The Austin City Council made their top picks from 13 Hormel Foundation grant proposals at a council work session Monday evening.

Mayor Tom Stiehm and council members ranked their top choices among this year’s funding requests for the Hormel Foundation. The recommendations are made by the council to serve as a guide for Hormel Foundation staff to award grants.

Riverside Arena upgrades, followed by various quality of life programs and a new Austin Municipal Pool slide were the council’s top three choices.

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department requested $100,000 to go toward continuing year two of Riverside renovations. Some of the equipment being replaced include roof air conditioning units, compressors, and arena floor and in-floor cooling systems.

City staff requested $140,000 for the city quality of life designation, which includes funding for Freedom Fest, the Artworks Festival and Leadership Austin among other things. According to city officials, these events help draw citizens to community businesses. Parks and rec staff requested $400,000 to replace the pools current slide and add an additional slide as well.

“We want people to stay [at our pool] or come to our city,” Kim Underwood, parks and rec director said.

All 13 grant proposals total more than $800,000. The Austin Utilities Solar Wall and Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle were the bottom contenders.

1. Riverside Arena renovations — Would help fund the arena’s second year of construction, including a new heating and cooling system.

2. City quality of life — Provides funding for events like Freedom Fest, ArtWorks Festival, Leadership Austin, Blandin Leadership Training and Ice Arena operations subsidy.

3. Austin Municipal Pool — replacement slide and additional slide

4. Nature Center education programs — Provides financial support for Mower County K-12 students to attend nature center environmental education and outdoor education programs.

5. Austin Fire Department carboxyhemoglobin monitor — helps monitor carbon monoxide levels in people to determine whether they need to go to the hospital.

6. Austin Fire Department prevention and education — Provides funding for fire prevention activities, like the free smoke alarm and carbon monoxide program. Other programs included are the first grade fire safety program and fourth grade junior fire program.

7. Austin Fire Department training and education — Would provide funding to train members through Riverland Fire Training.

8. Austin Public Library Borrow the Internet — Would give internet access to people without the ability to connect at home. The Wi-Fi hubs rental program would provide satellite wifi coverage to low-income families in Austin.

9. Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Essence of Place book — Funds would help complete a photographic book on the history of the nature center’s land.

10. Todd Park trail bridge — Would repair a trail bridge across Wolf Creek at Todd Park.

11. Austin-Mower County Homeownership Fund — AMCHF is a program that lends funds to individuals that earn less than $78,900 annually to purchase a home within Mower County.

12. Austin Utilities Solar Wall — Would be built at new property to reduce energy related to heating the large garage areas of the facility.

13. Austin Utilities Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle — Austin Utilities wants to purchase a fleet vehicle that is able to run on Compressed Natural Gas.