Important: Neighborhood Councils Need to Weigh In … Officially!

Indeed Neighborhood Councils have achieved many successes advocating for their communities. But why have they submitted so few Community Impact Statements?

While Neighborhood Councils may have found other effective ways to make their will known to the City’s policy makers, it is just as important for Neighborhood Councils to participate in the formal process that was created specifically for them. And with our new Mayor’s “Back to Basic” Priority Outcomes, it’s more important than ever!

Shortly after taking office, the Mayor released his “Back To Basics” Priority Outcomes for “making City Hall more efficient and effective.” One of his priorities — to “partner with citizens and civic groups to build a greater city” and “…foster resident participation in governance” — aligns very well with the mission of Neighborhood Councils and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.

Along those lines, the Department has been considering how it can show that the Neighborhood Council system is achieving its goals. How can the achievements be quantified? And how can it be shown that Neighborhood Councils are becoming more efficient and effective over time?

One measurable indicator is how many Community Impact Statements are being submitted by Neighborhood Councils. In Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Neighborhood Councils submitted 216; a realistic goal for 2013-2014 would be 300. Or maybe more.

Community Impact Statements are official statements or positions adopted by a Neighborhood Council on issues pending before the City’s decision makers.

The Community Impact Statement process was created specifically for Neighborhood Councils so they can publicly express their support, opposition, or suggestions about any matter pending before the City Council, its committees, or City commissions.

A Community Impact Statement (CIS) is an official statement used to express the position of a Neighborhood Council as a whole.

CISs must be based on the position taken by a Neighborhood Council Board and documentated in a Board resolution (or meeting minutes).

The Department has issued a step-by-step instructional sheet with more on how to write and submit Community Impact Statements.

Work with your Neighborhood Council this year to take advantage of the opportunity to make your voices heard through the official CIS process created just for Neighborhood Councils.

(Stephen Box is editor of the EmpowermentLA Report where this article was first posted. EmpowermentLA.org)

-cw