You Have a Date with Democracy--

Decide How Your Tax Dollars Will Be

Spent in the 49th Ward

  April 28, 2012
ELECTION RESULTS

Participatory_Budgeting_Election_Results_2012.pdf (110 KB)


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• Introduction to the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project from Alderman Joe Moore
  
  
• Neighborhood Assembly Schedule for Step 1 of the 2012-13 Participatory Budgeting Process
  
  
• Election Results: 2010 and 2011
  
  
• Updates on Implementation of the Winning Projects
  
  
• What Types of Projects are Eligible for Funding in the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Process?
  
  
• How to Submit a Project Proposal or Suggestion
  
  
• Previous Years' "Aldermanic Menu" Expenditures
  
  
• Allocation of a Specific Percentage of the Aldermanic Menu Budget to Street Resurfacing
  
  
• Articles and Blog Posts on the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project
  
  
• Alderman Joe Moore's Op Ed on the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project
  
  
• Videos on the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Process
  
  
• Learn More About Participatory Budgeting
  
  
• Alderman Joe Moore's Participatory Budgeting Powerpoint Presentation
  
  
• Artistic Murals Selected to Brighten Rogers Park Underpasse​s
  

Introduction to the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project from Alderman Joe Moore

Dear Neighbor,

Around the United States and here in Chicago, city leaders are increasingly asking residents for suggestions about budget spending.  Here in the 49th Ward, we're going one step further.  Through a novel experiment in democracy, I'm not just asking for your opinion--I'm asking you to make real decisions about how we spend our money.

Over the past three years, I've asked my constituents--the residents of the 49th Ward--to decide how to spend $1 million in tax dollars.

Each alderman in Chicago gets over $1 million a year to allocate for various infrastructure improvements in his or her ward.  This so-called "menu money" goes to resurface streets and alleys, repair sidewalks and curbs and gutters, put in new streetlights, and the like. I've also used the money to subsidize special infrastructure projects, such as the Harold Washington Playlot and the Willye White Community Center.  This menu money is spent at the total discretion of each alderman.

Beginning with the 2009-10 budget cycle, I have ceded my decision-making authority to the residents of my ward through a process known as Participatory Budgeting, or "PB49," in which all 49th Ward residents are eligible to vote directly on the infrastructure projects that are funded in our community.  

The 49th Ward is the first political jurisdiction in the nation to adopt such an approach to public spending, and it's been so well-received that I have pledged to make it a permanent fixture in the ward.  Word of our success has spread.  This year, three other Chicago aldermen have pledged to use participatory budgeting to decide how to spend their aldermanic menu money and other cities in the U.S., including New York City and Vallejo, California, are emulating our model.

Participatory budgeting is a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making in which ordinary residents decide how to allocate part of a municipal budget.  In essence, how it works is that the municipal authorities turn over a portion of their budget to community residents who decide the spending priorities.

To learn more about participatory budgeting and its implementation worldwide, visit the website of the Particpatory Budgeting Project:  www.participatorybudgeting.org

In April 2009, I brought together leaders of over 50 civic, religious and community organizations in the 49th Ward, and asked them to appoint one or two representatives from their organizations to serve on a steering committee to design a participatory budgeting process for the 49th Ward.  The Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee was chaired by Jamiko Rose, Executive Director of the Organization of the Northeast.

An organization known as The Participatory Budgeting Project, led by Gianpaolo Baiocchi (Brown University), and Josh Lerner (The New School for Social Research), provided guidance and technical assistance for this initiative. Additional support was provided by the Institute for Policy Studies, the Watson Institute, and the New World Foundation.

After several months of meetings, the Steering Committee developed a process and timetable that culminated in a ward-wide election in April, 2010, when over 1,600 49th Ward residents voted on the 49th Ward infrastructure spending priorities for 2010.

For a copy of the results of the PB49 2010 and 2011 elections, CLICK HERE.

The 2013 PB49 process has begun with a format that tracks closely the four-step process we've employed the previous three years.  A "Leadership Committee" consisting of individuals who served either on last year's Steering Committee or as a Community Representative will oversee the process.  The process is as follows:

Step 1--Neighborhood Assembly Meetings (October, 2012)

A series of "neighborhood assemblies" are held throughout the ward, including a Spanish language assembly.  The neighborhood assemblies are open to any 49th Ward resident.  At each neighborhood assembly, the attendees will be given brief description of the infrastructure menu program and the participatory budgeting process.  Meeting attendees will then be asked to brainstorm ideas for possible uses of the infrastructure menu money. 

At the conclusion of each meeting, we will ask for volunteers to serve as "community representatives" who will be charged with developing proposals for spending the 49th Ward's 2013 infrastructure menu allocation.

Pick the day and location that is most convenient for you and bring your appetite.  Pizza and refreshments courtesy of JB Alberto's Pizza will be served at all Neighborhood Assemblies.

For a schedule of the PB49 Neighborhood Assemblies, CLICK HERE.

Step 2--Community Representative Meetings (November, 2012-March, 2013)

The community representatives will meet to develop proposals for use of the infrastructure menu money to be presented at a ward-wide assembly in the spring.  The representatives, at their discretion, may call additional neighborhood assembly meetings to solicit additional suggestions and bounce off ideas.

Step 3--Final Round of Neighborhood Assembly Meetings to Present Project Proposals to the Community (April, 2013)

The community representatives will present their preliminary proposals for the 2013 Aldermanic Menu at two Neighborhood Assemblies held in the north and south sections of the 49th Ward.  Based on community input provided at the neighborhood assemblies, the community representatives may refine their proposals before submitting them to a final vote at the May 2013 PB49 election.

Step 4--Election to Determine the 2013 Infrastructure Spending Priorities (May, 2013)

In the final step of the process, community residents will gather at a ward-wide assembly to deliberate and vote on the 2013 infrastructure spending priorities for the 49th Ward.

This experiment in democracy will not work unless we have full and complete participation from all sectors of our diverse community, so I urge you to attend one of the neighborhood assemblies and bring your 49th Ward friends and neighbors.  Most importantly, I urge you to bring your ideas.

I have full faith that the residents of the 49th Ward can decide what's best for our neighborhood, when given enough time, information, and support.

Sincerely,

Joe Moore

Neighborhood Assembly Schedule for Step 1 of the 2012-13 Participatory Budgeting Process

(Note: Complimentary pizza will be provided at 6:30 p.m. before all meetings.  The meetings will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.)

Monday, Oct. 8, Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf, 2nd Floor

Wednesday, Oct. 10, Pottawattomie Park Fieldhouse, 7340 N. Rogers

Tuesday, Oct. 23, Paschen Park Fieldhouse, 1932 W. Lunt 

Wednesday, Oct. 24, Willye White Park Fieldhouse, 1610 W. Howard

Thursday, Oct. 25, St. Ignatius Church Holy Name Room, 6559 N. Glenwood

Monday, Oct. 29, United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse, 3rd Floor

Tuesday, Oct. 30, St. Jerome Church Parish Center, 1709 W. Lunt (Spanish language)

 
Election Results: 2010 and 2011

For complete election results for the 2010 and 2011 PB49 Participatory Budgeting Elections, including descriptions of the proposed projects and the number of votes each proposal received, click on the attachments below:


2011_Election_Results.pdf (109 KB)

2010_Election_Results.pdf (152 KB)

PB49 Updates on the Winning Projects

(Updated November 2012)

Update on PB 2010 Menu Projects

Given the complexity of several of the winning projects voted on April 10, 2010, a few of
our projects remain pending. Some were relatively straightforward infrastructure projects, and others are taking longer to complete. But, we are making progress! Check back for further updates.

Bike Lanes on Touhy, Ashland & Rogers (Phase I). COMPLETED. Initially delayed due to
a shortage of striping materials (light-reflective paint), the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed the work in Summer 2011.

Bike Racks (Artistic). PENDING. CDOT has approved specifications as to size, materials, etc., but issues have yet to be resolved as to the feasibility of City contracts and oversight.

Community Garden at Dubkin Park. COMPLETED. Built by Department of Environment (DOE) GreenCorps in late Summer 2011. Planted in Spring 2012 and growing and blooming throughout the summer.

Convenience Shower at Loyola Park. COMPLETED. Situated outside near the Loyola Field House. Completed in Summer 2011.

CTA Heating Shelters with Benches. COMPLETED. Installed at the Jarvis, Morse and Loyola Stations in Spring 2011. With the 2012 renovations of these stops, PB49 will work with the CTA to insure reinstallation of these shelters or comparable improvements to the stations.

Dog-Friendly Area (DFA)/Dog Park at Pottawattomie Park. COMPLETED. Constructed in Fall 2011. Now named Paw-ttawattomie Park, the DFA is overseen by a community-based committee.

Path Completion in Touhy Park. COMPLETED. Partial path in the park was extended in Fall 2010.

Sidewalk Repairs. COMPLETED in terms of full expenditure of the approved funding. Fifteen of the twenty-seven originally identified sites were repaired. But the City significantly increased
scope and cost of repairs, so the final costs were considerably higher than the originally approved funding. The remaining sites in the worst condition were placed on the 2012 ballot and received funding. They will be repaired in 2012-13.

Traffic/Pedestrian Signal on Clark at Chase. PENDING. Final estimate from the City was significantly higher than the original. As the crossing is by a school, funding is being sought from both City and State agencies.

Solar-Powered Garbage Containers on Sheridan. ON ORDER. Final
costs from the City exceeded the original City estimate by about 10%. The
original plan was for 10 containers; there will now be 8, all on Sheridan Road.
All locations have been approved by the Department of Streets and Sanitation.

Street Resurfacing - Lunt, Ashland to Ravenswood. UNDERWAY - FUNDED BY DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT! Work has been completed from Ravenswood to Ridge and Sheridan to Ashland and will soon be completed, Ashland to Ravenswood. Therefore, menu money will not be needed to repave this street and can be reallocated to overruns of other projects.

Historical Signs for Rogers Park. CANCELLED. CDOT/Streetscape Division provided design and manufacturing costs that exceeded the original estimates several fold. Originally seven signs were envisioned, but the funding would only pay for one and a half. Based on this new reality,
the PB49 Leadership Committee voted to cancel the initiative and place the funds back into reserve.

Street Lights on Morse. COMPLETED. The project was originally for residential lights (two-bulb upper and lower lights), but was changed to ornamental lights to complete the Morse Avenue Streetscape lights from Wayne to Morse. Lights were installed in Fall 2011.

Underpass Murals. COMPLETED. Project started with a published RFP, resulting in 160 entries from local artists. Reduced to 24 finalists by an expert panel, and 13 designs chosen by popular vote at the 2010 Glenwood Sunday Market. Completed murals grace both Union
Pacific/Metra and CTA underpasses.

Update on PB 2011 Menu Projects

Note that many street-related projects are on hold due to extensive ward-wide gas-line
replacement by People's Gas. That project, which began in 2011, will not be completed in some areas of the Ward until 2014. Given it is counter-productive to repave a street or paint new bike lanes, when subsequently the pavement will be torn up by utilities, the work will have to be on hold until the gas-line installation is completed. Affected projects marked with an asterisk(*)

Bike Lanes on Albion, Eastlake & Pratt (Phase II).* BEGUN. Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) project.

• Contra-flow bike lane on Albion. COMPLETED      

Bike Racks. PENDING. Twenty racks will be purchased, with CDOT matching with an additional 20 racks. The site locations are under discussion. Expected completion: Spring 2013.

Improvements to Ridge, Touhy, Rogers Intersection.* PENDING. Final cost estimate given by CDOT and pending completion of work by People's Gas. Expected completion: Summer 2013.

Improvements to Metra Underpasses at Birchwood, Estes & Touhy. PENDING. Joint
effort by CDOT and Union Pacific. Project to include washing, lighting, repainting, and pigeon abatement. Expected completion: Summer 2013.

New Playground at Touhy Park. PENDING. Partial funding in place from PB 2011 vote plus agreement from the Chicago Park District to fund 1/3 of final cost. The final $125,000 needed to complete the funding package was approved on the PB 2012 ballot Based on community input, the Park District will design and construct the playground, scheduled for 2013 completion.

Path Extensions at Leone & Loyola Park at Morse. UNDERWAY. Originally three path extensions were sought, but a new estimate from the Park District would only create two, one at Leone Beach and one at Morse. Both have been constructed, with the beach ends to be completed in the Spring of 2013.

Street Resurfacing.* Completion dates vary with location. (See note, above):

• 1200-1500 Pratt - Late Summer 2013
• 6800-7000 Wolcott - COMPLETED
• 7400-7600 Wolcott - Summer 2013
• 1400 Jarvis - Summer 2013
• 1200-1300 Columbia - Summer 2013

Update on PB 2012 Menu Projects

Note that many street-related projects are on hold due to extensive ward-wide gas-line replacement by People's Gas. That project, which began in 2011, will not be completed in some areas of the Ward until 2014. Given it is counter-productive to repave a street or paint new bike lanes, when subsequently the pavement will be torn up by utilities, the work will have to be on hold until the gas-line installation is completed. Affected projects marked with an asterisk(*)

New Playground at Touhy Park. PENDING. Partial funding in place from PB 2011 vote plus agreement from the Chicago Park District to fund 1/3 of final cost. The final $125,000 needed to complete the funding package was approved on the PB 2012 ballot. The playground design will
begin with a community meeting in December of 2012 and built in 2013.

Sidewalk Repairs.* Six sites with the most critical need will be repaired. Two full blocks have been completed:

• 7200-7300 block of Claremont. COMPLETED
• 2200-2250 block of Chase. COMPLETED

Street Resurfacing.* Completion dates will vary with location of streets and alley:

• 2000-2100 Jarvis
• 1750 Morse
• 1700-1734 North Shore
• 7600 Bosworth
• 7050-7100 Glenwood
• 6800 Ravenswood (west side of tracks)
• 7600 Marshfield (alley north of Howard)

Tree Planting. UNDERWAY. The City is planting 139 new trees in the parkways of the Ward. The locations chosen were a combination of constituent requests to the City's 311 system, surveys by the PB49 Arts & Innovation Committee members, and suggestions by Chicago's Department of Forestry.

Underpass Murals. PENDING. Project started with a published RFP, resulting in over 150 entries from local artists from which an expert panel chose the 20 winning entries. Completed murals will grace both Union Pacific/Metra and CTA underpasses. Contractual work with the City is underway and the mural painting will begin in the Spring of 2013.

 
 
What Types of Projects are Eligible for Funding in the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Process?

The "Aldermanic Menu" funds that are subject to the Participatory Budgeting process can be spent on any project that acquires, develops, maintains or improves a publicly owned capital asset, often called "infrastructure."

Eligible projects include:

• Street resurfacing
• Street lights
• Sidewalks
• Curb and gutters
• Catwalks and courtesy walks
• Guardrails
• Traffic signals
• Benches
• Bike racks
• Playgrounds 
• Security cameras
• Catwalks and courtesy walks
• Trash cans
• Community gardens
• Artistic murals
• El platform/station improvements
• Construction of or major renovations to public buildings

The "Aldermanic Menu" funds cannot be used to subsidize personnel costs, services, programs and other operational costs, nor can they be used to improve privately owned capital assets.

Projects NOT eligible for funding include:

• Personnel costs (e.g., salaries and benefits for teachers, police, fire, health care workers and any other public or private employees)
• Services (e.g., health care services, homeless services, "Meals on Wheels," etc.)
• Programs (e.g., after school programs, day care, tutoring, sports activities, etc.)
• Minor repairs to public buildings
• Extended hours at parks/libraries and other public facilities
• Improvements to facilities owned by not-for-profit organizations, houses of worship, and privately owned homes and businesses

How to Submit a Project Proposal or Suggestion

If you have a proposal or suggestion for a particular project that you believe qualifies for funding under the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting process, please visit the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting blog and post your idea in the Comments section:

participatorybudgeting49.wordpress.com/2010/10/26/suggest-your-projects-here/

Alternatively, contact Cecelia Salinas, Alderman Joe Moore's Participatory Budgeting liaison at ward49@cityofchicago.org or 773-338-5796 .

Previous Years' "Aldermanic Menu" Expenditures

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004