New Community Engagement model to co-exist with Minneapolis NRP - for the present
On September 26 the Minneapolis City Council adopted Resolution 2008R-402, subsequently approved by Mayor R.T. Rybak, under which the city embarks on a new community engagement model. City leaders approved the formation of the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and a Neighborhood and Community Relations Department housed within the office of the city coordinator. This pivotal action followed months of process work by the so-named ‘NRP Work Group,' extensive community dialogue and debate, and the solicitation of public input. Many neighborhood activists who are critical of the NRP Work Group's "Framework for the Future: Options for the focus, funding and governance of the NRP Program and Action Plan activities after 2009" have argued that public input has been largely ignored by city officials.
Council President Barbara Johnson, who represents the Fourth Ward [the Camden area] and served on the NRP Work Group, voted to enact the new community engagement framework. Johnson noted that in terms of the community engagement governance issues, "broadening the policy board to a community advisory board will actually be a good thing and will allow us to communicate with folks across the board, while respecting the integrity of the neighborhood associations as the primary city contact with citizens." As one of the co-authors of the city's resolution, Johnson is hopeful about the new community engagement system, asserting that, "We view it at the City as a chance to work more closely with neighborhoods to redirect city priorities. I think it puts us on a good footing going forward to continue the program and continue the support that we have given to neighborhood organizations...and recognize their importance in the governance of the city." See http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ council/archives.asp.
City leaders have pointed to the need for community engagement reform as outlined in the "Framework for the Future" due to the upcoming 2009 sunset of state legislation that has funded the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). However, NRP Policy Board members adopted a resolution that "encourages the City to live up to its principles of community engagement by entering into a meaningful and direct dialogue with the Policy Board and neighborhood organizations on the future of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program prior to adoption of the Framework." The Policy Board resolution went on record in support of "the continuation of a multi-jurisdictional Policy Board as the governance structure for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program" along with "funding of neighborhood organizations at a minimum of $12 million annually after 2009 for operating support" as well as "securing funding to cover the gap in NRP Phase II funding which threatens the health and stability of neighborhoods prior to 2011."
The NRP resolution was supported by nine Policy Board members and they also requested collaboration among the City, neighborhood organizations, and NRP local jurisdictional partners "to develop a mutually agreeable legislative proposal that clearly allows for funds from the newly authorized Redevelopment Finance District to be used for the statutorily defined purposes of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program." NRP Policy Board actions and program information is at www.nrp.org.
The City anticipates that the newly-established Neighborhood and Community Relations Department will "bring existing staff from different departments together to leverage their expertise to jointly serve residents and promote community participation through the work of neighborhoods and City departments." The new department begins work in January 2009, initially establishing staffing and programming details, but also will provide staff support to the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. The City has indicated that neighborhoods will continue to receive City funding for programs and operations, while retaining control over their goals, budgets and work plans, from state-authorized funds available for neighborhood operations and programming that were approved by the 2008 State Legislature.
Council President Johnson said the city action will "create a financial footing that is sustainable and reasonable," and that she "will continue to work on the details of how much money goes to administration and how much money really goes to projects," noting "that's going to depend on the way neighborhoods want to see their dollars spent; they have control over significant amounts of money." Minneapolis Community Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Lastoka provided extensive documentation to Community Engagement Task Force members; "to close the loop and articulate how staff used your recommendations and has tried to pay attention to the concerns and interests of the task force" included in Task Force recommendations adopted in November 2007. One of the Task Force recommendations was to establish a citizen's commission to oversee community engagement. Details at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp.
The new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission will be comprised of 16 residents appointed to oversee the City's relationship with neighborhoods and community organizations. Among the commission's charges are to provide direction to the next phase of NRP, to review neighborhood plans, and to make recommendations to the City Council on allocation of a variety of types of funding to neighborhoods. The commission will include eight residents selected by neighborhood organizations, five residents appointed by the City Council, two appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. One key role of the commission will be to recommend candidates to the City Council for the position of executive director of the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department. On this topic, Council President Johnson noted, "The issue of choosing the executive director has great parallels to the City Council's Executive Committee, where the name has to come from the community advisory board, so in other words, we would never have someone appointed where their name did not come from the community. That's an essential protection for community input into the selection of the executive director."
The City is now accepting applications for seven positions on the newly created Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. The first seven commission members will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council, while eight remaining members will be selected by neighborhood organizations and one will be appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The application deadline for the seven positions to be appointed by the City Council and Mayor is November 19. Get application and info at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp.
Editor's Note: Jeff Strand has served as a neighborhood representative on the Community Engagement Task Force and serves as the 2008 Protection Neighborhood Representative on the NRP Policy Board. The NRP policy board elections will be held on November 20, for info contact Carsten Slostad at cslostad@nrp.org or 612-673-5150.