Neighborhood Councils

By Al Adam

Citizens can get involved in local government at a grass roots level through Neighborhood Councils. They would advise the City Council on development projects, resident concerns or other areas that have been requested for input. Ventura County employs MACs or Municipal Advisory Councils with great success for resident feedback. Thousand Oaks should do the same with Neighborhood Councils. Partnering with citizens helps the City operate effectively in the areas of planning and development of projects, traffic, public safety and community concerns.

Neighborhood Councils give residents and developers the ability to interact early in the planning process and deal with any potential problems before public hearings. They offer an informal setting for citizens to voice their concerns and identify existing problems.

The dissolution of the Residents Roundtable created a gap between the City and its residents that needs to be filled. I would propose creating four to five districts in the City to be represented by Neighborhood Councils. The members would meet monthly and would serve two-year terms. Good government is open government!

For More Information, Please Visit http://www.AlAdamForCouncil.com