Fourteen project applications will be considered this summer by the City and Neighborhood Advisory Council for potential funding through the 2018-2019 cycle of the Neighborhood Works program.
Neighborhood Works is intended to fund small-scale capital improvements within officially registered neighborhoods, giving residents the opportunity to identify projects they believe will offer the greatest benefit to their area. Projects are limited to $100,000 or less and must take place on city-owned property or right-of-way.
The program is funded by a $500,000 annual allocation for neighborhood initiatives from the voter-approved 1/4-cent Capital Improvements Sales Tax. The 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax sunsets every three years and will be up for renewal in 2019.
Due to time constraints, the 2018-2019 cycles were combined into one to allow for all projects to be under construction before the tax sunsets in spring of 2019. Neighborhoods are competing for a total of $800,000 in combined funding, with $200,000 set aside as a contingency.
A total of 16 applications were initially submitted by 10 registered neighborhoods. After an initial feasibility phase, and time allowed for applications to be revised, the NAC scoring committee is able to consider 14 projects for funding. Six applications propose improvements to public parks, four are public infrastructure related and four include a mixture of both.
“The City received some great feedback from the neighborhoods after the 2017 cycle,” says Dawne Gardner, City transportation planner and Neighborhood Works program administrator. “We made some minor changes to the application process and it appears these helped as the second cycle seems to be going well! Communication between the City and the neighborhoods has been the key to success with this program.”
Public Works has provided project cost estimates to NAC for consideration in the scoring process. Scoring will take place throughout June and July with final recommendations due to the city manager for consideration by Aug. 3. Approved projects are expected to be awarded by the end of August.
2017 Cycle Approved Project Status
The 2017 program cycle funded projects such as new pavilions, picnic table and bench installation and electrical upgrades in eight public parks. These improvements had been on the Park Board’s wish list for years but previously had no source of funding.
Currently, five of the 2017 approved projects have been completed. The final two – parking lot improvements at Phelps Grove Park and tennis and basketball court maintenance at Washington Park – are set to wrap up this summer. If enough contingency funds remain upon completion, the City will pursue two alternate projects identified in the 2017 cycle.