Trenton Civic Trust August meeting

Trenton Civic Trust
August 2016 Meeting Notes / Highlights by Jacque Howard

Press - Media - General inquiries
Trenton Civic Trust Facilitator
Princess Hoagland
pghoagland@gmail.com


The Citizens Campaign

Civic Trustees are a new force for strengthening our cities’ ability to tackle tough issues.  They are committed to identifying evidence-based solutions to their city’s problems, and working together to implement them with a "no-blame" approach. They make a pledge to serve their city, with their fellow Trustees, by working together to make their city stronger than it is today.

Supported by The Citizens Campaign’s platform of civic power tools and training, and its pro bono government attorneys and policy experts in urban government, Civic Trustees are changing the game by:

• Engaging in bottom-up conversations about issues they care about
• Conducting evidence-based research on these issues to identify what is working in other cities
• Shaping the solution to make it more feasible to get results. This is called “doing the doable”.
• Working with The Citizens Campaign’s Legal Task Force to turn the solution into a “ready to adopt” legal form such as an ordinance, executive order, or resolution
• Approaching challenges with a “no blame” perspective in order to keep the focus on the solutions
• Partnering with local government to get results that are: (1) evidence-based, 2) cost effective, and 3) beneficial to the whole community
• Achieving success via adoption of their solutions by city council, school boards, planning boards and other government agencies
• Sharing the ongoing story of city government innovation through civic leadership written by City Storytellers 

Facilitator Princess Hoagland welcomed the group and we began introductions.

Updates

Education Task Force 

• Information was shared regarding the Trenton Board of Education "Code of Conduct" policy
• Sub-committee members are seeking specific school support/partnering
• Information gathering is taking place for an OPRA request
• General conversations took place regarding potential partners and information previously gathered from parents and students through a survey

Neighborhood Quality of Life meeting w/economic Development Director

• Public Works & Inspections Dept. are reviewing our "Neighborhood Quality of Life" form
• City of Trenton is launching an "app" to assist with information gathering around QOL issues
• Tree Fund conversations took place with a discussion about types of trees best suited to planted
• Conversations were had regarding priorities around QOL issues, trees or lighting

Urban Auxiliary Police, civilian Police Academy meeting

• Dialog was had with Police Dir. Parrey, another conversation will take place Sat. 8/13/16
• Program insurance will fall under City of Trenton "umbrella policy"
• A budget for 3 Officers has been completed 10k
• Conversations were had around Emergency Mgmt. Services, Fire Dir. Bashir will be contacted

SLACK app presentation

• Discussions were had about the information gathering/sharing app
• Tutorial will be distributed to Civic Trust Members

Presentation Team

• Neighborhood QOL issues were discussed in more detail such as lighting and tree planting
• The "Neighborhood Initiative" press release was discussed with plans for a simultaneous release for Perth Amboy, Jersey City and Trenton Civic Trusts