Planning Councils are NOT planning organizations
Planning Councils have a name problem. The generic word “planning”
is more identified with the “Planning Unit” and
the “Plan Commission” which are all about city plans
regarding land use, development, transportation, etc.
Under Mayors Soglin and Bauman, the City’s goal was to
support planning councils all over Madison. Planning councils
were envisioned by the City as a neighborhood-based and coordinated
approach to neighborhood organizing, information sharing, issue
advocacy and promotion of community development initiatives.
Planning Council members are neighborhood leaders, not planners.
Planning Council staff are organizers, facilitators, newspaper
editors, and administrators, not planners.
Planning Councils are NOT neighborhood
associations
While neighborhood associations are part of Planning Councils,
so are business associations and community organizations. This
extra dimension takes Planning Council beyond just neighborhood
association concerns, and into the community’s broader
endeavors. Planning Councils support neighborhood associations
but do much more.
Planning Councils are NOT part of city government
Planning Councils are independent 501c3 nonprofit organizations
with their own mission, board of directors and decision-making
processes. The City’s involvement in Planning Councils
is through a contract for services through the office of Community
Services.
The Planning Councils are independent of each other, and have
different missions etc., though they generally work towards
improving the quality of life of residents. This is a broad
mission and the City only plays one role in the lives of its
residents. Businesses, schools, county and state governments,
churches and other institutions all figure into our quality
of life. Planning Councils are not limited to serving the City;
instead Planning Councils serve its citizens as they define
it.
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Planning Councils’ missions are in line with the
Community Resources Program Goals (of the Community Services Commission),
not the Planning Unit goal.
NORTHSIDE PLANNING COUNCIL– founded
in 1993
Mission: To improve the quality of life for all
residents of the Northside community by increasing citizen participation
and voice in issues and decisions affecting the Northside community
through neighborhood organizing and advocacy; and building community
on the Northside by linking community organizations and residents.
Vision: See
Northside Community Vision
Motto: You don’t have to move to live in
a better neighborhood—just get involved in the one you’re
already in.
SOUTH METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL–
founded in 1996
Mission: To increase the civic capacity of community
members, neighborhood groups, and partnerships and collaborations
on the southside.
SMPC defines civic capacity as the skills and attitudes necessary
for the southside’s
multicultural diversity of businesses and residents to work together
cooperatively and
effectively to improve community life.
SMPC does this by:
- identifying issues for action
- creating spaces where everyone’s voice is heard
- creating opportunities to get involved and to learn by doing
- providing information and education, and
- leading and nurturing collective action.
Vision: A diverse community,
unified in its efforts, constantly working toward the betterment
of all.
Motto: Together We Can Build a Stronger Southside
Community!
EAST ISTHMUS NEIGHBORHOODS PLANNING COUCNIL– founded
in 2000
Mission: The East Isthmus Neighborhoods Planning
Council’s mission is to strengthen the east Madison community
by supporting neighborhood-based organizations and facilitating
community-driven planning and action.
We work to accomplish these goals by:
- Enhancing information exchange
- Offering resources for collaborative, participatory planning
process
- Providing training and assistance for developing inclusive organizations
- Facilitation dialogue to build consensus
- Organizing grassroots participation
- Working effectively with City agencies
- Building relationships between organization
Vision: That east Madison is
part of a vibrant and earth-sustaining community where decisions
that affect the general community include the voices of everyone
affected, and where all share equally in the benefits of community
life.
Motto: Uniting and strengthening east Madison
neighborhoods.
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES MISSION:
It is our mission to improve the quality of child care for all
children and to provide information, assistance, and funding that
enhances the health and quality of life in Madison’s neighborhoods
for the elderly, youth and families. The Community Resources Program,
administered by the Office of Community Services, works through
community based non-profit agencies to enhance the health and
quality of life in Madison's neighborhoods for children, youth,
families and the elderly in the following program areas:
- Child Care,
- Support to Families,
- Senior Services,
- Youth Services,
- Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,
- Community Assistance/Access,
- Neighborhood Organizing and Capacity Building.
PLANNING UNIT GOAL:
We provide a wide range of services, which guide development and
implementation of the City’s urban development policies.
These services include ongoing activities such as development
review and the preparation and maintenance of the City’s
comprehensive master plan elements, and one-time activities, which
involve policy planning and analysis, special projects planning
and other mid-and long-range plans.
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