The Hormel Foundation has approved funding for city projects for 2013.

The Austin City Council is expected to accept grants for city projects at its public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday inside City Council Chambers.

Though six projects appear to go unfunded for 2013, the foundation set aside four of the projects — a $25,000 request for enhancements to the Cedar River and Mill Pond, a $15,000 request for a redesign to the city’s web site, a $7,500 request for a bike safety helmet program, and a $50,000 request for a commercial/retail economic development fund — for potential funding through the foundation’s Vision 2020 funds.

The foundation adopted a new policy after getting city requests to set aside projects involved with Vision 2020 committees as special requests instead of annual city requests, according to Laura Helle, director of vision creation for Vision 2020.

Three projects — a one-card feasibility study, tables and chairs for the Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, and a $55,000 request for a pedestrian trail at the nature center — were denied funding. The pedestrian trail request was withdrawn after a private donor stepped forward to fund it.

Among the city’s requests to receive funding are:

—$15,000 for the 2013 Freedom Fest

—$5,000 AMCAT dialysis route

—$3,750 for fire prevention and education

—$1,000 for Leadership Austin

—$100,000 for the Main Street Project.

—$12,000 for the fountain at Mill Pond

—$33,182 for the nature center’s education program

—$15,000 for the city’s Parks and Recreation department to replant trees

—$3,500 for police medical bags

—$25,000 for a police security camera program for the downtown area

 

In addition, the council is expected to adopt an ordinance to rezone property at 205 14th St. NW. Two local businessmen plan to turn the property into a strip mall with businesses and offices, according to Community Development Director Craig Hoium.

Council members will also approve appointments to various local boards and commissions and approve a labor agreement with police department supervisors. The agreement includes wage increases over the next three years, including a 1.5 percent increase in 2013 and 2 percent increases in 2014 and 2015.

The council will also hear a request to increase the Housing and Redevelopment Authority board to seven members, an Austin Public Schools request to partner with the city to add a baseball diamond at Todd Park, and an update on the city’s flood mitigation efforts at the council work session immediately after its public meeting.