Last week the Winslow City Council held both a work session and a regular meeting, where a variety of important matters were discussed and presentations were made.
In the work session, Eric Wolverton, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona, introduced an innovative program designed to empower low-income families through homeownership of houses constructed by Habitat for Humanity. This program allows families to move in, pay a manageable monthly fee, and, when the resident leaves, sell the home back to Habitat for Humanity, while retaining the money they’ve paid, totaling $10,000 per year of occupancy. Participants in the program will be allowed to stay as long as 10 years in the program and if they chose to stay that long, they would receive $100,000 to invest in permanent homes. But they do not have to stay that long to get paid, if they stay one year, they will get $10,000, five years will get them $50,000 and so on. These homes, at 500 square feet, are not meant for permanent housing. Eligibility is based on earning less than 80% of the area’s median income.
Wolverton also emphasized the eligibility criteria for this program, indicating that families, including single individuals, earning less than 80% of the area’s median income would qualify. He provided an example based on Flagstaff, where individuals earning less than $60,000 could participate. However, he acknowledged that these income thresholds could be notably lower for Winslow residents where the median income is also significantly lower.
In response to a query by Mayor Roberta Cano regarding the city’s commitment to supporting this initiative, Wolverton explained that the extent of its implementation depended on the community’s urgency in addressing the housing issue. However due to the governor’s commitment to ending the housing crisis, Wolverton expressed confidence in securing substantial support from the Arizona Department of Housing to aid in the funding of the program, further underlining the program’s potential.
During the same special session, Jason Sanks, the city’s Zoning and Hearing officer, took the opportunity to introduce the initial draft of the city’s General Plan. Sanks stressed the importance of creating a flexible plan that outlined broad, adaptable goals for the city’s long-term development. These encompassed ambitious aspirations for housing development and enhancements to the airport. It also explained developers would share the associated costs but incentives might be extended to attract potential investors. The revision of the general plan was long overdue, having remained unchanged for a staggering 22 years, rendering much of its information obsolete.
Transitioning to the regular meeting, Betsyann Wilson from Northland Pioneer College (NPC) shared exciting news regarding the institution’s golden jubilee celebrations. The college is poised to commemorate its 50th anniversary with a series of festive events and very special commencement ceremony for their graduates this year.
NPC also unveiled a suite of new academic programs, each designed to address specific community needs including associate degrees in criminal administration of justice studies, behavior health studies, physical health and performance and computer information systems. NPC is now also offering a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, a pivotal step in addressing the pressing teacher shortage.
Another engaging presentation during the regular meeting came from Laura Rosensweet, the Community Impact Manager with Education Forward Arizona. She provided valuable insights into the future workforce needs in education, revealing an ambitious goal: by 2030, they aim to have 60% of adults possess some form of post-high school education or training.
The council also had the privilege of hearing from Laura Parsons, the organizer of Inkfest, a beloved event that has grown exponentially over the years. What once began as a city-sponsored one-night affair has now transformed into a three-day event many look forward to year-round, attracting art enthusiasts and visitors from near and far. Parsons reported that all local accommodations, including hotels and Airbnb rentals, were entirely booked for the weekend of Inkfest, showcasing the event’s profound impact on the city’s tourism and cultural scene.
Recognizing the significance of Inkfest, Parsons approached the council, seeking a $1,000 donation to support the event. Her request was met with endorsements from council members Darcey McKee and Mayor Birdie Cano, culminating in the council’s official approval of the contribution. The donation underscores the city’s commitment to nurturing its vibrant arts and culture community.
In other business, the council:
* Approved agreement between the city and Winslow Lady Knockouts Softball organization for use of city-owned softball fields.
* Approved memorandum of agreement between the Hopi Tribe, Hopi Tribal Authority, and the city for utility services.
* Accepted grant through Arizona Librarians Fostering Resilient Rural Communities in the amount of $4,000.
* Approved a bid award in the amount of $3.45 million to Restore Pro for new library, waived building permit fees and authorized the city manager to execute all necessary agreements in consultation with the city attorney.
* Authorized the city manager to negotiate with C&S Companies and Coffman Associates for airport engineering design and construction management.
* Designated Margaret Dyer as Chief Fiscal Officer.
* Approved access and utility easement agreement between the city and SJJ Land & Cattle Co. LLC. at no cost to the city.
The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, in the meeting room located at 523 W. Second St.
