The Minneapolis park system — the best in the nation for three years running, according to the Trust for Public Land — is a civic asset worth preserving. The parks are an embodiment of the city's much-vaunted quality of life, and an advantage in convincing members of the mobile, emerging workforce that they should build their careers, and lives, in this region.

But like so many civic assets, the system was built by previous generations. The least the city's current leaders can do is to maintain it. Doing so, of course, takes money, and current funding sources fall short of what's needed for neighborhood parks.

That's why the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has requested that the City Council authorize a November referendum to ask for at least $15 million annually for the next 20 years. Given the clearly deteriorating condition of most neighborhood parks, that request seems justified.

But a potentially better option has emerged, thanks to close collaboration among key leaders on the board, the council and from the community. The idea calls for using $8 million annually in existing city funds (savings from pension savings, library construction and other sources) beginning in 2017 for capital investments in neighborhood parks, as well as increasing taxes collected by the Park Board by 1 percent annually to invest $3 million in maintenance and operations.

The proposal appeared to gain City Council supporters this week. And for good reason: Minneapolitans are passionate about their parks, and it's understandable that they would want them well-maintained. The new proposal avoids a potential 5 percent levy increase beyond any normal tax increase, which could face stiff opposition no matter how much Minneapolitans appreciate the park down their block.

There are additional reasons to strongly consider the plan. Leaders are elected to do just that, and they should be discouraged from governing via referendum. Elected officials are accountable to voters and should not duck the tough task of governing.

The plan also signals an encouraging — and overdue — cooperation between the City Council and the Park Board. This newfound cohesion is a welcome development, and one that could lay the foundation for an advantageous streamlining of the city's governing structure.

Mayor Betsy Hodges is right to question if the pension savings from a merger of a city fund into a statewide plan are sustainable. And even if the funds are available, other essential services and infrastructure needs like road repair also must be addressed.

A cautious, fact-based approach is warranted. But there is promise in the parks proposal from Council President Barb Johnson, Council Member Lisa Goodman, Park Board President Liz Wielinski and Superintendent Jayne Miller, and Mark Andrew, the former Hennepin County commissioner who is now chairman of Save Our Minneapolis Parks.

Ideally, all key city leaders will coalesce around sustainable solutions to meet all of the city's infrastructure needs rather than governing by referendum and punting their responsibility.