Council expected to call for elections

Harvest Prep offering a free songwriting class to community event will provide ‘insights into the creative process’ behind songwriting Officials to hold meeting on Wednesday

Harvest Preparatory Academy (HPA), located at 350 E. 18th St. in Yuma, is opening its doors to the community with the opportunity to participate in a songwriting class.

The free course will take place in HPA’S auditorium at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 9. Songwriters Reba Rambo and Jeff Ferguson will help deliver the session, and – in a press release – HPA noted that the opportunity affords locals the chance to gain “insights into the creative process, lyric writing, melody composition, and more.”

In a statement to the Yuma Sun, Deborah Ybarra, chief executive director and co-founder of HPA, welcomed prospective attendees with open arms.

“We are excited to host the Yuma community at Harvest Preparatory Academy for a songwriting class taught by award winning Reba Rambo and Jeff Ferguson. We are offering this unique experience to everyone in Yuma County at no cost, simply a love offering if they feel led to do so.”

To register, call or text the HPA Marketing Dept. at 928-261-5783.

The Yuma City Council on Wednesday is expected to adopt a resolution that serves as a Call of Election for the city’s 2024 primary and general elections to be held on July 30 and Nov. 5, respectively.

The current terms for three council members and one municipal judge will expire Dec. 3.

Any additional qualifying propositions for the November general election will be separately approved by council.

However, the council will first kick off the meeting with a briefing on the upcoming Marine Corps Air Station-yuma Weapons and Tactics Instructor Exercise, a mid-year update from the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. and an introduction of Hansen

House.

One ordinance is up for adoption, which would rezone 2.82 acres at 1749 S. Arizona Ave. and the northeast corner of Riley Avenue and 18th Street from the General Commercial District to the High Density Residential District, while maintaining the existing Infill Overlay District. The intent is to develop a multi-family residential development.

One ordinance will be introduced, which calls for vacating a portion of right-of-way on Arizona Avenue to the abutting land owner, T3AZ LLC, after negotiating a fair market-value purchase price. It would also correct an error in the 2008 ordinance, resulting in the city erroneously retaining ownership of the 8-foot strip of land. T3AZ wants to develop a mixed-use project on the property but lacks sufficient space for its current design.

In addition, the following items are on the consent agenda:

• Purchase of seven HVAC air handler units at the Police Department and Municipal Court from the lowest bidder, Trane of Tucson, for a total cost of $113,797.

• Award one-year contracts for police uniforms and accessories to the two lowest bidders, Galls LLC of Lexington, Kentucky, and Precision Protective Services of Yuma, at an estimated annual expenditure of $93,365.

• An agreement for Joint Land Use Plan Update services with White & Smith LLC of Charleston, South Carolina, with a cost of $364,960.

The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 City Plaza. To view the complete agenda and read staff reports, go to https://yuma-az.legistar.com/calendar.aspx.

Meetings can also be viewed remotely with participation through Zoom. To speak at the public hearing or on any agenda item via Zoom, submit an email request to publiccomment@yumaaz.gov an hour before the meeting.

To view the meeting through Zoom, go to https://cityofyuma. zoom.us/, click on “Calendar,” then select the meeting and click “Join.”