OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Ottumwa City Council is meeting Monday evening at 5 for a special work session. The public is invited to attend and share their input on any of the agenda items.

One of the items on the agenda is the Ottumwa Police Department’s Interoperable Communication Project; by switching the department’s radios from UHF to VHF frequency, officials say this will improve the department’s overall effectiveness.

“We need to take the steps so that the police department can communicate with other law enforcement branches for emergency purposes so that they'll be more effective in saving lives and protecting property,” Joe Helfenberger, Ottumwa City Administrator.

Also on the agenda will be the proposed ordinance on trees, shrubs and vegetation.

The council’s recommendation would be to not allow any new plantings within the right away of trees and shrubs and to grandfather in all the existing trees and shrubs.

They are also looking to the Parks Department to come up with a plan to have additional trees planted in the community.