Winslow City Council Looks At Five-Year Plan

    The Winslow City Council reviewed the city’s five-year capital improvement plan Tuesday evening. The discussion was led by engineer Mark Woodson and lasted for more than an hour. Woodson spent much of the time on the first year of the plan, which is addressed in the new tentative budget. He explained where the funding for various parts of the plan is expected to come from. The funding sources include grants, turn-back money from the state and the city’s own funds. Much of the material has been on the council agenda before, such as the Winslow Renaissance projects. Woodson stressed that, especially after the first year, the capital improvement plan is a guideline to keep the council and staff aware of their eventual destination. The review was the first item on the consideration and action segment of the agenda.
   The council members also heard reports from Administrator Jim Ferguson on items for their knowl-edge, the board and commission appointment process, and revisions of the personnel code. Finance Director Regina Reffner reported on the previous month’s financial activity.
   A consent calendar was adopted, which included approvals of the check register, the minutes of three previous meetings, open purchase orders for fiscal year 2008-09, payment for water rights legal representation, an encroachment permit for 169 Yuma Drive, and payment for annual license, maintenance and housing of the city’s Web site citizen request and online payment module.
   The second action item was an additional services agreement with Woodson Engineering for recertification of the Ruby Wash levee for not to exceed $30,000.
   An agreement with the Standin’ on the Corner Foundation for construction of a stage on the southeast corner of the Hubbell property was approved after considerable discussion. Details will be brought before the council periodically.
   There was a discussion regarding the future of equestrian programs and the rodeo grounds, which resulted in agreement to delay a decision on the issue until after it is discussed at a work session on Aug. 2. The council and staff did, however, indicate that the rodeo grounds and horseman’s facilities would remain a favored item.
   There was a discussion of an agreement with the Little Colorado River Horseman’s Association and the 4-H Club for use of the rodeo grounds, which resulted in instruction to the staff to arrange for an agreement to be prepared.
   Utility rate increases contained in Ordinances 928 and 1030 already adopted were approved. The in-creases would amount to an approximate 68-cent increase in water rates, an 86-cent sewer increase and a 63-cent trash increase per month for a citizen who uses 80,000 gallons of water.
   Also approved was an early payoff of a general fund loan to the wastewater fund. This was, in effect, a paper transaction in which the city repaid its general fund $53,110.84 from the wastewater fund.
   A resolution approving a split of real property located north of North Road and east of North Park Drive in the commercial zoning district and further described as APN 103-22-009H was adopted.
   The first reading was held of an ordinance adopting amendments to the city code regarding the place-ment of barbed wire on fences in the commercial zoning district.
   The first reading was held of an ordinance amending the city code to include a section prohibiting the parking and driving of vehicles on the city parks.
   An executive session was held for legal advice regarding Hospitality Park. After the session ended, the council came back into regular session and approved a motion to hire outside legal counsel for advice on the issue.