Citizen Participation in Community Development: A Catalog of Local Approaches

摘要

This catalog presents descriptions of innovative and noteworthy citizen participation processes in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program in 31 communities (27 cities and 4 counties). Each description includes three sections: a brief background on citizen participation in the community prior to the beginning of the CDBG Program, the procedures and structures used to implement citizen participation in the program, and exemplary aspects of the citizen participation process. This catalog is intended to help local officials involve citizens in the allocation, implementation, and monitoring of Federal CDBG funds in their communities. It is also intended to help citizens and citizen organizations take an active role in improving their neighborhoods and communities. The descriptions of citizen participation processes in the 27 cities are organized on the basis of population size, although there are a variety of other factors to consider in the development of an effective citizen participation process. In order to implement citizen participation, the communities described in the catalog developed strategies for hearing and incorporating citizen ideas and opinions. The structural components of the 31 communities vary widely, both in the level at which the structures are organized (communitywide, district, or neighborhood) and in the lines and scope of responsibility among the various levels. The state of existing citizen and neighborhood organizations in the community at the beginning of the CDBG Program was an important factor for communities in developing a citizen participation strategy. The existing organizations and institutions had to be assessed in regard to decisions about how to build upon or modify them. Some communities, such as Asheville, N.C., decided not to use them at all. Besides the descriptions of citizen participation in the various communities, tables describe characteristics of citizen participation structures, city - level bodies, neighborhood organizations, intermediate - level bodies, and citizen participation in urban counties. Also listed are techniques used to encourage citizen participation. Appendices contain information on socioeconomic characteristics of the cities, sources of data used in the catalog, methodology for the study, an annotated bibliography on citizen participation, and a glossary. An index is also provided.