Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Geneva outlines West Main phase 2 funding push, launches planning grants and safety study
Summary
City Manager Marquette told the council July 14 that Geneva has applied for a $2 million ODOT Small Cities grant toward West Main Street Phase 2, is moving forward with a comprehensive-plan update funded largely by ODOD HTAP money, and executed a federal SS4A agreement to prepare a roadway-safety action plan.
City Manager provided an overview of several capital projects and grant applications at the July 14 Geneva City Council meeting, saying the city is pursuing a mix of federal and state funding to advance West Main Street Phase 2, update the city's comprehensive plan and prepare a roadway-safety action plan.
"We submitted an application for $2,000,000 in the ODOT small cities program," City Manager Marquette told council, adding that the current estimated cost for Phase 2 is $3.7 million and that the city was scheduled to present to state officials on July 17. Marquette said officials expect to know decisions in September or October, but that funding awarded under that program would not be available until spring 2028, making timely award decisions important for project sequencing.
Marquette said a Community Project Funding application submitted through the congressional office was not selected for further consideration. "That application was not selected for further consideration of funding," he said.
On planning, Marquette described the Housing Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) award that will support a comprehensive-plan update: the planning process will run from now through May (the staff presentation described multiple phases of assessment, prioritization and implementation), and the city plans to form an advisory committee of roughly 15 participants drawn from staff, planning commissioners and local stakeholders. He said the overall HTAP project was estimated at about $74,000 and the ODOD grant covered roughly $66,000 of that estimate.
Marquette also reported that the city has executed the federal SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) agreement with the Federal Highway Administration. The grant will fund a comprehensive roadway-safety action plan, GIS mapping and a safety assessment of roadways and intersections, and the project will be a collaboration with Harpersfield and Geneva Townships with the city as lead applicant. "We're working on establishing MOUs with our partners and preparing an RFP to get planners to undertake this project," Marquette said.
The parks improvement plan is advancing: planners and consultants presented initial concepts and will return to present updated designs. Marquette asked council to consider a public presentation with Becky Architects on Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. to seek public comment ahead of the next regular meeting. He said Phase 1 of the downtown streetscape project is expected to advertise July 25 with subsequent advertisements Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 and a bid opening scheduled for Aug. 8 at noon. Depot-lot stormwater work was described as part of the Phase 2 scope for West Main.
Marquette emphasized coordination among ongoing plans (comprehensive plan update, SS4A study, stormwater planning and parks planning) to prioritize projects and increase competitiveness for additional grant funding. "All these projects are requiring public input," he said, and the comprehensive plan will integrate deliverables from the SS4A and stormwater plans to guide city strategy for growth and implementation.
(Ending) City staff said they will form advisory committees and advertise RFPs this summer; council members asked staff to assemble cost estimates and prioritization guidance at the public presentation planned for Aug. 11 and for upcoming advisory meetings.
