Purchasing procedures, controversial rezoning on council agendas

During Tuesday's Yuma City Council roundtable, staff will give a presentation on laws governing local preference as they relate to purchasing procedures.

The presentation will be followed by comments by invited community individuals concerning their views and the effect of purchasing procedures on local businesses.

The roundtable will be held at 3 p.m. today at Yuma City Hall, Conference Room 190, One City Plaza.

During the meeting, the council also will continue its discussion of plans to improve 1st Avenue between 20th and 28th streets as identified in the 2005 Major Roadways Plan.

The discussion is being held by the council as it examines various street segments listed in the Roadways Plan to consider whether the planned improvements are still needed and desired. Continuing that process, the council today also will hear an overview of 3rd Street between Avenues A and B.

The roundtable will be followed by the regular council work session to be held at 5 p.m. in the council chambers. During that meeting, the city's semi-annual investment report will be given by Pat Wicks, city finance director, and Linda Patterson of Patterson and Associates.

The council again will consider a request to rezone property at 3130 S. Winsor Ave. during the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers.

Property owner Rick Fee is requesting that the parcel be rezoned from high density residential to limited commercial, saying he can't market the property with the current zoning because it lies within an airport overlay district.

His request had been continued from the June 18, Aug. 6 and Sept. 17 meetings after several area residents objected to the rezoning. One concern they expressed is that the property might be developed as a self-storage facility, while others objected to the allowed building height of 40 feet.

Council at the Sept. 17 meeting directed staff to craft a development agreement addressing three issues: allowable building height be modified to a maximum of 30 feet and no more than two stories, no deliveries between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and a preference be for office buildings rather than a storage facility.

The meetings are all open to the public.


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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.