QUESTION
What processes are involved in factoring community perspectives into capital planning and decision making for equity?
2:44:40
·
169 sec
The commissioner explains the capital planning process that factors in community perspectives for equity.
- An annual process involves discussions with borough presidents to prioritize funding requests for capital projects.
- Direct communication occurs with organizations to understand their capital needs for improvements and expansions.
- Input is gathered from council members and borough presidents on community needs for capital investments.
- A partnership exists with city council to fund projects and equipment purchases based on community insights.
Justin Brannan
2:44:40
How much community perspective factors factors in to capital planning and decision making in terms of equity.
Laurie Cumbo
2:44:47
I'm glad you asked I'm glad you asked that question.
2:44:50
As commissioner, one of the major things that I wanted to do was to have each year a capital process where we talk with the 5 borough presidents to talk about what are the priorities that have come to the surface of capital projects that need support and funding each year.
2:45:06
We've also extended that to have communication with each of the council members whose districts have put in for funding requests for capital construction improvements and expansion.
2:45:18
Another part of it that is a major part of the process is that there are some projects that are Year after year, they are coming to our agency because they are what's known as banking.
2:45:31
They are raising capital dollars for a larger project.
2:45:34
And so we tend to, like organizations, let's say, National Black Theater and others.
2:45:39
We wanna make sure that organizations that are already in the capital process who are already in construction or already in design, we wanna get those projects over the finish line.
2:45:49
So those will also participate in a very large way.
2:45:53
There are also organizations that need capital expansions and renovations, and there's just a need for those projects to happen.
2:46:00
But a lot of this happens in terms of one on one communication with the organizations where they come, they present to us, they explain to us what their needs are in terms of capital improvement or expansion.
2:46:12
They talk about audience development.
2:46:14
They talk about how their current space or facility may be for the growth and the development of the organization.
2:46:22
We also utilize those opportunities to then speak to the council member about that process as well as the borough presidents to understand what is it that this community needs in terms of capital improvements, capital investments.
2:46:35
And then there are also equipment.
2:46:37
Equipment is a large part that we do a a large part of partnership with our city council members.
2:46:43
We actually fund a lot of the brick and mortar and expansions while the city council supports many of the equipment purchases and equipment expansions into many of the institutions.
2:46:55
And this is really a partnership that we've utilized over the years in order to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the borough presidents, meeting the needs of the council member, and understanding on the ground what the needs are because nobody knows your district like a city council member.
2:47:10
You know the needs.
2:47:11
You're sitting in those seats.
2:47:13
You're going to those performances.
2:47:15
You're seeing the lines around the corner.
2:47:17
You're seeing the roofs.
2:47:18
You're seeing all of those things.
2:47:20
As many organizations do bring those issues to you, and you're relaying that to us, and that informs a great deal of our process.
