Council to get briefing on proposed fleet maintenance upgrades

The city's consultant on building a new fleet maintenance facility will go over the plan in depth and discuss the city's options tonight at the Yuma City Council work session.

After a false start on the plan last month, Yuma City Administrator Joyce Wilson asked consultants from the Phoenix firm of Carter & Burgess, Inc. to come to Yuma and discuss the proposal with the council in person.

The meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. in city council chambers, 180 W. 1st. St. It will also be televised live on the city's cable channel 73.

When Public Works Director Bob Wagner originally outlined the plan for the council, the proposal included closing 14th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues. Although Mayor Larry Nelson said at the time that he thought closing the street was a "great" idea, Vice Mayor Karen Hill and Councilman Ed Hansberger raised concerns about it.

Because of their concern, Wilson said she asked the public works department to reassess the proposed site to see if it could be used effectively without closing 14th Street. She also said she recommended holding off on any further expenses of site design until the consultant had a chance to explain the project.

If the council is still not comfortable with the site, the city could examine whether other sites might be more suitable, Wilson said.