Participatory Budgeting
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Including Last Years' Winning Projects,
Visit
ParticipatoryBudgeting49.Wordpress.com
49th WARD PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING INITIATIVE
The ballots are cast, the votes are in
and the people have spoken!
Click on the attachment below for the
results of the April 2010
Participatory Budgeting Election:
Election Results 2010.pdf (146 KB)
Dear Neighbor,
I'm honored to have presided over the first ever Participatory Budgeting process in the United States. I extend my deepest gratitude to the following individuals for their dedication and service to this bold experiment in direct democracy:
- The 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee members
- The 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Community Representatives
- The 49th Ward Service Office staff, especially Nicole Summers, Betsy Vandercook and Wayne Frazier
- Paul Bluestone and Bluestone & Associates for their generous contribution of design services
- The many dedicated employees of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Park District, and the Chicago Transit Authority for their expertise
- Josh Lerner and Gianpaolo Baiocchi of the Participatory Budgeting Project for their guidance and ongoing support.
Finally, and most importantly, my thanks to the 1,652 residents of the 49th Ward who cast ballots in this historic election and took democracy into their own hands. I'm proud to represent this wonderful community.
Sincerely,
Alderman Joe Moore
For more informationon the 49th Ward Participatory Budgeting Initiative:
http://participatorybudgeting49.wordpress.com/
Click here to read Joe Moore's "Op Ed" on Participatory Budgeting
Click here for a video on the 49th Ward's Participatory Budgeting Process (7 minutes)
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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 next few months, I will be asking my constituents--the residents of the 49th Ward--to decide how to spend over $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.
Next year, I am ceding my decision-making authority to the residents of my ward through a process known as "PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING" in which all 49th Ward residents will be eligible to vote directly on the infrastructure projects that will be funded in our community.
The 49th Ward will be the first political jurisdiction in the nation to try such an approach. If this process works, I will make it a permanent fixture in the ward and hopefully inspire other elected officials to do the same in their communities.
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 find out more about participatory budgeting, CLICK HERE or scroll to the bottom of this email and click on the links I've provided.
Last spring, 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.
The organization The Participatory Budgeting Project, led by Gianpaolo Baiocchi (Brown University), and Josh Lerner (The New School for Social Research), has 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 the following three-step process and timetable that will culminate in a ward-wide meeting next spring when the entire community will deliberate and vote on the 49th Ward infrastructure spending priorities for 2010:
Step 1--Neighborhood Assembly Meetings (November and December 2009)
The ward will be organized into eight sections or areas, with a "neighborhood assembly" held in each area. In addition, a Spanish language assembly will be held. The neighborhood assemblies will be 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 the meeting, those who attended each assembly will be asked to elect "community representatives" who will be charged with developing proposals for spending the 49th Ward's 2010 infrastructure menu allocation.
Step 2--Community Representative Meetings (December-February 2010)
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--Ward-Wide Assembly Meeting to Deliberate and Vote on 2010 Infrastructure Spending Priorities (March or April 2010)
In the final step of the process, community residents will gather at a ward-wide assembly to deliberate and vote on the 2010 infrastructure spending priorities for the 49th Ward.
The process begins next week (Tuesday, November 3rd) with the first of a series of neighborhood assemblies. We ask that you attend the neighborhood assembly in your area. However, if that's not possible, you are free to attend a neighborhood assembly in another area.
FOR A SCHEDULE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSEMBLY MEETINGS, CLICK HERE or scroll to the bottom of this e-mail.
FOR A MAP OF THE 49TH WARD THAT DELINEATES THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSEMBLY AREAS, CLICK HERE or scroll to the bottom of this e-mail.
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
Participatory Budgeting Updates
For the most recent updates on participatory budgeting in the 49th Ward, visit our blog at: http://participatorybudgeting49.wordpress.com.
Nine neighborhood assemblies were held throughout the Ward in November and December, 2009. Open to all residents, the assemblies introduced the principles of participatory budgeting and then asked attendees to brainstorm ideas for projects. Residents came up with a wide range of project ideas, from community gardens to streetlights to public art. For a complete list of all of the ideas suggested at the neighborhood assemblies, click here. At the end of the assemblies, interested participants volunteered to be "community representatives" who will go on to develop concrete project proposals to be voted on at a ward-wide assembly in April.
On December 9th, over 60 community representatives, from all of the neighborhood assemblies, met at the Rogers Park Library for their first orientation meeting. The representatives learned about their roles and responsibilities and then broke up into themed "budget committees" to begin the process of developing project proposals. Six budget committees have been formed:
- Parks & Environment
- Public Safety
- Traffic Safety
- Streets
- Transportation
- Art & Other Projects
From now until March representatives will meet in their committees to work on developing project proposals. Committees will consider all of the ideas suggested at the neighborhood assemblies when making decisions about which projects to propose to be voted on. Committees will present lists of projects for which they recommend to prepare proposals to the residents of the Ward at-large in March.
How to Submit a New Project
Idea or Suggestion
Visit the Ward 49 Participatory Budgeting blog at http://participatorybudgeting49.wordpress.com, click on the Budget Committees tab on the right, and follow the instructions. You can also contact Nicole Summers, Participatory Budgeting Staff Assistant to Alderman Moore at (773) 338-5796 or Nicole.Summers@cityofchicago.org and she will pass on your idea to the appropriate budgeting committee.
What Types of Projects Are Eligible for Menu Money?
Eligible
- Street resurfacing
- Speed humps
- Sidewalk repairs
- Gutter repairs
- Guardrails
- Street lights
- Benches
- Playlots
- Security cameras
- Catwalks and courtesy walks
- Trash cans
- Bus shelters
- El platform/station improvements
Not Eligible
- After school programs
- Church/temple facilities
- Private housing renovations
- Community arts/sports activities
- Any services (e.g. healthcare services, elderly care services)
- Public transportation services
- Hiring of public school teachers or other City of Chicago staff
- Public housing renovations
- Tree planting
- Any personnel expenses
- Extended hours at parks/libraries
This list is NOT inclusive of all of the projects eligible for Menu Money funds! Menu Money must be spent on infrastructure projects, but we strongly encourage you to come up with project ideas beyond what is listed here. This list is meant only to offer examples of what Menu Money has been used for in previous years. |
Previous Menu Money Expenditures
2009
| Type of Project | Locations | Amount Spent | %of Total Expenditure |
| Street Resurfacing | 10 | $937,278 | 61% |
| Street Lighting | 4 | $325,000 | 21% |
| Sidewalk Repairs | 7 | $92,889 | 6% |
| Morse Ave. Design | 1 | $65,000 | 4% |
| Curbs and Gutters | 6 | $60,143 | 4% |
| Alley Resurfacing | 2 | $48,596 | 3% |
| Alley Speed Humps | 10 | $8,225 | 1% |
| Street Speed Humps | 1 | $3,500 | <1% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,540,631 |
2008
| Type of Project | Locations | Amount Spent | % of Total Expenditure |
| Street Lighting | 8 | $1,001,300 | 73% |
| Street Resurfacing | 6 | $181,219 | 13% |
| Sidewalks | 9 | $88,744 | 6% |
| Alley Resurfacing | 1 | $44,637 | 3% |
| Police Camera | 1 | $36,000 | 3% |
| Curbs/Gutters | 3 | $23,091 | 2% |
| Alley Speed Humps | 5 | $2,500 | <1% |
| Bollard | 1 | $1,428 | <1% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,378,919 |
2007
| Type of Project | Locations | Amount Spent | % of Total Expenditure |
| Street Lighting | 6 | $705,000 | 51% |
| Alley Resurfacing | 7 | $199,614 | 14% |
| Street Resurfacing | 2 | $195,877 | 14% |
| Sidewalks | 11 | $126,144 | 9% |
| Curbs/Gutters | 5 | $92,943 | 7% |
| Morse Ave. Design | 1 | $65,000 | 5% |
| Street Speed Humps | 2 | $4,950 | <1% |
| Alley Speed Humps | 3 | $3,000 | <1% |
| Guardrail | 1 | $2,089 | <1% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,394,617 |
2006
| Type of Project | Locations | Amount Spent | % of Total Expenditure |
| Street Lighting | 12 | $764,000 | 53% |
| Gale Community Center | 1 | $400,000 | 28% |
| Police Camera | 2 | $72,000 | 5% |
| Sidewalks | 4 | $52,500 | 4% |
| Curbs/Gutters | 1 | $50,634 | 4% |
| Speed Humps | 10 | $24,250 | 2% |
| Tree Gates | 1 | $24,045 | 2% |
| Street Resurfacing | 1 | $23,434 | 2% |
| Alley Resurfacing | 4 | $20,560 | 1% |
| Alley Speed Humps | 5 | $2,500 | <1% |
| Bollard | 1 | $1,293 | <1% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,435,216 |
2005
| Type of Project | Locations | Amount Spent | % of Total Expenditure |
| Street Lighting | 13 | $983,736 | 75% |
| Street Resurfacing | 10 | $243,713 | 19% |
| Sidewalk Repairs | 3 | $48,352 | 4% |
| Curb/Gutter Repairs | 1 | $32,324 | 2% |
| Street Speed Humps | 5 | $7,500 | <1% |
| Alley Speed Humps | 3 | $4,375 | <1% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,315,625 |
2004
| Type of Project | Amount Spent | %of Total Expenditure |
| Street Lighting | $1,044,700 | 89% |
| Chicago Park District | $127,500 | 11% |
| Total Expenditure | $1,172,200 |
2009 Menu Money Projects
| ALLEY APRON REPAIRS | |
| 1. N Sheridan Rd, Btwn W Albion Av and W Albion Av | |
| 2. N Sheridan Rd, Btwn W North Shore Av and W North Shore Av | |
| 3. N Sheridan Rd, Btwn W Columbia Av and W Columbia Av | |
| ALLEY RESURFACING | |
| 1. Btwn N Lakewood Av and N Sheridan Rd, W Farwell Av and W Pratt Av | $44,637 |
| 2. Btwn N Rogers Av and W Chase Av, N Wolcott Av and N Honore St | $4,319 |
| ALLEY SPEED HUMPS | |
| 1. Btwn N Sheridan Rd and Lakewood Av, W Farwell Av and W Morse Av | |
| 2. Btwn N Damen Av and W Birchwood Av, W Fargo Av and N Damen Av | |
| 3. Btwn W Chase Av and W Chase Av, N Ravenswood and N Wolcott Av | |
| 4. Btwn N Hamilton Av and N Hamilton Av, W Touhy Av and W Chase Av | |
| 5. Btwn W Sheridan Rd and W Sheridan Rd, W Columbia Av and W Pratt Bv | |
| 6. Btwn W Sheridan Rd and W Sheridan Rd, W North Shore Av, Columbia | |
| 7. Btwn W Sheridan Rd and W Pratt Bv, W Farwell Av and W Farwell Av | |
| 8. Btwn W Winchester Av and W Winchester Av, W Birchwood Av | |
| 9. Btwn N Ridge Av and N Damen Av, W Touhy Av and W Chase Av | $500 |
| 10. Btwn N Sheridan Rd and dead end, W Farwell Av and W Morse Av | $500 |
| 11. Btwn N Hamilton Av and N Ridge Bv, W Touhy av and W Chase Av | $1,050 |
| 12. Btwn W Chase Av and W Touhy Av, N Wolcott Av and dead end | $1,050 |
| 13. Btwn W Sheridan Rd and N Lakewood Av, W Farwell Av and W Pratt Av | $1,050 |
| 14. Btwn W Winchester Av and N Wolctoff Av, W Howard St and W Birchowood Av | $1,050 |
| ALLEY SPEED HUMP REMOVALS | |
| 1. Btwn W Pratt Bv and W Farwell Av, N Sheridan Rd and dead end | |
| 2. Btwn W Estes Av and W Greenleaf Av, N Damen Av and N Wolcott Av | |
| 3. Btwn W Touhy Av and W Chase Av, N Ashland Av and N Greenview Av | $525 |
| 4. Btwn N Hamilton and N Bell, W Jarvis Av and W Chase Av | $500 |
| 5. Btwn N Ridge Av and N Damen Av, W Touhy Av and W Chase Av | $500 |
| 6. Btwn W Chase Av and N Sheridan Rd, Railroad tracks and W Sherwin Av | $500 |
| 7. Btwn W Jarvis Av and W Fargo Av, N Sheridan Rd and dead end | $500 |
| 8. Btwn W Pratt Av and W Farwell Av, N Sheridan Rd and dead end | $500 |
| CURBS AND GUTTERS | |
| 1. W Lunt Av, Btwn dead end (1188 W) and N Sheridan Rd (1240 W) | |
| 2. W Sherwin Av, at N Sheridan Rd (1342 W) | |
| 3. N Hoyne Av, Btwn W Jarvis Av (7340 N) and W Fargo Av (7432 N) | $13,520 |
| 4. W Chase Av, at N Paulina St (1646 W) | $7,395 |
| 5. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Glenwood Av (1410 W) and N Ashland Av (1550 W) | $2,175 |
| 6. N Western Av, Btwn W Touhy Av (7200 N) and W Chase Av (7300 N) | $7,403 |
| 7. W Birchwood Av, Btwn N Rogers Av (7500 N) and N Ashland Av (6430 N) | $10,300 |
| 8. W Sherwin Av, Btwn dead end (1277 W) and N Sheridan Rd (1342 W) | $19,350 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |
| Morse Ave. Design | $65,000 |
| SIDEWALK REPAIRS | |
| 1. N Oakley, Btwn W Chase Av (7300 N) and W Jarvis Av (7358 N) | |
| 2. N Ashland Av, Btwn N Marshfield Av (7478 N) and W Jonquil Tr (7700 N) | |
| 3. W Greenleaf Av, Btwn N Clark St (1737 W) and N Ravenswood Av (1800 W) | |
| 5. N Hamilton Av, Btwn W Touhy Av (7200 N) and W Chase Av (730 N) | |
| 6. W Lunt Av, Btwn dead end (1188 W) and N Sheridan Rd (1240 W) | |
| 7. N Ridge Bv, Btwn N Rogers Av and W Jarvis Av | $7,204 |
| 8. W Howard St, Btwn N Ashland Av and N Paulina St | $13,682 |
| 9. N Hamilton Av, Btwn W Touhy Av and W Chase Av | $18,015 |
| 10. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Glenwood Av and N Greenview Av | $37,572 |
| 11. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Ridge Bv and N Wolcott Av | $4,549 |
| 12. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Sheridan Rd and N Glenwood Av | $7,812 |
| 13. W North Shore Av, Btwn dead end and N Sheridan Rd | $4,055 |
| STREET LIGHTING | |
| 1. Chase Av, Btwn Damen Av and Ridge Av | |
| 2. Columbia Av, Btwn Hermiage Av and Ravenswood Av | |
| 3. Lakewood Av, Btwn Pratt/Morse and Farewll/Sheridan | |
| 7. Lunt Av, Btwn Ashland Av and Paulina St | |
| STREET RESURFACING | |
| 1. N Greenview Av, Btwn W Morse Av (6290 N) and Howard | |
| 2. N Rogers Av, Btwn N Clark St (7401 N) and N Damen Av (7272 N) | $81,331 |
| 3. W Chase Av, Btwn N Ashland Bv (1550 W) and N Clark St (1754 W) | $81,753 |
| 4. W Jarvis Av, Btwn N Greenview Av (1450 W) and N Ashland Bv (1550 W) | $42,235 |
| 5. W Greenleaf Av, Btwn N Ravenswood Av (1800 W) and N Damen Av (1950 W) | $87,140 |
| 6. N Ravenswood Av, Btwn W Columbia Av (6735 N) and W Lunt Av (7000 N) | |
| 7. N Hermitage Av, Btwn W North Shore Av (6700 N) and W Pratt Bv (6800 N) | $48,780 |
| 8. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Greenview Av (1450 W) and N Ashland Av (1550 W) | |
| 9. W North Shore Av, Btwn dead end (1113 W) and N Sheridan Rd (1200 W) | $40,340 |
| 10. W Fargo Av, Btwn dead end (1303 W) and N Sheridan Rd (1377 W) | |
| 11. W Chase Av, Btwn N Sheridan Rd (1331 W) and N Greenview Av (1450 W) | |
| 12. N Claremont Av, Btwn W Birchwood Av (7452 N) and W Howard St (7600 N) | |
| 13. N Damen Av, Btwn W Touhy Av (7200 N) and W Chase Av (7300 N) | |
| 14. W Estes Av, Btwn N Greenview Av (1450 W) and N Ashland Bv (1550 W) | $39,443 |
| 15. W Fargo Av, Btwn N Greenview Av (1450 W) and N Paulina St (1646 W) | |
| 16. W Greenleaf Av, Btwn N Glenwood Av (1410 W) and N Clark St (1737 W) | |
| 17. N Greenview Av, Btwn W Sherwin Av (7325 N) and W Sherwin Av (7325 N) | |
| 18. W Howard St, Btwn N Paulina St (1700 W) and N Paulina St (1700 W) | |
| 19. W Jarvis Av, Btwn N Greenview Av (1450 W) and N Paulina St (1646 W) | |
| 20. W Lunt Av, Btwn N Glenwood Av (1410 W) and N Ashland Av (1550 W) | |
| 21. W North Shore Av, Btwn N Clark St (1678 W) and N Ravenswood Av (1800 W) | |
| 22. N Oakley Av, Btwn W Touhy Av (7200 N) and W Howard St (7600 N) | |
| 23. N Paulina St, Btwn W Estes Av (7120 N) and W Touhy Av (7200 N) | |
| 24. W Birchwood Av, Btwn N Greenview Av and N Ashland Bv | $34,771 |
| STREET SPEED HUMPS | |
| 1. W Chase Av at N Wolcott Av (1900 W) | |
| 2. W Morse Av, Btwn N Ravenswood Av and N Wolcott Av | $3,500 |
| STREET TRAFFIC CIRCLES | |
| 1. N Ashland Av and N Rogers Av | |
| OTHER PROJECTS | |
| 1. Tree Pits, 7212 N Clark | |
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