Label
Amending District Improvement Program
City Council, Council President Williams Sponsor
Brandon Sehlhorst (x1692) / Lucy Frank (x1417)
Title
Amending Ord. 362-18 to update the process and supervision of the District Improvement Program (DIP) and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The City of Toledo established the District Improvement Program (DIP) in 2018 through the passage of Ordinance 362-18. The purpose of the DIP is to provide a mechanism for an eligible, interested party to propose capital projects that are not currently planned by the City but deliver a clear and demonstrable public benefit.
The program is intended to empower residents, organizations, and stakeholders to directly influence investment in their neighborhoods, corridors, and public spaces. Emphasis is placed on funding community-supported capital improvements that enhance quality of life, strengthen neighborhoods, and contribute to long-term community vitality.
Based on eight years of administering the program, the City has identified opportunities to improve clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness. The proposed amendment is intended to make the program easier to understand, more efficient, and more marketable to prospective applicants, while preserving the program’s original intent and public benefit focus.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That SECTION 1 of Ord. 362-18 which reads as follows:
That the Mayor is authorized and directed to implement a District Improvement Program (DIP) with the following objectives and criteria:
A. Eligible Projects: projects must be a capital project that would be eligible under the City of Toledo’s Capital Improvement Program. "Capital Improvement" is defined in Toledo Municipal Code Section 1905.14 as the original construction and/or purchase of any property, asset, or improvement with an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more, including land and interests therein, and including reconstructions, enlargements, and extensions thereof having an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more. All such projects will remain the property of the City of Toledo. The project must have a public benefit.
B. Eligible Applicants: applications will be accepted from community-based groups and organizations. A community-based group or organization is one whose purpose, at least in part, is to improve the quality of life in an area. Groups may be formed solely for the purpose of advocating for a DIP project. These groups can include representatives from churches, schools, business associations, and other institutions operating in that neighborhood. The following are not eligible to apply for DIP projects: single businesses, political groups, individuals and organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, political affiliation, or religious beliefs.
C. Applications: allocations will be awarded based upon a submitted application to the DIP Review Committee. Application guidelines will be established by the Department of Development upon terms and conditions as the Directors of Law and of Neighborhoods & Business Development deem to be in the best interest of the City.
is repealed.
SECTION 2. That a new SECTION 1 of Ord. 362-18 is enacted to read:
That the Mayor is authorized and directed to implement a District Improvement Program (DIP) with the following objectives and criteria:
A. Eligible Projects: Projects must be capital projects eligible under the City of Toledo’s Capital Improvement Program. “Capital Improvement” is defined in Toledo Municipal Code Section 1905.14 as the original construction and/or purchase of any property, asset, or improvement with an estimated life or usefulness of five (5) years or more, including land and interests therein, and including reconstructions, enlargements, and extensions thereof having an estimated life or usefulness of five (5) years or more. All DIP-funded projects shall remain the property of the City of Toledo and must provide a demonstrable public benefit.
B. Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by any individual, group, organization, institution, business, or other interested party. Applicants are not required to be incorporated or formally organized and may apply on behalf of a neighborhood, corridor, or community interest.
Applicants may include, but are not limited to:
• Individual residents
• Informal neighborhood groups
• Community or civic organizations
• Business owners or business associations
• Faith-based organizations
• Educational or nonprofit institutions
• Groups formed specifically to propose a DIP project
Applicants are not required to be located within the district, provided the proposed project is sited within the applicable Council District and provides a public benefit.
C. Application and Administration: Application guidelines, evaluation criteria, and administrative procedures shall be established by the Chief of Staff of Toledo City Council or his/her designee upon terms and conditions as the Mayor and Director of Law deem to be in the best interest of the City. The Chief of Staff of Toledo City Council or his/her designee shall be responsible for administering and coordinating all aspects of the DIP. Applications shall be reviewed by the DIP Review Committee, which shall make a formal recommendation to Toledo City Council. All DIP projects require passage of authorizing legislation by Toledo City Council.
SECTION 3. That SECTION 2 of Ord. 362-18 which reads as follows:
That a three-member DIP Review Committee shall be formed to review DIP applications. The City’s Neighborhoods & Business Development Director, or her designee, will sit in an ex-officio capacity on the Committee. The District Council Member representing the District in which a particular project is to be sited will also sit in an ex-officio capacity on the committee for those applicable applications. The President of Council, or his designee, will also sit in an ex-officio capacity on the committee. Different ex-officio designees may be designated for different applications.
is repealed.
SECTION 4. That a new SECTION 2 of Ord. 362-18 is enacted to read:
That a three-member DIP Review Committee shall be formed to review applications and make formal recommendations to Toledo City Council. Recommendations of the DIP Review Committee shall be made by a simple majority vote of the Committee. Toledo City Council shall retain the final authority to approve or disapprove all DIP applications.
The DIP Review Committee shall consist of the following members, each serving in an ex officio capacity:
1. The Mayor, or his/her designee
2. The District Council Member, or his/her designee, representing the Council District in which a proposed project is located
3. The President of Council, or his/her designee
SECTION 5. That except as amended herein all other provisions of Ord. 362-18 remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that the Ordinance must be immediately effective in order to continue the District Improvement Program.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council