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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Daniel Barreiro, Chief Community Services Officer
DATE: June 4, 2015
SUBJECT:
Approval of a resolution authorizing the creation of a pilot Neighborhood Support Program.
PURPOSE:
To provide additional resources for the establishment of a Neighborhood Group Support Program.
BACKGROUND:
Earlier this year, the Mayor's Office challenged all City Departments to propose strategies that could be responsive to this year's uptick in shootings. While overall crime continues to drop, one of the major issues when it comes to rapidly responding to neighborhood shootings has been the lack of active neighborhood groups in the most impacted areas of the City.
The Aurora Police Department's "Community Forums" (discussed below) which were organized in conjunction with the Mayor's Office, were part of the APD's proposed response, but they represent just the beginning of a broader, ongoing initiative. In the same way, this memo outlines only the beginning of how the Community Services Department can support the creation of more Neighborhood Groups that can become valuable points of contact within the APD's Community Oriented Policing strategy.
The Aurora Police Department has had tremendous success collaborating with citizen/neighborhood groups where they have historically existed. More recently, the APD has recognized that neighborhood involvement (specifically Neighborhood Watch Groups) were drawing dismal attendance and residents were gathering in social media forums to report crimes rather than calling 9-1-1. In addition, misinformation was being "posted" online and rumors and conjecture were causing citizens to be unnecessarily alarmed.
Simultaneously, the Police Department was coming up with internal strategies to combat the increase in gang-related shootings and even with the operational plans, it became apparent that the community needed to be included in the strategy.
Thus, the "Community Forums" were created with the following objectives in mind:
1) To share factual data about the shootings that have occurred
2) Educate our residents about what things to look for in their respective neighborhoods
3) Generate energy around resurrecting Neighborhood Watch Groups in the areas where there is an increase in crime.
The Mayor's Office has requested a plan as a follow up to an internal strategy meeting regarding neighborhood group support. A budget amendment is being requested to provide resources to assist the Police Department with community participation. While initially these new neighborhood groups will be crime focused, it is a goal of the Mayor's Office to have these new neighborhood groups continue to be active to address other neighborhood issues pertinent to the quality of life. Many established neighborhood groups meet on a regular basis and have made a difference in their neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION:
The additional resources will provide the hiring of 2-4 part-time temporary employees who will serve as organizers. The organizers will assist with the establishment of neighborhood groups. Much of this work will take place in the evenings or weekends. They will be staffed under the Community Services Department and work closely with the Mayor's Office, Alderman's Office and the Police Department with the identification of prospective leaders to get neighborhood groups established. They will assist with outreach activities to promote the existing neighborhood groups and new ones for increased resident participation.
Mini-grants will also be made available to assist neighborhood groups host block parties or a National Night Out event. Some resources will also be available for signage to create awareness of neighborhood group meetings.
Communications will be critical in getting resident participation. Neighborhood group information will be provided across multiple platforms from print to social media. While much of this can be supported in-house, the organizers will be able to assist with some of the content such as meeting dates and locations and activities of neighborhood groups.
The cost for the Neighborhood Group Support Program is approximately $36,400. This short term program will have a long lasting impact as new neighborhood groups are established and existing ones are strengthened. These resources are needed for immediate results. It will take much longer to make this kind of impact without these resources. Strong neighborhood groups will have a positive impact on the quality of life in Aurora well into the future.
Finally, the authors of this memo, Chief Community Services Officer Dan Barreiro, APD Commander Kristen Ziman and Assistant Chief of Staff Rick Guzman are meeting regularly to ensure cross-departmental collaboration for this proposal and those additional proposals that will be forthcoming.
Once again, this proposed Neighborhood Group Support Program is only the first of several initiatives that are planned. Several meetings with Faith-Based leaders have already occurred-and more are planned-to discuss how churches and religious institutions can leverage their influence and often ideal, neighborhood-based locations to reach both at-risk youth and neighborhoods without active community groups. Planning is also underway with some of the City's social service organizations that are also well-positioned to meet the needs of at-risk youth and under-served neighborhoods.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This program is intended to make an immediate impact and assist with quickly establishing neighborhood groups in the community.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend approval of resolution authorizing the creation of the Neighborhood Group Support Program.
cc: Alderman O'Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Mesiacos, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Approving the creation of a Neighborhood Group Support Program.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Police Department has had success collaborating with established neighborhood groups, and
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to assist with the establishment of additional neighborhood groups in the near future, and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora is seeking to provide resources to assist in the establishment of additional Neighborhood Groups and a budget amendment is needed to provide said resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the City of Aurora approves the establishment of a Neighborhood Group Support Program and funding in the amount of approximately $36,400.