Getting approval

Follow these steps to get your City Watch project on the road.

You will need to write and present a proposal to your local government asking to do City Watch in your community.

See the appendix for a draft proposal to local government.

Feel free to pull whole paragraphs, even whole pages right out of this resource material. That is why it's here: to help you put together City Watch in your community without having to reinvent the work that has already been done.

Your local may have a good relationship with an elected member of your local government. Consider approaching them with your idea. If he or she feels involved from the start, they may get more excited about supporting it with their council colleagues.

You can also round out your support by talking to local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, community groups, churches and the school boards. Their support of your proposal enhances its chances of getting approved by your local government.

Talking about your project with different groups will also help build the profile of City Watch in the community.

Points to emphasize when you are asking for community support:

• City Watch is a union funded (not a taxpayer funded) program.
• We are not asking for any money for this project.
• CUPE workers will continue to get their jobs done. They are not out fighting criminals all day. And they are not replacing the police.
• Local public employees can help ensure that our community is known as a safe and friendly place just by keeping their eyes and ears open.

Tips for getting local government approval:

• Find a city councillor to support your efforts through official channels.
• Build a network of supporters through your CUPE Local - ask people who are convincing on the telephone to help with lobbying elected people, businesses and other potential supporters.
• Build a network of community supporters to speak for the benefits of the program for them and for the community as a whole (e.g. business, churches, community groups).

Taking your proposal to City Council requires several steps which differ from community to community. Ask your local government officials or an elected person what procedure you must follow to take your proposal to council and get it approved.