Main Menu Close Menu

mail Contact

Search Close

Translate

Department

Community Development

Department

Community Response

Department

Convention and Cultural Services

Department

Finance

Department

Fire Department

Department

Human Resources

Department

Information Technology

Department

Mayor and Council

Department

Office of Public Safety Accountability

Department

Office of the City Attorney

Department

Office of the City Auditor

Department

Office of the City Clerk

Department

Office of the City Manager

Department

Office of the City Treasurer

Department

Police Department

Department

Public Works

Department

Utilities

Department

Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment

Category

hiking Activities

Arts & Culture

Camps

Classes & Group Activities

Community Centers

Events & Entertainment

Sports

Swimming

Category

pets Animals & Pets

Animals & Pets

Category

domain_add Building & Planning

Construction

Inspections

Planning

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

store Business

Business

Cannabis

Economic Development

Innovation

Suppliers & Vendors

Category

account_tree City Administration

Accountability & Oversight

Boards & Commissions

City Attorney

City Manager

City Structure & Policies

Customer Service

Elections

Mayor & City Council

Transparency

Category

category City Assets & Data

City Buildings & Property

City Vehicles

Records

Transparency

Category

explore City Regions

Council Districts

Neighborhoods

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

diversity_4 Community Support

Accessibility

Community Centers

Community Engagement

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Homelessness

Housing

Older Adults

Volunteering

Youth

Category

theater_comedy Culture & History

Arts & Culture

Events & Entertainment

Sacramento History

Category

business_center Employment

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Employees & Retirees

Employment

Volunteering

Workforce Development

Category

directions Infrastructure

Bridges

Drinking Water

Information Technology

Infrastructure Finance

Stormwater & Flooding

Streets & Roads

Trails

Wastewater & Sewer

Category

gavel Law, Code & Compliance

Code Enforcement

Inspections

Law & Code

Permits

Category

payments Money

Accounting

City Budget

Claims, Rebates & Discounts

Debt Management

Economic Development

Grants

Infrastructure Finance

Investment & Cash Management

Payments & Fees

Taxes

Category

park Outdoors & Sustainability

Bicycles

Boating

Camps

Climate & Sustainability

Parks

Scooters

Sports

Swimming

Trails

Trees

Weather

Category

local_police Safety

Alternative Response

Crime

Emergency Management

Emergency Response

Fire

Inspections

Police Department

Prevention & Personal Safety

Stormwater & Flooding

Weather

Category

directions_car Transportation

Bicycles

Boating

Driving

Electric Vehicles

Parking

Public Transportation

Scooters

Traffic

Walking

Category

delete_sweep Utility Services

Drinking Water

Recycling

Trash

Wastewater & Sewer

Back to categories Back to Departments

Search for content

SITE NAVIGATION

Neighborhood Associations

Start a Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Directory

Neighborhood Associations

Start a Neighborhood Association

Forming a neighborhood association, neighborhood watch, business association, or other type of neighborhood group offers several benefits that will help you maintain or improve the strength of your community. Establishing a neighborhood organization will:

Amplify your voice to help you shape what happens in your neighborhood
Provide opportunities for you to meet other residents
Keep you informed of proposed construction or improvements of homes and businesses in your neighborhood
Connect you to City staff, elected officials, and other agencies looking for help with improving the livability of your neighborhood

Getting started

Some initial steps to forming a neighborhood organization include:

Contact a Community Engagement Specialist
Meet with a small group of neighbors or other members of your community to get their input on establishing a neighborhood organization
Discuss what goals you would like your organization to achieve
Determine specific boundaries for the area your organization will serve
Decide where and how often you want to meet as an organization
Add your group to the Neighborhood Directory

Form a start up committee

Get together an initial group of neighbors who have a genuine interest in neighborhood involvement. This committee will meet to establish the purpose and boundaries of the association.

Outreach to the neighborhood

You could spread the word through a variety of means, including; door to door canvassing, hosting a small event, posting flyers in the neighborhood schools & shopping centers, or conducting a neighborhood needs survey. Be sure to start a database for contacting neighbors & businesses.

Prepare for the general meeting

Work with the Community Engagement Specialist for your area. The Community Engagement Specialist has helpful information on running effective meetings, as well as samples of agendas, committee forms, neighborhood surveys, and more. Agree upon roles for the first meeting (facilitators, note takers, etc.) Some suggestions:

Plan to provide time for neighbors to get to know one another.
Work with the City to have representatives from City Departments present, if desired.
Consider asking local business could donate refreshments.

Hold the first general meeting

The Startup Committee can introduce the purpose & boundaries of the association. As a group, discuss the vision of the association. Establish & prioritize goals for the neighborhood. Select initial action committee (Consider establishing one committee to address your first major issue/goal or project, & developing more once that issue has been effectively resolved). Agree upon future meeting dates. Bring useful information about the neighborhood (upcoming activities at the school or community center). Don’t forget to provide opportunities for input from all attendees throughout each the discussion topics. Invite neighbors to be part of the Startup Committee. Establish a means to contact attendees.

Get moving!

Following the initial meeting, the action committee should meet & begin working toward resolving their issue/project. Once effectively addressed, celebrate your victory with the neighborhood! The Startup Committee should begin planning for the next meeting’s agenda. Continue to work toward expanding the membership base. Don’t forget to have fun! An effective association encourages neighbor participation by addressing relative issues, getting things done & making community involvement an engaging process.

We can help

The Community Engagement Team is available to help you! Contact us at CE@cityofsacramento.org to learn about workshops for community leaders, public involvement opportunities, and to get help developing your organization.

ON THIS PAGE