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Home > City Departments > Citizens Services > Citizen Participation and Information

Citizen Participation and Information


Coordinator - William, Donovan
Address - 218 City Hall, Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone - (716) 851-5989
Email - wdonovan@ch.ci.buffalo.ny.us

Description of Services

The Division of Citizen Services, per city charter, coordinates and oversees the Office of Citizen Participation and Information and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. The office administers and manages the City of Buffalo’s Mayor’s Livable Communities Initiatives, Mayor’s Citizens’ Participation Academy, Mayor’s Tour of Block Clubs, and other ancillary programs.

Mayor’s Livable Communities Grant Initiative
The purpose of the Mayor’s Livable Communities Grant Program is to provide funding to block clubs and civic/citizens associations for the implementation of innovative projects that will provide measurable visual and physical improvements in their neighborhoods and serves the purposes of historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization.  With funding provided by the City of Buffalo’s Urban Renewal Agency and Citizens’ Bank Foundation, organizations can perform painting/mural, signage, and community garden and lot maintenance projects. For the 2011 Grant Year allocation, applications are due February 23, 2011. For more detailed information or to submit an online application for the 2011 grant, please click here .
Mayor Bryon W. Brown’s Citizens’ Participation Academy

The Mayor’s Citizens’ Participation Academy was founded in September 2006 to engage City of Buffalo residents in their local government by providing an interactive public forum, learning firsthand about the structure and management of the City of Buffalo. Participants are brought together with elected and appointed officials, in an informal setting, to learn about city government through presentations, case studies and site tours. Each session focuses on a specific area of government, such as economic development, community programs, public safety, and a myriad of other topics.

This free, eight-week program is annually in the fall to interested City of Buffalo residents ages 18 and over. Upon completion of Academy, graduates will be encouraged to further expand their community involvement as a city or neighborhood association volunteer.

For more detailed information regarding the Academy or to submit an online application for the spring 2011 academy, please click here


Ancillary Programs – Project SCOPE, Urban Fellows Program

Project SCOPE 

A study being conducted and tracked through the Division of Citizen Services in conjunction with the City of Buffalo Fire Department in order to provide Smoke Detectors and CO Detectors to the general public in a coordinated manner.  This information will then be tracked and compared against fire statistics over the next year to ensure this is an effective fire prevention method.

If you would like to sign-up for a free Smoke and/or Carbon Monoxide detector, please contact the Mayor’s Call and Resolution Center (dial 3-1-1 or 716-851-4890) to check the availability of supplies or visit The Division of Citizen Services in Room 218 City Hall.

Urban Fellows Program 

The Division of Citizen Services and its inherent programs have internship opportunities available throughout the year.  This office implements new recruitment procedures, schedules, and interviews potential candidates.

For a detailed description of each internship opportunity please, click here
or
To apply, please forward an electronic copy of your resume and cover letter to wdonovan@city-buffalo.com