City staff outline 80‑acre nature-park, wetlands work and $13 million in grants; utility portal and urban forest plans also discussed

City staff provided multiple project and operational updates at the March 25 Newman City Council meeting, covering wetlands and an 80‑acre site the city purchased, grant funding, utility payment system upgrades, and an urban forest management plan.

Wetlands and nature park: City staff described work on the Newman Wetlands Project, a restoration that reestablished about 11 acres of emergent marshland, seasonal wetland and riparian habitat using water deliveries from the Miller Ditch. Staff recommended — and the council adopted — a resolution accepting the wetlands project as complete and authorized staff to record a notice of completion and to release retention funds to Rolfe Construction, Inc.

Larger 80‑acre site and nature park: Staff reported on an 80‑acre parcel the city owns that will include additional constructed wetlands for…