Updated Jan. 24, 2015 / The City of Naperville’s Advisory Cultural Commission held a public workshop at 9AM on Saturday, January 24, 2015, in City Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. As with all city workshops, no public testimony was accepted.
Shortly after 9AM, Becky Anderson, chairman of the Advisory Cultural Commission, called the workshop to order, thanking the commissioners for their dedicated work and noting that this year’s SECA fund had $2,000,040 available for 89 grant requests. During the workshop, the commission aimed to determine their initial award recommendations for the 2015-2016 Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) fund grant.
When tallied, the total of all the applications amounted to $3,049,395 which meant the task at hand for the ten-member commission (nine were present) was to find appropriate amounts to cut from approximately two-thirds of the requests.
By the end of the workshop, 74 grants—excluding ten grants for existing agreements, city initiatives, administration and promotion totaling $893,241—remained under consideration to be reviewed during next month’s public hearing. The commission recommended to fully fund 21 grants, mostly applications for parades, 5K runs and downtown events that require city services.
During the public hearing on Sat., Feb. 14, applicants can sign up to pitch their projects for three minutes, if needed, as the grant allocations are close to being final recommendations, but not absolutely.
Grants recommended during the workshop ranged from the lowest at $201 to the Naperville Heritage Society for All Hallow’s Eve to mid-size $102,000 for Century Walk to the largest at $173,972 to the Exchange Club of Naperville for city services required for Ribfest. An overall shortfall of slightly more than $2,000 will be adjusted at the public hearing when the commission finalizes its recommendations.
During today’s workshop, Anderson reminded the audience of representatives from many of the nonprofit applicants about the importance of supporting local restaurants citywide that contribute to the one percent food and beverage tax.
She also noted the 2015 Restaurant Week is slated for Feb. 16 through March 1, with special offers at participating restaurants.
Public Hearing scheduled for February 14
Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) fund applicants will have an opportunity to speak before the commission (three minutes each) regarding their application during a public hearing on Saturday, February 14, 2015. The meeting will begin at 9AM in Council Chambers of the Municipal Center. Following public testimony, the commission will determine a final unified recommendation for each application.
(Note the change to a week earlier than previously posted: The new date for the public hearing is Feb. 14.)
City Council Workshop is planned in March, final approval in April
After all Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) fund applicants have been evaluated with proposed grant allocations, the commission recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at their annual SECA fund workshop in March.
The City Council will formally approve all 2015-2016 SECA fund allocations at a regular City Council meeting in April.
About the SECA Fund
The City of Naperville encourages celebrations of community and cultural opportunities that focus on the heritage, diversity and character of the City. In support of these activities, the City offers funds, derived from the citywide one percent food and beverage tax, for the purpose of aiding eligible non-profit organizations in providing new and continued cultural experiences. The SECA fund grant began in 2005.
For more information on the SECA fund, visit www.naperville.il.us/seca.aspx.
