City OKs plan for downtown university
AWC president supports proposal
Editor’s note: Today’s story covers the discussion among council members on the proposed University of Yuma plan. Tomorrow’s story details the plan.
With a proposed University of Yuma as the focus, the City Council adopted a plan for revitalizing the Old Town South Subarea. The plan includes multi-phase implementation strategies spanning from one to 10 years and five to 20 years.
The city hopes that the plan, presented by project team member Charles Flynn during the Aug. 16 meeting, will continue revitalization of the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods, as well as economic progress for the entire community.
After holding a public hearing, the council adopted the Old Town South Subarea Revitalization Plan 2016 Implementation Strategy with a 6-1 vote. Councilman Mike Shelton cast the sole “nay,” explaining that he felt that the public had not been sufficiently involved in the process.
The council had continued the hearing three times in order to hear from Daniel Corr, president of Arizona Western College, who had been unable to attend the previous hearing dates.
Corr acknowledged to being asked “a great deal” about AWC’s stance on the proposed university. He said he’s in favor of it.
“Anything that increases the number of baccalaureate degrees is a good
thing and has the support of AWC,” Corr said, adding that “strong education builds strong communities.”
Shelton asked Corr whether there was a demand in Yuma for a fouryear university in view of the partnerships AWC already has with the three state universities. Corr said he has heard of a need for a greater choice of degrees and that some students leave Yuma because their study interest is not available locally. The more choices in higher education the better, he said, adding that AWC would want to have a “seat at the table” and be “attached” to this university as well.
Deputy Mayor Gary Knight noted that a local university might save students the added expense of leaving the community. “I’m glad to hear you see a four-year university as complementary to what you’re doing rather than competition.”
Mayor Doug Nicholls pointed out that Corr has been part of the conversation from the beginning. He also noted that “everyone has been playing well together,” and rather
than “scratching off everything we have,” the project team wants to build on the strengths and relationships between the existing schools.
In addition, Nicholls noted, the existing universities aren’t looking to spend more money or put more staff here.
Another factor, he said, is that once students leave, there’s a chance they will never return, yet the community needs an educated workforce to attract industry.
Councilman Edward Thomas said he supports the plan and hopes a university will bring industry so students will stay here and grow the community even more.
However, Shelton disagreed, stating, “We need to stop trying to convince everyone to stay. My objection is not to keep them here but take them wherever their heart might go.”
He then asked Corr how high school principals and superintendents felt about the proposed university. Corr said that their reaction had been “largely favorable.”
“We’re not trying to pass an ordinance to stop people from leaving town,” Nicholls interjected.
Flynn explained the genesis of the plan was a grant
received from the Environmental Protection Agency for brownfield analysis. The city focused on about 60 acres downtown that have been sitting vacant or blighted for 70 years.
The grant has been used to plan the site as well as do environmental assessments with property owners on a voluntary basis. Sometimes brownfield projects relate to “perceived pollution, not actual pollution,” Flynn explained.
The city has been trying to amass land downtown “to do something with it,” he said. The city looked at a variety of options, including retail and office space, but the demand wasn’t there. Consequently, the city looked at different alternatives and the need for higher education “became obvious ... if we are going to grow the economy and have the skillset to meet those jobs and opportunities.”
The plan will be phased and does not require buildout by the city. Rather, whatever is built will be built by the partners who decide to do it.
Shelton said that some residents had been circulating a petition asking that the proposed project be moved to another location. Later during the hearing, Carlos Mendoza, a member
of the public, said he feared that it would be too close to homes and that if the university decided to expand, the government would take their homes through eminent domain. He suggested the project be moved to an area near Home Depot or closer to AWC.
“I’m very sensitive this needs to be done on a cooperative basis. We won’t go around and take people’s properties,” Flynn said.
Shelton said he felt that the city should have had more public involvement. Flynn said a notification to all property owners had been mailed on Dec. 15, inviting them to an open house at City Hall on Jan. 11, when the plan was presented. The plan was presented to the Design and Historic Review Commission, also on Jan. 11, the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 10 and the council at a Feb. 14 work session.
There was no intent to hide it, Flynn said, noting that the only way the plan will succeed is if the community and partners support it.
“We just wanted to provide a location and a concept that might excite interest, and I think it has,” Flynn said.
Shelton reiterated that local citizens hadn’t heard
about the plan, the people whose kids would be attending the proposed university. He wanted to make sure the conversation includes the general public, guidance counselors, principals, potential students and parents.
Flynn replied that the conversation started in January, and stakeholders have had seven to eight months of open dialogue. Nicholls noted that the public hearing was part of that conversation and “at some point it ends up being the first time you hear something.”
Thomas noted that government is not a babysitter; the city is simply creating an environment for the private sector to succeed. It can’t force people to listen, he said.
Knight pointed out that the land has been vacant all his life and something needs to be done. Councilman Gary Wright said he saw a lot of potential and encouraged everyone to walk the site.
Flynn noted that rarely does a community have 60 acres available in the core of downtown for such a “dream” project. A university would draw students not just from Yuma but a 60-70 mile radius, including California and Mexico, he said.