Neighborhood Associations

Adopted 1973. Updated 1975, 2007.

1.  The LWV of Portland believes that Portland’s Neighborhood Associations have the potential to serve the public good by providing important opportunities for civic participation and improving neighborhood livability. To meet this potential, Neighborhood Associations must be integrated into city networks of communication and  decision-making, and they must be adequately supported by city funding and services. Neighborhood Associations, in turn, need to consistently invite and include all residents in their operations.

2.  Portland’s neighborhood system structure:

• Neighborhood Associations should continue to be autonomous entities separate from city government.
• Because Portland’s neighborhood system is grassroots in nature, diversity of NA character should be honored. A decentralized system of service delivery is appropriate.
• District Coalitions, in their varied organizational formats, should remain in place as long as they are effective, with funding from the city. 
• Uniformity and equity should be pursued where possible but should not come at the expense of effectiveness.

3.  The city’s role in supporting Neighborhood Associations should consist of:
At the Council and Bureau level:

• Informing Neighborhood Associations of city projects and activities affecting them
• A willingness to solicit and receive neighborhood input
• Consideration of neighborhood needs within city budgeting process
• Funding that is adequate to maintain this system

Through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement:

• Ensuring a neighborhood voice in city operations
• Encouraging better communication between city bureaus and neighborhoods
• The setting forth of healthy governance practices in guidelines for Neighborhood Associations 
• Support for neighborhoods and District Coalitions including assistance and adequate funding for communication, outreach, leadership training and technical assistance

4.  Successful Neighborhood Associations should:

• Be independent with the authority to set their own agenda
• Have the ability to interact with all government and non-governmental entities
• Work to engage the various populations in the neighborhood
• Respond to neighborhood needs
• Represent neighborhood interests effectively to the city
• Utilize effective means to communicate with neighborhood residents at least twice a year

5.  Neighborhood Associations should not be the only avenue for civic engagement with Portland’s government. If resources are adequate, city assistance could be offered to groups other than Neighborhood Associations to increase organizational capacity. When Neighborhood Associations are functioning effectively, with both the resources to do their work, and city’s acknowledgement of their role, encouragement should be given to other community groups to channel work on civic issues through the neighborhood system.