Turning RAMP funds into reality
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | 
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Jordan Muhlestein
Standard-Examiner staff
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By Jordan Muhlestein
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- Almost half of the 2007 Weber County RAMP funds, about $1.4 million, is going to Ogden or organizations in Ogden.
The city will get $278,000 and the rest will go to nonprofit organizations within the city, although some of that $1.12 million will benefit the city.
The total 2007 distribution for the Recreation, Arts, Museums and Parks tax in Weber County is $2.8 million.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey attributed the amount of money Ogden will receive to the fact that most of the county's nonprofit organizations are based in the city.
"About half of the funding for RAMP is generated in Ogden. The money ebbs and flows. Everybody will have years with more or less."
RAMP funds are available to local government entities and nonprofit organizations for projects that enhance the quality of life for county residents, said Mike Caldwell, county public information officer.
The funds come from a tenth-of-a-percent tax on goods sold in the county, or 1 cent for every $10. Where the money goes is decided by a 15-member citizen advisory board and reviewed by the Weber Area Council of Governments before being approved by the county commission. The commission approved the distribution last week.
South Ogden requested $240,000 for a nature park, $127,000 for a splash pad at the park and $25,000 for football equipment for youth. Those requests were not approved.
Mayor George Garwood said he is disappointed because the funds would have benefited the community. He said a RAMP board representative will talk about the decision to deny the requests at a 6 p.m.city council meeting today at 3950 Adams Ave.
"I thought our requests were very reasonable," Garwood said.
He said the city was told the RAMP committee didn't think the football equipment was a good way to spend RAMP funds.
Garwood pointed out the $1 million over three years being given to Roy for a community center, which will house after-school programs for youth.
The football equipment was a much smaller, one-time expense that would have affected many children, he said.
"I think we need to spread (the money) around. I think it's a learning experience for the committee, and I think they will get better at it."
South Ogden plans to move ahead with the projects, but with a slowed-down timetable, he said.
The 2007 allotment is less than the $3 million given out in 2006, Caldwell said. That is because the RAMP tax program was on a July-to-June budget year when it began in April 2005. It was adjusted this year to mirror the county's January-to-December budget.
"Next year, we expect about $3.4 million," he said.
Even with more money, the county can't give funds to every entity that asks. Almost $9 million was requested this year, Caldwell said.
The citizen advisory board looks for cities and organizations that want to use the RAMP money along with other donated funds, such as state grants, Caldwell said.
One of the largest RAMP projects this year is $200,000 to Ogden for the purchase and placement of a 55-foot-tall ice-climbing tower.
It will have three climbing faces and be set up in Ogden, he said. The city is looking at several locations, including Big D Sports Park, 1396 Park Blvd.
Weber Pathways and Ogden are getting $200,000 to complete the Weber River Parkway in Ogden. It will connect the paved pathway at the south end of Fort Buenaventura with the trailhead near 3500 South and Parker Drive in Riverdale.
The Weber River Parkway will connect with the Ogden River Parkway near the 21st Street Pond, said Helene Liebman, Weber Pathways executive director.
"When this is done, you'll be able to get on the Ogden River Parkway at Rainbow Gardens and you can go a complete 10 miles on a paved trail."
The total construction cost for the new section is $650,000, Liebman said. The RAMP funds will be combined with $114,000 donated by Ogden, $20,000 from Weber Pathways and about $300,000 in in-kind donations.
"We asked RAMP for $250,000 and got $200,000," she said. "We're still going to need another $50,000."
Construction will start this spring and may last until the end of the year, Liebman said.
The project will include tunnels under two railroad tracks and Parker Drive, she said. The Utah Department of Transportation is building a tunnel under 31st Street as part of I-15 NOW construction.
State data shows about half of Utah's residents use trails, Liebman said, which means about 100,000 Weber County residents are using local trails.
"The more trails we have and the more accessible they are, the better. It is particularly beautiful down (by the Weber River). People will be amazed at the beauty of the river."
Liebman said about $300,000 in RAMP funding was used for trail improvements north of Fort Buenaventura in 2006.
West Haven applied for about $200,000 to build a second phase of the sports park near 3850 S. 3900 West, said Mayor Brian Melaney, but did not receive the money. However, the city did get $59,000 for park restroom and water improvements.
"We got some funding. Did we get all that we wanted? No. Did we get close to what we wanted? No, but I'm not going to lobby for more."
Melaney said he would have liked more, but does not harbor bad feelings toward the committee members who made the financial recommendations.
"I'm sure they did the best they could," he said.
The city will probably apply for RAMP funds again next year, Melaney said.
Other large project requests not receiving funding included $312,091 for a football field access road and parking in Washington Terrace, $240,000 for Legacy Park in Marriott-Slaterville and more than $500,000 for Pleasant View park improvements.
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