Rio Communities approves contractor for Veterans Memorial Park but council rejects Bill Brown fund budget adjustment

Rio Communities councilors voted 2-1 on June 15 to award construction of phase one of a Veterans Memorial Park to Mountain West Golfscapes, but earlier in the meeting the council failed to approve a budget adjustment that would have allowed the city to commit Bill Brown special-revenue funds to the project.

The contractor approval authorizes Mountain West Golfscapes to proceed under state purchasing contract pricing for phase-one work that staff and architects described as a central plaza, memorial stone with plaque, portions of a retaining wall for branches of service and related landscaping and irrigation. Councilors Melendez and Gordon voted in favor; Councilor Nelson opposed both the budget adjustment and the contract vote.

The budget adjustment, Resolution 2026-11, would have allowed the city to use up to $130,000 from the Bill Brown Fund to cover project shortfalls. Staff described the fund history: the city received a bequest of $326,322.52 in fiscal year 2021–22, and the balance stood at about $267,166.41 on June 15, 2026. Staff also said a separate parks grant of roughly $390,000 (about $388,000 obligated) has already committed approximately $58,000 to the Veterans Memorial Park for items such as flagpoles and design work.

"I am not for spending any money on this project right now," Councilor Nelson said, citing "allegations of misspending" reported publicly and a pending lawsuit; he said the city should pause non-time-sensitive spending until those matters are resolved. Nelson cast the sole no vote on the resolution, which required three votes to pass.

Dr. Moore, the city manager, urged the council not to withhold donor-directed funds, noting Bill Brown "was a veteran" and that Brown had told staff and council "do not hold on to this money spend and get projects done." Staff and committee volunteers emphasized cost savings — including donated boulders the city already owns — and said the architect and committee had worked to keep construction estimates down.

Plan Collaborative presented schematic designs and 3D images of the memorial during the meeting. Mr. Loftis, the architect on the project, said the city received two contractor quotes: one from Accent Landscape Contractors at $148,000 and a lower quote from Mountain West Golfscapes at $119,000 (flagpoles were to be purchased and reimbursed from the grant separately). According to staff, state contract procurement and a comparison of state-approved vendors guided the selection.

Council approved the contract award for phase one despite failing to pass the Bill Brown fund adjustment: votes for the contractor were Melendez — Yes; Gordon — Yes; Nelson — No. Because the contract award was not a resolution, the majority vote carried and Mountain West Golfscapes was authorized to proceed.

The council did not adopt the separate budget amendment; staff said they will bring the draft resolution and supporting materials back at the next meeting for further consideration. The council adjourned at 6:41 p.m.