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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG35-96 (2) Ordinance No. G35-96 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM WHEREAS, neighborhood groups and organizations can effectively establish a unified voice for their neighborhoods to foster productive working relationships with city departments and agencies; and WHEREAS, neighborhood groups and organizations are ideally suited to identify projects addressing local or specialized needs; and WHEREAS, neighborhood improvement projects enhance the viability of neighborhoods, generate positive publicity about the neighborhood and reinforce the residents ' confidence in the neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program will assist neighborhood groups and organizations in identifying priorities, developing solutions and providing financial • assistance for realizing neighborhood goals . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS : Section 1 . That the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, be and is hereby further amended by adding Chapter 2 . 31 entitled "Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program" to read as follows : Chapter 2 . 31 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM 2 . 31 . 010 TITLE. This program shall be entitled the City of Elgin "Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program" . 2 . 31 . 020 PURPOSE . The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance and incentives for neighborhood groups and organizations in the development and implementation of projects benefitting their respective neighborhoods . 2 . 31 . 030 ESTABLISHMENT. There is hereby established a Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program for the City of Elgin. Applications for program participation shall be processed in the order in which they are received. Grants for the program established may be made until funds budgeted for such use are exhausted. 2 . 31 . 040 ADMINISTRATION. The administration of the provisions of this chapter is hereby assigned to the Director of the Department of Code Administration and Neighborhood Affairs (Director) or the Director' s designee. Applications for the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program shall be made to the Department of Code Administration and Neighborhood Affairs which shall have the authority and responsibility for carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The Director shall establish any reasonable rules and procedures not otherwise established by this chapter that are deemed necessary for administration of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. Any such rules and procedures shall be written and published in pamphlet form. 2 . 31 . 050 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. A. Eligible Activities . Each proposed activity or project shall demonstrate the benefit it will be conferring upon the neighborhood represented by the neighborhood group or organization applying for the grant and shall also take place within the boundaries of that neighborhood. When applicable, the following conditions shall also apply: 1 . Projects requiring physical improvements or additions to the neighborhood shall be located on publicly owned property. 2 . Projects or activities requiring services to be rendered shall be provided to all members of the public without charge. 3 . All projects or activities shall be completed in not more than one year. 4 . Project or activity costs shall be not less than $1 , 000 . 00 nor more than $15, 000 . 00 . B. Eligible Participants . Eligible participants shall include any group or organization meeting each of the following requirements : 1 . The group's or organization' s representa- tion is confined to a specifically defined geographic area or "neighborhood" within the city. Groups or organizations with city-wide representation are ineligible. 2 . The group or organization must have established bylaws providing for the democratic election of officers and maintain minutes from each of its meetings . 3 . The group' s or organization' s meeting dates and times must be publicized within the geographic area of the city represented by the group or organization and the meetings must be open to the public. 4 . No specifically defined geographic area within the city may be represented by more than one group or organization. C. Grants . The selection of grant recipients and the amount of each grant shall be determined by the city council . Grants will be awarded to eligible neighborhood groups or organizations in amounts of not less than $, 1000 . 00 nor more than $15, 000 . 00 for each grant recipient. The number of grants awarded and the amount of each grant may vary depending upon the amount of funds allocated for the program, number of program applicants and the cost of each proposed project or activity. D. Matching Funds and Neighborhood Participation. Matching funds for proposed projects or activities are encouraged. Any such funds shall be deposited with the City of Elgin for disbursement at the completion of the project or activity. A neighborhood group' s or organization' s contributions for labor, materials and maintenance shall be considered in the grant application. E . Grant Application and Award. The Director shall create a grant application consistent with this chapter. The Director shall receive and process all grant applications for submission to the city council and shall annually establish a final date on which applicants may submit applications for review. The Director shall also annually establish the award date for grant applications and an annual completion date for any awarded project or activity. F. Grant Recipient Selection. The city council shall review and award each grant application on the basis of a 100-point rating system, with 100 points being the highest rating, using the following criteria: 1 . Quality and Scope of the Proposed Project or Activity: 0-15 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects or activities demonstrating excellence in the design, planning and execution of the proposed project or activity. 2 . Level of Neighborhood Participation and Support: 0-20 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects or activities that form partnerships with other groups or organizations to complete joint projects or activities . 3 . Necessity of the Project or Activity: 0-20 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects or activities addressing highly recognized needs within the neighborhood. 4 . Neighborhood Matching Contribution: 0-20 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects or activities contributing fifty percent or greater of the total cost of the project in labor, materials or money. 5 . Integration with the City of Elgin' s Master Plan: 0-10 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects integrating with the City of Elgin Master Plan. 6 . Maintenance Requirements : 0-15 points The maximum number of points will be awarded to projects or activities requiring minimal maintenance. 2 . 31 . 060 CONDITIONS. A. Agreement Required. Grant recipients shall be required to execute an agreement with the city (Grant Agreement) , including, but not limited to, the following requirements : 1 . Submission of monthly implementation reports detailing the progress being made on the project or activity and a final report on the completed project or activity outlining the goals achieved by the project or activity. 2 . The supervision, monitoring and performance of the work necessary to complete the project or activity. B. Director' s Authorization. The Director is authorized to execute the Grant Agreement on behalf of the city. C . Limitations . Grants authorized under this chapter shall be limited to the reimbursement of actual expenses incurred for the project or activity described in the application and shall be limited to the amount approved at the time of the execution of the grant agreement. No grants shall be approved for expenses incurred prior to the execution of the Grant Agreement. The procurement of supply, service and construction contracts shall be made in accordance with Title 5 of the Elgin Municipal Code. D. Failure to Perform. Failure to perform the obligations of the Grant Agreement shall require the grant recipient to repay any grant monies received. E. Penalty for Misrepresentation. Any person, corporation or unincorporated association willfully making a false statement or misrepresentation in obtaining a grant under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred ( $100) nor more than five hundred ( $500) dollars and , . shall forfeit the right to future participation in any neighborhood improvement grant program authorized under the Elgin Municipal Code. Any such person, corporate or unincorporated association shall also repay any monies received pursuant to this ordinance. Section 2 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby repealed. Section 3 . That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect ten days after its passage and publication in the manner provided by law. s/ Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly, Mayor Presented: August 14 , 1996 Passed: August 14 , 1996 Omnibus Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0 Recorded: August 15, 1996 Published: August 16 , 1996 Attest: s/ Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk