Title
Resolution Authorizing Contract # 2015-10298 for Professional Services to Administer the Greensboro Participatory Budget Program
Body
Department: Budget & Evaluation
Council District: All
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Mary Vigue, Assistant City Manager 336-373-2002
Contact 2 and Phone: Larry Davis, Budget & Evaluation Director, 336-373-2582
PURPOSE:
The City plans to contract with Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), a 501 (c) (3) organization that provides professional assistance to engage communities in developing proposals, establishing budgets, and voting on selection of small community identified proposals for capital projects. PBP will administer the services needed to conduct these program processes in Greensboro during fiscal year 2015-16 for implementation in 2016-17. Under the City’s current policy, service contracts totaling $100,000 or more require City Council approval.
BACKGROUND:
On October 7, 2014, the City of Greensboro approved a resolution authorizing the support of a participatory budgeting program. Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic and transparent process in which community members decide how to spend a designated portion of a public budget. PB involves three steps: first, residents come up with ideas for public projects they would like to have in their community; second, individuals volunteer to develop proposals for projects with city staff; and third, residents are invited to vote on all projects. Winning projects will be funded by the City in the following fiscal year.
In addition to engaging the public in this planning process, key deliverables under the service contract include PBP Greensboro introductory training for City staff; Participatory workshop with Steering Committee to design the Greensboro Participator Budgeting Program process, Community Based Rule Book, and a full set of sample project management, information, outreach, evaluation and publicity materials.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Funding for the program administration services in fiscal year 2015-16 will be split evenly between the City and participating Greensboro area foundations. The City will match foundation contributions with $100,000 from the Neighborhood Small Projects program fund to provide for program administration. In 2016-17, the preliminary budget includes $500,000 for project funding and implementation. The contracted services of PBP are budgeted at $153,703.00. The City plans to use the balance of the $200,000 to fund related program costs.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
City Council approval of the attached resolution authorizing Contract # 2015-10298 for Professional Services to Administer the Greensboro Participatory Budget Program is requested.