Ald. Chris Taliaferro is seeking the input of 29th Ward residents on how to spend nearly $1 million in so-called “menu” money that gets doled out each year to each of the city’s 50 alderman.
Taliaferro will hold the first of three “participatory budgeting idea collection assemblies” this week. Two other meetings are planned for later this month.
This is the second year in the first-term alderman has sought input; he’s one of a handful of Chicago City Council members who takes part in “participatory budgeting.”
Last year, residents helped narrow a list of 20 neighborhood projects down to eight, according to AustinTalks; the projects ranged from a dog park and community gardens to murals and outdoor exercise equipment.
Taliaferro is the Austin alderman to seek input in this way; Northside Ald. Joe Moore started using participating budgeting several years ago, according to AustinTalks.
Here are the times for Ald. Taliaferro’s meetings:
Wednesday, June 14, 6 to 8 p.m.
Amundsen Park (6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave.)
Wednesday, June 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
Rutherford-Sayre Park (6871 W. Belden Ave.)
Wednesday, June 28, 6 to 8 p.m.
Columbus Park Refectory (5701 W. Jackson Blvd.)