Spring Hill council moves forward on 223rd Street loop-trail design, seeks long-term street maintenance funding and approves aquatic center rates

City engineering and public works staff briefed the Spring Hill City Council on plans for the 223rd Street Loop Trail design, the 2026 street maintenance budget and proposed aquatic center rates during the Jan. 22 meeting.

City Engineer Alysen Abel said the city is ready to begin design of the 223rd Street Loop Trail and recommended soliciting proposals from the city’s pre-qualified on-call engineering firms rather than issuing a full Request for Proposal; the council asked staff to draft a supplemental Purchasing Policy to permit that option under defined criteria.

Public Works Director Jacob Speer reviewed 2026 street maintenance funding in the adopted budget, reporting allocations of approximately $1.2 million for the program. Speer and councilmembers noted the city has historically spent about $1 million annually and asked staff to prepare a long-term funding plan to sustain the street maintenance program.

Speer also presented proposed rates for the 2026 Aquatic Center season. After discussion the council reached consensus to approve the new rates and directed staff to present an updated Comprehensive Fee Schedule at a future meeting reflecting those changes.

No formal votes were recorded on the purchasing-policy change or the funding-plan direction; the council’s consensus and direction to staff were recorded in the minutes. The meeting later recessed for two executive sessions; no action was taken during those sessions.