advocating for change at the local level, it is important to know how to work with local government. The points below give ideas for how groups like neighborhood associations can effectively work with local government to influence decision making. Neighbors who work together, along with government can effectively solve short‐ and long‐term neighborhood problems. • Have Set Goals in Mind: Know what your neighborhood is trying to accomplish and what its priorities are. Consider how your existing goals align with work of our city departments and board/commissions.
acting. • Follow Up: Follow up on a discussion with a memo summarizing the discussion and its outcome. Check back to see if whatever has been agreed to is being done or to see if decisions are being made. After the decision has been made, check back with the appropriate staff or government official to be certain it is carried out. • Keep the Neighborhood Informed: Use your neighborhood associations meetings and communications to keep everyone informed of progress. Contact the neighbors and friends about what is happening.
• Know Your Issues: Do your homework. Find out who is affected, to what degree and the consequences of no action. Determine which issues will need to be addressed by a local government agency and which will need to be addressed by the neighborhood itself. • Know the Structure and Purpose of City Government: View the City’s website at www.Valpo.us and learn more about the departments’ roles. Visit a few meetings of your public officials (e.g., City Council8, boards, commissions, etc.), understand how they operate, discover the guidelines they follow, and become familiar with their capabilities and restrictions. Encourage members of your association to participate in the City Government Academy9 to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the City functions and report back to the group. • Keep Your Public Officials Informed: Keep up an ongoing relationship where you are able to communicate areas of concern or success with city staff and elected officials. The city’s doors are always open for you to come by or call City Hall to discuss what’s on your mind. • Make it Clear You Represent a Group: Identify the name of your group and its purpose. Use appointed contact persons to establish continuity and identity. Document attendance at general meetings and notes taken. Ensure that you have the group’s approval/authorization before
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ideas for your neighborhood
Neighborhood Challenge
Ideas for your neighborhood
and winter months consider organizing a group of volunteers to help rake leaves and shovel snow for seniors or neighbors with disabilities. This could be a good project to get youth and teens engaged in your neighborhood for a great cause.
Neighborhoods are the building blocks of our community and neighbors who work together are stronger and healthier. The City of Valparaiso encourages neighbors to work together to make their neighborhoods engaged, sustainable, safe and healthy. The activities outlined below will allow your group to build neighborhood pride and increase your engagement with the Valparaiso community. If your neighborhood has stories of success or new ideas to share after trying one of the activities listed below please share with us10 at 462-1161!
ENGAGED • Neighborhood Directory – Sign up to add your neighborhood group to the city-wide neighborhood directory. • Communications – Consider opening up more communication channels with your neighbors. Using social media, paper materials, e-newsletters or yard signs can be affordable, easy ways to reach more people about activities, plans or events. Browse different online “app” options like Next Door11. • New Neighbor Welcome Program – Organize a “Welcome Committee” with some neighbors to greet new neighbors as they move in. You may bring information about your neighborhood or HOA, a Valpo Chamber Newcomer’s Packet12 information about community organizations and more – or simply introduce yourselves so they can meet some friendly faces in town! Browse some creative ideas13. • Improvement Project – Organize an improvement project in your neighborhood. The project could range from volunteers to help with common area landscaping to submitting a grant application up to $15,000 through our Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program 14 funded by the Redevelopment Commission. • Block Party – This toolkit provides tips on hosting a fabulous block party in your neighborhood. Contact us if you need any road closures and
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browse some creative ideas15. • City Government Academy – Participate in our City Government Academy16 program to learn more about the role of your local government presented classroom style by city leadership team members.
• Group Volunteer Projects – If you and your neighbors have shared interests in giving back to the community, you may be able to find a group volunteer opportunity in or outside of your neighborhood boundaries. Check out the Northwest Indiana Regional Volunteer Center17 and keep United Way of Porter County’s Day of Caring18 in mind to participate with hundreds of members throughout the community and county. • Seasonal Neighbor Assistance – During the fall
• Outdoor Movie Night – Plan an outdoor movie night for your neighbors to come together on a summer night. Consider a family-friendly movie for all to enjoy. Review this blog post19 for more tips and check out these fun ideas20. You may also consider getting a group to walk, bike or carpool to Central Park for a Valparaiso Events Summer Outdoor Movie.21
Figure 5: Valparaiso Central Park Plaza Follow their Facebook page26 for updates on events and community gatherings.
• Scavenger Hunt – There are many creative ways to organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt22! You could make this an activity at a block party or a
separate endeavor. Consider having people use cameras on their phones to take pictures of items on the scavenger hunt list. The list could highlight neighborhood assets, noteworthy houses or common neighborhood items like a sports ball, bicycle or fire hydrant. • Book Drive or Little Free Library – Consider organizing a neighborhood book drive for an existing library or creating your own neighborhood Little Free Library23 (LFL). This map24shows you existing LFL’s in our area. • ValpoNEXT – Participate in ValpoNEXT community events, inspired by the citywide ValpoNEXT vision plan that was created in 2014. 25
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Neighborhood Challenge
GREEN you really want to be your neighborhood’s expert gardener, you may want to participate in Purdue Extension’s Master Gardener Program36!
Figure 6: Butterfly Park • Tree Planting – Consider organizing a neighborhood tree planting in partnership with the Department of Public Works28. Your neighborhood can help the city prioritize where new trees should be planted in city-owned right-of-way property.
• Rain Barrel Program – Encourage households in your neighborhood to participate in the City’s Rain Barrel program37. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves residents money and energy. • Dog Waste Management – Encourage your
our ponds and creeks. Encourage your neighbors to learn the Do’s and Don’ts of grass clippings. This brochure39 shows everything you need to know. • Be a Good Neighbor on Pollution Prevention – A lot of pollutants can be generated in our everyday activities without us noticing. This Household Guide to Prevent Stormwater Pollution40 brochure shows what you can do to help with the problem. Be part of the solution, stop stormwater pollution. Clean water starts with us!
shared inventory of tools. This guide 43outlines some thoughtful suggestions for getting started. Figure 8: Washington Street
• Yard Sale – One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Organize a neighborhood yard sale event or use your neighborhood communication channels to offer goods that you may be ready to pass on.
• Clean-up Day – Organize a neighborhood cleanup day where volunteers can help pick up litter, spruce up landscaping and more. Contact us29to help organize with support from our Public Works and Code Enforcement Departments. • Yard Waste Management – Tree branches, leaves and grass clippings, they can all be turned into mulch or compost, and returned to your yard. Check the City and County’s Compost Site30 for what they offer. • PublicTransportation – Encourage your neighbors to take advantage of public transportation options available in Valparaiso. Learn more about the V-Line routes31 and Chicago Dash32. Additional transportation options for individuals in need exist through community organizations like Porter County Aging and Community Services33 and Opportunity Enterprises34. • Community Garden – Use your green thumb to develop a neighborhood garden. There are different ways to organize – you may want to use common space in your own neighborhood, rent a space with the Parks Department35 or a local church or simply have a gardener’s club where you can share best practices or split plants among your neighbors. If
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• Recycling and Waste Reduction – The Porter County Recycling and Waste Reduction District 41 provides information on current events, tips for going green and more. Stay up to date by checking their website regularly. Figure 7: Chicago Street Theatre neighbors to pick up after their pets. We want a clean neighborhood and clean stormwater runoff. The City has launched a Dog Waste Management Campaign38and provides dog waste bags for free. They can be picked up at City Hall and Valpo Parks office. • Grass Clipping Management – Grass clippings can be a treasure to your lawn – or a nuisance to
• Report a Polluter – If you see something, say something. The City’s Stormwater Program has set up a report-a-polluter hotline email as MS4@ Valpo.us42. • Tool Lending Library – A neighborhood tool lending library is a way to connect neighbors with shared resources that already exist in your neighborhood. Perhaps one neighbor has a large shed with tools that they use infrequently that neighbors could borrow, or neighbors can go in on a
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Neighborhood Challenge
hEALTHY celebrate back to school time. • Valparaiso Market – Get a group of neighbors to walk, bike or carpool to the Valparaiso Market44 to shop for fresh local produce, handmade products and beautiful plants and flowers. • Neighborhood Walking Routes – Check out the Valpo Parks’ Neighborhood Walking Routes 45(print version available at Parks Office). Organize a neighborhood walking group and log your progress46. If your walking group organizes in the evening that may be another way to promote a “neighborhood watch” program in your neighborhood.
• Activities for All Ages – Neighborhood parks or common areas might be a good place to organize regular programs for children, teens, adults and seniors to get active. Maybe one of your neighbors knows karate or yoga and can volunteer time to host the activity. • Healthy Recipe Sharing – If your block party is held “potluck” style, encourage neighbors to bring healthy food options and a recipe card. An organizer could compile all the recipes into a document to share with the neighborhood.
• Fit City – Fit City47 is an initiative between the City of Valparaiso, the Mayor’s Office and Valpo Parks that offers programming for residents of all ages throughout the year. Follow their Facebook page48 to keep up with nearby events.
• Fitness Groups – Get creative and consider organizing fitness groups in your neighborhood. This could be a Tuesday evening walking group, biking club, a Sunday evening yoga group or anything else you can think of. See what your neighbors’ interests are! • Walking School Bus – To promote a healthy lifestyle and celebrate our neighborhood schools, put together a “walking school bus49” that brings together children and parents to walk their kids to school together. This might be a fun way to
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Neighborhood Challenge
SAFE • National Night Out – National Night Out50 is an annual event typically held in August that unites the Valparaiso Police Department and neighborhoods throughout the city as one to show support against crime. The national program provides an opportunity for neighborhoods to organize special events like cook-outs, ice cream social and block parties while the police department visits each group that signs up. Look for updates during the summer months on their Facebook page51. • Valparaiso Police Department Citizens’ Academy - The Citizens’ Police Academy52 (CPA) provides an opportunity to participate and learn about police procedures and become familiar with the officers that work to protect and serve our community. • Neighborhood Watch – The Valparaiso Police Department (VPD) can meet with your neighborhood group and discuss ways that you can work together to ensure a successful neighborhood watch or communications system. Contact the VPD Community Relations Division 53 to learn more.
more about the Out to Alarm Valpo Program56 and consider hosting a “smoke detector blitz” in your neighborhood. • Car Seat Program – The VFD is a permanent fitting station for child safety seats57. Contact VFD for a free car seat inspection or installation and inform your neighborhood of this community program. • Disaster Preparedness – You may want to develop a disaster preparedness checklist for your neighborhood. Porter County has outlined key safety tips58 to keep in mind in case of emergency. • Smart 911 – Encourage your neighbors to register with Smart 91159, a program being driven by Porter County Government that allows residents to provide important household information that can be used in emergency situations to help inform Police, Fire and EMS.
• SafeCam Program – Register54 your home surveillance camera to assist the VPD when they are investing a local crime that may have taken place in your area. Once you’re registered the VPD can contact you to request any possible video evidence. Learn more55. • Safe Exchange Zone – The VPD parking lot at 355 South Washington Street offers a safe exchange zone where residents can meet locally to exchange items they’ve sold online, all while under video surveillance and with police officers a few steps away. • Out to Alarm Valpo – The Valparaiso Fire Department (VFD) and Martin Security partner to provide free smoke detectors and installation to Valparaiso and Center Township residents. Learn
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Conclusion
Conclusion
We hope that this toolkit inspires you and your neighbors to come together. Your time and commitment help support the City of Valparaiso in its mission to ensure that our neighborhoods are a great place to call home. Please contact the Community Engagement Department at City Hall for any questions or comments that you may have at 219-462-1161. This Toolkit will continue to evolve over time with resident feedback and input on new ideas. Many thanks to the neighborhood groups, Government Academy graduates and the Valpo NEXT Sense of Place committee that weighed in and offered input on the Neighborhood Toolkit. Special thanks to Carley Lemmon, Assistant Planner, for her leadership on the Neighborhood Toolkit artwork and design.
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resources & References
Resources and References
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Content and material throughout Valparaiso’s Neighborhood Toolkit were inspired by similar resources created by Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center60, South Bend Neighborhood Resource Center61, City of Bloomington62 and Sarasota County Government63.
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resources & References
Creating a Neighborhood Association
Ideas for your neighborhood
1. http://www.in.gov/sos/business/files/04159_fillin.pdf 2. https://robertsrules.org/
28. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/163/PublicWorks 29. mclifton@valpo. 30. https://portercountyrecycling.org/compostsites/ 31. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/520/Route-Map 32. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/489/ChicaGoDASH 33. https://www.portercountyacs.org/ transportation-program/ 34. https://www.oppent.org/programs 35. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1283/ Community-Garden
Green
Hosting a neighborhood block party 3. https://www.valpoparks.org/
Talk to us 4. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1625/CommunityEngagement 5. http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/FormCenter/City6/Neighborhood-Directory-Form-71 6. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1636/ Neighborhood-Improvement-Grant 7. mclifton@valpo.us 8. http://ci.valparaiso.in.us/181/City-Council 9. http://ci.valparaiso.in.us/1635/City-GovernmentAcademy
Ideas for your neighborhood Healthy 44. https://valparaisoevents.com/events/ valparaiso-market/ 45. https://www.valpoparks.org/194/WalkingRoutes 46. https://www.valpoparks.org/DocumentCenter/ View/285/Tracking-Log-PDF?bidId= 47. http://www.valpoparks.org/182/Fit-City 48. https://www.facebook.com/fitcityvalpo/ 49. http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/
Ideas for your neighborhood Engaged 10. mclifton@valpo 11. https://nextdoor.com/ 12. http://www.valpochamber.org/ index.php?src=forms&ref=newcomers_ packet&submenu=AboutChamber 13. https://www.pinterest.com/ pin/520306563173018953/?lp=true 14. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1636/ Neighborhood-Improvement-Grant 15. https://www.pinterest.com/search/ pins/?q=block%20party&rs=typed&term_ meta%5b%5d=block%7Ctyped&term_ meta%5b%5d=party%7Ctyped 16. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1635/CityGovernment-Academy 17. http://www.nwivolunteer.org/ 18. https://www.unitedwaypc.org/
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36. https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/mastergardener/ 37. https://www.valparaisoutilities.org/ DocumentCenter/View/775/2018-Valparaiso-RainBarrel-Brochure?bidId= 38. http://www.valparaisoutilities.org/ DocumentCenter/View/156/Scoop-Poop-BrochurePDF?bidId= 39. http://www.valparaisoutilities.org/ DocumentCenter/View/160/Grass-ClippingsBrochure-PDF?bidId= 40. http://www.valparaisoutilities.org/ DocumentCenter/View/161/Home-Hot-Spots-forWater-Quality-PDF?bidId= 41. https://portercountyrecycling.org/ 42. MS4@Valpo.us 43. https://learn.eartheasy.com/articles/how-tostart-a-neighborhood-tool-share/
19. https://blog.fractureme.com/decor-2/outdoormovie-night/ 20. https://www.pinterest.com/ search/pins/?q=outdoor%20 movie%20night&rs=typed&term_ meta%5b%5d=outdoor%7Ctyped&term_ meta%5b%5d=movie%7Ctyped&term_ meta%5b%5d=night%7Ctyped 21. https://valparaisoevents.com/events/summeroutdoor-movies/ 22. https://www.pinterest.com/search/ pins/?q=neighborhood%20scavenger%20 hunt&rs=rs&eq=&etslf=1889&term_ 24. https://littlefreelibrary.org/ 25. https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/ 26. http://valponext.org/ 27. https://www.facebook.com/valponext/
Ideas for your neighborhood Safe 50. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/378/NationalNight-Out 51. https://www.facebook.com/Valparaiso-PoliceDepartment-332154696891707/?jazoe st=2651001224911245103989088511048152711198 310011071851171185150121491148711176118103738 6494884115711031076574716558651001215245656 87455111102107711161198395110101981065571558 18311312112286485180881071021001171174910511 1725710565 52. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/374/CitizensPolice-Academy 53. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/346/ Community-Relations-Division
54. https://nwipsdc.maps.arcgis. com/apps/GeoForm/index. html?appid=77937cc66398402d9545d576c23e90da 55. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/1623/SafeCamPartner 56. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/214/SmokeDetectors 57. https://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/936/ChildSafety-Seat-Fitting 58. http://www.porterco.org/index.aspx?nid=176 59. http://www.porterco.org/index.aspx?NID=337
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resources & References
Resources and REFERENCES 60. http://www.inrc.org/ 61. http://www.nrc4neighborhoods.org/ 62. https://bloomington.in.gov/departments/hand 63. https://www.scgov.net/government/ departments/planning-and-development-services/ planning-services/zoning/neighborhood-services
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tEMPLATES
Guide for Planning Your First Neighborhood Meeting 1. Gather 2-4 other neighbors to help you organize the first meeting. 2. Determine the boundaries of your neighborhood: a. ___________________ b. ____________________ c. ___________________ d. ____________________ 3. Decide on a date and time for your Neighborhood Meeting. Keep in mind regular business hours and typical commuter times for your neighbors. 4. Decide on an agenda and any guest speakers desired for the meeting. 5. Identify any special needs for your neighborhood. Do your best to ensure all are comfortable but know that things can be adjusted for future meetings once you have a better feel for the group’s needs. a. Language translation b. Child care c. Accessibility d. Walking distance e. Hearing impaired 6. Decide on a meeting place and make arrangements necessary to reserve it. Some possibilities include: a. Neighborhood park b. Library c. Church/temple d. Neighborhood school e. Local business or restaurant f. Neighbor’s home or yard 7. Contact any guest speakers and arrange for them to attend. 8. Prepare a flyer announcing the meeting (see following page). 9. Distribute flyers and spread the word throughout your neighborhood boundaries. Word of mouth, door knocking, signage and social media are all good resources to spread the word!
JOIN US FOR A “NAME” NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING DATE / TIME LOCATION Join your neighbors to discuss opportunities to organize, connect and build neighborhood pride! Topics on the agenda include “#1…., #2…., #3….” “Name” Neighborhood meets the “4th Tuesday of every month” at “location” – please join us! Contact “John Smith” for more information or visit the Name Neighborhood Facebook Page to learn more. All are welcome!
Name
Address
Contact Phone Contact Email
Name Neighborhood Association Date Meeting Agenda I. Guests arrive, sign in and create a name tag II. Welcome and introductions (consider asking guests to share their names along with street name, how many years residing in the neighborhood) III. Topic/Speaker #1 IV. Topic/Speaker #2 V. Committee Updates a. Events b. Safety c. Fundraising VI. Other news or updates VII. Open for comments VIII. Adjourn on time!
meeting sign-in sheet
Sample association bylaws
Sample association bylaws
Article I. Purpose
Article I. Purpose Section 1. Name of Organization Section 2. Purpose of Neighborhood Association
Section 1. Name The name of the neighborhood association shall be _________________________________________. Section 2. Purpose The purpose of the neighborhood association shall be to promote a better neighborhood and community through group action. Article II. Membership Any person residing on _______________________________ between _________________________ and _______________________________ is eligible for membership. Article III. Voluntary Dues Voluntary dues shall be $4 per person per year.
Article II. Membership Section 1. Membership Qualifications Section 2. Membership Voting
Section 2. Quorum At least ten percent of the membership must be present to conduct official business. Article V. Officers Section I. Number and Election of Positions The officers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall be elected in _________________ of each year. The term of office shall be one year. Article VI. Committees The membership may establish necessary committees at any meeting. The President may also establish such committees. The President shall appoint committee chairpersons. Article VII. Amendments The bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting. Two-thirds (2/3) of those members in attendance must approve the amendment.
Article X. Public Meetings/ Public Records Requirements Article XI. Boundaries
Article III. Voluntary Dues
Article XII. Non-Discrimination
Article IV. Meetings Section 1. General Membership Meetings Section 2. Special Membership Meetings Section 3. Agenda Section 4. Quorum Section 5. Participation Section 6. Procedures
This section should describe the association’s commitment to include all members of their neighborhood as defined under the “Boundaries” section of the bylaws. Be as inclusive as possible.
Article IV. Meetings Section 1. General Membership Meetings Regular meetings will be held on the _______________ of each month, or more or less often as deemed necessary.
Section 3. Attendance Section 4. Dissemination
Article V. Board of Directors Section 1. Number of Board Members Section 2. Terms of Office Section 3. Eligibility for Board Service Section 4. Duties of Board Members Section 5. Election of Board Members Section 6. Board Vacancies Section 7. Duties of Board Officers Section 8. Board Meetings Section 9. Emergency Powers Section 10. Termination for Non-Attendance Article VI. Committees Article VII. Conflict of Interest Procedures Section 1. Definition Section 2. Declaring the Conflict of Interest Section 3. Abstention from Voting Article VIII. Grievance Procedures Section 1. Eligibility to Grieve Section 2. Complaint Receipt Section 3. Final Resolution Article IX. Procedure for Consideration of Proposals Section 1. Submission of Proposals Section 2. Notification
Article XIII. Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws