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The Austin City Council, during its first meeting of the year Tuesday night, agreed to move out of work session approval of using $25,000 in city funding to go toward design work of a proposed whitewater park in Austin.

The money would come from a budgeted $50,000 that was earmarked for a proposed new trail, which was to run from Highway 218 to East Side Lake, however, because easements couldn’t be obtained from property owners, the trail never came to be.

The $25,000 will be used to help complete 30% of the design for the park and came about after the Hormel Foundation was approached in hopes of attaining a $7.5 million grant for the project.

Assistant City Engineer Mitch Wenum told council members Tuesday night that the Foundation, which he said didn’t say yes or no to the grant proposal, requested a few more details regarding the park.

It is expected to cost around $75,000 to reach this more detailed preliminary design, which would include the city’s $25,000 in tandem with money the project is trying to gather from donors to the project.

Wenum said Thursday morning that whatever is left would be requested from the Foundation, however, he also noted that nothing has been guaranteed nor was any part of the project ready to go forward. Rather, it’s just the next step in a very lengthy process.

“We’re not starting on the design,” Wenum said. “That’s contingent on Foundation funding.”

He added that any funds that might be awarded for the design wouldn’t be available until June at the earliest.

The project will also require additional funds to do sediment and depth studies of the Mill Pond area, which will cost around $48,000.

The decision on the $25,000, voted on unanimously by council members during Tuesday’s work session, will receive a final vote during the Jan. 16 City Council meeting

It’s the latest development following the results of a feasibility study that came out in August of last year showing the project was possible in the area suggested by those behind the project.

The estimated $10 million project would start at the pedestrian bridge behind the YMCA at the Austin Community Recreation Center and end at Second Avenue NE. Between those points are a series of five drops and five pools that will allow for users to run the course.

In other news:

During its regular meeting, the council approved public hearings for four street projects in the coming year and include:

• Street Improvements on Eighth Street NE (16th Avenue to 18th Avenue NE as well as lift station construction.

• Street improvements on Ninth Street SW (17th Avenue to 22nd Avenue SW) and 12th Street SW (17th Avenue to 21st Avenue SW.

• Street improvements on Fourth Avenue NE (17th Street to 19th Street NE) and First Avenue NE (Eighth Street to 10th Street NE)

• Street Improvements on Second Avenue NW (14th Street to 19th Street NW), 1th Street NW (Oakland Avenue West to Second Avenue NW) and 17th Street NW (Oakland Avenue West to Second Avenue NW.)

The hearings will be held at the Feb. 20 City Council meeting.