G16-13 Ordinance No. G16-13
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 2.31 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 2.31.050 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 three (3) funds:
1. Mini-Green Project Fund.
2. Sustainable Neighborhood Project Fund.
3. Tree Replacement Project Fund.
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 Elgin Sustainability
Action Plan(ESAP) 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:
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 Elgin Sustainability
Action Plan(ESAP) 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
rik 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).
3. Tree Replacement Project Fund
a. Projects involving the replacement ash trees that have been
removed within the previous three years of the date on which the
application has been filed.
b. Documentation establishing previous ash tree removal on the
private property for which a replacement tree is being requested
shall be provided.
c. Eligible replacement trees shall consist of those trees designated
as "Species A" or "Species B" as designated in the "Tree List" of the city's tree preservation ordinance.
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e. Residents shall be reimbursed fifty percent of the cost of a
single, non-native to Illinois tree planted on their private property
and seventy-five percent for a native Illinois tree planted on their
private property. Sales tax, delivery and installation charges shall
be exempt from reimbursement.
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.
4. Individual residents or a homeowners' association applying on
behalf of its residents provided that such participants are applying
for private property tree replacement under the Tree Replacement
Project Fund.
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.
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.
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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 owned 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. 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 Elgin Sustainability Action
Plan (ESAP) and is consistent with city policy and ordinances. (0 to 10
points)
(ii) Project or activities requires minimal maintenance and
city staff time. (0 to 10 points)
b. Community Benefit:
(i) Project proposes a creative approach to a neighborhood
need or enhancement that helps meet the ESAP 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)
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(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)
(iii) The proposed project meets all grant guidelines and
provides detailed matching contribution by identifying specific dollar
matching amounts and specific volunteer scheduling as opposed to
generalized representations of matching dollar amounts or volunteer
support. (0 to 10 points)
Section 2. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of
this ordinance be and are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict .
Section 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and publication
in the manner provided by law.
David J. K. ain,: