Copyright 2006
City needs to share data, says report
Herman Wang, Staff Writer
A Community Research Council report to be released today urges
Chattanooga officials to communicate better with residents on crime statistics,
police misconduct, job availability, quality and affordability of housing and
neighborhood services.
"We did all these focus groups to try and get a citizen perspective on
what they think city government should measure," council President and CEO
The council, a local agency that provides data analysis and policy research,
will release its findings at a
The report, titled "chattanoogaCITIZEN,"
recommends that city officials publish on the city's Web site
neighborhood-by-neighborhood data on crime, police misconduct allegations and
resolutions as well as updated information on road and construction projects.
Elected officials and administrators also should consider setting up a program
in which volunteers evaluate 311 service requests, the report states.
In addition, city leaders should consider convening focus groups at least every
three to four years to ensure performance measures reflect interests and
concerns of city residents, the report said. Finally, the report suggests that
the Chattanooga Housing Authority publish monthly reports on housing
availability and location.
Dr. Everlina Holmes of the Glenwood Neighborhood
Association said she has reviewed the study's results and hopes city officials
do not ignore its recommendations. But even if they do, the information it
contains will be very useful to community activists, she said.
"Glenwood will use the information in the study that relates to it,"
she said. "It very accurately pointed out that residents have areas of
concern about blight, lack of code enforcement and lack of affordable housing.
I think citizens need to empower themselves and take a more proactive stance on
resolving the issues that are pointed out."
The report was compiled after an 11-month project led by the Community
Research Council and faculty members at the
Researchers conducted a series of focus groups and town hall meetings in each
of the city's nine City Council districts, in addition to a meeting with the
city's Hispanics and another with the presidents of community associations. The
study sought to collect information on city department performance and review
the city's Web site, www.chattanooga.gov.
The data and recommendations that followed then were reviewed by a 16-member
citizen advisory group.
"The real benefit is there's a great opportunity for neighborhood
associations to more effectively engage their city government," Mr.
Eichenthal said.
E-mail Herman Wang at hwang@timesfreepress.com
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Among the key findings in the "chattanoogaCITIZEN"
report are recommendations that city officials:
* Publish on the city's Web site monthly, neighborhood-by-neighborhood data on
crime, police misconduct allegations and resolutions;
* Provide ongoing information on road and construction projects on its Web
site;
* Consider implementing a program where community volunteers monitor and
evaluate 311 service requests;
* Convene focus groups at least every three to four years to ensure performance
measures reflect interests and concerns of city residents.