During last week’s Winslow City Council meeting, City Manager David Coolidge delivered updates that spanned both community development and city operations. He first reported on several ongoing housing and commercial projects, noting a revised planned area development that was originally intended mainly for RV spaces but is now being redesigned to include 132 permanent homes, 75 RV sites and a small commercial area. The developer, he said, is working closely with city staff to finalize the master plan within the two-year approval window. The site will be located on North Road in the lot behind Maverik. Coolidge also described another proposed master-planned community near Mike’s Pike, along the east side of Desert View, which would bring 295 single-family lots. That project is still in the early stages, with engineering and impact studies expected to take another 12 to 18 months before formal development review.
On the commercial front, Coolidge said the Circle K on North Park Drive between Mojo’s Café and McDonald’s has cleared plan review and could receive construction permits within three to six months, while the proposed Hampton Inn is planned to go in near The Winslow Hotel on North Park Drive and can move forward once a general contractor is selected. Meanwhile, renovation of the former Bashas’ building on North Park Drive as well is progressing quickly, with plans to reopen soon as an Ace Hardware.
Coolidge also highlighted ongoing infrastructure and capital improvements. Following recent heavy rains, the city opened sandbag stations, cleared culverts, and carried out floodway maintenance. He publicly thanked local businesses and residents who provided sand, bags, and volunteer labor to help with flood control efforts.
Design work is now complete for the long-awaited downtown restroom project, which will include two railcar-style buildings situated on the former Elks parcel near First Street and Kinsley Avenue. The concept preserves existing parking and retains a mature shade tree on-site. The city expects to advertise for construction bids in January.
Finally, Coolidge said the new 2-million-gallon municipal water tank, funded through federal appropriation, remains in the environmental review phase which Coolidge has previously said would be the phase of the project that takes the longest. Once those approvals are complete, construction is expected to take about 12 months to finish. It will go in at the city’s well field southwest of town.
Old Trails Museum Director Ann-Mary Lutzick gave her quarterly report with museum news centered on the Route 66 centennial which holds a litany of events and initiatives aimed at serving the anticipated increased tourism and celebrates the highway that made Winslow what it is.
The Winslow Historical Society’s annual meeting is set from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, in council chambers and will feature a Route 66 storytelling program by Laura Hemling as well as a full overview of the museum’s goings on. The museum’s historical calendar, 100 Years of Route 66 in Winslow, is slated for a December release. An exhibition of the same name will open Saturday, Jan. 10, in the meeting room at the Hubble Building with an outdoor installation planned near the 9/11 Memorial Garden. A March 21, speaker program will revisit the 1928 “Bunyan Derby” footrace across Northern Arizona. Lutzick also invited volunteers who can help host visitors to the museums on Saturdays because currently none of their volunteers are available. For more information about the museum or to become a volunteer email info@oldtrailsmuseum.org.
Also during the meeting, the council renewed the contract with Alex Magallanes of Stage on Business Solutions to provide business classes and business consulting services free to residents at a cost to the city of $6,250 a month for a 12-month term. They will deliver access to-week business development program. They will also be available once a month for a Zoom meeting to help local entrepreneurs, hold seminars in person and hold office hours for the public to ask questions. For more information you can contact the team at Solutions@stageoneaz.com.
In other business, the council:
* Approved audit report for fiscal year 2024-2025.
* Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the city and the Navajo County’ Sheriff’s Office for Winslow Police Department to receive part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant provided by the United States Department of Justice once it is awarded the county to enhance drug, gang and violent crime enforcement.
* Approved a change to municipal code restricting the use of fireworks to private property only permitted between June 24 and July 6 as well as Dec. 26 and Jan. 4, as well as prohibiting use of fireworks between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. except on Dec. 31, Jan. 1, and July 4 and 5.
