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2026 - 2028 Community Proposal Budget Process

Community members are encouraged to submit proposals for investments to City places, spaces, and roads.

Learn More About the 2026 Process

The 2026 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) Community Proposal Process carries forward a longstanding commitment to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and will review submissions and recommend funding for budget years 2026 – 2028. The process benefits from the work of the City Council Audit Committee and Wilder Research, as well feedback and recommendations submitted by community, and works to implement process improvements, prioritizing those which impact the experience of the community members who submit applications, such as simplifying the application, providing additional ways to submit ideas, and improving communication and promotion of direct technical assistance opportunities.

2026 Key Dates and Timeline

  • December 15, 2025: Community Proposal Application Platform Opens
  • February 9, 6:30 pm: CPTED & Applications Community Workshop at Arlington Hills Community Center
  • February 20: Application Deadline
  • June 8: Public Hearing
  • June 30: CIB Committee Funding Recommendation to the Mayor
  • Mid-August: Mayor's Proposed Budget
  • December: Adopted Budget finalizes project funding

Even-Numbered Years: Community-Created Projects

In even years, the City and CIB Committee review proposals from the community for improvements related to infrastructure owned and maintained by the City. The way that public places and spaces in our city look, feel, and function can have an impact on the public safety outcomes in our community with the aim to make infrastructure investments which will help create safe community outcomes. 

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. 

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. 

Community Proposal Process Steps

Mayor outlines City priorities and solicits applications

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.

Community Applications

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. 

CIB Review and Community Feedback

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.

Capital Improvement Budget Committee Funding Recommendations

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. 

Mayor’s Proposed Budget

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.

Budget Adoption

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.

Community Proposal Projects by Year

The funded community proposals and additional details about each process are detailed below by budget process. Review our process overview and project application information for our most recent community proposal process. 

Project History- Story Map

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. 

Virtual Workshop- Understanding CPTED

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.

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