A Neighborhood Association should have:

• Self Appointed Boundaries -- Each neighborhood shall have boundaries clearly identifiable to its residents, such as a major street, elementary school, park, landscaped area, or significant natural feature.
• Elected Leadership -- A president, vice president, and secretary to help organize and facilitate the meetings.  As well as to be used as contacts for various neighborhood activities.
• Regularly Scheduled Meetings -– Meetings should be held regularly (day, time, place, format) so that your membership will be used to attending.   The meeting format should consist of refreshments, socializing, neighborhood news, and a short presentation for an outside agency (something that is of interest to your neighborhood).   The meetings should last about one hour.
• Subcommittees – The Neighborhood Association should have subcommittees consisting of: Meetings\Block Party, Government, Neighborhood Watch, Beautification, Welcome Committee, etc.

As Neighborhood Associations get more formal in Sioux Falls some recommended policies would be:

• Policy 1. Where there are identifiable neighborhoods, a jurisdiction's comprehensive plan should reflect neighborhood plans and neighborhood plans should support the broader needs of the community and region.
  
  
• Policy 2.  Planning decisions should be directed to the most appropriate level. Planning decisions that have limited impact on the community as a whole should be made by, or on the basis of advice given by, those neighborhood groups primarily affected. On the other hand, planning decisions that affect the community as a whole should not be overly influenced by a single neighborhood's needs or interests.
  
  
• Policy 3. City plans should incorporate neighborhood level perspectives to the city's decision-making and planning processes. The city should also establish the neighborhood as a basic area for needs assessment, provision and improvement.
  
  
• Policy 4. City planners must ensure compatibility among the city master plan, zoning ordinances, CIP, recreational plans, and other regulations and the approved neighborhood plan.
  
  
• Policy 5. Cities need to involve and educate elected and appointed officials and municipal employees about the importance of neighborhood plans and the planning process.