‘Out of respect,’ city council cancels Tuesday work session

Wednesday agenda includes update on Knight, who died Sunday

Out of respect to Councilman Gary Knight, the Yuma City Council work session scheduled for Tuesday was canceled and the presentations moved to May.

The regular council meeting scheduled for Wednesday will still go on, but the agenda has been modified to include business items only.

“The City appreciates your understanding of City Council’s and Administration’s request,” the revised agenda reads.

In addition, the Wednesday agenda now contains an update relating to Knight, who died Sunday after suffering a stroke on Wednesday. The last time a council seat became vacant before the end of a term was in 2009 when a council member resigned. At that time it was handled by inviting residents interested in the temporary position to apply for consideration.

According to the city charter, the sitting council is required to fill a vacant seat within 30 days with someone who has been a city resident for at least a year and is a qualified elector.

The presentations that have been moved to the first week of May include a quarterly financial briefing, a proposed budget overview and the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2025-2029.

On Wednesday, the council will consider a proposed ordinance up for adoption, which would update the wastewater discharge local limits.

One ordinance will be introduced, which would add a new chapter to the shortterm rentals section to stay consistent with state law. The proposed text amendment would ensure shortterm rentals pay the same tax as other transient lodging operations such as hotels and motels.

One resolution is on the agenda, which would create Municipal Improvement District No. 127 to serve

Riverview Terrace Subdivision located at the northeast corner of Avenue A and 3rd Street.

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

• Award $236,810 contract to the primary vendor DPE Construction of Yuma and secondary vendor BLT Asphalt of Yuma for hot and cold mix concrete.

• Ratify a change order of $84,547, for a total cost of $1.02 million, for the redesign portion of Phase 1 of the East Mesa Community Park to J2 Engineering & Environmental of Phoenix. The city seeks to trim the overall construction costs of the project by reducing the overall size of the lake from 4 acres to 3 acres.

• Appoint Richard W. Files as city attorney following the Nov. 7 special election, in which voters approved a charter amendment in connection to the city attorney. The city attorney now serves at the pleasure of the mayor and council and is appointed by the mayor and council as the chief legal advisor to the council, city administrator and all city departments, offices and agencies.

• Authorize the construction and operation of Bubba’s 333, a new 7,743-squarefoot restaurant, on Parcel B at the southwest corner of 4th Avenue and 16th Street, next to Slim Chickens.

The meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1 City Plaza. Meetings can also be viewed remotely at tinyurl.com/4snxunv7.

To view and/or download the complete agenda and staff reports, go to yuma-az. legistar.com/calendar. aspx or scan the QR code.