Council may put call to public at meetings' end

When it meets this week, the Yuma City Council will consider adoption of an ordinance that would permanently move the call to the public at the end of the council's regular meeting after all other business has been conducted.

The measure was proposed by Councilman Paul Johnson, who said having the call to the public at the beginning of the meeting can delay discussion and possible action on city business by up to an hour. This can be inconvenient for business people who may attend to observe and perhaps comment, he said.

But the matter has been controversial, with several people voicing their opposition during the Feb. 6 meeting when the ordinance was introduced. Call to the public provides an opportunity for people to address the council regarding items that are not on that day's meeting agenda. If the ordinance is adopted, people would still be able to comment on an agenda item at the time it is before the council.

The council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at Yuma City Hall, One City Plaza.

In other business, the council also will consider:

• Adopting an ordinance to require a conditional use permit by membership organizations to have a meeting place in the Old Town District. That would not include groups that are having outdoor special events.

• Acting on an agreement to authorize a multi-party contract to undertake long-term maintenance of the Yuma East Wetlands as part of a program supported by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Multi-Species Conservation Program.

• Awarding a bid to DPE Construction Inc., a local contractor, for improvements to 8th Avenue from 24th to 32nd streets. The bid is for $1.28 million.

• Awarding a bid for 5th Street pedestrian improvements to Cemex Construction Materials South of Yuma at a cost of $62,899. The project will be adjacent to Roosevelt Elementary School and near Fourth Avenue Junior High School to enhance the safety of students who are walking to school.

In addition to Wednesday's regular meeting, the council will hold a roundtable meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, followed at 6 p.m. by its regular work session.

Typically, the roundtable is held in conference room 190 but was moved to the Council Chambers to allow telecasting of the meeting, which includes a briefing by Jay Simonton, utilities director, regarding a water and wastewater rate study. Also, Laurie Lineberry, director of community development, will present an overview of mobile food vendors and possible changes to the city code that would allow permitting for such businesses.

Agenda items for the regular work session include follow-up on an earlier discussion about feather banners and abandoned signs, and a presentation regarding the Yuma Expressway Planning Assistance for Rural Area Corridor Study.

Complete agendas for the meetings are available on the city's website at yumaaz.gov.

For those who are unable to attend a meeting in person, city council meetings and work sessions are broadcast live on Time Warner Channel 73.