January 17, 2008

Empowering neighborhoods

AVCA focus on new Neighborhood Commission

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The success of the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative has led to the idea of forming a District 10 Neighborhood Commission; its advisory forum to the San Jose City Council was the focus of Monday night’s Almaden Valley Community Association meeting held at the Almaden Community Center.

Members of local neighborhood groups joined with the AVCA to learn about the newly formed Neighborhoods Commission. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

The Neighborhood Commission’s vision is to empower neighborhoods by providing them with a say in the city’s decision-making pro-cess and a formal voice at City Hall on issues ranging from spending to infrastructure. The hope is that the commission will enhance communication and the resolution of issues between neighborhoods and the city.

“The City Council has stated its intent to assure that the views of all neighborhoods are considered on issues related to community quality of life,” said Work Plans Com-mittee Chair and Naglee Park Campus Community Association President Beth Shafran-Mukai. The Neighborhood Commission would make recommendations to the city council and Redevelopment Agency regarding issues impacting neighborhoods. For instance, more neighbors would be alerted to development in their neighborhood in time for participation in the planning process.

“This is a work in progress,” said Shafran-Mukai. “We are doing something new that has never been done before.”

As defined in the city’s Planning Outreach Policy, a “Neighborhood Group” is a group or organization that represents its specific neighborhood and whose primary purpose is improving that neighborhood. Given that more than a dozen neighborhood associations currently exist within District 10, neighborhood caucuses and an election would take place to select district representatives. The process is expected to be finalized by the end of April.

With three representatives from each of the 10 council districts, a total of 30 members will serve on the commission. Two alternates will also be selected. All members must reside within San Jose.

The commission appointments will be on a two- and three-year term basis, with a maximum of four two-year terms served. All groups or individuals interested in being considered for a seat are required to complete an application form available from the city clerk. Every city-recognized neighborhood group will receive one vote at the caucus.

The Almaden Valley Community Asso-ciation invited representatives of local neighborhood organizations to the meeting and held an impromptu caucus following it. The question remains as to whether the association, alone or grouped with other neighborhood groups, could be considered a neighborhood group itself.

The goal of the Neighborhood Commis-sion is to make San Jose a better city, revitalize neighborhoods and create an effective working relationship with the city. “When you work together you are more productive,” says Shafran-Mukai. “When you see all of these people and neighborhoods working together in the larger community, it’s a beautiful thing.”