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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2007 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Brentt Ramharter Finance Director City of Missoula Finance Office [PHONE REDACTED] CITY NOW ACCEPTING CITIZEN INPUT ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM If you’ve ever had an idea for a public improvement project you wish the City of Missoula could implement, now is the time to put your suggestion in writing. The city is beginning to prepare its annual update of the five-year plan for the Capital Improvement Program (FY 2008-2012). The City invites citizens to contribute suggestions or ideas for projects that reflect their concerns and could benefit the City. According to Brentt Ramharter, Finance Director, “We’ve learned that we can serve citizens more effectively if we receive their direct input regarding capital projects.” A capital project is one that costs more than $5,000 and has a useful life of five years or more. Examples include bike trails, trail markers, and improvements to parks, sidewalks, and streets. All projects will be reviewed and ranked, but not all projects can be funded. The following reflects a guide for criteria and evaluation of a project: • Is the project necessary to meet federal, state or local legal requirements? • Is the project required to meet contractual requirements? • Does the project improve public health and safety? * Does the project carry out goals of the city’s Strategic Plan or other plans? * Does the project leverage additional investment and will the community benefit from it? * Does the project benefit a neighborhood area or the entire community? * Does the project conserve energy, cultural or natural resources, or reduce pollution? * Does the project improve or expand essential city services? -MORE- ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 The CIP Budget Team rates proposals based on the established criteria. They then apply funds, based on what they estimate will be available. Projects not funded during the first year due to fiscal restraints are moved to the next fiscal year list for reconsideration. The CIP Team is comprised of staff from the Public Works Department, Finance Department, the Mayor’s Office, the Office of Planning and Grants, and the Finance Office. Last year, 136 projects were submitted for the Capital Improvement Program for FY 2007-12, totaling $107.9 million. From the projects received, the CIP Budget Team recommended to the City Council funding 64 of the projects in FY 2007 for a total of $27.1 million. Although it is difficult to predict how many projects will be approved in any given year, typically less than half make it onto the CIP list for current year funding. This CIP list is considered a planning document and is not a legally binding budget. Citizens who wish to submit proposals should contact Ann Wake at the City Finance Office (552- 6110). She will provide assistance concerning your suggestion or idea and can help with the request form required for review of the project. She will also submit the request for you and keep you advised of project status during the review process. Please remember that in order for any project to be considered, it should meet the capital definition explained above. Final filing date for all capital projects is Friday, February 16, 2006. Proposals may be mailed to: Ann Wake, 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, Montana 59802, or delivered to the Finance Office at: 435 Ryman Street, 2nd floor.