INC NEWS - Free Meeting Space for Neighborhood Associations

[Chuck Clifton]

I want to thank the INC for making time on their agenda for Long Meadow
Neighborhood Association to propose a resolution for the City of Durham to
allow neighborhood associations to meet for free at an appropriate City
facility.  Per the request of the INC I have revised the resolution as
discussed in tonight's meeting and have reproduced it below.  You can also
view a version of this with the background to the request at:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd83nhq8_365dgmq2ghm

*Resolution*

WHEREAS, neighborhood associations and associated neighborhood watch
programs are a crucial element in crime prevention, and
WHEREAS, regular neighborhood meetings are the foundation of these
neighborhood associations, and
WHEREAS, many neighborhood associations lack both space for regular meetings
and the funds to rent meeting space according to the current schedule of
fees at the City of Durham Parks & Recreation, and
WHEREAS, neighborhood associations are organizations formally recognized and
encouraged by the City of Durham, and
WHEREAS, neighborhood associations are an integral part of successful
government in the City of Durham for the following reasons:

   1. they play a central role in the Durham Planning Department's
   Organization Notification Directory Program,
   2. they are an key vehicle for neighborhood engagement by the
   Department of Neighborhood Improvement Services' Community Relations
   Coordinators and
   3. they provide focused and consistent feedback on a range of issues
   to the elected officials and staff of the City of Durham;

 NOW THEREFORE, the Durham INC requests that the City of Durham provide
public meeting space to all neighborhood associations at no charge and
requiring no deposit for the use of these facilities.  Specifically ...

   - "Neighborhood associations" includes those either registered with
   the Durham Planning Department or working with this department to
   organize as a neighborhood association.
   - This meeting space should be made available for the purposes of
   regular business meetings of the neighborhood association.


   - Meeting space may be provided at any appropriate City of Durham
   owned facility including but not limited to Parks & Recreation
   facilities.


   - The facility made available to any particular neighborhood
   association should be the City owned facility with public meeting space that
   is as close as possible to the neighborhood's boundaries (ideally no more
   than 2-3 blocks from the neighborhood wherever possible).


Kind regards,

Chuck Clifton
President, Long Meadow Neighborhood Association
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