At last night's State College Borough Council meeting, the council approved the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the years 2007-2011.

Allocated in the program is funding for community improvements of streets, parks, sewers, parking and information technology.

For the 2007 capital program, capital expenditures total $4,002,929.

Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said the amount is pretty typical for annual borough expenditures on capital improvements.

Council member Tom Daubert made a statement clarifying exactly what the borough was approving.

"It should be on the record that all we are really approving is the 2007 Capital Improvement budget, and the budget for years 2008 to 2011 are really just for planning," Daubert said.

The council also received a presentation from the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Capital Campaign.

Rick Marboe addressed the council with a request for municipal participation in the nature center's campaign.

Marboe thanked the council for the opportunity to present.

He also said Central Pennsylvanians have a great appreciation for the environment and outdoor recreation. He said that is part of the reason why Sports Illustrated magazine named Central Pennsylvania "Sportstown USA."

"The nature center is critical to the local community as well as to the education of the local youth," Marboe said.

"The best way to learn is by going in and having hands-on experience, and the nature center is a living laboratory that gives all ages an opportunity to come in and experience an environment that is unique to Central Pennsylvania."

Marboe said his main reason for addressing the council was to ask for funds that would help create a Spring Creek Nature Center that would be used year round for student and community use.

Marboe is asking the borough for $10,000 a year for three years to help fund the program.

"We are coming to each of the municipalities looking to have them contribute to this three-legged stool of state, private and public contributions," he said.

Millbrook Marsh Nature Center is opened to the public from late March to late October and holds programs and classes for students.

Fountaine said that the council will work the nature center's proposal into the upcoming budget.

Council will decide whether or not to approve the requested funding between now and December.

In other news, council approved the draft charge of the Urban Village Steering Committee.

Fountaine said a draft charge is the borough staff's recommendation of the role that the steering committee will play in the process of redeveloping the Urban Village.

"It will give the committee their mission," he said.