Todd Sneathen, East Lansing’s director of public works, said Harvard Road, Cowley Avenue, Bainbridge Drive, Rosewood Avenue, Foxcroft Road, Cambria Drive and Smithfield Avenue are scheduled for repavement starting at the end of June.

“One of the few positive issues in regards to the economy — (we) had aggressive bidding (for the construction),” Sneathen said.

Council members set a June 7 date to hear from property owners to determine the necessity for construction or reconstruction of sidewalks as a part of the 2011 Local Street Project.

Council also held a special work session before its regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts preliminary budget request for the 2012 fiscal year.

Tim McCaffrey, the director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts, said the department is turning to attendance projections to determine where to allocate funds for the upcoming year.

“For 2012, we see attendance in several activity areas that will stay consistent or even increase,” McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey said the department has seen flatly declining attendance in the child care program at the Bailey Community Center, which he attributes to the economy. The department is expecting a rebound in the upcoming year, McCaffrey said.

City Manager Ted Staton said although funding for the department is tight, he lauded the work that has been done.

“We’ve been able to maintain a robust recreation program,” Staton said. “It’s a credit to Tim and his team that we’re able to operate a full menu of recreation programs for the community.”

Finance Director Mary Haskell said the department will bring the revised budget request to council and likely will be approved May 10.

Another topic council discussed was the usage and liability on the city of the Orchard Street Pumphouse, 368 Orchard St. The pumphouse is fully operational and provides water services to East Lansing, Assistant City Manager Marie McKenna said.

Tom Yeadon, assistant city attorney, said the building had several minor code violations — including doors that don’t open outward properly — which potentially could be hazardous. The city has concerns with the uses and occupancy of the building, Yeadon said.

“From a legal perspective, it shouldn’t go on like it is,” Yeadon said. “We can’t just close our eyes to it. It only takes one tragedy to put a lot of liability on the city.”