AUBURN — The City Council voted Monday night to split one of three $5,000 Neighborhood Challenge grants into five $1,000 grants. 

Joe Gray and Ward 5 Councilor Leroy Walker were concerned that the money be available to more applicants. Steps will also be taken by the city to shorten the 15-page application for the smaller grants.

Neighborhood Challenge grants, which total $25,000, are meant to allow residents to complete beautification projects.

Councilors tabled a motion to allocate $40,000 of bond proceeds to study the city’s agricultural and resource protection district. Instead, Ward 1 Councilor James Pross motioned to continue the study. It will be discussed at a public informational meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Auburn Hall.

City planner Douglas Greene sent an announcement to residents of the zone stating, “The purpose of the meeting is to get input from farmers, foresters and rural landowners living and working in the agricultural and resource protection zone. We’d like to gain a better understanding of what is important to rural landowners and how best to support agriculture and natural resource development.”

In other business, the council held a public hearing on the Hampshire Street reconstruction project to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.