Ward 49 Ready for 2nd Participatory Budgeting Meeting for $1.3 Million Menu Money

Residents in Rogers Park, Edgewater and West Ridge are plotting on what to do with $1.3 million. Alderman Joe Moore is setting up for the second year of participatory budgeting, meetings with locals about what they'd like to do with the money distributed to the ward for city improvements. All eight wards will have a neighborhood assembly in their area from Mon., Sept. 27 to Tues., Oct. 19.

"The 49th Ward is the first political jurisdiction in the nation to adopt such a (democratic) approach, and it was so well-received this past year that I have pledged to make it a permanent fixture in the ward," said Alderman Joe Moore via e-blast.

Each neighborhood will meet to discuss ideas for improving their neighborhood. Certain volunteers will be selected to be community representatives, who will develop detailed spending proposals for a ward-wide vote in April 2011. In April 2010's voting, 36 finalized proposals were available for voting. Each 49th Ward resident, ages 16 and over, was entitled to vote for eight of the 36 projects.

In the 2010 election, voters were welcome regardless of legal citizenship or voter registration status. In total, 1,652 ward residents voted. The top five votes were for sidewalk repairs (910 votes), bike lanes (837 votes), a dog friendly area in Pottawattomie Park at 7340 N. Rogers (762 votes), community gardens in Dubkin Park at 7442 N. Ashland and Pottawattomie Park (741 votes) and 12 underpass murals on CTA and Metra stops (740 votes). These five selections totaled $515,292.

The projects that won the most votes totaling $1.3 million were submitted to the City of Chicago to approve. For projects that were rejected, the next highest selection in the voter count was submitted.

Other voter suggestions with lower votes were to improve street resurfacing on different blocks. Although the 1600-1750 and 1900-2100 W. Lunt area got the most votes (480), this posed problems for other locations. Because each voter was most likely to vote for street resurfacing in the voter's own neighborhood, the voting for street upkeep was slanted.

In the 2011 vote, there will be a separate question on the ballot with 11 choices for what percentage should be dedicated to street resurfacing. The average percentage will be used exclusively for street resurfacing. The other suggestions for city improvements will be voted on separately so street resurfacing will not be buried in what may be viewed as more important voter choices out of the eight.

Neighborhood assembly locations are at the following, times are pending:

Monday, Sept. 27th, Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf, 2nd Floor (Area F)

Tuesday, Sept. 28th, St. Margaret Mary Church Activity Center, 7311 N. Claremont (Area B)

Wednesday, Sept. 29th, Pottawattomie Park Fieldhouse, 7340 N. Rogers (Area C)

Monday, Oct. 4th, New Field School, 1707 W. Morse (Area E)

Tuesday, Oct. 5th, St. Jerome Church Parish Center, 1709 W. Lunt (Spanish language)

Wednesday, Oct. 6th, Loyola University, Campion Hall, 6525 N. Sheridan (Area H)

Monday, Oct. 11th, United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse, 3rd Floor (Area G)

Tuesday, Oct. 12th, Natalie Salmon House, 7320 N. Sheridan (Area D)

Tuesday, Oct. 19th, Gale Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil (Area A)

Sources:
2010 Participatory budgeting voter results
"Rogers Park, Edgewater and West Ridge residents vote on $1.3 million budgeting projects in Ward 49"
Ward 49 website