• Construction has continued to be slow since the last posting. There have been at least 29 days with rain since April 6. Construction is nearly complete on the relocation of a play structure from along Valley Road to a new location in Triangle Park which is just north of City Park and east of the intersection of 78th and Josephine. Installation of rubber safety surfacing under the play structure remains to be done.

• The Contractor is beginning to plan for storm sewer work to be done. Some residents will see utility locating flags in preparation for this work. This will involve some closures or partial closures of Park View Blvd and 73rd Avenue at various times to allow the new storm sewer work to be done.

• The Thompson Creek Levee improvement project, being led by the Papio-Missouri River NRD, will receive excess soil from the Thompson Creek project in order save both the City and the NRD money by coordinating the projects. This creates some timing challenges but is important in reducing costs. The levee project has also been slowed by wet conditions. It has been too wet to haul soil to the levee project from the channel project.

• In the last couple of weeks work has concentrated on grading the new channel configuration between 72nd Street and 73rd Avenue.

• The City has hired RDG Planning & Design to prepare a tree planting plan for trees and shrubs along the reconstructed channel. An Open House will be held on July 16 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the La Vista City Hall to obtain citizen input on the plan. Notices were recently sent to residents and property owners for lots abutting the channel between 72nd Street and Edgewood Boulevard. Funding is still needed before plantings can be done.

• The Rain Barrel program is being offered again in 2015. The program is intended for the Thompson Creek watershed due to grant requirements; however, a small fund is being set aside for rain barrels outside the Thompson Creek watershed in other parts of the City. Applications are encouraged and it has been a great year to collect rainwater.

• The 2015 La Vista Bio Blitz will be held again this year on October 3 at Central Park. We hope to be able to tour the completed channel rehabilitation project by that time.

• More information on the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project can be found at www.cityoflavista.org/thompsoncreek