Neighborhood Associations Tie the Community Together

September 25, 2014

4:24 PM

Neighborhood Associations Tie the Community Together

Robust community engagement and comprehensive public information campaigns are hallmarks of Dublin. In our community of 43,000-plus residents, Dublin’s 85 neighborhood associations are significant to the success of these initiatives.

Background

In Dublin, there are primarily three types of neighborhood groups. All are encouraged to take part in the Neighborhood Association Program supported by Dublin City Council and administered by the City’s Community Relations Department with assistance from all 25 departments and divisions.

Civic associations are the most informal of the three types of residential groups, where membership isn’t required. Homeowner associations are formal organizations comprised of property owners and are responsible for the governance, maintenance and upkeep of neighborhoods.

Like those of HOAs, condominium association bylaws are filed in a county recorder office. However, condo associations, as they are commonly called, must include all owners. Details are available at dublinohiousa.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhood-groups-type.

Most of these associations select or elect a president. That representative usually becomes the primary and official contact between the association and the City of Dublin. However, it is important to note that all residents are encouraged to take advantage of the multiple opportunities to become informed and involved and to be heard.

Opportunities include attending or watching Dublin City Council meetings, connecting and contributing through social media, le

arning from our website, reading the weekly newspaper, volunteering for City projects, and becoming involved in your neighborhood association.

The City of Dublin also offers engagement and information opportunities available through your neighborhood association.

Biannual Neighborhood Town Hall Meetings

One of the most popular elements of the neighborhood program is the most traditional – face-to-face meetings. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the City of Dublin hosts a Neighborhood Association Town Hall meeting. Association presidents receive the invitation and the meetings are promoted to the general public.

“The meetings are designed for neighborhood leadership. All presidents and at least one board member are encouraged to attend. However, any resident is welcome to attend the meeting as long as space is available,” said Director of Community Relations Sandra Puskarcik.

Certain topics, such as road improvements and safety, are perennial favorites, and time is allotted to current issues and opportunities. The meeting closes with networking among the association representatives.

The 2014 fall meeting is being held at Heartland, 4075 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6:30-8 p.m. Topics slated for discussion include Dublin’s Distracted Driving Campaign and 2015 Major Transportation Projects, including the Riverside/161 roundabout and the 270-33 interchange.

Residents of Ballantrae appreciate the information that is shared, said resident Bill Chaddock. In fact, he said, the meetings are so informative, he never misses them. Chaddock said he tries to attend both annual meetings and then summarizes the information shared for his neighbors.

“It is the most important thing the City does,” Chaddock said of the semi-annual meetings.

Mr. Chaddock has been on the Villages of Ballantrae Board of Directors for the past years. Two components of the meeting he looks forward to are hearing about road improvements and hearing directly from Police Chief Heinz von Eckartsberg.

Nextdoor

Muirfield Village resident Rick Ross was instrumental in launching a new online platform designed specifically for neighborhood associations.

Nextdoor is a secure, free neighborhood engagement tool that allows two-way communication and engagement between and among residents and the City. Confirmed neighbors join the site and band together with others in their own neighborhoods to communicate, express concerns and generally work to make their neighborhoods safer places to live.

Ross believes Nextdoor is the ultimate communication tool for neighborhoods, he said.

“The network is still new, but what’s happening is remarkable. Neighbors are sharing recommendations, getting donations, selling and giving away items, and much more. The City has been playing an important role by sending out relevant information,” Ross said. “I learned of the early reopening of the Dublin and Glick intersection only two minutes after it happened. Kudos to Dublin for such timely communication.”

Currently in Dublin, 25 neighborhood associations and 1,100 households are participating in the program.

Dublin Direct

Dublin Direct, a monthly e-newsletter that is sent to neighborhood leaders, contains news of interest for and about the Dublin community. Some neighborhood leaders forward Dublin Direct in its entirety to their residents and others choose items of interest most relevant to their specific neighborhoods.

Coventry Woods’ former president and current communications chair, Janice Joos, shares information from Dublin Direct, as well as from Dublin’s social and digital media tools with fellow neighbors.

“We use a combination of email, Facebook and neighborhood meetings to keep our residents informed,” said Joos. “We also remind our residents about how they can sign up for news directly from the City.”

To receive Dublin Direct or to see past editions, go to dublinohiousa.gov/neighborhoods/dublin-direct.

Block Party Packages

The City’s Block Party Packages include tents, chairs, tables, trash bins, sandwich boards, barricades and a sound system conveniently delivered to your site in a secured trailer – all free of charge. About half of Dublin’s neighborhood associations take advantage of this neighborhood engagement benefit. That number grows annually, however. Once a neighborhood uses a block party package, it is likely to become a return customer.

Erick Berschet has lived in Bristol Commons for 18 years. “The City has always served as a consistent source for information and has offered ways to tie neighborhoods together like the block party packages,” Berschet said. “These types of services make a difference in our community.”

To reserve the block party package for your next neighborhood gathering, visit dublinohiousa.gov/living/block-party-packages or call Lauren McDonald at 614-410-4514. While most of the packages are reserved in the summer months, they are available year round and are free of charge once per year. Additional reservations within the calendar year are $50.

Beautify Your Neighborhood Grant

The Beautify Your Neighborhood Matching Grant Program provides financial support – from $500-$5,000 – to associations that want to enhance their neighborhoods with high-quality, sustainable beautification projects that benefit and enhance the Dublin community.

The first grants were awarded in 2011, and since then, City staff has worked with numerous associations to identify possible beautification projects and assist in application preparation. Potential projects include entry features enhancements with new signs and lighting, updated landscape beds, benches, removal of invasive species and art installation. Projects must be clearly visible from the public right-of-way.

The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 9, 2015. Contact Claudia D. Husak, AICP, Planner II at 614-410-4600 or chusak@dublin.oh.us for details.

-Sandra Puskarcik, ABC, CTA, is the Director of Community Relations for the City of Dublin.