HAILEY — Within a year, ice hockey players and figure skaters could be putting their blades to new ice in Hailey, and the following summer barrel racers and rodeo clowns could be entertaining in a new arena.

The Hailey City Council on Monday night put the city’s money where its mouth is, agreeing to fund approximately half of the estimated $5 million to $6 million cost of a new rodeo arena and ice rink on the site of the existing arena.

“Where else do you have skateboarders next to cowboys?” asked Council-woman Carol Brown. “The only thing I hear on the street is, ‘When can I start donating?’”

The council was under pressure to agree promptly to its portion of the funding because the next six weeks are prime time for charitable donations. With the city’s nod, promoters of the redo are set to mail brochures soliciting funds.

“There’s a real push right now to get those brochures out because it’s the end of the year, the end of the giving season,” said Councilman Fritz Haem-merle. “The people with the large money are afraid to give unless there’s a commitment on the other side.”

The council is not sure how exactly the city will raise the $2.5 million to $3 million that is its portion, but it will likely be a combination of funding sources, including matching grants and public bonds voted on as a levy.

Likely very little will come out of the city’s general fund, which is important to the council during tough economic times.

“This is a worthy project, but we can’t forget the day-to-day stuff,” said Mayor Rick Davis. “We have a city to run, too.”

Council members noted that the timing of the project may be difficult in terms of city funds, but is fortuitous in terms of economic revitalization.

“We have momentum to do this right now, and if we don’t do it, I don’t think it’ll get done in 20 years. Construction companies are hungry right now,” said Councilwoman Martha Burke, asking that local materials and local labor be a priority. “We’ve got the whole community behind us, and this is the kind of thing that brings you out of the doldrums like nothing else will.”

The next step for the project is to finalize details of design and nail down a final construction cost estimate.