Need for new city building questioned
Council member suggests consolidating services
A city councilor questioned whether the Water/ Utility Systems Division could move into a proposed future maintenance shop instead of purchasing and constructing a new building.
Yuma Councilman Gary Wright queried Utilities Director Jay Simonton about the need for a new $3 million building during Wednesday’s regular meeting. He noted that the city would again be asking for bids on the shop and wondered if perhaps it could be reconfigured to consolidate the Utilities Division and the Fleet Facilities Maintenance Shop.
The discussion took place during the Introduction of Ordinances portion of the agenda, which included a request to authorize the purchase of about 128,910 square feet of vacant land at 292 W. 13th St. and 1258 S. 2nd Ave., a former Arizona Department of Transportation site, for future relocation of the utilities team.
Simonton noted that the division currently houses 50 people in a 9,000-square-feet space with about 20 more currently working at the Public Works site. He said the proposed maintenance shop would take a large part of that property and it would not have enough room to accommodate all of the Utilities Division’s staff, equipment and vehicles.
Wright had asked during Tuesday’s work session whether the division could move into vacant space at City Hall. At that time Simonton said the whole purpose of the new building would be to bring his whole team together, which is currently at separate locations, along with their equipment. City Hall does not have space for dump trucks and to store equipment, he said Tuesday, adding that the new facility should improve
the “efficiency” and “functionality” of his department.
Under the Resolution Consent Agenda, the council voted 5-0 to adopt the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 with an amendment suggested by Councilman Mike Shelton. Regarding the Avenue 10E improvements project, he asked for the words “property owners” to be changed to “developers.”
Wright voiced concerns with lost revenue from the Ray Kroc Sports Complex due to the loss of a soccer season and suggested looking into returning it into a baseball field. Wright noted that the contractor had moved out because he couldn’t get support from the public or a sponsorship.
Under the Adoption of Ordinances portion of the agenda, the council voted 5-0 to adopt a property tax rate of $2.3001 on each $100 of assessed valuation. The city’s 2017-2018 final budget, which was adopted May 3, is based in part on an estimated primary property tax levy that is anticipated to raise $12.4 million in tax revenue.
This tax rate is a decrease from the 2016-2017 rate of $2.3517. There has been no secondary property tax levy since 1992.
The tax rate for the Mall Maintenance District is $4.4889, which is less than the 2016-2017 tax rate of $4.7820, and is anticipated to raise about $105,000 in tax revenues, which is the same amount of revenue raised for 2016-17.
Wright noted he was “very happy” with the property tax levy and hoped the council would be able to hold down the tax rate in the future.
Thomas asked Finance Director Pat Wicks for his opinion on whether the tax levy would be enough to cover the budget. “My concern is that next year’s budget is going to be tough. Are we fiscally safe?” he asked.
Wicks pointed out that the city could have brought in another $240,000, but the council’s wish had been to bring down the property tax levy. Nevertheless, he said he was confident that the city’s fiscal health would remain sound.
Councilman Jacob Miller, who had been at the center of recent discussions involving potential conflicts of interest regarding the CIP, was unable to attend due to a medical emergency, Deputy Mayor Gary Knight explained.
As for future agenda items, several council members had requests for discussions. Wright said he wanted to see City Administrator Greg Wilkinson’s contract put up for a vote, but the motion died for lack of second. However, Knight noted that Mayor Doug Nicholls, who was not at the meeting, had received all the evaluations from council members and the council would discuss them in an executive session in June.
Other requests were accepted by the council. Knight asked for the Parks and Recreation Department to talk about the use and revenues of the Ray Kroc Sports Complex in view of the loss of the contractor.
Shelton asked for discussions on the 911 service, the fire department’s rate increase request submitted to the state regarding ambulance service and the pros and cons of outsourcing parks and recreation maintenance crews vs. keeping them in-house.