Naperville distributes cultural grants
The DuPage Children's Museum walked away the biggest winner Monday as the Naperville City Council doled out Special Events and Cultural Amenities grants.
The museum, at 301 N. Washington, will receive $250,000 for operating costs.
"It's a valuable organization to the community, has tremendous attendance," Councilman Jim Boyajian said. "This has nothing to do with long-term funding or ownership."
In total, councilmen gave preliminary approval to $2.03 million in grants after sifting through 106 applications totaling $3.85 million. Some groups submitted multiple applications. All were reviewed by a special commission before going to council.
Funding for the grants comes from a citywide 1 percent food and beverage tax.
The council was dealing with a smaller pot of money this time around as it recently approved diverting 25 percent of the revenue to its general fund next fiscal year to shore up the city's budget. Still, after the dust settled they left $146,485 of available grant revenue on the table.
Councilmen also reached consensus on using fund balances from previous years to pay off a $1.2 million loan the city had taken out to complete the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower. The city still has a $1.8 million line of credit on the carillon due in 2011.
Among the other large grant recipients Monday was the Exchange Club, which will receive $165,000 to help cover city services for its annual Ribfest. The festival benefits groups that fight child abuse. Not everyone was on board with such a large grant.
Councilman Richard Furstenau said the city already gives the group too much every year and Boyajian said the event has grown too large.
However, Councilman Kenn Miller said the club needs to expand into the south side of Knoch Park because it is losing some land on the north side to the Naperville Cemetery.
Councilmen also approved $150,000 for Century Walk Corp., which has placed 34 pieces of public art around the city. The group had requested $473,000 for maintenance as well as a third Dr. Seuss statue, YMCA sculpture, mural at the Van Buren parking deck, murals in the alley between the Gap and Talbot's in downtown and a changing public art structure.
"I'm not ready to put more creations in front of the libraries and spend that kind of money," Furstenau said. "Dr. Seuss? I'm sorry I don't want another Dr. Seuss. I think we have got one too many."
Councilman Paul Hinterlong disagreed.
"I think they've done an outstanding job," he said.
Among the other large grants were $138,681 for the Naperville Jaycees' Last Fling, $123,601 for the Naperville Municipal Band and $115,000 for the Naperville Development Partnership. The revenue will also cover $146,535 in city administrative costs.