Florida Neighborhoods Conference
June 26-28, 2008
Tallahassee, FL
Celebrating Florida's Great Neighborhoods... A Capital Idea!
Conference Workshops
Tract A: Neighborhood State Government
1A - Legislative Process for Grassroots Activists
We elect them and then send them off to Tallahassee to govern the State. Every year the Legislature meets to engage in the process of public decision-making. But do you really know what is involved in the legislative process? Attend this workshop to learn the nuts and bolts of how bills become laws and how you as citizens can actively participate in the legislative process.
2A - State Disaster Preparation
Learn how the State of Florida plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters that range from floods to incidents involving hazardous materials. Presenter: Florida Division of Emergency Management.
3A - Juvenile Justice Programs and Initiatives
What is the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice? Learn about the positive impact of programs aimed at helping troubled youth offered through prevention, intervention and treatment services.
4A - Outlook and Perspectives on Florida K-12 Education
Nothing characterizes Florida public education more at the dawn of the 21st century than change. To lead the complex changes required to succeed on high stakes assessments, close student achievement gaps and prepare all students to compete in the global economy, today's school leaders find themselves needing skills that yesterday's leaders could not begin to imagine. In this presentation, Mr. Montford will outline the forces shaping the new face of public education in Florida, profile the key indicators of the progress being made by the state’s public schools and articulate the essential importance of increased inter-governmental partnerships at the local and state level in building world class schools. Presenter - William J. Montford, III, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents.
5A - Pandemic Influenza - Fact or Fiction?
What is the history of this disease? What are the chances of a Pandemic in today's world? How would this affect me personally? How would this affect my city, my county, and my state? What can I do to prevent the flu? So, even if it is all true, what can I do about it? This session is for those that want to hear the facts and fiction about Pandemic Influenza and have a practical understanding of history, dangers, and prevention. Learn what to do to protect yourself and your community and see some useful demonstrations about germ transmission, hand washing, and sneezing. Presenter: Tommy Baker, Florida Department of Health.
Tract B: Affordable Housing & Community Redevelopment
6B - What is Affordable Housing and Is It Good for Your Community?
What is affordable housing? Who are the people in need of this housing? What happens to a community that doesn’t have affordable housing? In this session we learn about the continuum of housing needs from the homeless to the middle income and the tools we use to obtain this information as well as an overview of how housing is made affordable for each income group. We will cover the "Not In My Backyard" challenge as well as the legal and planning issues that underpin why, where, and how affordable housing is developed.
7B - Affordable Rental Housing: The Nuts and Bolts
The most common affordable rental development is a "tax credit" development. This is a development that is financed in part through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Housing Credit program. Learn about how this program works, so that you will understand what to expect when you hear that a developer wants approval or support for a tax credit development in your community. This session will cover the development of tax credit properties as well as the “nitty- gritty” details that neighborhood associations may be concerned about, such as who will be living in these units, how they will be managed, and whether they affect property values in the area.
8B - Community Revitalization Through Housing Partnerships: Rental Focus
Public housing holds an important position in the housing continuum. Historically, public housing has provided housing for those most in need. But due to a variety of flaws, from poor design to cutbacks in federal financial support, some public housing has become practicably uninhabitable. Using Goodbread Hills Housing as a case study, we will better understand the role of public housing authorities and learn from the successful experience of the public and private partners who used layers of funding, including CRA monies to turn virtually abandoned public housing into an affordable housing asset for the community.
9B - Community Revitalization Through Housing Partnerships: Homeownership Focus
Using the case study of the Frenchtown Revitalization, learn about the collaborative effort between the public and private for- profit and nonprofit sectors that change an area from disinvestment and deterioration into a thriving sustainable community. Special focus will be given to Carolina Oaks, a homeownership piece of the Frenchtown Revitalization effort that highlights the value to local governments of working with a nonprofit Lending Consortium, and a community based organization. The Frenchtown Revitalization case study will be used as a springboard to discuss best practices for developing affordable home ownership opportunities.
10B - Smart Growth and Land Use Tools for Promoting Affordable Housing
Three increasingly popular smart growth and land use mechanisms for producing and preserving affordable housing are community land trusts, inclusionary zoning, and accessory dwelling units. Community land trusts provide a new model of homeownership- one that provides an alternative to rental housing and creates a permanent stock of affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning is a land use regulation that calls for affordable housing to be built within market rate developments. Accessory dwelling units, commonly known as “granny flats” provide small affordable rental opportunities within a homeownership land use zone. Learn about how all these leading edge tools could work in your community.
Tract C: Building Healthy Neighborhood Organizations
11C - Hosting the Florida Neighborhoods Conference
Are you willing to bring the Florida Neighborhoods Conference to your area in 2009? You do not have to reinvent the wheel. Interact with experienced hosts and learn how to get started. Presenter: FNC State Planning Committee.
12C - Leading with Style
This workshop is designed for new and veteran leaders alike. Participants will explore an overview of the concept of “leadership” and inventory their individual leadership style to ensure they are serving the very best they can. Time will be spent discussing the four common leadership styles, including strengths and weaknesses of each. Suggestions will be offered for interacting/working with/for other leadership styles. Those interested in self-discovery and making their respective organizations stronger are encouraged to not miss this workshop. Due to the nature of the subject matter, this workshop is limited to 50 participants. A $5 fee to take the BEST Leadership Style Inventory will be collected at the door. Presenter: Michael J. Raposa, Director, Neighborhood Partnership, City of Sarasota.
13C - Help! My Meetings Have a Life of Their Own!
Are your association meetings productive? Are you able to address all the issues on your agenda? (agenda? what agenda?). And still have time for neighbors to get to know each other? Learn how effective meetings can increase membership participation while addressing neighborhood issues.
14C - Using Technology to Improve Communication in Your Neighborhood
Are writing newsletters, going to the printer and distribution becoming an arduous task for your neighborhood association to get the word out? Learn how to manage your time, cut costs in your budget and increase the amount of information and number of people you can reach by using blogs, list servers and websites.
15-C Building Healthy Relationships with Government Officials
Do you ever feel that working with government or elected officials is similar to hitting your head against a brick wall? Is your approach, "It's our way or no way"? Hear from several neighborhood leaders who have been effective in advocating for and succeeding in addressing issues without resorting to publicity threats or name-calling. Learn how the Golden Rule can and should apply in your interactions with governments and elected officials.
16C - Art of Advocacy
Learn and use the art of law and legislative advocacy for impact, influence, empowerment, practical results for you and your organization at the grassroots local, statewide, and capital levels. Hands-on learning, interactive workshop with substantive law, information, sample documents, law/legislative materials and resources as tools; Q & A; practical application of advocacy skills, strategies, savvy, best practices for individual and power networking 2008-09 Impact Action Plans. Paintings and other colorful artwork are used as advocacy examples. Grooming citizen leaders for public leadership. How to advance neighborhood, homeowner, and community organizations to the next level of empowerment. Presenters: Attorneys Ann Marie Karl, and Robert Boyd.
17C - 17C - Code Enforcement - Basic City Code Requirements and Enforcement Processes
Code enforcement improves safety, property values and neighborhood pride. The good news is that code enforcement can be made simple enough so that it can be communicated and understood by all, thereby yielding results that are more effective. This workshop will focus on the “how-tos” of effective code enforcement by demonstrating what can and cannot be accomplished, and how to turn a complaint into compliance. Hear about common neighborhood problems, which have code enforcement solutions. See how to develop a time line for correcting potentially troubling situations before they become blight in your neighborhood. Learn how to make code enforcement a powerful tool for neighborhood revitalization. Presenters: Bill Weeks, City of Pensacola Building Official; and Steve Wineki, City of Pensacola Manager of Litter and Code Enforcement..
18C - Building strong Neighborhood Associations-Recruiting and Retaining Members
Maintaining a strong and active neighborhood association can be a challenging endeavor. How do you keep your members motivated? How do you remain relevant to your members? What strategies and techniques can you employ? How can you overcome some of the more common challenges? This workshop will provide you with answers to these questions in a stimulating discussion-oriented format. Presenters: Tallahassee Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA).
19C - CPTED for Everyday Life
Learn how to use CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) strategies to decrease the opportunities for criminal activities. The speakers will provide a general overview of CPTED principals then use several examples as part of an interactive workshop. Presenters: Florida Design out Crime Association members.
Tract D: Creating Safe & Livable Communities
20D - Creating Safe Neighborhoods – Utilizing Partnerships
Violent crime and neighborhood blight threaten the safety and vitality of Florida's cities and towns. There is no single solution to this threat. It takes leadership and partnerships to create and maintain safe neighborhoods. Participants will explore the power of neighborhoods by learning how to identify and activate neighborhood, government, community and business resources available in their own cities or towns to make and keep their neighborhoods safe. Participants will develop a safe neighborhood tool kit identifying effective partnerships necessary to create and maintain a safe neighborhood. Presenters: Marcia Goodwin, Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs Director, Orlando; Mike Rhodes, Code Enforcement Division Manager, Orlando; and Officer Kathy J. McGhin, Crime Prevention Practitioner, Tallahassee Police Department.
21D - Planning a Sustainable Event
Have you ever wondered how an event can be successful year after year? Hear a neighborhood leader from Melbourne and two neighborhood leaders from Tallahassee explain how they continue to sustain successful events. Presenters: Sandra Pelham, Melbourne; Karen Russell, Tallahassee; and Rob Rhinehart, Tallahassee.
22D - Youth Culture and It's Impact on Neighborhoods
The workshop will focus on Youth Culture/Gangs and Its Impact on our Neighborhoods. The following topics will be discussed during this session: The impact of the media; the role of technology - Myspace; fashion/attire; sex, videos and music. We will also discuss the State Statutes as to what validates a youth to be a gang member; why youth join gangs and what to look for if you suspect a kid is involved in gang activity. Session facilitators: Joe Thomas, Chairman of the L.C.Y.D.B.; Leslie Rabon, Leon County Sheriff Department; Grady Jordan, Leon County Sheriff Department; Eric Trambley, State Attorney's Office; Derek Friend, Tallahassee Police Department.
23D - Hurricane Preparation: Communication
This session will focus on ways neighborhood residents can establish communication links before, during and after a hurricane. Such networking and sharing of information within the neighborhood’s boundaries helps residents better cope with emergency issues when communication with the world outside is shut down or limited. Having a way to communicate reduces fear and uncertainty among residents and can also help reduce loss of life, injury and property damage due to a hurricane. Presenters: Kurt Larson, Inverness Homeowner Association, Pensacola; Julie Mitchell, Neighborhood Services Manager, Town of Jupiter; and Robert "Chip" Patterson, Chief Emergency Preparedness Division, Jacksonville.
24D - Speed Control through Landscaped Islands, Traffic Circles and Traffic Calming
Are you doing all you can to successfully control traffic speeds and volume in your neighborhood while creating a more livable, vibrant community? Does your current traffic plan include the elements of safety, aesthetic value and environmental responsibility? Explore new trends, and hear experienced and proven strategies on traffic calming while adding beautification to your neighborhood. Presenter: Hal G. Barnes, P.E., Engineering Design Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale.
25D - Neighborhood Participation in the Voting Process
The voting participation of our neighborhoods is the power of “Democracy.” In this workshop you will learn about effective grassroots ways of getting your voice heard. The Washington Park neighborhood in Hollywood will explain how they go about getting the issues out and following up with a plan on election day to have every voter get to the poll and have their vote count. Presenters: Nadine McCrea, Hollywood; and Dennis Lowe, Miami.
26D - Getting National Recognition
Has your neighborhood completed a project in 2008 that is worth getting national recognition? How would you like to be named national Neighborhood of the Year by Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA). Organizations are eligible to submit a nomination for the 2009 Neighborhood of the Year Award if you have implemented a project that has benefited your neighborhood in 2008. In addition, government, business or corporate entities that have implemented outstanding programs to improve neighborhoods can apply to win the 2009 Best Neighborhood Program Award. How to apply for these awards will be discussed and explained. Presenters: Richard Whipple, Hollywood; and Robert Jeffrey, St Petersburg.
27D - Senior Safety
Under the heading of "personal safety" the presenter will discuss: con artists & scams, safety using personal defense training, safety by using the police, safety using light, safety using the buddy system, safety using natural surveillance, and safety using doors. Questions and comments are always a welcome part of his workshops. Presenter: Officer Tommy Tennison, Crime Prevention Officer, Tallahassee Police Department.
28D - Building Communities From the Inside Out - the Association's Vital Role in Maintaining a Sense of Community
This workshop will feature a brief overview of the Asset-Based Community Development Principles and focus on the vital role an association places in creating and maintaining a sense of community. Come hear the five charges of an association and assess how well your association is responding to the charge. Presenter: Michael J. Raposa, Director Neighborhood Partnership, City of Sarasota.
29D - Reducing Your Environmental Footprint
This session will discuss how to reduce your environmental “footprint” by choosing the products you use in your home and how to recycle or properly dispose of common household products such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and cleaners. Presenter: Florida Department of Environment Protection.
30D - Building Senior-Friendly and Livable Communities for All Ages
Help your senior neighbors remain living in their neighborhood. Learn about "Red Flags" and how to connect people to community resources to enhance their quality of life. AARP will present its Livable Communities program, which analyzes the factors that promote successful aging, such as housing, transportation, socialization and access to resources that prevent isolation from society. Presenter: Charles Milsted, AARP and Sheila Salyer, Tallahassee Senior Center.