ITEM TITLE:
Action Item: Approval of 2026 Beautification Matching Grant Program Packet
SUBMITTED BY: Elise Sorum-Birk, Deputy City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve program packet for 2026
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Based on feedback from the commission during their August 2025 and September 2025 work session, staff amended the Beautification Matching Grant packet to reflect the following changes:
• Clarifying that improvements should be permanent in nature and that seasonal or temporary improvements would not be considered.
• Adjusting the timeline to have applications open earlier.
• Allowance for consideration of applications on a rolling basis (multiple rounds of application deadlines).
This program has been active for ten years, and small adjustments have been made to the application and judging criteria over time. The last major review of criteria took place with the creation of the 2023 application packet.
While art/ mural specific projects have always been eligible under the grant, there was a desire to approach these separately and as a separate program and to leave the criteria for the existing matching grant program unchanged.
Attached is a copy of the final 2026 application packet for review- updates to timelines have been made due to delays in adoption.