Last Edited: December 12, 2025
The information below details the general steps of the Community Proposal Process. A project page is created on Engage Saint Paul each project review year. Full details on the application process that year, eligibility and deadlines are included on that site along with the application form. Review past process sites:
Visit the CIB Committee web page for more information on committee meetings, meeting agendas and minutes, and meeting locations and times.
Updates and active community polls are posted to our budget process update page.
The Capital Improvement Budget Community Proposal Process carries forward a longstanding commitment to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), a core principle of our Community-First Public Safety Framework. CPTED enhances the quality of our built environment to influence outcomes and behaviors. It also supports improving the quality of our public spaces to ensure they are well-designed, well-maintained, and well-lit to proactively improve quality of life, and limit opportunity for undesirable activity.
The City and CIB Committee begin recruiting applications from the community, projects are reviewed for eligibility. Proposed investment must be related to infrastructure owned and maintained by the City, and the proposed investments must last 10 years or more. Applications are typically due by the last Friday in March of each project review year. The full details and timeline are available along with the application form on the Engage Saint Paul project page created for each funding cycle.
Eligible proposals are reviewed by the committee. The public can weigh in via online polling. Following the initial review, but ahead of the June Public Hearing, the CIB Committee will publish tentative recommendations. These recommendations are not final, but are intended to provide context to individuals interested in attending the public hearing.
In June, the CIB Committee holds a public hearing. This is the final opportunity for the public to provide input on the recommendations made by the CIB Committee.
Following the Public Hearing, the CIB Committee recommends project priorities for 2-year funding cycle. These recommendations are part of the annual recommendation letter sent to the Mayor by June 30th each year.
The Mayor proposes capital (and operating) budgets to the City Council and residents annually by August 15th. Typical proposals have requested improvements in streets, bridges, libraries, recreation centers, playground equipment, traffic flow and other public facilities and infrastructure. All improvements must have a useful life of at least 10 years. Current and past budget books can be found online: stpaul.gov/budget.
During the fall, the City Council reviews the Mayor’s proposed budgets and holds public hearings. In mid-December, the Council
adopts a final capital improvement budget for the next fiscal year and approves a tentative budget for the year after. Current and past budget books can be found online: stpaul.gov/budget.
The funded community proposals are detailed below by budget process. Review our process overview and project application information for our most recent community proposal process.
The CIB Committee reviewed and voted on their final funding recommendations to the Mayor. During discussion, committee members expressed interest finding a path to fully fund all proposals, as well as funding parks investments in Ward 7. Review all eligible applications received.
Funded projects and process overview
Project Title: | Request | CIB Rec. | Dept | Ward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Improve Safety near Skyline Tower and Midway Peace Park | 65,000 | 65,000 | Public Works | 1 |
Park Street Traffic Safety Improvements | 225,000 | 225,000 | Public Works | 1, 5 |
Resurfacing of Basketball Courts at Highwood Hills | 172,847 | 172,847 | Parks | 7 |
Traffic Calming: Intersection of Thomas Ave. and Griggs St | 225,000 | 225,000 | Public Works | 4 |
Traffic Calming: Jefferson Avenue in the West 7th | 120,000 | 102,153 | Public Works | 2 |
Upgrade and replace Poor lighting in Dayton's Bluff | 150,000 | 150,000 | Public Works | 7 |
1% Public Art Allocation | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||
Contingency | 50,000 | 50,000 | ||
Total | 1,017,847 | 1,000,000 |
On October 14, 2024, the Committee reviewed the status of Community Proposals from the 2020 – 2021 Process. Remaining contingency, and the balance of completed projects were available for reprogramming. The committee discussed and voted on the following recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for reprogramming those funds.
| 2020 -2021 Process Funds Available to Reprogram | Funding |
|---|---|
| Fully Fund all recommended projects (Traffic calming: Jefferson Avenue in West 7th) | $17,847 |
| Partially Fund Mounds Park Restoration | $ 94,674 |
| Total 2020 -2021 Process Funds Available to Reprogram | $ 112,521 |
In the 2022-2023 Capital Improvement Budget, a total of $1,000,000 was set aside for community proposals. These projects were reviewed and recommended for funding by the CIB Committee as part of the 2023 budget process. Details of each project can be found on the City's website.
| Title | 2022 - 2023 Adopted Budget |
|---|---|
| Safety Upgrades to Hayden Heights Recreation Center and Park | $ 280,370 |
| Lights On! Solar Lighting in Frogtown Park and Farm | $ 154,526 |
| Path Lighting between Maryland and Iowa | $ 120,347 |
| Traffic Calming at 700-900 Blocks of Thomas Ave | $ 109,367 |
| Safety of Como Lake Paths | $ 104,715 |
| Safety Upgrades at the North End of Ayd Mill Road | $ 75,000 |
| Bike Parking at City Parks and Playgrounds | $ 65,675 |
| Raymond Street Lights | $ 30,000 |
| 5% Contingency Allocation | $ 50,000 |
| 1% Public Art Allocation | $ 10,000 |
| Total | $ 1,000,000 |
In the 2020-2021 Capital Improvement Budget, a total of $1,000,000 was set aside for community proposals. These projects were reviewed and recommended for funding by the CIB Committee, the Mayor, and the City Council as part of the 2021 budget process. Funding for these projects will be allocated via administrative order at the beginning of 2021 to allow technical accounting entries to be completed.
| Title | 2020 - 2021 Adopted Budget |
|---|---|
| Lewis Park | $ 160,023 |
| Central Village Park Lighting | $ 300,000 |
| Payne Avenue Skateboard Park Planning | $ 32,000 |
| Lyton Park | $ 99,287 |
| Lighting on Charles and Rice | $ 15,000 |
| Lighting on Winnipeg and Rice | $ 55,000 |
| Lighting on Hazelwood | $ 17,500 |
| Lighting on Charles and Arundel | $ 100,000 |
| Speed Humps on Charles | $ 20,000 |
| Pedestrian Infrastructure - Raymond Station and Seal Hi-Rise | $ 141,190 |
| 5% Contingency Allocation | $ 50,000 |
| 1% Public Art Allocation | $ 10,000 |
| Total Adopted for Community Proposals | $ 1,000,000 |
In 2025, the City Council Audit Committee partnered with Wilder Research to review the new Community Proposal process. This tool was created as a result of that work. For best experience, view story map on a separate page, particularly if viewing on mobile.
Community Proposals should Proposed investment must have an impact related to advancing principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This virtual workshop was created to help you learn more about CPTED and how it applies to your proposal idea.