Is spending $50,000 to upgrade landscaping at the Civic Center more of a pressing need than spending $75,000 to install exercise stations at Woodward Park?

Or is an $864,000 concession restroom building in Woodward Park a bigger priority than spending $400,000 for restrooms and landscaping at the skate park?

Those are some of the discussions that could take place Thursday at 2 p.m. when the Manteca City Council gathers for a special meeting to review, discuss and possibly take action on the municipal capital improvement plan for 2012-16. The council meets at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

The council is reviewing staff’s proposals to make sure spending priorities they have proposed match with the council’s collective goals.

In the case of the four above park-related projects, they are proposed for funding using park improvement fees collected from growth. The landscaping upgrade at the Civic Center, for example, was put in the budget in a bid to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and add color to the site.

Mayor Willie Weatherford pushed for the special meeting so the council would drive capital improvement spending priorities.

The council, for example, has pointed out recently they want to see sidewalk being placed along East Louise Avenue east of Cottage Avenue being given a higher priority than spending $75,000 to install sidewalk to the new Social Security office on Commerce Court behind Home Depot.

The proposed capital improvement plan devised by staff contains projects costing $154 million over a six-year period. Some $79.5 million of that has been already approved for previous or current funding. Another $18.2 million is proposed for projects in 2012-13.

Staff will provide a brief overview of the various projects proposed by departments. They will then seek council support for the prioritization of the projects. Priorities will be established based on council goals and available funding in each of the five years.

The five-year plan does not include high-profile “wants” of $102.6 million worth of projects identified beyond the five-year plan. Among those projects and their price tags are performing/visual arts center, $18 million; community center, $16 million; aquatics center, $16 million; library expansion, $33 million; Woodward Park baseball field, $1.6 million; Woodward Park amphitheatre, $1.9 million; Woodward Park tennis center, $4.1 million; and converting Morezone Field into a baseball field, $820,000.