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City proposes replacing single risk index with neighborhood profiles and four‑category system
Summary
Strategic planning staff proposed replacing the Neighborhood Indicators 'risk watch' index with neighborhood profiles and four categories — housing, public safety, people/access to amenities, and infrastructure — to make data more actionable for CIP and program alignment; councilors requested continued citywide mapping and annual reporting.
Strategic planning staff reviewed shortcomings in the Neighborhood Indicators Program and proposed a redesign that replaces a single composite 'risk watch' index with neighborhood profiles and a four‑category approach. Eric Holek, manager of strategic planning, said staff will shift focus from a single numerical ranking to targeted categories (housing, public safety, people/access to amenities, infrastructure) and tie indicators to department programs and CIP planning.
“The neighborhood indicators program has been around for about 20 years,” Holek said as he summarized why the program needs revisions: timing delays, double‑counted measures and limited uptake by departments. Staff proposed making the neighborhood profile the primary public‑facing product (maps and deeper datasets would remain available) and using tiered category designations internally to guide resource allocation. The proposed change would keep maps available but reorient how they are presented to neighborhoods versus staff and policymakers.
Councilors expressed concern about losing the quick citywide overview that color‑coded maps provide, arguing that aggregate maps help spot north–south disparities or prioritize street and sidewalk investments. Staff said annual updates will continue and that the internal map tools will be retained for CIP and internal decision making; they also invited committee input on which specific data layers (e.g., speeding, crime statistics, sidewalk grade) should be emphasized.
Staff committed to continuing annual reporting and to presenting adjusted profiles and a rollout plan so the committee can review the revised tools before broader publication.
