1. Northwest Neighborhood Plan NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING #5 Thursday, February 8 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Heman Park Community Center

2. Welcome and Introductions University City Staff: Lehman Walker, Director of Community Development Lehman Walker, Director of Community Development Andrea Riganti, Manager of Planning Services Andrea Riganti, Manager of Planning Services

3. Review: About the Northwest Neighborhood Plan City has undertaken a neighborhood planning process for the northwestern portion of the City – the purpose is to learn about neighborhood issues and develop strategies to address those issues. City has undertaken a neighborhood planning process for the northwestern portion of the City – the purpose is to learn about neighborhood issues and develop strategies to address those issues.

4. The planning process has involved neighborhood residents, business owners, city staff and other stakeholders. The planning process has involved neighborhood residents, business owners, city staff and other stakeholders. Several phases in process: Several phases in process: –Data collection and analysis –Issue identification and refinement –Goal and objective development –Strategy development –Draft plan –Plan adoption –Plan implementation –Plan review

5. Purpose of this Evening’s Meeting Provide overview of plan/review proposed revisions to draft plan (presented at an Open House on December 7, 2006) Provide overview of plan/review proposed revisions to draft plan (presented at an Open House on December 7, 2006) Final refinement of plan Final refinement of plan Discussion of next steps Discussion of next steps

6. Plan Organization and Content Plan is organized around several key issues identified by residents and City staff. Plan is organized around several key issues identified by residents and City staff. –Housing –Neighborhood Appearance and Aesthetics –Public Facilities and Services –Public Health –Noise and Nuisance –Public Safety –Communication

7. Plan outlines a neighborhood vision to: Plan outlines a neighborhood vision to: –Improve the quality of the housing stock –Increase home ownership in the neighborhood –Improve the physical appearance of the neighborhood –Improve the quality of the neighborhood infrastructure –Decrease juvenile loitering and intimidating behavior –Decrease loud music and recreational noise

8. –Improve the level of safety in the neighborhood –Improve communication between the City, other agencies and residents of the neighborhood –Improve communication between various social and community organizations within the neighborhood and beyond –Reduce the number of health hazards and nuisances in the neighborhood

9. 45 strategies were developed around issue areas. 45 strategies were developed around issue areas. Projects and policies that will meet the established goals and objectives. Projects and policies that will meet the established goals and objectives. Comprise the substance of the Plan. Comprise the substance of the Plan.

10. For each action step, the following was established: For each action step, the following was established:  The priority for this action step – 1 – Immediate – within 1 year 2 – Within 2 years 3 – Within 5 years 4 – Ongoing efforts  Who are the responsible partners? City – what department Residents Business owners Community Organizations, etc.

11. Housing Strategies 1. Establish a volunteer program to work with neighborhood associations, church groups, and schools to recruit for and coordinate the repair of homes for elderly and disabled. Priority: 3 N.A., residents, City Community Development Department, other partners

12. 2.Increase funding for home improvement loan program. Develop a forgivable loan program. Priority: 2 1 Community Development Department 3.Perform yearly inspections on the exterior condition of homes. Priority: 12 Community Development Department

13. 4.Identify potential buyers among neighborhood residents who are renting. Engage them in housing counseling programs. Priority: 2 Community Development Department, Neighborhood Housing Services, other partners

14. 5. Market home ownership in neighborhood through a home fair, newspaper, partnerships with appropriate organizations. Priority: 4 Public Relations, residents, neighborhood associations, other partners 6.Develop a first time homebuyer program with City banks and other groups. Priority: 3 Community Development Department, other partners

15. 7.Develop a financial incentive/stipend for neighborhood renters to become homeowners. Priority: 3 City Administration, other partners 8.Better market home assistance programs. Work with church/religious groups, the library, and senior citizen groups to disseminate this information. Priority: 1 U City Community Development, other partners

16. 9. Implement a paint grant program to assist the elderly, disabled and low income homeowners with exterior home maintenance. Priority: 1 U City Community Development Department 10. Work with various organizations to develop a list of reputable home improvement contractors. Priority: 1 Neighborhood associations, block units, Olive Business Association

17. Neighborhood Appearance and Aesthetics Strategies 1. Consider placing trash cans at major intersections and bus stops in the neighborhood, particularly along Olive Boulevard. Priority: 1 Public Works

18. 2. Recruit volunteers and neighborhood associations to adopt a block, bus stop or street. Priority: 1 Community Development Department, neighborhood associations, other partners 3.Create an educational campaign focusing on adults and children to reduce the amount of trash on the streets. Enlist the cooperation of schools, inspectors, and police officers. Priority: 3 Community Development, Police departments, schools

19. 4.Post “NO LITTERING” (with fines) signs in high pedestrian and vehicular traffic areas. Priority: 1 Public Works 5.Increase ticketing and fines for environmental violations, including commercial establishments. Require homeowners that receive tickets to attend workshops about home maintenance/repair. Priority: 1 Community Development Department

20. 6.Establish a neighborhood beautification committee. Include schools and the Olive Business Association. Priority: 3 Neighborhood associations, block units, schools Neighborhood associations, block units, schools 7.Improve street sweeping and trash collection. In particular, ensure that City employees clean-up after these activities. Priority: 1 Public Works

21. 8. Improve the appearance of Olive Boulevard businesses with street plantings and additional landscaping. Develop design standards for building facades, parking layouts. Priority: 1 Olive Business Association, U City 9. Evaluate City tree-trimming policies and schedules. Improve where necessary. Priority: 1 U City Parks, Recreation and Forestry

22. 10. Establish a funding source for tree removal/trimming on private property. Include these services as an eligible activity for the Home Improvement Loan Program. Priority: 4 U City Community Development Department 11. Ensure the routine maintenance of vegetation and trash along the River des Peres. Priority: 1 Metropolitan Sewer District, volunteer clean-up partners

23. 12. Ensure the routine maintenance of vegetation and trash along the Terminal Railroad tracks. Priority: 1 Terminal Railroad, various City departments

24. Public Facilities and Services Strategies 1. Improve the level of street lighting in identified locations. The maximum lumen should be installed. In areas where new lights should be installed, ensure that the standards are at a pedestrian level. Priority: 4 Public Works

25. 2.Improve streets and sidewalks in identified locations. Ensure that sidewalks damaged by City street trees are repaired at City cost. Priority: 4 Public Works 3.Review street repair standards to ensure that consideration is given to the relationship between the curb, driveway and resurfaced street. Priority: 2 Public Works

26. 4.Improve trimming of City-owned trees, especially around streetlights. Priority: 1 Parks, Recreation and Forestry

27. Noise and Nuisance 1.Partner with the University City School District to educate youth about local ordinances relating to loitering and other anti-social behavior. Priority: 1 Police Department

28. 2.Strictly enforce the curfew law. Identify juveniles in violation and take appropriate follow- thru action. Priority: 1 Police Department 3. Strictly enforce existing ordinances. Post “no loud music” street signs in visible locations of known violations. Priority: 1 Police Department

29. 4. Encourage property owners witnessing the violations to contact the police. Develop a nuisance form for residents. Establish a neighborhood police liaison. Priority: 1 Residents, Police Department

30. Public Safety 1.Provide crosswalks in identified areas, such as Fogerty Park and Barbara Jordan Elementary School. Priority: 1 Public Works 2.Increase participation in National Night Out, Neighborhood Watch Groups, block units and the focus group. Priority: 3 Neighborhood associations, block units, residents

31. 3.Increase police patrol in areas of identified loitering, parks and schools. Priority: 1 Police Department 4.Continue to increase police visibility in the neighborhood and attendance at community forums. Priority: 1 Police Department

32. 6.Post neighborhood watch signs in appropriate locations. Priority:3 Block units 7.Increase youth education about public safety regulations, particularly with respect to the use of public streets for recreation. Priority: 1 Police Department, neighborhood associations, block units, residents

33. Communication 1. Establish regular meetings, neighborhood summits or other forums to discuss neighborhood issues and activities. Provide additional opportunities for neighborhood information sharing and social networking. Priority:1 Neighborhood associations, block units, residents, various City Departments

34. 2.Enhance the City’s advocacy role for neighborhood residents when communicating with agencies such as the Metropolitan Sewer District, Ameren UE, Terminal Railroad and Metro. Priority: 1 City Administration 3.Keep City officials and departments aware of neighborhood issues through the Northwest Plan and updates. Priority:4 Community Development Department

35. 4.Promote the neighborhood to the community. Host community-wide events in the neighborhood. Priority: 2 Neighborhood associations 5.Encourage block units, neighborhood organizations and other groups to meet on a regular basis. Share an agenda to enhance neighborhood livability. Priority: 2 Neighborhood associations, block units, residents

36. 6.Enhance the City’s relationship and visibility with MSD, Metro, Terminal Railroad and other regional organizations. Establish regular contact with residents for information sharing purposes. Priority: 4 U City Administration

37. Public Health 1.Enhance the City’s environmental services. Priority: 1 Community Development Department 2.Continue to work with appropriate partners to ensure the proper maintenance of the River des Peres. Priority: 4 Public Works, various partners

38. Next Steps Plan to be finalized and presented to Plan Commission for adoption as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Update Plan to be finalized and presented to Plan Commission for adoption as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Update Plan to be forwarded to City Council for review and adoption Plan to be forwarded to City Council for review and adoption Plan to be funded and implemented Plan to be funded and implemented

39. Comments/Questions? For more information, contact Lehman Walker or Andrea Riganti at 505-8500