Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA)

Knowledge Exchange,
Networking and Empowering Neighborhoods and Residents

by Marie Bowman, Blake & California Neighborbood Association

The role of the Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations - BANA, is to bring neighborhood leaders and concerned citizens together, face to face, in order to support and strengthen our collective voice. The regular monthly BANA meetings provide the forums for dialogues that accomplish this stated purpose.

These meetings, originating in 1999 for the following reasons: * To empower neighborhood groups and residents * To support each other as we encounter various City issues * To collectively influence the City Council in a positive manner * To have a strong voice in the direction of the City's polices * To share our collective knowledge and resources * To be an official body for the City to communicate with so that the City can't say that they don't know whom to contact when various projects and policies are being developed. * To communicate as a collective group with City, County, State and Federal agencies regarding their practices and how they impact the City of Berkeley. * To assist neighborhoods' legal challenges to improper City practices * To improve the quality of life for all residents Among the topics BANA has discussed and on which it has taken a stance include its united, successful effort to: * Preserve essential city services by constructive recommendations to the City of Berkeley budgetary priorities, * Engage in discussions on residential density and how it affects Berkeley's character and viability, and the examination of ethics in city planning. * Encourage UC Berkeley's payment of its fair share for services provided by the City * Defeat an excessive parcel tax late in 2004 and how to defeat the unfair proposed taxes on the Nov. 2008 ballot BANA calls for fair and diligent public process with regard to adequate notice on upcoming projects. BANA monitors City planning decisions affecting neighborhoods and commerce areas, and advocates to protect public safety. The current city political environment calls for an ongoing forum for regular and frequent collaboration.


These meetings, originating in 1999 for the following reasons:

If you or your neighborhood organization
are interested in being a part of BANA please join us!

You may call or email Marie Bowman at the contact information below if you would like more information or would like to schedule a presentation for your neighborhood association.


BANA meets monthly-the 3rd Saturday of the month (Except on holidays or summer), at 2407 Dana Street., First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, 1st fl. West Minster Hall, Church Lounge at 10:00am. Please email BANA at mariebowman@pacbell.net or call 510-849-4619 with any agenda items or questions at a minimum of 10 days prior to the meeting. Meetings are open to members of the public concerned about the welfare of Berkeley's neighborhoods, great and small. You do not need to be in a neighborhood to participate. Please mark your calendars and invite any neighborhood representatives who would benefit from joining us in an exchange of information and discussion of neighborhood and civic issues. Participants are asked to be considerate of one another and to abide with the ground rules to encourage participation in BANA meetings.

Ground Rules to Encourage Participation in BANA Meetings

The ground rules presented below are provided to encourage participation by all. These ground rules will assist us in allowing everyone to participate, keep the group focused and help us to get through our agenda in a timely manner. If you are not able to partcipate per the guidelines you will be asked to excuse yourself from the BANA meeting.

  1. Listen attentively -- respect others when they are talking, do not interrupt them.
  2. Speak from your own experience instead of generalizing ("I" instead of "they," "we," and "you").
  3. Practice timely attendance.
  4. Do not be afraid to respectfully challenge one another by asking questions, but refrain from personal attacks -- focus on ideas.
  5. Participate to the fullest of your ability -- community growth depends on the inclusion of every individual voice.
  6. Instead of invalidating somebody else's story with your own spin on their experience, share your own story and experience.
  7. Agreement is not our primary goal-- hearing and exploring divergent perspectives is.
  8. Body language communicates as much as words; be respectful in your own nonverbal responses to others.
  9. Please wait until you are called on to speak.
  10. Time management is the facilitator's responsibility. In order to cover all items on the agenda, the facilitator may need to close an issue and move on. Items not fully discussed may be continued at a future meeting.
  11. Anyone not being mindful of these ground rules may be asked to leave the meeting. If they repeatedly are not mindful of the rules , they may be asked not to attend future meetings.

Action Taken at BANA Meetings--

BANA Sub-Committees are established on the approval of a two-thirds vote.

From time to time BANA may choose to take action by endorsing a letter or petition presented by either a BANA sub-committee, neighborhood group or resident. Below please note that BANA operation procedure is to have a two-thirds approval from the group.

Voting on a Motion for BANA to Approve a Letter/Report/Publication:

Letters from a BANA Sub-Committee

Letters from groups or individuals requesting support from BANA

Presentations made before BANA should be related to the purposes of BANA
It is most helpful if the presenter(s) can provide the following information at the time of their presentation