November 7, 2017 — Small Group Meeting

Place:  MacArthur High School

Work Group Topic Areas — this document identifies the nine(9) areas of discussion and describes the focus of the group’s discussion.

CONNECTIVITY AND PARTNERSHIPS

  • Groups referring to other groups
  • How do groups hear about other groups?
  • Get people involved?
  • Young people engaged/remain in community
  • Clearinghouse of local entertainment or other information needs
  • Inspiration/Caring
  • Find ways to support initiatives
  • Public resources for information
  • Public meeting space
  • Link to full document

HOUSING, BUILDING AND LAND RE-USE

  • Underutilized buildings
  • Revitalize boarded up homes
  • Small homes on small lots ⁠— phased home development reintroduced to tax roles
  • Rehab homes using workforce development initiatives/opportunities
  • Help 4 Heroes Vet housing – tiny homes
  • Link to full document

COMMUNITY APPEARANCE

  • American Bloom
  • Attractive community corridors
  • Reduce litter and blight
  • Entrance revitalized
  • Maintained empty lots
  • Promote new housing in empty lots
  • New commercial landscaping
  • Create pictures ⁠— before and after
  • remove signs from closed businesses
  • Link to full document

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

  • Action process needs improving
  • Improve declining houses
  • Vacant lot use after purchase
  • Side lot program
  • Empty business fronts
  • Link to full document

ENERGIZE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS

  • Keep money in neighborhoods
  • Teen involvement in the community
  • Building motivation in young people and neighbors
  • Improving housing standards
  • Teach people how to maintain homes
  • Link to full document

Small Group 6 notes ⁠— Economic & Social Growth & Vitality

  • How we interact with each other translates into how we interact at work
  • More opportunities for bicycles in the city
  • More training for youth that do not go to college
  • Create an environment where people want to talk/interact
  • Involvement by parents in schools
  • Link to full document

COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  • Start with kids
  • Health is wealth
  • Older adults as well
  • More bike paths and lanes through town
  • Loop connecting full city
  • Link to full document

Small Group 8 notes ⁠— Jobs and Job Readiness

  • Early childhood services and education
  • Career oriented vocations
  • Pre-apprenticeship programs
  • Help people with felonies reintegrate into workforce
  • Opportunities for next generation
  • Link to full document

INNER-CITY OPPORTUNITIES

  • Property ⁠— government regulations, property values
  • Retail/small business/literacy & job readiness
  • Partnerships to be more efficient/stability in homes & business
  • Partnership:  church/school/neighborhood
  • Clean-up neighborhoods/No dumping
  • Link to full document