The city of Mandeville is taking the next step in revamping the Mandeville Harbor area.

Last Thursday night, the council approved the advertisement for bids to construct the first phase of the new playground.

This phase, said Franklin Kyle of Kyle Associates, who has prepared the plans for the project, includes five arbor trellises, which will be used for shade; a splash pad; the construction of the Monkey Hill, all of the foundation work and subsurface drainage as well as the sidewalks. Once that is complete the city will look at the whole project and decide what kind of play equipment it should add, and purchase and install that itself.

The council also approved the advertisement for bids for a sidewalk project and for the 2008 streets project.

Under the sidewalk project, walkways will be constructed or repaired along portions of the following streets: Marigny Avenue and Claiborne, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Livingston, Woodrow, General Pershing and Montgomery Streets. Sidewalk improvements will also be completed along portions of Lafitte Street from Lakeshore Drive to U.S. Highway 190 and along West Beach Parkway/Park Avenue from Lakeshore Drive to Villere Street and along Villere Street from Park Avenue to Carroll Street.

The following streets will see work under the 2008 streets project: Foy Street, Lamarque Street Claiborne Avenue, Carondelet Street, Monroe Street, Leah Street, Marigny Street, Lovers Lane, Coffee Street, Lotus Drive and Oakwood Street. The intersection of Madison and Lamarque streets will also be improved.

In other business:

• The council authorized the mayor to retain the law firm of Shields, Mott, Lund LLP. To serve as special counsel, helping the city to prepare an ordinance establishing an historic district. The firm will charge the city $250 an hour for its services. This firm is being contracted with at the recommendation of Dr. Sally Reeves, who recently conducted an historical survey for the city.

• The council gave the mayor permission to retain the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz P.C. to assist in representing the city in response to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim by Sherry Sticker.

• The council adopted an anti-theft compliance policy as required by the Federal Trade Commission. Finance Director Milton Stiebing said all utilities that take electronic payments are required to have such a policy.

He said the only change between what the new policy requires and what the city was already doing is now residents will be required to show proof of identification when turning water service on.