Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry staff and city council members are continuing discussion about what the city’s role should be in funding the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

One of several long-term ideas to reduce the city’s budget, the responsibility of the nature center would be turned over to the Friends of the Nature Center, a non-profit entity. Funding would be reduced from $300,000 to $200,000 to $100,000 to zero in three years. A recommended start date would be 2010.

Kim Underwood, executive director of Parks and Recreation, said during a work session Monday she believes it is unlikely the facility could survive without the city’s contribution.

“I honestly don’t think the nature center could ever support itself,” she said, adding that she knows the Friends “don’t want to be an employer of the nature center.”

Some council members balked at the idea of pulling all funding from the center.

“I think this is a little bit too drastic for me,” council member at-large Janet Anderson said.

Council members Marian Clennon, Third Ward, and Jeff Austin, First Ward, agreed the facility is a benefit to the community.

“I think the nature center is a unique asset to the City of Austin,” Austin said. “That’s a put-us-on-the-map kind of thing.”

Third Ward member John Martin disagreed the city should continue to funnel money into the nature center.

“I think we need to set the nature center up to eventually be self-sufficient,” Martin said, regardless of what the state funding issues are in the future.

“I think it would go ‘kaput,’ ” Austin said.

“Then just like Chrysler and Chevy, let it go ‘kaput,’ ” Martin said.

“Then put it to the voters,” he suggested. “I have a lot of taxpayers that don’t want to be paying for the nature center.”

Another future Parks and Recreation budget cut for consideration includes Nob Hill, a city-owned sledding area in the southwest side of Austin. Proceeds from the sale of the land could make up for the loss of park capital funds.

Selling the property could also save maintenance costs.

Some council members said they were unaware the city still owned Nob Hill before it was suggested for sale.

All city council members wanted to vote to sell the property, however, Martin walked out of the meeting. Tom Dankert, director of administrative services, said it takes a 7-0 vote form the council to sell city property.