Council tables zone change request in effort to align with state standards

The commission had approved the zone change with certain stipulations, including upgrades to the electrical, plumping, meeting fire code and the removal of hotel signage. In addition to that, David Smith explained that by Arizona standards, the apartment’s sizes are currently not up to code at 225 square feet. “The smallest room to be rented out (according to state code) is 450 square feet. That’s about 22 feet by 20 feet. The apartments that are being rented out do not meet this criteria,” he stated. “I would like to see them to bring detailed proposals and how they plan to meet the minimum standards for long term housing, so that they comply with modern codes.” David Smith also explained the requirement for a communal space and laundry facilities, which is required to have a washer and dryer for every 12 units.

Chairman Sample also stated they had concerns on fire safety as well. “When asked if there’s kitchenettes for those residents, they said no, that the residents cook in those rooms using hot plates, skillets and crock pots, which brought concerns to possible fire hazards.”

City Manager Ted Soltis interjected, saying that if the zone change was approved it would then be up to the city to have the building inspector determine if the wiring and electrical, and fire safety were up to code. “That’s not really the purview of Planning and Zoning, and ultimately, it’s not even your worry (council), it’s staff’s worry. That would be our job.”

“Is staff going to do that though?” asked Sample. “They obviously haven’t been doing that in our community at all. That’s one of the concerns Planning and Zoning has, if they’re not going to meet the standards, we probably wouldn’t have approved it in the first place.”

Kevin Clancey, the managing partner at FTMSNYC LLC, explained the purpose of the low-income housing is for veterans and would not be profitable with the required changes. “I’d have to take those 60 rooms down to 30 rooms to meet that square footage that was mentioned I could never do that,” he stated, “I’d have to charge $1,300 for a studio. There’s no way.”

Clancey explained that it took a lot of effort to improve the space and is currently the largest low-income housing facility in the city, as well as the largest veteran housing facility in Northern Arizona. “I have people living here that are working in Snowflake because there’s no affordable housing there.” Clancey also stated that every month smoke detectors, outlets, and other potential fire hazards are checked in all the rooms.

Vice Mayor Francie Payne stated that the council can have more stringent requirements than the state, but never less than what they require. “I did not realize that none of the other residential places hadn’t applied for a zoning permit. They haven’t. But that sounds like a whole other can of worms for us. I’m sorry to tell Mr. Clancy that we can’t back off of the 450 square feet. It’s required and it’s going to be on us to go back and enforce that with other areas. It’s not fair to penalize him (Clancey) because he’s upfront and coming out, but we also cannot approve it.”

Councilmember Robert Black agreed with Vice Mayor Payne, stating he’s glad Clancey came forward to get the proper zoning change, but it cannot be approved if it doesn’t meet state codes.

Payne believed the council should pass the zoning change, but with the stipulations that the facility would be brought up to code, Mayor Kathleen Smith disagreed. “I feel that as a city, we have to start setting a higher standard, even if the high standard is just the state minimum. How many other motels are doing this? They’re going to say, ‘let us have our zoning change too and we’ll get around to it when we want as well.’”

The council approved tabling the motion for the zoning change, with Mayor Smith, and councilmembers Black, Tim Dixon and Karina Pack voting in favor and Councilmember Michael Nilsson and Vice Mayor Payne voting against. Councilmember Arcenia Pacheco was not in attendance. “Mr. Clancy, we encourage you to come back, after talking to your partner and see what you can do,” said Smith.

The council also discussed the General Plan timeline and discussions, specifically regarding the technical advisory committee. The technical advisory committee would consist of members from organizations in the community to review the general plan and offer recommendations. Mayor Smith stated that City Manager Soltis will reach out to have a representative from the listed local entities to be on the committee: Navajo County District Supervisor, Holbrook Planning and Zoning, Holbrook Unified School District, Northland Pioneer College, landowners, someone from the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center, Holbrook Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, National Park Service, Arizona Public Service, Unisource and the Navajo County Historical Society. The council agreed to appoint the members by the second council meeting in May, then begin the committee meetings in June.

City Manager Ted Soltis provided a budget timeline and priorities, in which he stated he expects to have preliminary budget numbers on May 25 and a final hearing on the budget on June 22.

Mayor Smith said that she researched how other cities and towns receive citizen input for their budgets, such as public hearings or online surveys, and asked the council if they had any ideas on how to receive resident input.

Vice Mayor Payne stated that she thinks that public hearing is enough due to the budget already being in place at that time. “I just don’t want people to say ‘well, I went out and told them, and they just ignored me’,” she added, explaining a lot of the budget had to go to equipment of infrastructure issues.

City Manager Soltis agreed and stated that the city has just enough resources to replace equipment that is too old to work, but have budgeted to improve the parks. This will include new playground equipment in Litzitsky Park, Hunt Park and Lewis Park, replace the skateboard park, tennis courts and basketball courts at Hunt Park, and put in new pickleball courts and put in a new trail. “All this is in the budget; all this is from grant money.”

Councilmember Black asked if there was a timeline for these park upgrades, to which Soltis replied that there are issues with getting the needed materials ordered.

Mayor Smith asked if there was a master plan design to send out to the press that summarizes all these future plans, to which Soltis replied that the city hasn’t gotten to that stage yet. “I still feel it’s important that the public has at least a say where their tax dollars are going, that is our responsibility as council to say, ‘Hey, these are the priorities first.’ But for us to say, ‘No, we don’t want your input, because we don’t want to let you down’? I think they’re mature enough to understand that there’s budget constraints,” said Smith.

The council also held a charter review discussion. “We talked about how every four years our charter is supposed to be reviewed by a citizen panel. It cannot be an elected official and it can’t be city staff,” explained Smith. Smith added that it is supposed to be a seven-member charter and the council will put in a request for those who would like to be on the commission in The Tribune. Of those who are interested, the mayor will then appoint the members with consent of the council.

Steven Carbonneau spoke during the call to the public for non-agenda items about the city’s parks. Carbonneau stated he and his family enjoy the parks but wished there were more shaded areas for picnics as well as better skate park equipment.

Manager Soltis announced the city is now instituting a tool rental program to help citizens with cleanup. “We will have tools available; they’ll just have to pay a deposit. Tools will be available at the transfer site for folks that need tools for cleaning up the yards and so forth.”

The Mayor proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, as well as Happy Holbrook Month.