Title
Neighborhood Specialist Area Reassignments
Description
This report provides an update on Neighborhood Services Department's recent reorganization of Neighborhood Specialist service areas.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
Neighborhood Specialists have played a vital role in community engagement and development since the creation of the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) in the early 1990s. Neighborhood Specialists serve as liaisons between the City, nonprofit agencies, private companies and neighborhood groups, and have been instrumental in increasing neighborhood engagement to improve the community. Recently, City Council members expressed their desire to have a dedicated Neighborhood Specialist assigned to each council district, rather than by service areas, to simplify neighborhood coordination, support and development. Previously NSD assigned specialists to areas that conflicted with existing common area maps, such as police precincts, urban villages and council districts. This resulted in confusion for community members, City staff, and Council offices. Assigning Neighborhood Specialists according to the boundaries of Council districts should simplify communication and better define responsibilities.
In order to provide for this transition, NSD requested the reallocation of a vacant Neighborhood Preservation Inspector I to a Neighborhood Specialist to provide the flexibility of an additional General Funded specialist and meet the Council’s expectations and maintain the quality of customer service for the community. The Neighborhood Preservation Inspector I is an essential position in NSD; however, the significant number of vacancies for this classification allows for the flexibility in the short-term for the current needs of the community. In April, NSD reassigned the Neighborhood Specialists to provide dedicated specialists assigned to each council district to maintain consistency, build trust and relationships, and avoid confusion.
In addition to the Neighborhood Specialists assigned to each Council district, NSD has a team of three Community-Development Block Grant-funded specialists providing additional support for neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income areas, such as the central core and Maryvale, and a team of three specialists supporting the PHX C.A.R.E.S. process, who provide support to address neighborhood issues related to homelessness.
Financial Impact
This reorganization will have no significant financial impact to NSD.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Neighborhood Services Department.