May 27, 2005
On The Bureau Innovation Project And The GREAT Committee
More Stuff On The Office Of Neighborhood Involvement
Given the fact that our recent post about neighborhood service centers managed to generate more than one hundred comments (the first post here to do so, we believe) about the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, neighborhood associations, coalitions, and related matters, it seems relevant to bring up for discussion yet another connected issue.
Earlier this month, Mayor Tom Potter released a set of recommendations from his Bureau Innovation Project, including an item to "redefine and revitalize the Office of Neighborhood Involvement".
That recommendation seeks to do the following: "Conduct a complete assessment of ONI’s mission, goals and organizational structure to reinvigorate citizen participation and involvement and supporting the City’s goals of diversity and inclusiveness to build community capacity."
Watchers of the goings on when it comes to ONI know that there exists what's known as the Guidelines Review Empowerment and Assessment Taskforce:
The GREAT Taskforce has spent four years methodically reviewing, updating and matching two documents: first, City Code Title 3.96, the authorizing language for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, which has not been reviewed since 1987; then the Guidelines, which detail the functions, responsibilities and benefits of Portland’s neighborhood system including 95 Neighborhood Associations, 7 District Coalitions, 40 Business Associations and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.
The end product of that committee now is scheduled to be brought before City Council on July 6 at a 2:00 PM hearing at City Hall. Which prompts a question, or at least it did for us: How does the existing work of GREAT factor into the Bureau Innovation Project's recommendation to redefine and revitalize the Office of Neighborhood Involvement?
"Our recommendation will be to adopt the Guidelines as presented by this committee," Austin Raglione told us. Raglione is Potter's Deputy Chief of Staff and spearheaded the Bureau Innovation Project. "We know that they may change again in the future. But that is no reason to not implement the work that has already taken place and then modify as needed when the BIP recommendations come forward."
For what it's worth, the work of the other major recent ONI committee -- the Public Involvement Task Force -- was put on hold until the GREAT committee had its own work brought before Council.
And, in fact, the Bureau Innovation Project has another ONI-related recommendation: To "[r]econvene the Public Involvement Task Force and move forward many of its recommended actions to develop improved citywide public outreach goals and strategies."
Comments (3)
allehseya on 28 May 2005
Amanda says:
“SWNI and East Portland last year decided parks advocates from all over the city need to meet to learn and talk, and formed the Portland Citywide Parks Team forum, which I currently chair. It meets third Thursdays, 7 pm in the Pettygrove Room of City Hall, and is an informal drop-in group - everyone is welcome. See http://explorepdx.org/pcwpt.html for more information."
Anne says:
”I'd suggest coming to the ONI BAC meetings. BAC stands for "Bureau Advisory Committee. The Committee is made up of many of ONI's stakeholders -- not just the NA's and Coalitions, but other contractors, employee groups and citizen interest groups. We'd love to get more representation from groups such as the schools, other typically non-city hall epresented groups, or the arts community. Please come. The group meets the second Monday of the month, (most months.) 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Usually in the Rose Room on the 3rd floor of City Hall. Send Carol Justice an email to get on the meeting distribution list. cjustice@ci.portland.or.us”
b!X says:
"And, in fact, the Bureau Innovation Project has another ONI-related recommendation: To "[r]econvene the Public Involvement Task Force and move forward many of its recommended actions to develop improved citywide public outreach goals and strategies."
allehseya says:
Thanks : )
Chris Smith on 29 May 2005
So if we have a City Wide Land Use group, and now a City Wide Parks forum, is anyone interested in forming a City Wide Transportation group?
David Pool on 02 Jun 2005
Chris,
News4Neighbors.org is in the process of setting up news sections for particular topics. In addition to Technology, Sustainability and Business, we've recently added a transportation news section. We'd be honored to participate in supporting a citywide dialogue.
David Pool
Editor,
News4Neighbors.org