If you live in northwest Manteca expect a robo call today from the city.

It’s an alert on the first neighborhood action plan meeting designed to allow residents to give city representatives an earful on what they are doing wrong - and not doing - in their neighborhoods. Attendees can also share what they like that the city is doing in their neighborhood.

It is the first meeting for a pilot project aimed at having residents set the agenda in terms of what their neighbors need and not the city.

“What we are going to do is shut up and listen,” said Rex Osborn who is serving as the community engagement manager for Manteca Neighborhood Action Planning.

Osborn added the city often assumes what neighborhood residents want without knowing that is the case.

The first neighborhood being targeted is in the McParland School area. The area, as defined by the city, is bordered on the north by Lathrop Road. Union Road serves as the eastern border, Louise Avenue the southern border, and Airport Way the western border.

The meeting takes place Thursday, Sept. 22, starting at 7 p.m. at The Commons at Union Ranch at 2241 N. Union Road.

“Anyone with ideas, concerns, complaints, or compliments, or just curious needs to attend,” noted Osborn.

There will be the nettings with the neighborhood altogether. The first is finding. The second addresses planning for resolution. The third is development of the actual action plan for the neighborhood.

“All of these are being driven by the neighborhood (and not the city),” Osborn pointed out.

There have been 12 neighborhoods identified in various redevelopment project areas within Manteca that ultimately will have neighborhood action plans developed.

Two pilot programs will be set up by year’s end.

One will focus on a neighborhood that is among those lacking the most and the other is one is that rates high on amenities and low on problems. McParland was selected for being a neighborhood that isn’t under duress. The other neighborhood will be an area immediately to the west of Shasta Park.

The criteria used to select the neighborhoods for the pilot program included access to resources such as schools, churches, retail, and services; circulation concerns; access to amenities such as art and recreation; the level of abandoned and vacant buildings; condition of streets, sidewalks, and other municipal facilities; and how strong the sense of community is within the neighborhood.

The first meeting is where Osborn will listen to what people have to say.

The second meeting will be based on comments gathered at the initial gathering. At that meeting the city will address issues and indicate whether it is something the city can do, if it is something state law prohibits the city from doing, or if it is something the city has difficulty doing due to staffing cutbacks and is intended to prioritize city functions.

A community action plan would then be developed based on the neighborhood needs and wants. Key city workers would then devise plans to work toward the goals. The key city staff would then meet with the neighborhood to make sure that is what they want and brainstorm on how to make things happen.

After that the program will involve follow up conversations as well as providing measureable outcomes and milestones.

To contact Osborn, e-mail ROsborn@mantecagov.com or call 456-8099.