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SFP 22 1992 <br />ma 87 fnE 6,93 <br />TO: James Chandler <br />County Administrator <br />DIVISION HEAD CONCURRENCE: <br />Obert M. Keating' A <br />Community Develop en irector <br />FROM: Christopher D. Rison <br />Staff Planner, Current Development <br />DATE: September 14, 1992 <br />RE: REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A NEIGHBORHOOD AWARENESS MERIT <br />RECOGNITION AWARDS AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br />It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal <br />consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at their regular <br />meeting of September 22, 1992. <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />Declining neighborhoods create substantial difficulties for both <br />residents of the neighborhood and the surrounding community. <br />Reductions in property values, declining owner occupancy rates and <br />deteriorating neighborhood appearances are a few of the results of <br />declining neighborhoods. By reversing and reducing the trend to <br />decline, the impacts upon the neighborhood and the surrounding <br />community may be stopped and reversed. <br />The issue of declining neighborhoods -is addressed in policy 3.4 of <br />the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan. It is also among <br />the issues addressed by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. <br />Housing Element Policy 3.4 states: The county shall encourage <br />improved neighborhood appearance by establishing neighborhood <br />awareness programs and providing annual merit recognition awards <br />for neighborhood improvement programs. <br />The intent of this policy is to develop programs which will stop <br />and reverse the tendency of neighborhoods to decline. Such <br />programs may be sponsored and supported at both public and private <br />levels. The programs would generally be administered through the <br />county, with participation by various county departments, other <br />agencies, private and public- participants, and neighborhood <br />residents. <br />ANALYSIS <br />The creation of neighborhood improvement and awareness programs may <br />reduce, halt and reverse the trend of decline suffered by some <br />existing neighborhoods. Such programs could provide additional <br />benefits by maintaining and possibly improving property values, <br />while encouraging resident pride and participation in maintaining <br />existing neighborhood appearances. <br />Staff has reviewed existing neighborhood awareness and improvement <br />programs conducted by other local governments, considered <br />recommendations of the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, and <br />38 <br />