G11-11 _4
• Ordinance No. GI I-11
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 231 OF THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE; 1976;
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM"
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS:
Section 1. That Section 2.31.040 of the Elgin Municipal Code. 1976,as amended,entitled
"Administration" be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
"2.31.040: The administration of the provisions of this chapter is hereby
assigned to the community development director (director) or the director's
designee. Applications for the neighborhood improvement grant program
shall be made to the community development department; 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 and not in conflict with the provisions of 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."
Section 2. That Section 2.3 1.050 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976;as amended;entitled
"Grant Program" be and is hereby amended to read as follows:
"2.31.050: GRANT PROGRAM:
A. Fund Distribution: The money budgeted for the neighborhood improvement
grant program shall be divided into two (2) funds. The distribution of
neighborhood improvement grant monies to each fund will be detennined by
the director of community development based on the following parameters:
1. Mini-Green Project fund: No less than twenty percent(20%),no more
than forty percent (40%) of annual funding.
2. Sustainable Neighborhood Project fund: No less than sixty percent
(60%), no more than eighty percent (80%) of annual funding.
If no qualifying grant requests are submitted for either of the funds, the
money allocated to that fund may be distributed to the other fund as
determined by the director.
B. 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. Mini-Green Project Fund:
a. Projects requiring physical improvements or additions to the
neighborhood shall be located on publicly owned property.
b. All projects must be compatible with the City Sustainability Master
Plan (SMP) and related policies.
c. Projects or activities requiring services to be rendered shall be
provided to all members of the public without charge.
d. Residents of the neighborhood shall be active participants in the
planning and implementation of the project.
e. All projects or activities shall be completed within six (6) months
from the date of the execution of the grant agreement. For projects
delayed by unforeseen or unanticipated circumstances outside of
control of grantee, a ninety(90)day extension may be requested after
• three (3) months from the date of the award. All extensions are
subject to the approval of the director.
f. Project or activity requests shall be no less than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
2. Sustainable Neighborhood Project Fund:
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a. Projects requiring physical improvements or additions to the
neighborhood shall be located on publicly owned property.
b. All projects must be compatible with the City Sustainability Master
Plan (SMP) and related policies.
c. Projects or activities requiring services to be rendered shall be
provided to all members of the public without charge.
d. Residents of the neighborhood shall be active participants in the
planning and implementation of the project.
e. All projects or activities shall be completed within a twelve (12)
month period from the date of the execution of the grant agreement.
• For projects delayed by unforeseen or unanticipated circumstances
• outside of control of grantee, a twelve (12) month extension may be
requested after nine (9) months from the date of the award. All
extensions will be subject to the approval of the director.
f. Project or activity requests shall be not less than one thousand
dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than fifteen thousand dollars
($15,000.00).
C. Eligible Participants: Eligible participants shall include any group or
organization meeting each of the following requirements:
1. Neighborhood based organizations of residents or businesses
registered with the city of Elgin Community Outreach office.
2. Ad hoc group of residents who have formed a committee solely for
the purpose of the specific project. The applicant group must be
sponsored by a registered neighborhood based organization.
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.
• D. 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.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.
1. Mini-Green Project Fund:
a. Applications shall be received by the director on a first come first
serve basis throughout the program year.
b. The director shall create a grant application and guidelines
consistent with this chapter.
c. The director shall process all grant applications and make all
determinations of funding based on the fact that all minimum criteria
for funding has been established by the applicant.
d. Grants will be awarded for no greater than one thousand dollars
($1,000.00).
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• e. The number of grants awarded 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.
2. Sustainable Neighborhood Project Fund:
a. A deadline for submission of grant applications shall be established
annually by the director.
b. The director shall create a grant application and guidelines
consistent with this chapter.
c. The director shall receive and process all grant applications for
submission to the city council. The final selection of grant recipients
and the amount of each grant shall be determined by the city council.
d. Grants will be awarded in amounts no less than one thousand
dollars ($1,000.00) and no greater than fifteen thousand dollars
($15,000.00).
e. The number of grants awarded 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.
E. Matching Funds and Neighborhood Participation:
1. For every dollar requested from the city,the applicant must provide at
least a dollar of matching funds in the form of cash, donated
professional services or materials, or volunteer labor. Of that match,
at least fifty percent (50%) must be in volunteer labor.
2. The amount and type of match must be appropriate to the needs of the
proposed project as reasonably determined by the director.
3. The applicant must be prepared to justify that each element of the
match, in the amount proposed, is required to complete the proposed
project.
4. No matching funds can include monies from another city funded
source.
5. The value of all volunteer labor will be valued at a standard rate to be
determined by the director in accordance with the consumer price
index.
•
• 6. Professional services are valued at the reasonable and customary
retail value of the product or service.
F. 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.
G. Other Taxing Districts: Grants shall not be awarded for projects that will be
constructed on properties oxvned by another taxing district, other than the
city,or for programs affiliated with other taxing districts; unless said projects
or programs have a physical;tangible,and visible benefit to the sustainability
efforts of the overall neighborhood in which they are located, and receive
fifty percent (50%) of their matching funds from that taxing district.
H. Grant Recipient Selection:
1. Mini-Green And Sustainable Neighborhood Funds: Each application will
be reviewed on the basis of a one hundred(100)point rating system,with one
hundred (100) points being the highest rating and fifty(50) points being the
minimum threshold for consideration of eligibility using the following
criteria:
a. Municipal Compatibility:
(i) Project integrates with the city's Sustainable Master Plan
(SMP) and is consistent with city policy and ordinances. (0 to 20 points)
(ii)Project or activities requires minimal maintenance and city
staff time. (0 to 10 points)
b. Community Benefit:
(1) Project proposes a creative approach to a neighborhood
need or enhancement that helps meet the SMP goals. (0 to 15 points)
(ii)Project activities address a highly recognized need within
the neighborhood. (0 to 15 points)
c. Participation:
(i) Project includes opportunities to involve neighbors in
shaping and carrying out the project. (0 to 10 points)
• (ii) The project promotes opportunities to form partnerships
with other groups or organizations to complete joint projects or activities. (0
to 10 points)
d. Project Feasibility:
(i) The proposal demonstrates excellence in design,planning,
and execution of the proposed project or activity. (0 to 10 points)
(ii) Budget reliably represents the project's expenses and
revenue. (0 to 10 points)"
Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of
this ordinance be and are hereby repealed.
Section 4. This ordinance shall be in frill force and effect upon its passage and
publication in the manner provided by law.
Ed Schock, Mayor
• Presented: April 13, 2011
Passed: April 13, 2011
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 ,,xa5aun,,,
Recorded: April 14, 2011
Published: April 15, 2011
Attest:
Diane Robertson, City Cler
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