The commitment to Mercy made by the council Tuesday night brings the $18 million expansion to within $500,000 of full funding, said Rosemary Younts, Mercy Foundation senior development officer.

"We're just overwhelmed and so extremely grateful for the city's commitment," she said Wednesday. "(It) allows us to reach our (fundraising) goal and to incorporate everything we need in this new department."

The council also allotted a little more than $3 million of the $7.2 million land-sale proceeds to the Parks and Recreation Department. Pending future council ap-proval, the money may be used to support three projects: purchase of the Folsom Sports Complex, expansion of Livermore Community Park and construction of a new Arts and Active Adults Community Center.

During an hour of public testimony Tuesday evening, Folsom residents praised the skill and kindness of Mercy Hospital of Folsom emergency staff members but also told stories of waiting up to six hours for care.

The expansion will boost the number of emergency department beds from seven to 25 and should reduce waiting times, Younts said. Once state approval is received, construction could begin as soon as December, she said, with the new department opening by 2007.

Mayor Steve Miklos said the donation is the city's first large contribution to an independent institution.

"It was a fairly easy decision for me," he said, for the health and safety of the community as well as for economic reasons.

"I look at the $1 million as an investment into an economic development engine that will not only create jobs (directly) but will be a big attracter for thousands more jobs," he said. "Medical facilities are one thing that major employers do look at."

Funding for the donation came from the July sale of a 40-acre parcel of city land east of Prairie City Road, which included 7.2 acres of designated parkland. Palisades Development Inc. won city approval in May to build 118 houses, 204 condominiums, 24 duplex units and a 10,400-square-foot retail center at the site.

At Tuesday's meeting, the council allotted the remaining proceeds to several city departments and projects, including $1 million for fleet replacement for the city's police and fire departments, $1.2 million for the planned bridge below Folsom Dam, $800,000 for health benefits for retired city employees and $150,000 for a city signage program.

The Parks and Recreation Commission likely will hold a special budget committee meeting later this week to discuss how to divide its share of the proceeds among the sports complex, Livermore Park and community center projects, Chairman Ernie Sheldon said Thursday.

The $3 million will not fulfill all the funding needs for the three initiatives, Sheldon said, so compromise will be necessary.

In earlier financing plans, parks staff members called for $2 million from the land sale to be used for the purchase of the 61,000-square-foot Folsom Sports Complex. The privately owned gymnasium houses an artificial-turf soccer field, batting cages, two wood-floor basketball courts and two classrooms. If the city goes ahead with the purchase, parks department plans call for it to be used for a variety of sports, fitness and dance programs, as well as for a new teen-oriented community center.

Costs for new lighted sports fields and courts and a new parking lot at Livermore Community Park are estimated at $1.5 million, according to a city staff report.

Finally, the first phase of construction for the Arts and Active Adults Community Center likely will cost about $2 million, Community and Cultural Services Superintendent Sandy Hilton said. The center would be built within the 10,000-square-foot Fire Station 35, adjacent to City Hall. The parks commission will make a budget recommendation to the City Council, which rules on city expenditures.