Mission Lane Street Lighting Denied By City Council, 4-3

On Oct. 13, Hudgens cited the disrepair of the street, which he said was promised by the city to be addressed per a 1988 annexation agreement, also noting that only one of the three street lights he requested was installed in front of his Mission Lane properties since that time.

One month later, Hudgens repeated the issues to the council, adding that storm water drainage has also been a longstanding problem on the street. Hudgens urged the council and city manager to utilize city tax revenues and enlist a civil engineer to resolve the issues.

Hudgens again approached the council this week to investigate the situations.

“I’ve heard Mr. Hudgens’ complaints several times and I think he has some valid questions. I was wondering if they were going to be answered by anybody within the city,” Wischmann said.

The councilman then questioned City Manager Ray Alley’s compliance with city regulations when repaving street surfaces in concrete, citing an ordinance stating that Holbrook streets are to be paved with asphalt.

“I’m also wondering why we have a (paving) quote here for $4 million when money seems to be found for everything else by city staff,” he said, referring to an engineer’s estimate Payne had requested to aid in the discussion.

Wischmann moved to install four street lights on Mission Lane per Hudgens’ request, with Councilman Tim Dixon tendering a second.

“Although the road looks fairly good and I think it’s something we should put in our plan for the future, one of the things I’d like to see done immediately–and it’s one of my pet peeves throughout all of Holbrook–is to replace street lights that are out. We should at least place four or five street lights in this particular area before we end up in a lawsuit. I do believe we are going to end up in one, and I do believe there are going to be some major injuries. These items are not that expensive,” Wischmann added.

Payne agreed that the council should assess the associated costs for lighting and paving the affected areas of Mission Lane to determine the best course of action, mainly due to the number of children and pedestrian traffic at the location.

Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle conceded that the city could theoretically purchase asphalt paving material and equipment, albeit at a prohibitive upfront cost.

In October, a one-mile stretch of McLaws Road was minimally top-surfaced in asphalt by the Arizona Department of Transportation at the cost of $800,000, Alley said. He estimated an equivalent project in concrete for Mission Lane to cost roughly $400,000.

Alley and City Clerk Cher Reyes confirmed during the discussion that city zoning codes say that streets may be paved with materials other than asphalt with council approval, and that this ordinance has never been modified. Alley noted that he has seen no major failures while replacing the city’s asphalt-paved streets with concrete over the course of the past five years, and that he is pleased with the material’s performance.

Councilman Dixon disagreed with Alley’s assessment. “I drive a very stout vehicle–a school bus–each morning and afternoon, and driving over Erie Street gives me pains in my back,” he said.

Early on, Dixon had thanked Alley for the timely repair of damaged safety fencing at the Apache Avenue railroad crossing, but noted damaged pavement and graffiti as items he said Alley has neglected to resolve since the council outlined the city’s five-year goals on Oct. 6. Dixon also cited a “smashed derby car” remaining at the county fairgrounds, which he said was not removed following the county fair event as he requested.

As the discussion escalated, the topic volleyed between the paving and lighting issues.

Councilman Richard Peterson questioned whether, from the time the Mission Lane subdivision was annexed, a misguided expectation of priority has taken root, and offered to the council that the matter can best be resolved through direct communication with Alley and his staff. “An open call to the public is not the way I think we want to resolve this. There are other areas throughout the city that have no lights that also need to be addressed; right now we don’t have that information,” he said.

Mayor Bobby Tyler agreed that the city’s infrastructure issues are currently being addressed in line with its projected goals, and commended Alley for his progress.

Alley noted that street lighting installation at the city’s northern end is heavily governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates light emissions and other visual impacts surrounding all airport facilities and controlled airspace, including the Holbrook Municipal Airport. It’s likely that the agency would restrict the installation of any additional street lights in the area, he said.

The debate inflamed Carlisle, who opposed the possibility of added light pollution, and criticized the notion of lawsuit liability.

“Flagstaff has a low-light requirement. I grew up on a ranch, and there were no lights all over the place. Nobody considered me about my safety at night, and I don’t think it’s necessary. Why would we want to pollute the skies with more light? Where is the liability of the (nighttime) driver? Where is that responsibility? Is the city responsible for every driver?” asked Carlisle.

Wischmann retorted, “Another lecture.”

The motion ultimately failed in a 4-3 vote, with Wischmann, Dixon and Councilman Myron Maxwell voting in favor of it, and Carlisle, Tyler, Peterson and Payne opposed.

In other action Dec. 8, the council:

* Proclaimed Jan. 27-29, 2016, as Hashknife Pony Express Week.

* Approved a donation of $4,000 to the Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse to fund food and beverage, lodging and incidental expenses for the annual pony express ride from Holbrook to Scottsdale.

* Heard a presentation by American Youth Soccer Organization Regional Commissioner Galen Knight expressing thanks for the city’s support of the program.

* Tabled possible action regarding a request by the Holbrook Volunteer Fire Department to purchase rescue equipment from Western States Fire Equipment in the amount not to exceed $6,743.19 until Fire Chief Cary Simpson could be present.

* Held the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the zero-dollar lease of real property located at 993 Hermosa St. to First Southern Baptist Church. The ordinance cancels and transfers the previous lease held by religious non-profit group Operation 29:11 for warehousing space.

Vice Mayor Carlisle excused himself from the reading, stating a conflict of interest.

* Approved renewal of a contract with Colby and Powell as the city’s financial auditors for a term of three years.

* Approved the purchase of radios from Motorola Solutions under the state contract for the Holbrook Police Department in the amount not to exceed $5,555.25.

* Heard a report from Alley regarding updates on street repairs. Surface crack sealing was completed this week at a cost of $4,000 for 30 days for the rented equipment.

Water leak damage repairs are being made in the Lewis Subdivision at Strayhand and Coronado streets.

Holiday decoration and lighting installations have been completed city-wide.

The city’s green waste burn site has been relocated north of the wastewater treatment plant. Residents should bring green waste to the transfer site to be compacted on site, and it will then be transported to the new site and burned daily.

City employee Vicki James has announced her retirement, effective Dec. 10. She will be succeeded by Pat Nichols.

* Received an update from Assistant City Manager Randy Sullivan on progress of trails installation at Petroglyph Park, which is slated to complete this week. A grand opening date is set to be scheduled.

* Approved the consent agenda, including payment of claims for Nov. 5 through Dec. 3 in the amount of $327,227.60.

* Approved payment of claims to Walt’s Hardware in the amount of $2,595.20.

* Approved payment of claims to The Tribune-News in the amount of $235.52.