The Fond du Lac city council has added $2.5 million to the City’s Capital Improvement Plan next year for the Lakeside Park alternate master plan. Councilmember Dan Degner made the motion at a special meeting Wednesday night during discussion of the city budget and capital improvement program. The vote was four to two with council president Brian Kolstad and councilmember Kay Miller voting against. Councilmember Ben Giles abstained. Degner says the money can be used for any improvements in the park, not just a restaurant on the lighthouse peninsula or amphitheater on Oven Island. Kolstad says the council should have waited until a feasibility study is completed. The council also approved motions by councilmember Miller to keep the Lakeside Park fee structure the same next year, restore $1.3 million in funding for a bridge connecting Lakeside Park to Lakeside Park West in the 2023 CIP, and move up funding $230,000 for a Lakeside Park West boardwalk to the 2021 CIP. The proposed budget would include a slight decrease in the tax rate. Kolstad says the budget includes a reduction in the mil rate of 43.7 cents.
