Council starts planning for municipal pool grant and discusses earmarking use tax

Councilors opened discussion on next steps for a proposed municipal pool and the timeline for a November 2025 grant application, focusing on preparatory planning, phased design and funding options.

A councilor noted the need to start preparatory work early so grant applications and community input are well organized. Staff cautioned that state law constrains ballot language: a use-tax ballot question cannot specify a single project, but the council can later earmark revenues within the municipal budget. “You can't put it… in the language in the ballot that it is specifically for the pool. But you can earmark that money in your budget for the pool,” a staff member said.

Councilors discussed whether to continue a separate pool committee or move planning to the council level, the role of the citizen advisory board and the entity that handles grant administration. The council asked for consistent reporting on pool planning at each meeting and requested a December agenda slot to review progress.

Why it matters: starting preparatory work and clarifying funding options now will shape whether the city can meet grant deadlines and how it would allocate future revenues if voters approve a use tax.

Next steps: staff to prepare materials for the December agenda, and councilors will consider earmarking options during budget planning if a use tax is placed on a future ballot.