Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Scott McCullough, Director
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Date:	For July 14, 2009  City Commission Agenda
RE:	Neighborhood Association Boundaries

Vice Mayor Amyx requested a report on the city’s role in determining a neighborhood association’s boundaries.

It is fair to say that there has not been a typical practice or policy regarding the city’s participation in helping to determine neighborhood association boundaries in the past.  The city and neighborhoods alike have often worked cooperatively in the past to establish boundaries that would be conducive to receiving federal CDBG and other funds.  While there have been instances where the city and a neighborhood work together to implement common goals, current practice is that the city mainly leaves the boundaries up to the neighborhoods to determine.  Although the city staff has provided technical assistance to neighborhoods to determine needs and goals and establish neighborhood boundaries, it has never been a practice or policy of any City department or division to dictate such boundaries to a neighborhood.

Neighborhood associations were particularly instrumental during the mid-1970’s when CDBG funds were first introduced and communities were encouraged to revitalize, redevelop, and maintain existing neighborhoods with infrastructure improvements and housing rehabilitation.  Neighborhood plans were created by the residents for the five original neighborhoods that were eligible for CDBG funds (Brook Creek [formerly Far East Lawrence], East Lawrence, North Lawrence, Oread, and Pinckney).  However, as noted previously, neighborhoods were provided technical assistance by city staff in determining needs as well as boundaries but the actual decision was left to the neighborhood and not dictated by the city.  Today, neighborhood associations’ importance remains high as they also provide standing in the Development Code to receive notice on certain land use applications and also are a driving force in drafting and revising neighborhood plans.  

Neighborhood associations are separate entities from the City of Lawrence, as are other organizations and vendors who may receive funding from the City.  The City does not have any legal authority or obligation to determine the boundaries of neighborhood associations and the City Commission has not directed staff to seek an authority or process for determining neighborhood association boundaries.