During the regular meeting of the Winslow City Council last week, Finance Director Elias Jouen proposed an amendment to Ordinance 637 modifying the fee schedule for some city services.
The amendment included new fees to be collected for using McHood Park including daily ramadas rental of $20 for three hours, an overnight camping fee of $15, a day use fee of $7 per vehicle, and an annual day use pass of $40 for residents and $100 for non-residents. The fees are to be paid prior to use at City Hall, located at 21 N. Williamson Ave.
Vendors are permitted at McHood Park and will be subject to a 10 percent of gross sales contribution to the city. Vendors are required to possess a peddler’s permit and transaction privilege tax. Mayor Tom McCauley said, “This is the city trying to maintain a gem that we have and it costs money to keep it clean.”
Councilwoman Samantha Crisp expressed her concern for the fees and said, “Are we looking at residents of lower income with these fees? We have a lot of families that do use the creek. Is it possible to do a tiered fee schedule or waiver in some cases?”
Jouen replied, “We arrived at this after a long process of analysis of cost allocation and this doesn’t even come close to city cost for maintaining the park. This is a nominal fee that we are going to test, a starting point. It is nowhere near what we should levy to cover the cost to maintain the park.”
Winslow City Manager Steve Pauken added, “This is similar to what a lot of state parks charge per car load. We know we are never going to make money at McHood Park. If this proves to be a burden, it is our responsibility to reevaluate what we need to do. We will be watching it closely in the first year.”
Other fee changes include an increase in residential garbage pick up from $27.57 to $28.95 per residential customer and the fee for replacing a Winslow Library card has decreased from $5 to $3.
The council approved the entire fee schedule, which can be found on the city website at www.winslowaz.gov.
The council also approved a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to be awarded to the Winslow Police Department. The grant, in the amount of $35,019 will be used by the WPD to purchase a DUI enforcement vehicle package. The vehicle will be outfitted with WPD insignia and will serve as a mobile command unit for use by the Route 66 DUI Task Force as well as the department in other events.. According to Chief Dan Brown, it will operate during various events throughout the year and will contain booking and testing capabilities. The vehicle will be in use as soon as next month.
The council also approved a grant agreement between the City of Winslow and the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics division. Monies will be used to perform a one-inch mill and asphalt concrete overlay as well as pavement markings of the displaced threshold of Runway 4-22 at Winslow Lindbergh Regional Airport. The grant is in the amount of $144,641 with the City of Winslow to match 10 percent of that amount, or $14,464. Funds have been budgeted in the City’s airport account.
It was also noted that current board and commission vacancies are three on the Arts Council, two on the Board of Adjustment and one on the Airport Commission.
In other business, the council:
* Approved the monthly financial report. Citywide revenues for the month of September totaled $1.2 million. General fund revenues totaled $477,000, bringing year to date General Fund revenues to $1.1 million or 11.64 percent of the budget. Citywide expenditures totaled $1.7 million bringing year to date totals to $4 million.
* Approved a contract between the City of Winslow and Viking Specialty Contracting for the asbestos abatement and demolition of a property located at 104 W. First St. The contract is in the amount of $197,817.
* Accepted the canvasing of votes and election returns from the Nov. 6 election in conjunction with the statewide election. A total of 2,287 votes were cast, 10 were rejected and not counted.
* Adopted an ordinance authorizing the sale of real property, identified as Parcel No. 103-34-008 located at 1102 East Second Street to Steven Pyles for $12,000. The property is located in the commercial zone within the Route 66 overlay, which allows for commercial and residential uses.
* Canceled the regular meeting of the Winslow City Council scheduled for Nov. 27.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the council chambers located at 115 E. Second Street.
