About the Neighborhood Services Division

Created by City Council resolution in 1987, the City of Tempe's Neighborhood Services Division is designed to help preserve the integrity of Tempe's residential areas and to promote a sense of community. It provides technical and informational services to 74 neighborhood associations (ranging in membership from 35 to 2,000 households), 114 homeowners associations and 5 affiliate groups. It also supplies clerical support to neighborhood associations.

The Neighborhood Services Division's key job is to maintain clear communication lines between neighborhood groups and City Hall. By linking Tempe residents with City officials, Neighborhood Services helps associations identify and resolve neighborhood problems and determine future goals and priorities. Informed citizen participation is the goal.

The partnership between City Hall and neighborhood groups continues to grow stronger. Every year four to five new neighborhood associations form. In addition, an increasing number of neighborhood leaders serve on the City's various boards and commissions. Most importantly, more and more Tempe residents are finding that one doesn't have to "fight City Hall" but rather work with it to improve and maintain the quality of life in our community.

Functions of the Neighborhood Services Division:

• Provide information on how to start and sustain a neighborhood association
• Facilitate an open, visibly democratic decision-making process for neighborhood associations
• Maintain a registration database of neighborhood and homeowners associations
• Create and maintain mailing lists for neighborhood associations
• Duplicate and mail neighborhood associations' newsletters and announcements
• Provide insurance coverage for use of school facilities for neighborhood meetings
• Mail agendas of all Planning and Zoning Commission, Design Review Board, Redevelopment Review Commission, Hearing Officer and Board of Adjustment meetings to all neighborhood and homeowner association chairpersons
• Research issues and coordinate meetings between neighborhood representatives and City staff (especially when issues involve more than one department) or elected officials concerning issues of interest to specific neighborhoods
• Attend association meetings (upon request) and make public presentations (upon request)
• Arrange for mediation services through the Community Services Department to help resolve conflicts between neighbors
• Maintain the Neighborhood Services Division's web page
• Coordinate a Celebration of Tempe Neighborhoods annual event
• Coordinate a Neighborhood Leadership Academy
• Chair the Neighborhood Service Team (NST), a task force representing several City departments focusing on solving neighborhood issues
• Coordinate the Neighborhood Grant Program, which allocates a portion of the City's capital improvement funds (CIP) for projects requested by associations , voted on by the NST and approved by the City Council
• Represent Tempe as a member of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to exchanging ideas that have helped strengthen neighborhoods across the country
• Staff the City Council's Neighborhood Quality of Life and Public Safety Committee
• Conduct an annual Community Town Hall
• Coordinate Letters of Authorization for contractors for after-hours construction work (based on notification to appropriate neighborhoods)

Neighborhood Services Division staff:

Shauna Warner, Neighborhood Services Director, 480-350-8883, shauna_warner@tempe.gov

Elizabeth Thomas, 480-350-8223, elizabeth_thomas@tempe.gov 

FAX: (480) 350-8996
E-mail: neighborhoods@tempe.gov