Every year the City of Big Rapids goes through a process of creating a Capital Improvement Plan or a CIP. While the CIP is required by State law for those communities that do planning and zoning, it is also an important tool the community can use to help shape the future, determine what is most important and do responsible budgeting from year to year. The CIP is a plan on what projects (costing more than $7500) will be completed and where money will likely be spent over the next six years. While requests will change from year to year it provides the City a framework to work off and helps ensure we are spending money efficiently and for important projects that have been vetted through a public process. While the City staff has been doing a CIP for several years, this year we are approaching the plan in a different manner. Staff will still be submitting requests for projects they are aware of and feel are important, but we are also making the process more public. While residents have always been able to talk to Staff about projects, and staff often works off those requests, there has never been a process for residents to submit their own ideas. Below you will find a series of questions to answer about your Capital Improvement Plan idea. Please note that Staff may be in contact for more details. If it helps, please submit pictures of the idea or links to websites where Staff could view similar ideas or requested items to purchase.