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Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners PPLC, New York City, and GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying, Watertown, would work together to complete the study.

The city solicited a proposal from Starr Whitehouse after the firm worked with GYMO on conceptual plans to create an amphitheater at the park last year. The city applied for funding from a federal Department of Defense grant but wasn’t awarded the money.

“We became familiar with them when GYMO brought them in as part of their team to work on the conceptual design of the amphitheater,” according to a memo to council from City Manager Kenneth A. Mix.

“They have extensive experience with park design, including Olmsted parks.”

The city-owned historic park was designed in the early 20th century by John and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed New York City’s Central Park and many other parks throughout the United States.

Council members have allocated funds for the master plan within the adopted 2022-23 capital budget as part of the Thompson Park renovation project.

City Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero has asked a handful of times since last fall about the status of getting the master plan completed.

Council members also have allocated $4.2 million of their $22 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for potential projects in the park.

The possible improvements include Thompson Park projects that have been talked about for years, but the city could not pursue without the use of its $22 million ARPA allocation.

They could be adding an ice rink and stage or bandstand, basketball courts, a skate park and disc golf courses in the park.

The consultants would conduct an inventory and analysis of the park, get input from the public and determine a final plan development for the study.

About a dozen staff members would be involved in the study. The hourly rates they would be paid would range from $80 for a clerk and project assistant to $350 for a firm partner.

With a number of ideas discussed for the park in recent years,…

“It left a bitter taste in my mouth,” Councilman Hickey said.

He says he will vote against the budget on Monday night if the two positions aren’t kept in the spending plan. The budget session begins at 6:30 p.m.

At Monday’s final budget session, council members will also consider giving themselves $4,000 pay raises, among dozens of other budget modifications they will be asked to take action on.

Last week, Councilman Cliff G. Olney III was the only one who opposed cutting two of the five police officer positions from the budget.

Since Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Hickey has discussed the issue with councilors Olney and Lisa A. Ruggiero, who also is reconsidering her initial support to remove them from the budget.

Councilwoman Sarah V. Compo Pierce, who couldn’t be reached for comment, is also considering retaining them in the budget, he said.

In his proposed budget, City Manager Kenneth A. Mix proposed adding 24 new positions at a cost of $1.4 million, saying that they would be covered by an unexpected increase in sales tax revenues.

At last Tuesday’s meeting, council members decided to reduce that number by four — two police officers and one position each in the public works department and codes office.

During earlier budget deliberations, Police Chief Charles P. Donoghue told council…