HomeMy WebLinkAboutX-E-01 Community Investment FundCity Council Memorandum
To:Mayor Fasbender & City Councilmembers
From:City Administrator Dan Wietecha
Date:March 17, 2025
Item:Community Investment Fund
Council Action Requested:
Approve funding for one CIF project as outlined in this memo.
Background Information:
The City established the Community Investment Fund (CIF) four years ago to encourage
community-driven project, foster collaboration with community organizations, and leverage
financial support for projects.
This year, three applications were received by the initial review deadline. The Finance
Committee reviewed them 3/10/25 and recommended funding the following projects:
•Dakota County Historic Society: $13,000 for signage, chicken feed dispenser, display
cases, and furniture restoration at the LeDuc Estate. DCHS is providing $3,000 in
matching funds and in-kind labor.
•The Quarry Taphouse $30,000 for portable a mural on a prominent wall entering the
downtown. The Quarry would provide $20,000. Owners of The Quarry are unable to
attend the City Council meeting on March 17 and requested having this project on
Council’s April 7 meeting, so they could attend and answer questions. They also had a
question about whether they could apply about $2,400 of CIF previously awarded for
design of the mural as additional funds towards the mural itself.
The Finance Committee did not recommend funding the following project as presented:
•BR4R: $10,000 for site selection and testing for Brown’s Chapel Memorial and Hastings
Black History Trail. The Committee agreed these are vitally important projects for the
community. The Committee was concerned that the City has funded two rounds of
planning already. It would be very helpful for the application to include specific steps and
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a timeline for how this will move toward actually installing the projects. The itemized
budget should specifically address items in the workplan and timeline. The Committee
encouraged BR4R to reapply with a clear and detailed workplan for the next CIF review
May 12.
Financial Impact:
Allocation of $13,000 is within the 2024 Budget. Applicant is matching this allocation with
approximately $3,000 and in-kind labor to complete this project.
Commission Discussion:
Finance Committee (Vihrachoff*, Beck, Leifeld) reviewed applications 3/10/2025
Attachments:
DCHS application
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Community Investment Fund
City of Hastings
PROGRAM INFORM ATI ON,GUIDELINES AND APPLI CATI ON INSTRUCTI ONS
Contact:
Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins
651-480-6175
cjenkins@hastingsmn.gov
updated 1/30/2025
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HASTINGS
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND
PROGRAM INFORMATION,GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
SECTION 2:ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
A.Location
Eligibility for the Community Investment Fund is for projects within Hastings city limits and on
public property.
B.Eligible Projects
Projects should be community-supported public amenities. Examples include (but not limited to):
a.Streetscape beautification and walkability.
b.Enhancements to parks or athletic facilities.
c.Trails and non-motorized infrastructure.
d.Public art.
e.Improved access to public amenities.
f.Tourism amenities.
g.Historic preservation or commemoration.
h.Studies to investigate otherwise eligible projects.
i.Seed funding for pilot projects.
SECTION 1:GENERAL PROVISIONS
A.Purpose
This is about community partnership. The City will use the Community Investment Fund (CIF)
to create vibrant, community-supported, public projects.Vibrant projects contribute to a strong
quality of life, sense of place, and Hastings’ identity. Community-supported projects
demonstrate public awareness,civic engagement,and/or local momentum.Public projects are
open and available for public use and enjoyment.
B.Funding Amount
The City of Hastings has budgeted $100,000 for this program in 2025.Applications will be
accepted on an ongoing basis.First review will be March 10, 2025.Subsequent reviews will
occur on May 12, August 12, and November 24, 2025 as funds are available.There is not a
maximum grant award; however, the City may limit grants in order to fund multiple project
applications.
Matching dollars are not required by the CIF program but will help demonstrate community
support, as well as help the CIF funds go further to partner with multiple projects. The City may
carry-over any unused CIF funds to the following year, and the City may budget additional
funding to the CIF.
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SECTION 3:APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.First review will be March 10, 2025. Subsequent
reviews will occur on May 12, August 12, and November 24, 2025 as funds remain available. Incomplete
applications will not be accepted.
A.Preliminary Meeting
Prior to submission of an application, the potential applicant is encouraged to meet with
City staff to discuss the proposed project and CIF requirements.Contact Parks &
Recreation Director Chris Jenkins with questions (651-480-6175 or
cjenkins@hastingsmn.gov).
B.Application Format
Applicants shall submit a CIF application package consisting of the following:
a.Completed CIF Application form,including any supplementary information.
b.Documentation of community engagement or support (such as surveys, letters of support,
or funding commitments).
C.Application Submittal
The completed application and all required attachments shall be submitted electronically to:
Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins
cjenkins@hastingsmn.gov
SECTION 4:REVIEW PROCESS
A.Review and Recommendation
City staff will review the application for completeness and verification that the proposed project
meets the standards and eligibility requirements of the program.Incomplete or ineligible
applications will be denied, and the applicant will be notified.
Once an application is deemed complete,staff will schedule the grant application for review by the
Finance Committee of the Council.Depending on the nature of the proposed project, other City
commissions may also review. For example, the Parks Commission may review proposals for park
or athletic facilities.Applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting(s) to provide additional
information and/or answer any questions by committee members.
C.Ineligible Projects
Examples of ineligible projects:
1.Projects not located within Hastings city limits.
2.Projects not located on City-owned property.
3.Projects that won’t be completed by December 31,2026.
4.Direct support of a private business.
5.Ongoing operating expenses.
6.Expenses incurred prior to application/approval.
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B.Evaluation Criteria
The Finance Committee will consider the following criteria in its review:
•Defined and focused project –Has the project been thought-through and ready to proceed?
Is the application complete?
•Impact on community –How would the project contribute to a strong quality of life, sense of
place, and/or Hastings’ identity?
•Demonstrated community engagement and support –What public awareness, civic
engagement, and/or local momentum does the project have? This may include letters of
support and may include financial or in-kind commitments.Matching dollars are not required
by the CIF program but will help demonstrate community support.
•Partnership –Does the project strengthen community collaboration and partnership?
•Budget –Is the project’s budget thought-through and realistic?
•Ongoing operation/maintenance –Have ongoing operation and maintenance costs been
reasonably estimated?
•Timeline –Is the project’s timeline realistic, including significant milestones and completion
date (no later than December 31,2025)?
•Project location –The project must be located within Hastings city limits and must be located
on public property.
•City Compliance –The project must follow City codes and obtain city permits before
commencement of work and disbursement of funds.
C.Formal Review
The City Council will consider the project application with recommendations from the
Finance Committee of the Council and any City commissions.The City Council will decide
funding awards and grant agreement, as well as siting on City property or ongoing
ownership and responsibility by the City.Applicants are encouraged to attend the
meeting(s)to provide additional information and/or answer any questions.
SECTION 5:DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO APPROVED APPLICANTS
A.Evidence of Expenditures and Disbursement of Funds
CIF disbursements will be negotiated between the City and the Applicant. Depending on the
nature of the approved project, disbursements might be structured as a reimbursement, advance
funding, direct payment by the City, or the project managed by the City. In any case, use of CIF
funds is expected to comply with purchasing policies, competitive pricing, and documentation.
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CITY OF HASTINGS
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND APPLICATION
SECTION 1:PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
Applicant Organization Name: Dakota County Historical Society
Address: 130 3rd Avenue N
City / State / Zip: South St. Paul, MN 55075
Primary Contact Person (name and title): Matt Carter, Executive Director
Primary Contact Phone: 651-552-7548
Primary Contact Email: matthew.carter@co.dakota.mn.us
SECTION 2: PROPERTY INFORMATION
Project Site Address: LeDuc Historic Estate - 1629 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033
SECTION 3: PROJECT BUDGET
CIF Funds Requested: $ 13,000
Matching Contribution (if in-kind, please describe): $ 3,000
Total Project Costs: $ 16,000
Please provide a project budget, including all sources and uses. Letters of support or funding
commitments may be used to supplement the application.
We request $13,000 to offset the costs of multiple projects at the LeDuc Estate.Funds will provide
exterior signage throughout the grounds that visitors can read even when the site is not open.DCHS will
provide matching costs to this project by doing all of the research,writing,and design for the signage on
the grounds.We also will get a chicken feed dispenser that will allow visitors to purchase small amounts
of chicken feed and all revenue generated will offset the cost of maintaining the chickens onsite.We will
also purchase new display cases for the LeDuc artifacts that have returned to the site and allow us to
show these safely to visitors on tours.With the remaining funds we will attempt to restore Williams'
original desk chair and determine a safe way to incorporate his desk and chair safely into the library's
Object Theater.
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SECTION 4: PROJECT DESCRIPTION –please provide a narrative proposal that answers the
following questions in this order.
Please provide a brief summary of the proposed project, including its impact on the community.
Please describe the project’s community engagement and support.Surveys, letters of support, or funding
commitments may be used to supplement the application.
Please provide a brief summary of the proposed project implementation, including timeline and
milestones.
Please describe the need for and impact of CIF funds.
SECTION 5:AGREEMENT
I/We certify that all information provided in this application (and its attachments) is true and correct to
the best ofmy/our knowledge. I/We agree to provide any addition information as may be requested by
the City of Hastings.
APPLICATION SIGNATURE:
PRINTED NAME & TITLE:
DATE: 3/5/2025
These grant funds will allow us to do multiple projects that are needed, but ones that we could not do all at once,
or at all. As we operate the site, we prioritize the site's needs and many of these items are luxuries that we could
not complete as we work on other areas of needs. These grants funds will allow us to accomplish all of these projects
at once. The end result would be better access to the city's site, more informational text and history to engage with,
and be able to see LeDuc artifacts that have not been seen by the public before.
Matt Carter, Executive Director
Our project will provide interpretation and access to visitors throughout the site.By adding signage to
the site,it will provide new ways for visitors to interact with the site's history.It will also provide more
details on the natural aspect of the site,with information related to the plants and gardens.With so
many hours dedicated to these areas by volunteers,it will also provide a way to showcase their amazing
work to the public.The beloved chickens on the grounds are a community favorite,with many people
just coming to sit and interact/watch them.By adding a way to feed small amounts of food to them,it
will provide residents of all a^es another way to interact with them.At the same time,the money raised
through dispensing the food will offset the ongoing costs of maintaining and caring for the chickens.
Lastly,by obtaining display cases and restoring William's desk chair,we will find a way to display the
items brought back to the site on a continuous basis.This will provide access to artifacts and a site that
the community already has a deep appreciation for.
We have letters of support from the volunteers that work on the site to provide the time and energy to
maintain the exterior grounds.These letters show the public's desire to see informational signs
throughout the grounds,but at the same time,have their hard work recognized.Additionally,the
Hastings Area Historical Society has provided letters supporting the work needed to ensure the LeDuc
artifacts brought back to the site are accessible and viewable by the public.In total,these projects will
accomplish all of these desires:provide more informational text for visitors and recognizes the work
being done,while also preserving the site's history and making it accessible to the public.
This project will be completed within 6-10 months of the grant awarded to DCHS.We will have DCHS
staff provide in-kind hours to conduct research needed and then draft the text for the panels,complete
graphic design work and prep for printing.We will then work on getting them installed throughout the
grounds by Fall/Winter 2025.At the same time,we will get estimates for restoration and whether we
can utilize the LeDuc desk in the library safely.We expect these to be quick and completed by Spring
2026.With delays,we anticipate having no issues meeting the deadline set for project completion.
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SECTION 6: NOTICES OF DATA PRACTICES
Notice of Data Practices
THE MINNESOTA DATA PRACTICES ACT requires that we inform you of your rights about the private data we are requesting on this form. Private data is available
to you, but not to the public. We are requesting this data to determine your eligibility for CIF funding through the City of Hastings. Providing the data may disclose
information that could cause your application to be denied. You are not legally required to provide the data; however, refusing to supply the data may cause your
application not to be processed. Your signature on this application indicates you understand these rights. Your address and telephone number will be considered
public data unless you request this information to be private and provide an alternate address and telephone number. Please sign below to indicate you have read
this notice:
Signature _____________________________________________________ Date __3/5/2025_____
I request that my address and telephone number be considered private data. My alternative business
address and telephone number are as follows:
Address __________________________________________ Phone Number ___________________
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Spencer Johnson, President
Hastings Area Historical Society
101 4th Street EHastings, MN 55033
March 10, 2025
Chris JenkinsCommunity Investment Fund
City of Hastings101 4th Street E
Hastings, MN 55033
Dear Chris,
As President of the Hastings Area Historical Society (HAHS), I am writing this letter of support for
the Dakota County Historical Society’s application to the Community Investment Fund Grant.
The HAHS has worked closely with the Dakota County Historical Society for the past 20 years, since
they began operations of the LeDuc Historic Estate. While they have managed the city’s LeDuc Estate, we have provided numerous volunteer hours and support on various projects throughout the
site and community. This letter also supports the volunteers that spend hours on the grounds in
varying capacities. It is our belief that the CIF request submitted by DCHS is worthy of your support because it will bring
new opportunities for the public to interact with city’s site, and history. In addition to the outdoor signage that is needed onsite, the preservation and presentation of artifacts will help the public truly
appreciate the gem that is the LeDuc Estate.
While more than 1,600 artifacts returned to the site from the Minnesota Historical Society, not every
item can be safely displayed onsite. These priceless items need to be protected from the public at the same time they need to be displayed for them. The DCHS application will allow for display cases to be purchased in order to show more of these sensitive items to the public during the tour seasons
and special events.
The biggest item that should be displayed is William LeDuc’s body armor that he had made during the Civil War. This unique piece is something that visitors cannot believe until they see it. However, due to it’s size, a special display case will be needed to properly and safely display it. At the same
time, William’s original desk and chair are back at the site.
In order to properly show these, DCHS will need to have the chair restored as it is in very rough condition and currently not presentable to the public. Once that is done, DCHS will need to work with the designer of the Object Theater to determine if they can safely place William’s desk back in the
library, which is where he originally had it.
For these reasons we fully support this project and encourage you to fully consider their grant application for the Community Investment Fund Grant.
Sincerely,
Spencer Johnson
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