Guidelines for Creating a Neighborhood Association

Guidelines for Creating a Neighborhood Association

The following guidelines are intended to introduce residents to guidelines for forming neighborhood associations.

An organized neighborhood association can influence positive changes throughout a neighborhood by creating a sense of community pride among neighbors and by establishing a recognized voice within City Hall. By focusing neighborhood efforts on specific issues, neighborhood changes become apparent. Residents will also have a better understanding of how the Santa Ana city government functions.

New associations should consider the following:

  • Decide the Boundaries

Use major arterials, flood control channels, freeways, etc. Limiting the number of households within proposed boundaries to 1,000 is also recommended to maintain a community-scale neighborhood association.

  • Recruit at Least 25 People for Support

This can be accomplished by going door to door and acquiring names and phone numbers of people interested in participating in the association. When scheduling a meeting, neighbors can be contacted by email or phone.

  • Write Down Neighborhood’s Issues

Sometimes, residents come together because of a neighborhood concern or changes that are affecting a community. In order to be provided with relevant resources, know the reasons that residents and neighbors want to form an association.

Identifying neighborhood concerns also enables staff to respond by providing key experts from City Hall to attend neighborhood meetings. Occasionally, associations will form to discuss one specific issue; the association may become inactive once the issue is resolved. It will be necessary for the association to determine its own focus for the future.

  • Establish a Leader/Steering Committee

A successful neighborhood association requires leadership and a personal commitment of a core group of residents. The amount of commitment varies on the issue and to what extent the association wishes to grow. Writing letters, making phone calls, distributing flyers or information, and organizing meetings are just a few basic fundamentals in developing a successful neighborhood association.

  • Recruit a Communication Linkage Representative

An additional commitment from the neighborhood association is needed by sending a representative to a monthly meeting of the Communication Linkages Committee. This organization, also known as Com-Link, is composed of representatives from all the city’s neighborhood associations. Com-Link’s function is to improve and facilitate communication between neighborhoods, the City and its residents as a whole. A neighborhood’s representative plays an important role, as he/she will speak on behalf of the neighborhood, comment on proposed ordinances, and influence City priorities.

  • Neighborhood Roles

The role expected of a neighborhood association is cooperation and teamwork. Goals and objectives will need to be identified, and residents will need to be encouraged to remain involved. It is up to each neighborhood association to develop its own plans for member recruitment and retention, and to remain active. Members are encouraged to develop leadership skills to keep the neighborhood association active. These skills include outreach, setting agendas, keeping in communication with members, designing agendas and flyers, and communicating early and often with City staff about any issues and resources needed to address community concerns. Over time, neighborhood associations become knowledgeable about the city government, its agencies, and the resources necessary to maintain a quality neighborhood.

  • Neighborhood Initiatives and Environmental Services Support

The role of Neighborhood Initiatives and Environmental Services (NIES) office staff is to be the liaison between a neighborhood association and City Hall. Staff provide general information from City departments and speakers, as requested.

Examples of support that NIES provides include:

  • Limited support with neighborhood projects
  • Providing administrative assistance as needed, such as the printing of flyers (up to 100 black-and-white sheets per meeting) to promote meetings
  • VoiceShot recording/text message for meeting notifications
  • City website event page updates

Examples of support that the NIES office does not provide include:

  • Setting neighborhood association meeting agendas
  • Designing communication materials, such as agendas and flyers
  • Financial support
  • Selection of leadership
  • Direct mediation in conflict resolution

 

 

 

 

 

Close window