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Parks,Trails&Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 12,2010 Page 7 Council Liaison Grant commented he did not think the Planning Commission members were sworn in. He indicated that this is something that they should take up as a City and take to staff. 5. REPORTS Council Liaison Grant reported that at last night's meeting a motion was brought to Council to support legislation to establish a special levy fund for park funds. He indicated this would go back to a Council Work Session since no decision was made. He reported the Council is somewhat split on the proposal. He stated that philosophically some Council members do not feel this is the route to take since they do have a levy if they chose to set money aside. Council Liaison Grant indicated bonding is always an available tool but not one that they typically use and felt if the City needed it then maybe they should sign on. Council Liaison Grant reported that the Benches Donation Program was on the Council Consent Agenda and was passed. Council Liaison Grant feels that because of the troubling economy there may be federal dollars available in the form of stimulus money. He indicated he had brought this up at a work session and feels it might be a good idea for the city to have a number of shovel ready projects in case there was a funding source that came along. Council Liaison Grant mentioned he does feel the committee is doing a good job of getting grants but that they should be in place to participate one more time if that is a possibility. Chair Peck indicated that the priority projects are already there and that they have not even talked about the Lexington Trail. Committee Member O'Malley indicated they had talked about it a little and that it needs to be repaired. Ms. Olson indicated the Lexington repair is in the CIP for this year and needs to o g forward to Council for final approval. Ms. Olson mentioned that she and James Lehnhoff, Community Development Director have been in contact with the businesses in Shannon Square to try to get a 50 percent contribution towards a Lexington sidewalk in front of Cub up to the railroad tracks. She indicated they have had some very positive discussions with the owner. Council Liaison Grant stated they cannot predict what form the stimulus will take, but if they have something shovel ready then perhaps it may work out for the City and stated that this is a way to sort out the people that are really serious about a project. He indicated if the government had stimulus money every citywould o find a project,ect but g p J when they say you have to be shovel ready it means you have already invested some time and effort getting it to that point.