Winslow Chief of Police Ken Arend began his presentation last week to the Winslow City Council by saying that violent crimes are up 91% from last quarter. He later contextualized this data by saying that the reason for this crime increase is because the number of aggravated assaults nearly doubled from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023.
Arend clarified that this isn’t necessarily because people are committing more violent versions of assault, but rather because the number of regular assaults on police officers is up. When an assault that would not be classified as aggravated otherwise is committed against a police officer, it is automatically promoted to aggravated. The police chief says the department currently has no idea why the increase in officer assaults has happened but says they are working on a solution. Arend also further stated that 2021 and 2022 were complete anomalies in terms of how low the crime rates were during those years, and now in 2023, it is rising but still decreasing when the data is viewed from a five-year perspective.
Also, during the meeting, Council Member Jim MacLean had an agenda item put on the agenda to speak about potential problems with the parking code that may arise during what MacLean refers to as Winslow’s downtown “renaissance.” MacLean spoke about how the current code calls for 1.5 parking spaces per family unit of housing, and in the downtown area, there are businesses looking to convert their loft space into residential space. The council member raised this issue to be proactive in adapting the city code to avoid blocking any development that may be restricted by these codes.
City Manager David Coolidge and Trish Stuhan, the city’s attorney, both spoke about how the code is written very vaguely and could benefit from an update with clearer language. However, the real issue is figuring out how the code should be written to best suit the needs of the city. Ultimately, the city decided to research possible ways to write this code so that it does not interfere too heavily with development but also works for the people who would be living in these lofts. Stuhan admitted, “No parking requirements are ever perfect. The other thing we can do if developers come in is to work with them.” The council advised staff to work on a solution to this issue, which will be presented to the council at a future meeting.
During the city council meeting, important proclamations were made to raise awareness and celebrate significant causes. These included recognizing May 5, as “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives’ Awareness Day,” declaring May 15-21, as “National Police Week,” proclaiming May 20 as “Kids to Parks Day” to address childhood obesity and diabetes, and designating May 21-27 as “National Public Works Week” to honor the contributions of public works professionals. These proclamations highlight the city council’s commitment to social issues and community well-being.
In the city manager’s report, several important updates were shared regarding key developments in the local community. Firstly, he addressed the issue of a log jam that formed at Clear Creek due to erosion and snow melt. To resolve this concern, a dedicated team of volunteers diligently worked to clear the log jam. Their efforts proved successful, and the team looked upstream to stop any potential jams that may have arisen sometime in the near future.
Another notable update shared by Coolidge pertains to the ongoing improvements at Route 66 Plaza. The city has undertaken a project to enhance the plaza’s aesthetic appeal by installing new lighting, sod and flowers. These enhancements are expected to revitalize the plaza and create a more welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. As a result, the city has temporarily closed the plaza for the month of May to allow the newly laid sod to take root and facilitate the growth of the planted flowers. This proactive approach demonstrates the city’s dedication to facilitating what MacLean previously referred to as the downtown’s renaissance.
Furthermore, Coolidge addressed a significant milestone in the Winslow levee project, which has been a longstanding priority for the city. After nearly two years of persistent lobbying, the Arizona state budget has allocated a substantial amount of 20 million dollars to support the project. Barring any last-minute changes, this funding represents the final piece needed to complete the ambitious $100 million endeavor.
Lastly, the creation of a burn pit at the Winslow transfer station was highlighted as an initiative to address the disposal of green waste in a more cost-effective manner. While green waste disposal will continue to be free for the public, the city will significantly reduce its expenses by managing the waste internally instead of outsourcing the task to a sanitation company.
In other business, the council:
* Approved reappointment of Brian Law and Brandee Leary to the Historic Preservation Commission until May 1, 2026.
* Approved memorandum of understanding authorizing Navajo County Sheriff’s office to administer the 9-1-1 system’s services and payment processes.
* Approved contract with Pierce Coleman PLLC. for a cost of $174,000 a year for city attorney services, city prosecutor services and for special council services including litigation, development agreements, water, public finance, environmental and similar specialized or expert services.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, in the meeting room, located at 523 West Second St.
