Suggestions on city's partnering with state cause a stir

  A proposal prepared by Yuma City Administrator Mark Watson with 10 ideas on how the city might partner with the state to help during Arizona's financial crisis has caused a bit of a stir.

  The biggest issue apparently centers on Watson's suggestion that the city temporarily lease part of its unused water rights to the state for use by Arizona State Parks or other government agencies. This has led to questions about whether the city could permanently lose a part of its water rights.

  Watson stressed that "permanently selling our water rights is not part of the picture."

  In his proposal, dated Dec. 19 and obtained Wednesday by The Sun, Watson explained that without a water right, the state couldn't obtain any water from the Colorado River nor pump groundwater in the area to develop recreational facilities or other government services along the river.

  He told The Sun there has been talk about wells along the Colorado River that are taking unauthorized river water. "I don't know if that might be a government agency or state parks. But if they run into trouble, we might be able to help."

  Whatever water right that might be leased "would just be a microdot," Watson said. "The thinking behind the idea is that if the state needs to keep the grass green at the Quartermaster Depot, maybe we can help. We're definitely not selling the city's water permanently and in perpetuity."

  Watson said he prepared the 10 ideas in his proposal for Mayor Larry Nelson to take to a meeting of the League of Cities and Towns.

  "It was meant for the mayor," Watson said. "Here's some ideas ... on ways the city could take care of some services."

  The hope is that the proposal might generate discussion on how cities and counties could contract with the state to provide some services locally for a couple of years until the economy improves, Watson explained.

  "It was a idea forum. Maybe there are resources out there with the cities and counties so the state could outsource to us until the economy gets better.'

  For example, he said, all the state's sale tax auditors are in Phoenix and focus on that area. The city might be able to contract with the state to provide that auditing service in Yuma and in the process bring in some additional revenue for the state coffer.

  Sen. Amanda Aguirre said the state always welcomes ideas. However, she felt Watson's suggestions needed further discussion and study to see if they're economically feasible.

  One concern, she said, is that some of the ideas might compete with private enterprise, such as Watson's suggestion that the city contract for the maintenance of state fleet vehicles used in the Yuma area.

  Aguirre also expressed concern that while some of Watson's ideas likely would affect the county, Yuma County officials weren't involved in developing the proposal.

  Supervisor Russell McCloud agreed that he preferred that the city and county had discussed the suggestions before they were presented.

  "We may not always agree," he said. "But at least we would have had input from both sides."

  Mayor Nelson said the proposal was meant only to generate discussion. "They were just ideas for the state to think about. It was a written thought process. I don't know what the state is thinking, but the city is willing to be a partner. Here's some things we could provide locally without the state having to send someone from Phoenix."

  The 10 ideas outlined in Watson's proposal include:

  •  Idea No. 1 -  The state fire marshal’s office can contract with the city of Yuma for inspection services throughout Yuma County that are normally conducted by the state office.

  • Idea No. 2 - The Department of Public Safety can contract with the city of Yuma for traffic enforcement services on the portion of Interstate 8 that falls within Yuma city limits.

  • Idea No. 3 - State of Arizona agencies can contract with the city of Yuma for the rental of heavy equipment used in the Yuma area.

  • Idea No. 4 - The Arizona Department of Water Resources can contract with the city of Yuma for wetlands restoration consulting services for ADWR and its grantees.

  • Idea No. 5 - Arizona State Parks and other governmental agencies can contract with the city of Yuma for the rental of local water allocation.

  • Idea No. 6 - State agencies can contract with the city of Yuma for maintenance of state fleet vehicles used in the Yuma area.

  • Idea No. 7 - The state can contract with the city of Yuma for design and inspection services for water/sewer utilities on state projects.

  • Idea No. 8 - Political subdivisions of the state in the Yuma area (school districts) can contract with the city of Yuma for school playground inspections by certified playground inspectors.

  • Idea No. 9 - The State Land Department can contract with the city of Yuma for the development of conceptual plans for state land located in the Yuma area.

  • Idea No. 10 - The Department of Revenue can contract with the city of Yuma for onsite investigation and collection of sales taxes in Yuma County.

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IDEA 5

  Arizona State Parks and other governmental agencies can contract with the city of Yuma for the rental of local water allocation.

  Currently, along the Colorado River there are many opportunities for Arizona State Parks to develop recreational facilities. However, without an allocation of Colorado River water, it is illegal to divert any water or pump any of the groundwater that is under the influence of the Colorado River. The city of Yuma has one of the most senior rights to Colorado River water in Arizona and, at the present time, uses only about 40 percent of its allocation. The state of Arizona could contract to use a portion of the unused allocation for a defined period of time until the city needs it to support growth in the Yuma area.

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