The City Council plans to discuss district budget adjustments, splash park funding and increased parking fees during its meeting tonight at the Civic Center.

City Council members have discussed making a donation to the proposed splash park’s construction since the July meeting, when Mayor Joel Fritzler suggested a $10,000 contribution.

There has been $10,000 in funding raised for the park from hotel and motel tax revenues; the council has discussed an additional $90,000 be added to make an even $100,000 donation.

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Councilman Lee Fronabarger said he supports the extra funding because a $100,000 donation now can result in a revenue raise later.

“Number one: It’s an investment for the community. Number two: The city is going to benefit from the water park just as much as the park district will … It’ll increase sales tax revenues as well as hotel/motel tax revenues,” Fronabarger said. “When communities host a swim meet for a weekend, that can bring in revenue of over $500,000 for one weekend.”

Fronabarger said $160,000 of the needed $625,000 was raised for the park district to receive a $2.5 million state grant that will go toward water park construction. He said any additional funds will help greatly.

Discussions of a proposed raise in parking fines will also be discussed at tonight’s meeting.

The raises are necessary, Fronabarger said, because the costs to run the parking division aren’t covered by the ticket prices anymore and neighboring cities of such as Murphysboro and DuQuoin implement higher ticket prices to cover the costs of their facilities.

Fronabarger said it’s about the right time for the city to raise its parking fines considering they haven’t been altered at all since 1999.

The first order of business the council will speak on is a budget fund transfer from Carbondale’s first tax increment financing district to the newer, second district.

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Fronabarger said TIF districts encourage city growth, and the council will either approve or disapprove the transfer according to how much the second district needs the funds.

An allocation of funds will most likely be made to the second district from the first, Fronabarger said, and the council will most likely spend a small portion of its time on the matter.