City seeking funds for riverfront pathway

Walkers, joggers and bikers may soon have another section of the path along the river to connect them to the planned Yuma Nature Park in the Yuma East Wetlands.

When it meets Wednesday, the Yuma City Council will be asked to approve an application for a federal grant to extend the multiuse pathway system from Gateway Park to the Avenue 2E alignment, a stretch of 1.5 miles.

The section would link completed pathways to the Yuma East Wetlands as well as Riverside Park below Prison Hill. Enhancements would include paved pathways and lighting.

The application seeks a grant of $500,000 through the SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users). The local match of $150,000 would be funded through the part of the recently renewed 2 percent hospitality tax that is allocated to projects within the Yuma  Crossing National Heritage Area.

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

During the meeting, it also will act on the city's preliminary budget, pending adoption of the state budget. The budget for fiscal year 2009-10 is for $241.5 million, which includes an operating budget of $147.1 million and capital improvement program budget of $94.4 million.

In addition, the council will consider an intergovernmental agreement with the city of San Luis, Ariz., for the city of Yuma's Community Development Department to provide building and fire safety design and plan review services as needed to San Luis. The city of Yuma already has a similar agreement with Somerton.

According to a staff report, the agreement would create revenue for the city of Yuma and provide a local resource to San Luis for complex plan reviews at a reduced cost.

Preceding Wednesday's meeting, the Yuma City Council will hold its roundtable worksession at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Yuma City Hall in Conference Room 190. Hank Baer, city utilities director, will provide an update on the Avenue B and C Colonia project to connect the unincorporated residential area to the city's sewer service.

After the roundtable, the council will  move to council chambers for its regular worksession at 5 p.m. The agenda includes a presentation on city capital improvement projects using revenue from the 2 percent hospitality tax.

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