Sealy — The Sealy City Council voted to authorize staff to engage engineering services to study converting the Irene LeBlanc pool into a splash pad using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and other eligible sources. The motion passed by voice vote. Why it matters: Councilors said the pool has been operating at an annual deficit and that converting to a splash pad could create a lower‑cost public amenity; staff described limits on which expenses ARPA funds can cover. What the council discussed: City staff described the pool as a long-running operating deficit and told the council the facility averaged about a $150,000 annual loss. Staff framed the splash-pad conversion as an opportunity to repurpose a site that currently requires ongoing maintenance and lifeguard staffing while potentially delivering a free amenity that is easier to operate and may better meet community needs. Kimber, a city staff member, told councilors that funding options are constrained and that engineering costs cannot be paid from ARPA: “I wanted to make it clear that we will have to engineer this project and that's going to be a separate charge. We cannot use the ARPA funds for the engineering cost for the project.” Staff also noted that local volunteer or partner assistance and reuse of nearby excavation material could produce efficiencies for related park projects. Motion and vote: A motion to engage an engineer to begin the design study for a splash-pad conversion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Implementation notes: Staff advised the council that engineering and design would be procured and paid from an appropriate funding source outside ARPA for the engineering portion, with ARPA funds proposed for eligible capital work consistent with federal guidance and any local ordinance constraints on fund use. Council asked staff to attach the staff report to the permanent packet record for reference. Ending: The council directed staff to begin engineering procurement and return with a scope and cost estimate for council consideration.