With Each Other
Contact: Cindy Uken
Communications Director
City of Palm Springs
760.323.8250
February 13, 2008
When the Palm Springs City Council created, by ordinance, the Office of
Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) in April 2005, one of the well-defined goals
was to improve communication among citizens, City staff and elected officials.
The Baristo Neighborhood Organization, now just six months old, has found
that communication among the organization’s residents is making progress.
This neighbourhood is bustling with activity and it’s essential that everyone be
included in the conversation.
Since organizing in August, members have brought forth several neighborhood
issues to the Baristo Neighborhood Organization Board, and the Board has
diligently been addressing them one by one. In addition to putting the
paperwork together as required by the City Ordinance, e.g.by-laws, officers and
scheduling meetings, the Board took on projects that were important to its
members and the neighborhood.
These projects included:
- install “No Trespassing” signs on several vacant lots along the Baristo corridor;
- meet with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal representatives to have several
- vacant lots cleared of brush and trash;
- work with the Palm Springs Police Department to create a Neighborhood Watch Committee and get residents involved;
- schedule meetings with City officials regarding Baristo Road traffic/safety issues
- plan social activities for the neighborhood.
Organization,” said David Carden Jr., chairman of the organization. “We get
things done. What we are proving is that any neighborhood can come together,
work together, socialize together if they think they are helping to create a better
quality of life in their neighborhood. Our growth in the past six months is
testament to our ability to work together to solve issues which benefit
everyone.”
The Neighborhood Organization has chosen an e-newsletter as its primary
communication tool to keep residents informed of the neighborhood’s progress
– and encourages residents to share the information with their neighbors.
“Most all of our membership has requested to receive the newsletter via e-mail,
which is very cost effective -- and quick,” said Carden.
The organization’s current membership is about 120 and growing since the
boundaries of the neighborhood were approved in December. The number of
total property owners within the boundaries is about 700 in nine Homeowner
Association complexes.
“Our first mailing with membership information to these new HOAs was
distributed a week ago and membership applications are coming in daily,”
Carden said. “The purpose of the e-newsletter is to keep our neighborhood
informed and involved. As a new neighborhood organization we want to be
proactive in our approach to solving neighborhood issues. The newsletter is
effective because neighbors are sharing it with each other and encouraging
others to participate and join.”
Several other neighborhood organizations produce newsletters that are emailed,
mailed, posted on their Web sites, and in at least one case, they are
hand-delivered to every resident in the neighborhood, said Lee Husfeldt, Directr
of Neighborhood and Community Relations.
If you would like to receive the Baristo e-newsletter, you may request to be
added to the distribution list via e-mail at Baristo@verizon.net, or by calling the
Baristo Neighborhood Organization at 760.864.2869.
Palm Springs residents who are interested in organizing their neighborhoods
should call Husfeldt, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations, at
323-8255.
You may also find additional information about the Office of Neighborhood
Involvement online at www.palmspringsneighborhoods.com.
