Neighborhood Business District Walks & Neighborhoods in the Neighborhood Program

City Councilwoman Y. Laketa Cole
Cincinnati, OH

Target Level of Government: Local City Government
Policy Category: Civic Engagement
Possible Allies: Other Electeds, Local Political Parties, Neighborhood Leaders

Synopsis: Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Walks allow business districts and community leaders to show city officials firsthand what is going on in their communities, both the good and the bad. Additionally, the Neighborhoods in the Neighborhood (NIN) Program allows community councils to host one Neighborhoods Committee meeting per month at a date, time, and location that works best for them, thus making government significantly more accessible.

NBD Walks & NIN Program Objectives

• Increase interaction and communication between NBD leadership, members of the council, community councils/neighborhood residents, and city staff.
• Increase awareness of problems facing the city’s neighborhoods and NBDs.
• Move swiftly to abate smaller problems, and begin working on long-term solutions for the larger ones.
• Give council and city staff a first hand look at what kinds of issues our neighborhoods and NBDs face.
• The overarching goal of the NBD Walks is to improve our business districts and neighborhoods.
• Give people who ordinarily can’t make neighborhoods committee meetings a chance to be heard, or at least attend.

Who Can Attend

• NBD Walks – Anyone is welcome to attend, but we generally cater to the business district representatives and residents of the community we are visiting.
• NBD Walks – Someone representing the Neighborhood/Community Council or local business association, preferably in association with Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU), should attend.
• NIN – Anyone from any community can attend just like a regular committee meeting, but obviously we cater to the residents of the particular neighborhood we are visiting.

How Does the NBD Walk Work?

• If a particular community or association is interested in hosting a NBD Walk, they should appoint a liaison from the local business association.
• The city office will work with the liaison to schedule the exact meeting date and time.
• City staff and community/business district representatives will gather at the location chosen by the city office and the liaison a few minutes before the scheduled walk time.
• The liaison or someone designated by the liaison will take city staff on a walking tour of the neighborhood or NBD to point out both positive developments and problems.
• The tour should be limited to around 20-30 minutes and focus on the business district, but NOT residential areas unless they immediately abut the district.
• City staff will take notes and facilitate solutions to the problems.
• City staff will provide the liaison with an update on the city’s progress 30 days from the date of the walk.

Resources
City of Cincinnati’s archive of legislation:
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/council/pages/-3665-/

Details
As Chair of the Neighborhood, Parks, Recreation, and Public Services Committee, it was simply at my discretion to implement these policies, no formal motion or ordinance was needed. These programs were met with incredible support from all parties and community councils and have been enormously successful. They have resulted in more positive interaction amongst the council, administration, and citizens. Additionally, they have created more participation from the public.