The Twin Falls City Council will vote at its meeting today on a grant application for $498,100 for infrastructure improvements to a block of the city’s downtown.

The council meets at 5 p.m. today at Council Chambers, 305 Third Ave. E. The city is seeking the funding through the Idaho Community Development Block Grant program, which is federal money that comes through the Idaho Department of Commerce.

The bulk of the money, $473,100, would go toward parking, additional lighting, new sidewalks, curbing and gutters, and landscaping and alley paving in the 200 block of Third Avenue South. St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center plans to renovate the building at 212 Third Ave. S. and house 110 employees there.

The remaining $25,000 in the grant would go toward paying for the services of a certified grant administrator, which is required by the grant program. The council will also consider proposals for grant administration services at its meeting.

Officials expect to find out in May if the city will receive funding through the grant application, said Melinda Anderson, Twin Falls economic development director.

The council also will consider:

• Eight proposed projects aimed at conserving energy. If approved, the projects would be sent to the U.S. Department of Energy for consideration. The federal agency has tentatively awarded the city grant funds of $183,600 for energy conservation projects. Proposed projects include motion-detector light switches, programmable thermostats and energy audits for city buildings.

• An amendment to a contract with Operations Management International, Inc. for operation, maintenance and management services for the city’s wastewater treatment facility and pump stations. The amendment will increase the cost by about $65,000 because of increased Idaho Power rates, according to a city memo.

• An agreement between the city and EHM Engineers to design improvements to Rock Creek Sewer Lift Station. The amount is $52,905.

• An agreement with Conagra Foods Lamb Weston that will allow Conagra to reuse methane gas and incorporate it into its process. The methane gas is generated from a city-owned wastewater processing facility.

• A second one-year extension of the final plat of the Desert Falls subdivision, which is 58.36 acres with 46 lots at the southeast corner of 3300 East Road and Falls Avenue East.

• The conveyance plat of Kimpton Acres subdivision, which is two lots on 7.47 acres at 3640 N. 3100 E.

Ben Botkin may be reached at bbotkin@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3238.