Fewer people submitting projects for CIB funds

It’s time again for community members to seek funding for 2025-2026 Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) projects. Improvements to Horton Park and bike facilities along Pierce Butler Route are among ideas in the mix.

But one worry for city leaders and CIB Committee members is the low number of projects submitted overall and how to better get the word out about the ability to seek funding. Committee Chairman Darren Tobolt said that outreach has to be looked at.

With just 20 projects coming in citywide, and none from Ward 7, the process is being questioned. Twenty projects are far fewer than the 86 projects submitted for the 2023-2023 funding cycle.

Even years are for the CIB community process, in which community-submitted projects vie to split $1 million. A poll allowing community members to rank projects was online and open until April 29.  Poll participants could select up to 10 projects and rank them in order of preference. 

The CIB Committee is to hear community project presentations at 5 p.m. Monday, May 13 at Rondo Community Library, 461 N. Dale St. The committee is to rank projects and publish preliminary recommendations June 4, with a public hearing at 5 p.m. Monday, June 10 at Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave. 

Initially 25 projects were submitted, said Nichelle Bottko-Woods, CIB Committee staff. 

Seven Parks and Recreation projects are still under consideration. Seventeen Public Works projects were submitted, but only 13 are eligible.

Anyone could submit a project. Proposers were not all named in the poll.

Proposals need to be related to infrastructure owned and maintained by the city, and last 10 years or more. Another requirement is that any proposal incorporate ideas from a city program called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, known as CPTED.

Hamline-Midway neighborhood has two projects in the running. Hamline Midway Coalition proposes the design and installation of a park entry plaza in Horton Park, where Hamline Avenue meets Minnehaha Avenue. Also proposed is replacement of the light fixtures along the west side of Hamline between Englewood and Minnehaha avenues. The plaza would include informational signage, landscaping, seating, trash and recycling containers, a bike repair station and bike racks in order to draw more people to the park to increase natural surveillance in the area.

A second neighborhood proposal is for a one-block bicycle route connection on the south side of Pierce Butler Route, to provide a safer off-road connection from an existing bike path to a nearby street.

Projects also came in from St. Anthony Park. One is for multi-panel shade structures at Westgate Commons Park and Robbins/Transitway lighting and access improvements. Improvements are sought to promote safer access to the University of Minnesota transitway by bike, from South St. Anthony Park.

A two-way, protected bicycle facility for Wabash Avenue in West Midway is proposed, for an improved Grand Round connection to Pelham Boulevard.

Union Park district residents have been proactive with requests in the past and this year is no exception. One request is for “double” street lighting at intersections, with Hague Avenue and Saratoga Street in Snelling-Hamline neighborhood as a pilot. The proposal is for a second street light at all city intersections that currently lack sufficient lighting, to enhance nighttime pedestrian safety.

Pedestrian safety improvements are sought between the Skyline Tower high-rise and Midway Peace Park, including improved lighting.