Winslow Council Adopts $33 Million Budget For 2008-09

The Winslow City Council adopted the city’s 2008-09 fiscal year budget Tuesday evening. The action put into effect a budget of $33,367,165 by a vote of 5-1. Mayor Robin Boyd and council members Marsha Juergens, Peter Cake, Thomas Chacon and Harold Soehner, who was present by telephone, favored the motion. Councilwoman Judy Howell opposed the motion and Councilman Marshall Losey was not in attendance. The action came after a public hearing on the budget in which Pres Winslow asked the council to consider any cuts needed should revenues received be considerably less than estimated prior to that happen-ing. He was the only speaker in the public hearing.
   Prior to the regular meeting, a special meeting was held to discuss improvements of city properties. The only property discussed in any detail was the Hubbell building. City Administrator Jim Ferguson noted that work is being done on the rear of the building, which will be occupied by the Winslow Chamber of Com-merce. He further explained that the contractor doing that work had included bids for work that would need to be done to do all that the city may want done to the building, and that deciding to have it done while the contractor is still working here would probably lessen the cost compared to what it would be if it went to another bid. The council members determined that they would like proposals for the other work placed on an August agenda when they can determine what additional work they want to contract for in the near future, if any.
   At the beginning of the regular session, former mayor Alan Affeldt introduced Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democratic candidate for Congress, and Bill Jeffers, a write-in candidate for the Arizona Senate. Both spoke briefly. Kirkpatrick is an attorney from Flagstaff and former city attorney for Sedona. Jeffers is from Holbrook, and decided to run after the death of Senator Jake Flake.
   Reports were heard from the city administrator and Judge Alyson Kolomitz early in the regular session.
   The only three items on the consent calendar were adopted. They were approvals of the check register, minutes of a previous meeting and purchase of a postage machine.
   A resolution was adopted approving release of new departmental subsidies for the new fiscal year.
   A request from the Chamber of Commerce for advertising assistance resulted in adoption of a motion to provide funds of $3,660 to continue the rent of an advertising sign. It was agreed that the sign was successful in drawing tourists into Winslow.
   A resolution for the city to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Arizona for construction, engineering and joint administration of the Route 66 Renaissance Phase II Project was approved.
   An ordinance amending an existing ordinance to make fees charged for city services more realistic and reflective of their costs was adopted.
   An ordinance changing the title of the city administrator to city manager and designating the current city administrator as city manager was adopted. The ordinance also contained provisions establishing guidelines for him regarding purchases and other actions he may take.
   Agreements with the Little Colorado River Horseman’s Association and the 4-H Club were approved.
   An agreement with the Standin’ on the Corner Foundation to construct a stage on the southeast corner of the Hubbell property was also approved.