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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-28 16-130 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION AS AMENDED Item No. 16-130 Date: March 28, 2016 Item/Subject: ORDER, Authorizing the Establishment of a Community Stakeholder Steering Committee in conjunction with the AARP Grant Application regarding Livable/Age Friendly Communities and the Innovative Communities Initiative Responsible Department: City Council Commentary: If approved, this Order would establish the creation of a Steering Committee as part of the recently submitted AARP Age Friendly grant application. The grant involves both the Livable / Age Friendly Communities and Innovative Communities Initiative. As outlined in the grant application project proposal summary, the Steering Committee will create measurable action plans that incorporate the eight domains of livability identified by AARP. This will be accomplished through a series of neighborhood meetings, and by reviewing and sharing the results of a recent AARP community survey conducted in Bangor. Information gathered at these meetings will also serve to provide data to support the Innovative Neighborhood Initiative. This concept involves an intergenerational village to village model that engages people of all ages helping one another and strengthening neighborhoods and the city through citizen involvement. This was reviewed and recommended for approval at the March 21, 2016 Government Operations Committee meeting. Department Head Manager's Comments: City Manager Associated Information: AARP Grant Application, (including project proposal summary), Bangor Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: City Solicitor Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral Assigned to Councilor Perry CITY OF BANGOR AS AMENDED 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 (TITLE.) Order, Authorizing the Establishment of a Community Stakeholder Steering Committee in conjunction with the AARP Grant Application regarding Livable/Age Friendly Communities and the Innovative Neighborhoods WHEREAS, The City has submitted a grant application to AARP to engage in the livable Community project; and WHERAS, The application includes the creation of a Steering Committee to help create measurable action plans that incorporate the eight domains of livability identified by AARP as well as develop action plans identified under the Innovative Communities concept; and WHEREAS, the grant proposes to accomplish this through facilitated meetings as well as a series of neighborhood meetings which will be focused on the results of a recent AARP community survey conducted in Bangor. WHEREAS, In addition, the steering committee will seek to engage the neighborhood connections through dynamic interactions; and WHEREAS, This concept involves an intergenerational village to village model that engages people of all ages helping one another and strengthening neighborhoods and the city through citizen involvement. WHEREAS, the program would include a project steering committee made up of nine individuals as identified below; and WHEREAS, the steering committee shall report back to the Government Operations Committee on a periodic basis to inform them of on-going progress. Initiative Be it Ordered by the Bangor City Council that As contained in and part of the recent AARP Age Friendly Community Grant application submitted by the city, a steering committee is hereby established for the purposes outlined in the project proposal summary (attached). The Committee shall be comprised of the following: AS AMENDED 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 City of Bangor (two members to be appointed by the City Council Chair) One Representative from AARP One Representative from the Bangor Daily News One Representative from Eastern Area Agency on Aging One Representative Penquis One Representative Bangor Fusion Two individuals shall occupy at large seats as determined by the Council Chair And be it Further Ordered that. Organizations listed above shall be responsible for appointing a member to the Steering Committee. The City Council Chair shall be responsible for identifying the two individuals to represent at large positions. The Committee shall report back to the Government Operations Committee on a periodic basis. COUNCIL ACTION Item No. -16-130 Date: March 28, 2016 Item/Subject: ORDER, Authorizing the Establishment of a Community Stakeholder Steering Committee in conjunction with the AARP Grant Application regarding Livable/Age Friendly Communities and the Innovative Communities Initiative Responsible Department: City Council Commentary: If approved, this Order would establish the creation of a Steering Committee as part of the recently submitted AARP Age Friendly grant application. The grant involves both the Livable / Age Friendly Communities and Innovative Communities Initiative. As outlined in the grant application project proposal summary, the Steering Committee will create measurable action plans that incorporate the eight domains of livability identified by AARP. This will be accomplished through a series of neighborhood meetings, and by reviewing and sharing the results of a recent AARP community survey conducted in Bangor. Information gathered at these meetings will also serve to provide data to support the Innovative Neighborhood Initiative. This concept involves an intergenerational village to village model that engages people of all ages helping one another and strengthening neighborhoods and the city through citizen involvement. This was reviewed and recommended for approval at the March 21, 2016 Government Operations Committee meeting. Manager's Comments: Department Head City Manager Associated Information: AARP Grant Application, (including project proposal summary), Bangor Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: City Solicitor Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral COUNCIL ACTION Item No. 16-130 Date: March 28, 2016 Item/Subject: ORDER, Authorizing the Establishment of a Community Stakeholder Steering Committee in conjunction with the AARP Grant Application regarding Livable/Age Friendly Communities and the Innovative Communities Initiative Responsible Department: City Council Commentary: If approved, this Order would establish the creation of a Steering Committee as part of the recently submitted AARP Age Friendly grant application. The grant involves both the Livable / Age Friendly Communities and Innovative Communities Initiative. As outlined in the grant application project proposal summary, the Steering Committee will create measurable action plans that incorporate the eight domains of livability identified by AARP. This will be accomplished through a series of neighborhood meetings, and by reviewing and sharing the results of a recent AARP community survey conducted in Bangor. Information gathered at these meetings will also serve to provide data to support the Innovative Neighborhood Initiative. This concept involves an intergenerational village to village model that engages people of all ages helping one another and strengthening neighborhoods and the city through citizen involvement. This was reviewed and recommended for approval at the March 21, 2016 Government Operations Committee meeting. Manager's Comments: Department Head coaL n -q„ City Manager Associated Information: AARP Grant Application, (including project proposal summary), Bangor Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative Budget Approval: Finance Director Legal Approval: Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral Assigned to Councilor Perry CITY OF BANGOR 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 (TITLE.) Order, Authorizing the Establishment of a Community Stakeholder Steering Committee in conjunction with the AARP Grant Application regarding Livable/Age Friendly Communities and the Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative Be it Ordered by the Bangor City Council that. As contained in and part of the recent AARP Age Friendly Community Grant application submitted by the city, a steering committee is hereby established for the purposes outlined in the project proposal summary (attached). The Committee shall be comprised of the following: City of Bangor (two members to be appointed by the Council Chair) One Representative from AARP One Representative from the Bangor Daily News One Representative from Eastern Area Agency on Aging One Representative Penquis One Representative Bangor Fusion Two individuals shall occupy at large seats as determined by the Council Chair And be it Further Ordered that. Organizations listed above shall be responsible for appointing a member to the Steering Committee. Council Chair shall be responsible for identifying the two individuals to represent at large positions. IN CITY COUNCIL MARCH 28, 2016 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE MOTION MADE AND SECONDED TO POSTPONE AND REFER TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING POSTPONED CITY CLERK IN CITY COUNCIL APRIL 11, 2016 MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE PASSED CITY CLERR ' Real Possibilities in Maine AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS APPLICATION Introduction to the AARP Network of Age -Friendly Communities AARP Maine is helping Maine towns, cities, neighborhoods, and community groups to prepare for Maine's rapidly aging population by promoting aging in place and aging in community. The AARP Network of Age -Friendly Communities program helps participating communities become great places for all ages by adopting such features as safe, walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities. Well-designed, livable communities promote health and sustain economic growth —for all ages. AARP encourages older residents to take an active role in these community planning projects. AARP Maine is providing support to communities working on these issues, with staff assistance, model survey questions, and other informative resources (many at AARP.org/livable). AARP Maine not only supports communities planning for aging issues following the AARP's Network of Age -Friendly Communities approach, but also supports other valuable approaches and perspectives, such as those of the Village to Village Network, the Milken Institute, or those outlined in the Maine guide Building a Collaborative Community Response to Aging In Place, —A Guide to Creating an Aging Friendly Maine, One Community at a Time (available at http://maine4a.org/image_upload/FlNALREPORT.pdf ). Project Development Support Program In addition to the technical and information resources, AARP Maine is now able to offer financial support to communities preparing for aging in community by offering grants of $1000 to $8000. The grants are available to Maine towns and cities and community groups which serve significant low and moderate income populations of older adults and which lack the resources for some element of the planning process. Applications will be considered from Maine municipalities and 501(C) (3) non-profit groups. Applications will be accepted for grants in the range of $1000 to $8000, though special consideration could be given to a larger grant. It is anticipated that 15 to 20 grants will be made over a period of 16 months. The grant proposals must include a narrative explaining what component of the planning process the grant would help to facilitate. Qualified uses include: • survey of community members • focus groups • contract with planner or facilitator to help with the planning process • contract with planner or facilitator to write or edit draft of plan • contract with intern for data gathering or similar work Other uses of funds will be considered if they are for one or more concrete individual pieces related to a planning initiative, not for general support of non -itemized expenses. Preference will be given to planning projects that seek to identify specific needs and demonstrate how the project proposes to address the need over time. The program is open to Maine municipalities, other Maine units of government, and community groups with non-profit 501(c) (3) status which have begun an age friendly community planning project or are working on a model of aging in place to support Maine's aging demographics. It will not fund the following types of proposals or organizations: - Partisan political activities - Individuals - Direct services for seniors - For -profits - Capital expenditures or the acquisition of land and/or buildings and/or equipment Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit the proposal online at me@aarp.org with all pertinent information. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications will be accepted on the first and 15th day each month through March 1, 2016. Successful grants will be determined by an AARP panel within 30 days of submission.. Age Friendly Community Grant — AARP Maine Real Possibilities it Maine Age Friendly Community Grant Application DATE: February 1, 2016 CONTACT PERSON/TITLE: Patty Hamilton, Public Health Director City of Bangor, Maine NAME OF APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: City Of Bangor(Municipality/council-manager) ADDRESS: 73 Harlow St. Bangor, Me 04401 PHONE: 207-992-4550 EMAIL: Patty.hamilton@bangormaine.gov TOWN OR OTHER GEOGRAPHY OF PROJECT: The geography of the project will be the city of Bangor. TOTAL POPULATION AND POPULATION AGE 65 AND OVER: According to the most recent United States Census American Community Survey the City currently has an estimated population of 32,800 which includes 4,907 individuals sixty five years and older AMOUNT OF THIS GRANT REQUEST: $8,000 TOTAL CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET: 127,270,000 (including school department) NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, FULL AND/OR PART TIME: 460 full time, 275 part-time, temporary, seasonal and/or on-call PROJECT PROPOSAL SUMMARY: The City will establish a steering committee with the goal of creating measurable action plans that incorporate the 8 domains of Livability laid out by AARP to the fullest extent possible, ultimately leading the city to become an AARP Network Age Friendly Community. Realizing that specific areas of the City will undoubtedly have different concerns, the steering committee will identify particular neighborhoods throughout the city in which to hold meetings that engage citizens and truly get to the crux of the issues (or assets). While the focus will be persons sixty-five and older, we will welcome individuals of all ages because we realize planning that is good for older individuals is good for the entire community regardless of age. The Steering committee will review the results from a recent AARP community survey and share the results at the neighborhood meetings to start discussion. A consultant will be engaged to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of this project. The information gathered during these neighborhood meetings will also serve to provide data to support our Innovative Neighborhood project concept. The concept includes an intergenerational village to village hybrid model that engages people of all ages in helping each other. Furthermore, the strengthened neighborhoods would be further empowered to brainstorm innovative ideas that could improve individual neighborhoods and eventually the entire city. IS YOUR ORGANIZATION (CHECK THE ONE THAT BEST APPLIES): --x-- A MUNICIPALITY ---- ANOTHER UNIT OF GOVERNMENT ---- 501(C)(3) NON PROFIT ---- OTHER (PLEASE DESCRIBE) PROJECT NARRATIVE AND BUDGET (no more than 4 2-3 pages excluding Sections 8 and 9): 1. The community's age -friendly activities to date. Please provide a brief summary of the community policies, programs and services that are targeted toward older people and how the community plans to become more age -friendly. The City offers all-encompassing service to its citizens. These services include but are not limited to: education, public transportation, emergency services, hospitals, health and medical services, pharmacies, etc. The City offers a Homebuyer Assistance and Residential Rehabilitation Program that is available to older persons who are income eligible. There are also a number of volunteer opportunities for people of all ages Eastern Area on Aging, EAAA, is a private nonprofit 50103 organization managed by a professional staff and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of representatives from a four county service area. With a specially trained and dedicated staff, they have for 40 years provide seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers a variety of options, opportunities, resources, and referrals. EAAA also offers resources on elder abuse and scams that target older persons. The Senior Center is a place for seniors in the Greater Bangor Region "The Center" is the place to meet. It is the only all-inclusive place where women and men age 55 and older can go to have fun, learn something new, exercise with friends, apply their talents, share their expertise and enjoy a beautiful space that is shaped by and caters to their specific interests. Rather than living in the past, our members are creating more wonderful memories for themselves and actively planning for their future. The Center strives to contribute to the physical, intellectual and emotional well-being of senior citizens while allowing participants to maximize their independence. Penquis was created as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to bring locally developed solutions to the multifaceted problems faced by the poor. Its mission is to assist individuals and families in preventing, reducing, or eliminating poverty in their lives and, through partnerships, engage the community in addressing economic and social needs. Penquis primarily serves low and moderate income individuals in Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties. It provides services to more than 24,000 individuals annually with more than 350 employees and an FY 16 budget (Penquis and subsidiaries) of more than 42 million. Services are delivered through six departments; Child Development, Family Enrichment Services, Housing and Energy Services, Housing Development Services. Lynx Mobility Services, and Transportation Brokerage. While the Child Development and Family Enrichment tend to serve younger Bangor residents, the remaining services are heavily used by the city's older adults. Assisted Living: Numerous assisted living facilities provide a place to live for individuals in need. Help with bathing, laundry, meals, hair dressing and other hygiene can be provided. Assisted living communities can be helpful for people who are not bed ridden and still maintain some independence but are unable to safely be on their own. Nursing Homes: The city's five nursing homes provide complete twenty-four hour care. They are for patients who are unable to care for basic needs. Home Health Care Agencies: Typically provides assistance with activities of daily living and/or medical support. A health care provider is generally needed for referrals. The city is home to three home health care agencies. The City is looking to become more 'age -friendly' and would like to consider how it can encourage aging in place and possibly join the AARP Network of Age -Friendly Communities and Innovative Neighborhoods. The City would use the money to fund a planning year to review current survey results (from a survey conducted by AARP), identify neighborhoods for help narrow the focus groups into manageable and relevant subsets, and conduct additional outreach/surveys to harder to reach households and populations as needed. We also plan to identify ways the City can work with regional stakeholders to lead age -friendly policies and to stimulate innovative ideas and collaborations among the various neighborhoods in Bangor. 2. The grant funded project. What aspect of your age -friendly project will this grant support? Why is this item or these items important to the project? What is the cost and how was it determined? What is the timeline for the grant funded project (not to exceed six months) Funding provide from this grant will jump start our age friendly initiative and goals. We plan to hire a trained facilitator to conduct focus groups and engage city staff in our efforts to make Bangor "Age -Friendly". We propose the facilitator will conduct six (6) two hour meetings in the neighborhoods identified by the steering committee, three (3) additional two hour meetings as needed (for example: City Hall, Library, YMCA, another neighborhood, etc.) Eventually we will have a large amount of information and data that we will use to develop a plan to move forward in a way that will benefit both the target audience and all of the citizens of Bangor. This proposal is an important part of our project. Without grant resources to hire a facilitator to assist neighborhoods in delving deeper into what older residents really need, our goal of becoming an age -friendly community will not be realized. We see this as step on of a multi- year plan that could result in an Innovative Neighborhoods hybrid "village to Village" model of intergenerational participation and interaction in our neighborhoods. The model would seek to provide the potential for volunteer aging in place services provided across the age spectrum and not currently available or otherwise provided. This approach realizes the strengths of senior and younger citizens alike. Our first step will be to determine our current community assets (stakeholders would be on the steering committee team) and then identify gaps, need and innovative ideas. The costs would include meeting space usage, paying a trained facilitator, data collection and analysis, food and advertising for community forums. After funding is received, the City plans to engage a steering committee to guide the planning process and to compile results and report on those results. We have initial early enthusiasm from social service and business sector groups. An early view of the total timeline is as follows: Month 1 Establish and Convene steering committee Month 2-4 Develop a process to guide engagement of target audience Month 4-10 Engage target audience/hold neighborhood meetings (9 total) Month 10-12 Compile/analyze data and finalize plan/findings Month 13-14 Report Survey/data/plan to community 3. Who is served? How will the grant project and the larger age -friendly project serve low income older people in the community? The process will involve reaching out to individuals who can provide feedback about the needs and concerns of older persons of all income levels, while taking into account all aspects and suggestions. While the older population will be the focus of this project, we realize that most concerns and policies that benefit seniors also benefit families and citizens in general. It is critical in the early stage of our process to hear from as many individuals as possible; this will result in the best planning for all ages, now and into the future. 4. Community engagement. How will the community engage and involve older people in the process of becoming a more age -friendly? Has a steering committee been created? Describe the involvement of community non -profits and other local stakeholders. The project revolves around planning activities carried out by trained facilitator and the steering committee. Once the steering committee has been established, it will develop a plan to engage older persons. Input from this target audience is the crux of this project. The steering committee will consist of individuals from various city departments, including Parks and Recreation, Public Health and Community Services, Community and Economic Development, along with various stakeholders city wide including Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Penquis, private entities and citizens with specific skills relevant to the project. S. Geographic Community. Is the project for one municipality or neighborhood? If a neighborhood, please describe thoroughly why the neighborhood is a logical well-defined area for the project. Is the project for multiple towns or for neighborhoods in addition to the main town? This project is intended to focus on particular neighborhoods that encompass the entire City of Bangor. It is realized that particular challenges may vary dramatically depending on one's location within the City. Therefore we will convene the steering committee and work to identify particular neighborhoods and engage them to help to better understand challenges they face. We want to allow each neighborhood to meet and discuss what would work best for that particular neighborhood, "What challenges exist here?" "What assets do we have?" 6. Capacity. Describe the municipality or non -profit's capacity to carry out the work. The City has an eager and capable staff and has relationships with a number of area -wide agencies that will help guide this process and ensure it to be effective and efficient. We will hire a motivated facilitator to work on this project 7. Matching Funds. What community contributions of staff time, volunteer time, or funds will support the project? Eastern Area Agency on Aging staff will offer staff time in kind with a value of $1,050.00. Penquis will donate space and staff time of at least $1000.00. The Bangor Daily News will donate up to $600.00 in advertising for the neighborhood meetings. The City will donate in kind staff time valued at a minimum of $1000.00 8. Project budget. Please specify what expenses will be covered by the grant. Itemize anticipated expenses and income (if any) for this proposal. Include in-kind services such as donated materials and/or labor. Use attached template. Add explanations if necessary. 9. Non -Profit Applicant Profile (for non-governmental groups only): 1. Name and brief history of the organization and its involvement in aging issues. Expense Additional information Contracted services costs $2,700.00 Focus group facilitation ($300.00/meeting) Data analysis, final $3,000.00 Compile and analyze data community report, and from original AARP survey and presentation to the 9 community forums community Office materials & supplies if $1,500.00 Print/mail surveys any Food for meetings $800.00 Food/drinks Total Requested $8,000.00 Are there matching funds or $1,050.00 EAAA services planned and their $1,000.00 Penquis value? $600.00 Bangor Daily News $1,000.00 City of Bangor 9. Non -Profit Applicant Profile (for non-governmental groups only): 1. Name and brief history of the organization and its involvement in aging issues. 2. Has this group been involved in other issues? If yes, briefly describe. 3. How many people are currently involved in the group? . - 4.. Please describe your.decision-making structure. If you have a steering committee or other similar leadership structure, please provide the names and contact information. 5. Is this a membership organization? If yes, how much are paying member dues? 6. Are any members of your group elected officials? 7. Evidence of non-profit 501(C) (3) status Non -applicable for this application The grant recipients will be notified by telephone or email. Grantees must execute and return a Letter Agreement to the Maine state office of AARP within thirty (30) days of notification. Noncompliance with this time period may result in disqualification. All decisions of AARP regarding the eligibility of participants and the validity of entries shall be final and binding. All submissions will be judged by AARP whose decisions and determinations as to the administration of the grant and selection of grant recipients are final. AARP reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, or suspend the Grant. Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Grant constitutes the Applicant's consent to AARP's and use of his/her name, street address, city, state, zip code, county, likeness, photograph, video and image, statements made by the Applicants regarding the Grant for promotional purposes in any media without further permission, consent, payment or other consideration. AARP and its respective affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, agents and employees are not responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, illegitimate, or impermissible submissions or mail; postage due mail; or any other error whether human, mechanical or electronic. Age Friendly Community Grant Project Budget Date: Name of town and/or group: Planned completion date: Name and signature of town manager or highest elected official, or director of non- profit: Expense Additional information Contracted services costs Staff costs, if any Office materials & supplies, if any Travel expenses, if any Total Requested Are there matching funds or services planned and their value? 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 Bangor Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative Innovative Neighborhoods will: 1. Enhance the livability of Bangor's neighborhoods through innovation 2. Expand volunteer service in Bangor's neighborhoods 3. Energize a "laboratory of democracy" in which citizens craft exciting, feasible ideas to move Bangor forward. The Goal Create an earned reputation for Bangor as the most creative, caring, and entrepreneurial small city in America using the most bold and scientific methods. Making a Strong Community Stronger In Bangor there is a vigorous if largely tongue-in-cheek pride in our neighborhoods, such as Fairmount, The Tree Streets, Little City, Bangor Gardens, and more. Some neighborhoods have instituted Facebook pages on which neighborhood topics are discussed. Bangor neighborhoods take understandable pride in their little league teams. The Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative seeks to harness that energy and growing community activism in Bangor and focus citizens on data -driven, grassroots innovation leading to a more creative, caring, entrepreneurial city. Utilizing an Excellent Tool To Start The City of Bangor is participating in an AARP Livable Communities Initiative. This survey, while focused on Bangor residents 50 and over, analyzes issues that appeal to all ages. In addition, this initiative will utilize the results of the recently produced Bangor Forward survey (which included many young people) to frame actions plans. These are excellent starting points for action based on community needs leading to service (expanding on a Village -to -Village model described in more detail in Section A) and innovation with the goal of a more creative, caring and entrepreneurial city. Innovative Neighborhoods will: 1. Utilize surveys such as Livable Cities and Bangor Forward to spark creative thinking about improving Bangor. 2. Create a Steering Committee that structures Innovative Neighborhood teams and competitions in Bangor. 3. Expand the Village -to -Village model so that, under the Innovative Neighborhood's model, volunteers of any age can serve others of any age in Bangor. 4. Foster cohesive goal -oriented neighborhoods, possibly based on elementary school catchment areas. 5. Coordinate volunteer efforts in each Innovative Neighborhood. 6. Spark innovative ideas bubbling up from each laboratory of democracy via the Innovative Neighborhoods model. 7. Establish criteria for recognizing winners each year of the Innovative Neighborhood Award. 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 8. Coordinate a gala to celebrate Innovative Neighborhood winners. 9. Earn the reputation and reality of a city of vision, pragmatism and innovation. A. A Strong Platform on Which to Build The Innovative Neighborhoods program begins with a solid, proven base, the Village - to -Village modeled on direct service. (On this base we will build cohesive Innovative Neighborhood teams that, in addition to direct service, spark innovation new initiatives for our city. This is further described in Sections C through G.) The Village - to -Village Program exists around the United States. Maine has the second highest percentage of seniors in America. Under Village -to -Village seniors are offered a greatly -enhanced opportunity to age in place. Specifically, in a program already proven successful, seniors pay fees on a sliding scale to get help (often from other seniors) with activities such as a ride to the grocery store or doctor, snow shoveling, companionship, and more. For example, under the At Home Downeast Village -to -Village Program an individual pays between $130 and $1,000 per year on an income -based sliding scale. A couple pays $150 to $1,300 per year. (At Home Downeast focuses on people 60+. Innovative Neighborhoods expands the program to all ages). Under the current program seniors get four rides per month to medical appointments, a check-in from a nurse twice a month, weekly grocery and prescription delivery, a safety assessment of their home, and social gatherings. Many older people need just a small amount of assistance to remain safe at home. This successful program increases self-reported health improvements, social engagement, increased knowledge of local resources, and decreased hospitalization rates. Our base, the Village to Village model, has been credited with saving and lengthening the lives of older people. The Innovative Neighborhood model will coordinate and improve this methodology while organizing and sparking citizens to lead Bangor into an innovative future -- grassroots up. Bangor, being more compact, offers some economy of scale and may be able to operate at a lower cost per person. Our initiative also offers the opportunity for an expanded brand of program: Innovative Neighborhoods. B. Broadened Demographic, Increased Innovation Bangor lends itself to a new approach, large enough and compact enough to provide a model for other cities, small enough so Bangor's neighborhood feel and community spirit offer a strong cohesion in which gatherings to discuss a neighborhood challenge are a walk from one's door. This program envisions neighborhood teams based on four sectors of the city that include demographic and socioeconomic diversity. (Fairmont might be paired with Capehart, for example.) The team structure might correspond with Bangor elementary school catchment areas. The same concepts that benefit older citizens can benefit a variety of younger people. This program can help a person who uses a wheelchair better live in place in the same way it can help an older resident live in place. There are parents of children 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 with disabilities and other challenges who could benefit from this effort. Community Partnerships for Protecting Children is interested in working as a partner on this project. Thus Innovative Neighborhoods would expand the village -to -village model to a broader demographic. The delivery of services to the disabled and the elderly and the ability to foster the dignity of living at home is essential. All of us benefit from walk -able neighborhoods, good parks, and smart municipal decisions. This coincides with AARP's livable communities model. The Innovative Neighborhood concept taps and organizes the growing energy in our city. C. Cohesive Neighborhoods, Innovative City There has sometimes been talk that, with all the focus on downtown (a commendable focus), there has not been enough focus on Bangor's neighborhoods. This effort will formalize a city government interest in neighborhoods while fostering neighborhood cohesion and pride. Some neighborhood -based Facebook pages have popped up in Bangor. Such pages can be the basis for something even more exciting – an organized effort that focuses citizens on results that improve the livability of the neighborhoods and inspire new ideas for our entire city. A neighborhood watch might focus on the most recent burglary or a community group might mobilize around fixing potholes. Innovative Neighborhoods, while considering those issues, will go further, focusing residents' efforts not just on the latest complaint, but rather the newest idea -- and the associated design, activities and planning — that can make Bangor's neighborhoods, and the city as a whole, more livable and more attractive places to do business. The Innovative Neighborhoods concept challenges Bangor to find feasible, evidence -based creative ideas that will set Bangor apart as a great and innovative city. D. Data Analytics Advisors Chris Dalton is a software developer from California who lives in Bangor. His firm is paid to engage in decision analysis for the pharmaceutical industry, and oil and gas firms. Lance Blackstone also lives in Bangor. He manages software development projects focused on large-scale assessment of students and professionals to support learning and career progress. These two developers -- with decades of experience between them -- have offered to serve as advisors to the Innovative Neighborhoods initiative. Their advice would indeed help analyze and coordinate the (broadened) service delivery described in the village -to -village model above. In addition, these software engineers will advise the four or five Innovative Neighborhood Teams in crafting goals drawn from brainstorming, the AARP livable communities survey, the Bangor Forward report, and a data -driven approach to analysis. 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 This initiative would benefit greatly from the creative involvement of city staff, particularly with regard to data and mapping information. The project will incorporate data analysis to consider any neighborhood challenges as discussed by neighbors. Each Innovative Neighborhood team would be charged with cultivating the key people they think they will need in various areas they decide (data, planning, the environment, transportation, etc.) to work with their volunteer neighbors in general on crafting exciting and feasible ideas. E. Institutionalizing a Big Vision The Innovative Neighborhood Teams can make recommendations informed by the Livable Communities survey or Bangor Forward, but also by whatever inspires the team that improves either their specific neighborhood or the city as a whole. This Innovative Neighborhood initiative is a pragmatic tool to implement exactly that type of big positive vision. The Innovative Neighborhood Teams might imagine things like; can we establish a permanent non-profit theater that shows independent films? Can we address the problems in a local watershed? How can we pragmatically welcome and entice foreigners to our community? How can we weatherize more homes? How can we establish a downtown, mid sized music venue? How can we increase the rate of high school graduates going to college locally? How do we establish a maker's space in Bangor? How can we better connect businesses with the local higher education community so they can connect with the workers they need or get help with their latest innovation? Innovative Neighborhoods teams could choose to tackle any number of other challenges. What the teams have in common is that, after selecting their challenges, they craft the most innovative, feasible plan to achieve the goal -- addressing logistics and financing while using an evidence -based, data -driven approach. The plans are not intended to be mere concept drafts, but a specific strategic plan that foresees a pragmatic business plan with specific realistic steps specified through to reaching the ultimate goal. Their plans will be judged by an objective, outside set of judges selected by the Steering Committee. Most important is the problem -solving ethic that Innovative Neighborhoods aims to foster: using evidence to offer inspiring innovations that set Bangor apart as a dynamic city. F. Light-hearted Competition, Innovative Results It is wonderful to root for the neighborhood little league team, but imagine Bangor with four Innovative Neighborhood Teams -- each focused on the problems their neighbors raise — ranging from ways to improve the local watershed, ways to improve walk -ability, coordination of neighborhood forums, volunteer service delivery, neighborhood revitalization, increased physical activity. G. The Image Our City Projects Matters 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 Some have, perhaps accurately, described Bangor as facing a tsunami of old people. Fair enough, but the best solution (and the smarter marketing method) is a community -wide approach that celebrates bringing people of all ages into a team that makes it fun to generate and carry out ideas that allow Bangor to compete more effectively for business, for young workers, for our creative and caring economy -- and through building a reputation as a city moving with confidence into the future. H. A Most Useful Awards Show As advisors, experienced data and software thinkers Blackstone and Dalton, would work with AARP, Penquis Cap and neighborhood leaders on structuring the Innovative Neighborhood program and offering, once per year, the Innovative Neighborhood Award -- with a festive annual gala presenting an Innovation Oscar to the Innovative Neighborhood Team that crafts the most exciting, pragmatic step forward for our City of Bangor. When seeking grants to support the entire program, the Innovative Neighborhoods Steering Committee could potentially allocate money as part of the award to the winning Innovative Neighborhood, but this could possibly be a more nominal amount to cover start-up logistics of an idea. Generally, Innovative Neighborhood teams would be required to draft a plan that is feasible either because: a) it is inexpensive; or b) if significant costs are involved, the proposal specifies a realistic method of garnering sufficient funds, whatever the source. Prospects of a given plan would be further boosted were it the recipient of an Innovative Neighborhood prize. The Village to Village Model organizes retail service, person to person; The Innovative Neighborhood competition inspires wholesale change -- large-scale positive impact. I. Our City and Community Organizations Lead Together Innovative Neighborhoods will set apart Bangor as a leading innovative city — tapping, organizing, and recognizing the talents and plans of our citizens. The Fairmount School Innovative Neighborhood Team might be in the same sector as the Capehart area. Each of the Innovative Neighborhood areas will be economically diverse; each challenged to address a range of socioeconomic challenges. Consider the sheer fun and the challenge of community volunteers, from engineers to professors to software developers to teachers to mechanics being let loose to innovate. They might start their brainstorming with tools such as placemeter, https://www.placemeter.com/about, or Timebanks, http://timebanks.org. Just as neighbors cheer on their school sports team, a new set of teams made up of innovators will engage in good-natured competition to improve our city while administering the community care that the Village -to -Village program offers and taking the concept to new heights: toward full community involvement and greater innovation, awarded and recognized. James Fallows, in a lengthy series in the Atlantic, notes that a key characteristic of successful citizens is the respect and recognition given community leaders by the general citizenry. 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 J. Earning an Innovative Reputation for Bangor The opportunity for media partnership and national recognition is strong if we work together. The Bangor Daily News COO Todd Benoit has met twice about this project along with Producer Dan MacLeod and Editorial Writer Matt Stone. Matt Stone has been designated to the Steering Committee for this project. City politics and city government can sometimes get bogged down in inside -baseball disputes, petty rivalries, and retrograde thinking. The state and federal governments are widely perceived as gridlocked. Thus Bangor must lead. Bangor has done a good job compared to other cities in taking a forward -thinking stance. Innovative Neighborhoods, if well -crafted, can garner attention in the media and around Maine, and possibly nationally, in a way that sets Bangor in a positive light. That is an economic development tool in itself. K. Leadership Roles Steering Committee The City of Bangor (two members) AARP Bangor Daily News, Matt .Stone has been designated. Bangor Savings Bank Lance Blackstone, Software Engineer has volunteered Chris Dalton, Software Engineer has volunteered Eastern Area Agency on Aging George Kinghorn, UMaine Art Museum, a leader of Bangor Forward Penquis CAP Bangor Fusion The City has submitted a grant application to AARP that references and incorporates this concept. With the formation of this partnership (and additional partners as we strategize), we hope to boldly seek improvement of our city through stakeholder participation and citizen engagement and by garnering support from grant funders. Next Steps This project will require collaboration. As Bangor City Council Chair, I seek to collaborate thoughtfully with my fellow councilors, with city staff, and other stakeholders on a Steering Committee crafting this initiative and establishing Innovative Neighborhood teams. Innovative Neighborhood Teams will be guided in part by using the surveys already completed by AARP for Bangor related to the Livable Communities initiative, by the information offered by Bangor Forward, and by new ideas offered by citizens. Penquis CAP can build on the proven record of Washington Hancock Community Agency with a similar initiative. Penquis CAP has reviewed this proposal and expressly supports this project. Penquis CAP has created a team of top leaders to 16-130 MARCH 28, 2016 participate in planning, including President and CEO Kara Hay, Housing Development Director Jason Bird, Child Development Director Heidi LeBlanc, and Housing and Energy Services Director Jennifer Giosa. The partnership our city can have with the Bangor Daily News through Innovative Neighborhoods also presents a powerful and positive opportunity for a potentially transformational initiative. We can build a dramatic success that will reflect well on all the participating partners and engage in truly creative change through the Innovative Neighborhoods Initiative. A well crafted, well executed program can deepen and broaden the livability of Bangor's neighborhoods and polish the reputation of our city in a way that is attractive to new citizens seeking an exciting, forward -thinking community in which to live. This initiative has the potential, if we pull together, the citizens of this city will make Bangor the most creative, caring and entrepreneurial city in America. The city of Bangor must play a lead role. I hope this council will choose to become an official partner in this project and play a leadership role. Sean Faircloth is Mayor of Bangor.