IDEAS FOR A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY
SAHS, 11/23/98
[Ed.: Comments from the general discussion at SAHS as noted by city staff.]
- People are kind to others and accepting and open to all kinds of people and ideas.
- People share experiences.
- People know their neighbors.
- People have gathering places, both neighborhood and community-wide (like River Rhythms).
- We need to be inclusive rather than exclusive. We dont want gated communities in Albany.
- We need bike lanes on collector and arterial streets.
- More off road trails would be good, such as one to Corvallis.
- Lehigh and Casa Villa need other ways in and out.
- We need to improve our bus system.
- 34th Avenue needs more/better pedestrian crossings.
- We need another interstate interchange, such as at Grand Prairie Road.
- We need to pay more attention to the needs of our disabled citizens.
- We need more curb cuts and smoother sidewalks for wheelchairs.
- We should not allow impediments like towers to be placed in handicapped ramps.
- We need to address Albanys image problem due to odor from I-5 industries.
- We need to make better use of existing public facilities, such as school gyms and libraries.
- We need to beautify some of the parks we have.
- For new facilities like a sports complex, we need to get them planned and then figure out how to pay for.
- We could use the existing Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program as a vehicle to spread the word about the ideas that have come out of the Great Neighborhoods (GN) meetings.
- A neighborhood watch group or groups could "adopt" a GN project or concept.
- The Police Departments Community Resource Unit staff can make NW groups aware of what other NW groups are doing.
- We could build on the annual NW block party event, which is held on the first Tuesday in August.
- We could use the Community Problem Solving Committee to address Great Neighborhoods issues that involve several city departments or NW groups.
- Lets find a way to get neighbors, service clubs and churches together to solve problems.
- Lets set reasonable goals, communicate them, achieve them, and celebrate.
- The stadium at South Albany High School is an example of what can be done.
- Lets recognize that there is a difference between a citizen and a taxpayer.
- Lets have occasional neighborhood meetings (breakfasts?) by ward.
- Lets use the "City Bridges" newsletter to communicate what is going on in neighborhoods.
- Lets do a lot of these things on a volunteer basis and show more personal responsibility.
- Lets consider keeping the Great Neighborhoods core group together.
- Lets remember that we all have a stake in our community and that generations that came before us put things in place that contribute to our livability.