The meeting also delved into the potential redesign of the city’s landscape, particularly focusing on the preservation of mature trees and enhancing the canopy. The council approved a motion to direct the manager to bring a revised design back for consideration, emphasizing the use of drought-resistant and native plants, and discussed funding possibilities such as utilizing tree fund dollars. Additionally, the council received a presentation on modifications to the city’s website, which included an updated design, enhanced navigation, an interactive business directory, and online services for residents.

Public remarks included a member of the Green Task Force expressing support for planting Sunset Drive and the importance of maintaining weekly recycling pickups to emphasize the importance of recycling. The task force member advocated for the city to encourage recycling and to push the county to improve recycling efforts.

The commission approved a waiver for a conflict of interest related to an urgent care facility ordinance after a discussion led by the city attorney. Moreover, commissioners shared reports on various initiatives, such as the celebration of Father’s Day at elderly facilities, efforts to improve worker relations, and updates on the Unique Abilities Board.

The council discussed upcoming events and initiatives that included extending the senior center hours, the Fourth of July event, Rio’s Bike Rodeo, and the Second Saturdays event. The Parks and Recreation team was commended for their efforts in organizing events, particularly for seniors. The meeting also paid tribute to George Green, a long-serving employee of the city who passed away, with discussions on how to honor him more formally in the future.

Mosquito control was another significant topic due to heavy rainfall leading to an invasion of mosquitoes. The council debated the distribution of Spartan mosquito control kits to households and considered a promotional partnership with the vendor to offset costs. Additionally, the proliferation of gravel driveways in the city prompted a discussion about the need for standards and regulations, leading to the council unanimously voting to refer the issue to the planning board for consideration.

Furthermore, the council addressed a proposal to temporarily postpone the issuance of a request for proposal for the parking lot west of Sunset Place to explore the possibility of a joint disposition of the parking lot and the adjacent dry cleaning property. They directed the manager and city attorney to approach the property owners about a possible joint disposition.

The meeting also included a discourse on a proposed Charter Amendment regarding the purchasing threshold. The council unanimously directed the city attorney to prepare language for the amendment, giving the commission flexibility to set the threshold via ordinance.

A resolution approving a proposal and project agreement with an engineering firm to provide design services for the parking lot improvement project at South Park was discussed and approved. The design includes resurfacing, lighting, traffic calming devices, drainage improvements, accessibility upgrades, and increased parking capacity.