How to Start a Neighborhood Association

If you have read our information on neighborhood associations and would like to start an association in your area, please call the Neighborhood Services Division at (480) 350-8234 or e-mail neighborhoods@tempe.gov to get a start-up packet. 

Once you've read the material and determined that you would like to start an association, you will need to organize an initial meeting to which all residents of the proposed neighborhood association will be invited. Here is the standard procedure for setting it up:

Setting up the first meeting:

  1. At least 1 month ahead of the first meeting, contact the Neighborhood Services Division staff and request mailing labels for your association's households and coordinate a tentative date (always choose two) for the first meeting.
  2. Invite one of the Neighborhood staff to attend this first meeting to explain the program and take a brief neighborhood survey. This introduction will allow your neighbors to understand the program and decide if they wish to create an association; the survey provides basic data on which to establish your association's goals. You might also want to invite another neighborhood association leader to speak of his/her experiences and/or someone from the Police Department or Neighborhood Watch. Each presenter should be allotted approximately 15 minutes to keep the meeting moving.
  3. Once you have connected with the Neighborhood staff, then contact your nearest public school to reserve a multi-purpose room for your first meeting (Tues.- Thurs. evenings are recommended).  The City of Tempe provides insurance for these meetings.  Some associations opt to meet in local places of worship in their neighborhoods.  If you believe this might suit your area, please contact them to see if their facilities are available for public use.
  4. Once your date and place are confirmed, be sure to let the Neighborhood staff know as well as any other guest speakers you might want to invite.
  5. Compose an invitation letter (sample provided by Neighborhood staff) providing meeting date/time and purpose.
  6. Mail or deliver one copy of this text to the Neighborhood staff at least 3 weeks before the meeting date to allow time for duplicating and mailing.
  7. Plan a timed agenda (Neighborhood staff will reproduce and bring copies to the meeting) such as:

    Agenda (for 1st meeting of proposed neighborhood association)

    7:00 - 7:10 -- Introduce yourself and welcome those in attendance

    7:10 - 7:25 -- Neighborhood staff representative discusses what it means to form an association

    7:25 - 7:35 -- Neighborhood staff person takes survey and collects it

    7:35 - 7:50 -- Other guest speakers - a neighborhood association chairperson OR a City department/division representative (e.g. from Police or Code Compliance)

    7:50 - 8:00 -- You ask for a show of hands as to how many would be interested in forming an association.  Then you pass around a sign-up sheet asking for names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of those who would be interested in serving on a planning committee.

    8:00            -- Adjourn

The Neighborhood staff person will take the completed surveys back to City Hall, tabulate them and send you the results.  If the surveys affirm the fact that a majority of attendees wish to form an association, you can then call your planning committee prospects and invite them to your (or someone else's) home to review the survey results.  At this meeting you can prioritize your neighborhood's issues as revealed in the survey.

On the night of the first meeting be prepared to do the following:

  1. Arrive about 15 minutes early to meet with the Neighborhood staff person to get things set up. The City will provide sign-in sheets/name tags/surveys/pencils etc.
  2. Have a few introductory remarks ready -  you might want to explain why you are interested in forming a neighborhood association
  3. If the group is small (under 25), you might have everyone introduce themselves and tell where they live
  4. Assign someone to serve as a timekeeper to keep meeting on track
  5. Take a deep breath and relax - these meetings are meant to be informal.