A new $65 million recreation complex is among the priorities outlined in a proposed extension of the city’s half-cent local option sales tax.

The concept for the Regional Community and Recreation Complex (RCRC) is still in the early stages, but is expected to advance rapidly in the coming months in conjunction with community engagement efforts designed to gauge the interests of a wide variety of stakeholders.

Those efforts, officials say, will help inform what types of facilities would be included in the complex, the location of which has not been determined.

“We have some definition of the project to do here, but the intent was really to reflect something that was regionally-relevant and community-relevant,” Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish told the city council on Monday.

Because of recent changes to state law, the city must seek approval from the state Legislature this May before putting the proposal up for a local vote.

State law also limits the city to submitting no more than five projects to be used by the sales tax; in the past, the city has included more than 20.

To that end, the city has also identified affordable housing ($50 million), street reconstruction ($50 million), and flood control and water quality upgrades ($40 million) as priorities for the sales tax extension.

The city, according to estimates provided to the council, expects to pull in $205 million in all from the extension, which would last until 2040.

“Things are currently fluid at the Capitol, but we are very happy with how things are progressing and encouraged where things are at right now,” said Jenna Bowman, the city’s communications and engagement director.

The city will use a co-design process as one form of community engagement. The process involves bringing on stakeholders to serve as conduits to the rest of the community. The co-designers then bring back the feedback they receive to the rest of the work group.

The co-design team will include representatives from areas such as youth sports, education, and business, as well as BIPOC and disability liaisons.

“We usually pick co-designers who don’t already hold a role of decision-making,” said Chao Mwatela, the city’s director for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She added, “We want to make sure we are highlighting the broad and diverse perspectives of our community.”

As the city moves ahead with the design process, Mwatela said the goal will be to look for gaps in existing facilities to avoid duplication.

Noting the recent loss of the Rochester YMCA, as well as the benefits of physical activity on mental health, Councilor Molly Dennis said the recreation complex could address a real community need.

“It’s vital that we have places for belonging for our youth and our community,” said Dennis. “We are losing free places where youth and community can go and be.”

While supportive of the community engagement process, Mayor Kim Norton cautioned the council that the sales tax funding would only cover capital expenditures, leaving operational costs to the city and its partners.

Norton, along with several members of the council, also expressed concern about other projects outlined in the proposal being overlooked as the city moves ahead with the design for the recreation complex.

“Whatever we do here, we have got to put as much communication and emphasis on affordable housing, flood control, and the roads — which are, in my mind, far more important than RCRC — and our other sports facilities that are grossly under-funded in this city that we are ignoring to do this,” said Norton.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.