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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-160 Resolution No. 05-160 RESOLUTION APPROVING GRANT RECIPIENTS UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM WHEREAS,the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program has been established to provide financial assistance and incentives for neighborhood groups and organizations in the development and implementation of projects benefiting their respective neighborhoods; and WHEREAS,in 2005 applications have been made by seven citizen groups for seven projects under the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program; and WHEREAS, said applications have been reviewed and recipients selected by the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS,that grant assistance be provided under the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program to the following organizations: Organization Project Grant Valley Creek Homeowners Assn. New Entryway Signage $ 8,764.00 Highland Elementary School New Entryway Signage $ 6,400.00 Country Trails Neighborhood Assn. Entrance Shrubs and Perennials $ 4,000.00 Century Oaks Neighborhood Assn. Community Playground Project $ 15,000.00 Coleman Elementary School Coleman Fence Project $ 24,633.00 Nearwest Neighbors Association Crystal Street Railroad Train Station Trees $ 5,700.00 Sheridan Elementary School Playground Project Phase II $ 6,935.00 TOTAL $ 71,432.00 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the projects shall be in conformance with all applicable codes and ordinances. s/ Ed Schock Ed Schock, Mayor , Presented: May 11, 2005 Adopted: May 11, 2005 Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 Attest: sI Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk 0 OF Et.Gs Agenda Item No. 0 , J § City of Elgin '111 , r 1?17 D rif I L E L - 444 G April 22,2005 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY FROM: Olufemi Folarin, City Manager RuthAnne K. Hall,Neighborho d Services Committee SUBJECT: 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program—Large Project Applications PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Mayor and members of the City Council with information to consider applications for the 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Program — Large Project Fund. rebRECOMMENDATION . It is recommended that the City Council approve the grant recipient eligibility list for a total of seven grants in the amount of$71,432 and direct staff to execute the grant agreements. BACKGROUND The Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program (NIGP) was established in 1996 using Riverboat funds to provide financial assistance to neighborhood groups and organizations in the development and implementation of public projects benefiting their respective neighborhoods. Since its inception the NIGP has awarded $672,907.00 to 91 neighborhood projects throughout the community, including projects such as neighborhood signage, parkway tree replacements, newsletters, neighborhood festivals and community-building events. The Large Project Fund is targeted for projects with a cost between $1,000 and $15,000 and that can be completed within one year. Organizations are limited to receiving one grant from the Large Project Fund per program year. A pre-application deadline for the Large Project Fund was established for February 28, 2005. The pre-application meeting was recommended to interested neighborhood groups to present their ideas to staff and address any outstanding issues with compliance with City codes and ordinances. Six out of the seven groups submitting final applications participated in the pre- application process. Seven final applications were submitted, with a total request of funding of eini, $71,799. The total amount of funding budgeted by the City for the Large Project Fund is no less /^ 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program—Large Project Applications EE April 22, 2005 Page 2 than 60% of the overall $125,000 2005 budget for the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program($75,000) and no more than 70% of the overall budget($87,500). Organization Project Name Project Neighborhood Grant Grant Cost Match Request Allocation Valley Creek New $18,459.00 $9,695.00 $8,764.00 $8,764.00 Homeowners Entryway Association Signage Southwest _ Highland Elementary New $12,663.00 $6,263.00 $6,400.00 $6,400.00 School Entryway Signage Country Trails Entrance $16,201.66 $12,201.66 $4,000.00 $4,000.00 Neighborhood Shrubs and Association Perennials Century Oaks Community $47,853.00 $32,853.00 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 Neighborhood Playground Association Project Coleman Elementary Coleman $32,733.00 $8,100.00 $15,000.00 $24,633.00 School Fence Project Nearwest Crystal Street $11,400.00 $5,700.00 $5,700.00 $5,700.00 Neighborhood Assoc. Train Station Trees Sheridan Elementary Playground $13,870.00 $6,935.00 $6,935.00 $6,935.00 • School Project Phase II TOTAL $163,479.66 $91,680.66 $61,799.00 $71,432.00 The applications were reviewed by the Neighborhood Services Committee, a committee composed of representatives of various City departments for the purpose of reviewing and making recommendations to the City Council on issues related to the safety and maintenance of local neighborhoods and the community as a whole. Overall, the Committee was impressed with the excellent quality of the planning and projects presented by the applicants this year. The applicants have forged partnerships and provided a variety ofvolunteer opportunities to include the represented neighborhood as part of the improvement project. In reviewing the applications, one particular project was noted as requesting additional assistance in funding for the proposed project. Coleman Elementary School submitted a proposal to remove the 785 feet of existing chain link fencing along Dundee Avenue and replace it with a new black ornamental aluminum fence with two brick pillars highlighting the entrance. Members of the Coleman Elementary PTC initially approached the City regarding this project • Aisl..‘ 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program—Large Project Applications April 22, 2005 Page 3 last year. Since that time, City staff has worked with the PTC to establish criteria for the bid specifications for the organization to acquire competitive estimates for the project. To date, the PTC has only been able to secure $8,100 of the $32,733 needed to complete the removal of the existing chain link fencing and installation of the new decorative fencing. Of the funds that they have secured, $6,100 is being provided by School District U-46 through in-kind services to remove the existing chain link fencing and landscaping. The PTC is currently working to establish further fundraising activities needed to complete the project. Therefore, the PTC is requesting an exception to the established guidelines for the Large Project Fund as outlined in Chapter 2.31 of the Elgin Municipal Code, Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. The exception is in regards to Chapter 2.31.050 E, Matching Funds and Neighborhood Participation, which stipulates that no matching funds can include monies from another city funded source. In reviewing the application for the Coleman Elementary School Fence Project, the Committee noted the following reasons for approving the exception. First of all, if the applicant was limited to the maximum grant of$15,000 the project would have to either be completed in phases or at a lesser quality. Secondly, the removal of 785 feet of visible chain link fencing along a major entryway corridor was identified by residents and the Dundee Avenue area business owners as a rk concern at a public meeting held on March 29, 2005, to gather input on the City's Corridor Improvement Project. The removal of chain link fences is also a major component of the Year of the Neighborhood. Therefore, it was the opinion of the Committee members that the replacement of the chain link fencing is a high impact project that would not only be an improvement to the neighborhood, as is the intent of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program, but would be an added improvement to the Dundee Avenue corridor, which is currently slated for improvements as part of the City's ongoing corridor improvement project. The new fence will be similar in style to that found at McKinley Elementary and the Highlands of Elgin. The McKinley project was also partially funded by the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. As a result, the NSC is recommending to fund the project at the maximum grant of$15,000 and recommended that the remaining $9,633 to complete the project be funded through the Corridor Improvement Program. It should also be noted that the applicant initially requested a project with six brick pillars and a five foot fence. In order to reduce the overall cost of the project it is being recommended that the project contain only two brick pillars and that the fence height be lowered to four foot. These changes have resulted in a cost reduction of$10,300. COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED Various neighborhood organizations throughout the city. r.h • ow 2005 Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program—Large Project Applications April 22, 2005 Page 4 (Of/IA/FINANCIAL IMPACT The 2005 budget for the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program is $125,000. Per the ordinance the funds for the various fund distributions is as follows: 1. Small Project Fund— no less than 10%, no more than 15% of the annual funding. 2. Large Project Fund—no less than 60%, no more than 70%of annual funding. 3. Neighborhood Planning Fund — no less than 20%, no more than 25% of annual funding. Funding for the Large Project Fund is included in the 2005 Riverboat Fund budget ($125,000), account number 275-0000-791.78-99, project number 079851. Funds for the Small Project Fund and Neighborhood Planning Fund ($28,500) will be allocated later in the year. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available to fund the approved Large Project applications for total of$71,432. The $9,633 in additional funding for the Coleman School Fence will be charged to Project Number 299502 "Cooridor Improvements" where $724,791 is available for allocation. \\0\100.,EGAL IMPACT None. ALTERNATIVES 1. Approve the list of recommended grant recipients eligible for the Large Project Fund of the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program. 2. Reject the list of selected recipients. Respectfully submitted for Council consideration. RICH elPftk