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Minutes Regular City Council Worksession City Council of the City of Yuma, Arizona City Council Chambers - Yuma City Hall One City Plaza, Yuma, Arizona August 4, 2026 5:30 p.m. Call to Order Mayor Nicholls called the Regular City Council Worksession to order at 5:30 p.m. Councilmembers Present: Martinez, Morris, McClendon, Smith, Morales, Watts, and Mayor Nicholls Councilmembers Absent: None Staffmembers Present: Acting City Administrator, John D. Simonton Director of Engineering, David Wostenberg Deputy City Administrator, Jennifer Reichelt Various department heads or their representatives City Attorney, Richard W. Files City Clerk, Janet L. Pierson I. Roadway Safety Action Plan Update Wostenberg introduced Michael Grandy of Kimley-Horn to present the final draft of the Roadway Safety Action Plan, a project that began more than two years ago with City Council’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Grandy presented the following information: • Project Overview • The proposed Roadway Safety Action Plan (RSAP) is intended to serve as a non-binding strategic guide for prioritizing future transportation safety investments. • The plan focuses on reducing fatal and serious injury crashes through data analysis, identification of high-risk locations and contributing factors, and development of targeted safety improvement strategies. • The RSAP establishes a vision of a safe and accessible multimodal transportation system and supports the City's Vision Zero goals by targeting a two-thirds reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes by 2040. The plan also emphasizes improving safety outcomes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. • The RSAP prioritizes improvement projects based on crash frequency, severity, and rates identified through the high-injury network analysis. • Recommended projects are categorized as high, medium, or low priority and address safety needs at signalized intersections, unsignalized intersections, and roadway segments, with the highest-priority projects focused on locations with the greatest safety concerns. • Project Recommendations • High-Priority Projects • 24th Street Corridor – 18th Avenue to 4th Avenue • Enhanced corridor and intersection lighting, turn lane geometry modifications, traffic signal operational improvements, and pedestrian crossing safety enhancements. • Avenue B Corridor – 8th Street to 20th Street • Traffic signal optimization, enhanced crosswalk visibility, turn lane geometry modifications, driveway access improvements near intersections, and intersection widening at 16th Street to improve traffic flow and safety. • 4th Avenue Corridor – 1st Street to Catalina Drive • Turn lane geometry modifications, installation of additional traffic signal heads to improve signal visibility, and traffic signal operational upgrades. • 32nd Street and Pacific Avenue Intersection • Eastbound left-turn lane improvements, expanding or extending the southbound left-turn lane, and updating left-turn signal operations to improve safety and traffic efficiency. • Magnolia Avenue Corridor – 1st Street to 3rd Street • Construction of a shared-use path, intersection enhancements subject to further evaluation, and pedestrian crossing safety improvements near the canal. • 32nd Street and Avenue 3E Intersection • Installation of additional traffic signal heads to improve visibility, enhanced pedestrian-focused intersection lighting, and construction of a bus pull-out on the southeast corner to improve transit operations and safety. • 32nd Street and 8th Avenue Intersection • Enhanced pedestrian lighting, installation of additional traffic signal heads to improve visibility, and driveway access modifications near the intersection to improve safety. • 5th Avenue Corridor – 6th Street to 13th Street • Focus on traffic calming measures to create a safer neighborhood corridor for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, with potential improvements including upgraded stop sign treatments on cross streets to reinforce right-of-way and improve intersection safety. • Public Survey Ranking of High-Priority Projects • Draft High-Priority Project Recommendations • Implementation priorities for the recommended safety projects were developed using both technical evaluation and estimated fiscal impacts. • Lower-cost projects may be incorporated into the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) sooner, while higher-cost projects are expected to require additional funding through future budget allocations or grant opportunities, with project costs and sequencing subject to refinement during future planning. • Systemic Recommendations • The RSAP includes several Citywide strategies to improve roadway safety, including expanded red-light enforcement, more frequent traffic signal optimization, installation of flashing yellow arrow left-turn signals, improved left-turn lane alignment to enhance visibility, and speed management measures on arterial and collector roadways. • The plan also recommends expanding street lighting where feasible, including the use of lower-height lighting in areas with overhead utility constraints, and installing retroreflective backplates to improve signal visibility, particularly at night. • Additional recommendations include reviewing traffic signal timing to ensure compliance with current standards, ending pedestrian crossing phases before signal changes to yellow, standardizing left-turn signage and signal displays, and conducting safety studies on local roads where fatal or serious injury crashes occur to identify potential improvements. • Policy Recommendations • The RSAP recommends four overarching policy priorities: • Protecting vulnerable road users • Enhancing multimodal access • Modernizing transportation infrastructure • Implementing systemic safety countermeasures throughout the transportation network • Additional policy recommendations encourage integrating safety considerations into all phases of transportation planning, design, operations, and maintenance, with an emphasis on proactively improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and other vulnerable road users. • Next Steps • The draft RSAP has been distributed for review, with comments accepted through August 11, followed by submission of the final plan on August 18 and formal adoption anticipated in September. • Following adoption, the City intends to incorporate recommended projects into future CIP planning, pursue implementation funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program and other grant opportunities, and conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation to update safety priorities as conditions change. Discussion • The RSAP identifies driveways near intersections for additional evaluation where access may contribute to crashes. Potential modifications, such as driveway closures or right-in/right-out restrictions, would be evaluated on a site-specific basis and coordinated with affected property owners to maintain reasonable access while improving roadway safety. (Mayor Nicholls/Morris/ Grandy) • The RSAP recommends expanding efforts to address red-light running through targeted police enforcement at high-risk locations and evaluation of automated enforcement where appropriate and legally permissible. Additional measures could include red-light indicator lights on traffic signals to help officers identify violations, with priorities informed by crash data and public input. (Morris/Grandy) • It is too early to determine the safety impacts of the City's recently implemented smart traffic signal system, as signal timing optimization and system integration are still underway. (Morris/Wostenberg) • Once fully operational, the system is expected to provide traffic data that can help identify red-light running trends by location and time of day, supporting targeted enforcement and traffic safety initiatives. Staff also reported that a red-light running prevention program is being introduced through the City's Traffic Safety Committee. (Morris/Wostenberg) • The RSAP does not identify any specific need for property acquisition or eminent domain, as those determinations would occur during future project design. Any potential property impacts would be presented to the City Council as part of the project development process. (Morales/Grandy) • The City seeks to acquire needed property through negotiation with property owners whenever possible, with eminent domain considered only as a last resort if necessary to complete a project. (Morales/Simonton) • Crash data indicates that many fatal and serious injury crashes occur at night and frequently involve pedestrians and bicyclists, making visibility a significant safety consideration. Recommended improvements include enhanced lighting at intersections and crosswalks to make pedestrians and traffic control devices more visible to motorists, particularly at night and during turning movements. (Martinez/Grandy) • Several high-priority corridors identified in the Road Safety Action Plan are already connected to the City's traffic management system, while additional traffic signals continue to be integrated and coordinated. (Mayor Nicholls/Wostenberg) • Staff is implementing a phased process to optimize signal timing along major corridors, coordinate new traffic signals and pedestrian crossings with adjacent intersections, and utilize the traffic management system to make ongoing timing adjustments that improve traffic flow and restore coordination following emergency vehicle preemption. (Mayor Nicholls/Wostenberg) • Communities are addressing concerns related to e-bikes and motorized scooters through measures such as establishing speed limits on sidewalks and shared-use paths. These approaches are intended to improve safety and provide a practical means of enforcing appropriate operating speeds for emerging devices. (Mayor Nicholls/Grandy) • The RSAP will be revised to remove language suggesting that safety has historically been an "afterthought." Updated language will emphasize safety as a guiding principle throughout planning, design, operations, and maintenance while recognizing its longstanding role in engineering and transportation decision-making. (Mayor Nicholls/Grandy) • Flashing yellow arrow left-turn signals continue to be considered as potential safety and traffic flow improvements. Future implementation will be based on performance data, including evaluation of existing installations and consideration of broader deployment based on demonstrated effectiveness. (Mayor Nicholls/McClendon) • Analysis of available crash data and police crash reports was used to identify contributing factors and trends associated with fatal and serious injury crashes. The plan uses this information, together with established safety practices, to guide recommended improvements while recognizing that human behavior remains the primary contributing factor in many crashes. (Martinez/Grandy) II. Council Worksessions and Community Conversations Reichelt presented the following overview of proposed meeting structures and formats for City Council Worksessions and community conversations, building on dialogue held during the 2026 City Council Retreat: • Current City Council Meetings and Worksessions • The City Charter requires regular City Council meetings, while the meeting schedule is established by ordinance and may be modified through City Council action. • Worksessions and executive sessions may be adjusted by motion, providing flexibility to change their frequency, time, location, or format. Discussion • Scheduling worksessions and meetings with at least one working day between them would allow additional time for research, preparation of follow-up information, and review prior to City Council action, while keeping both meetings within the same week. Holding Worksessions in Room 190 could provide a more collaborative meeting environment and better utilize available technology. (Morris) • Holding worksessions earlier in the same week would provide additional time to receive community feedback, follow up with staff, and consider information before the regular meeting. Room 190 could accommodate typical worksessions, with the option to use the Council Chambers when larger attendance is anticipated. (Smith/Reichelt) • Room 190 offers a more informal, collaborative setting that can encourage closer interaction among City Council and staff. Previous concerns with seating configuration, visibility, and audio may be addressed through improved room setup, as well as recent upgrades to microphone, display, broadcast, and streaming technology. (McClendon/Reichelt) • Scheduling worksessions on Mondays could create occasional conflicts with holidays, while maintaining Wednesday City Council meetings would preserve the established schedule and minimize conflicts with other boards and community activities. Room 190 capacity and the legal requirements for relocating a meeting to the Council Chambers if additional space is needed should also be considered. (Mayor Nicholls/Morales/Morris/Reichelt) Reichelt continued her presentation as follows: • Ways to Engage the Community • Two options for community engagement events include informal, open-house-style listening sessions focused on interaction with residents, or more structured sessions centered on specific topics such as current Colorado River water issues or hot weather preparedness and safety. • Each format has different logistical and legal considerations that would need to be addressed before scheduling. • Community Meeting Options • Community engagement events could be structured with the full City Council, smaller groups of two or three councilmembers, or individual councilmembers holding informal listening sessions at various locations throughout the year. • More structured, topic-focused events could also be held when appropriate, with facilitators, subject-matter experts, and an organized process for gathering public input. • Meeting Considerations • Attendance by four or more councilmembers would constitute a quorum and trigger Open Meeting Law requirements, including posting an agenda and preparing a recording or minutes. • The number and timing of community events should also account for available facilities and staffing while avoiding overburdening residents with too many meetings. • Branding Opportunities • Community engagement events could be branded with a recognizable name and logo and promoted through news releases and a dedicated webpage to help residents connect with elected officials. Discussion • Attendance at informal community conversations may vary depending on the topic, so the format should remain flexible and be adjusted based on participation and effectiveness. Starting with one event could allow the concept to be evaluated before planning a full year, while limiting the number of councilmembers present could reduce concerns about creating the appearance of deliberation or decision-making. (Mayor Nicholls/Reichelt) • Small-group community listening sessions with two or three councilmembers could encourage broader public participation while maintaining an informal setting focused on listening and providing updates. Beginning with this format would allow its effectiveness to be evaluated before determining whether to hold additional sessions more frequently. (Watts) • A brief community survey could be used to identify topics for focused listening sessions, with two or three councilmembers participating based on their interests or areas of knowledge. Smaller, topic-focused sessions could help keep conversations manageable and productive while ensuring the gathering is not perceived as City Council decision-making or deliberation. (McClendon) • Small, topic-focused groups could create a less intimidating environment and allow councilmembers to prepare in advance, consult subject-matter experts, and provide accurate information to residents. Holding an initial session in the fall could establish the format and provide an opportunity to address community questions and misinformation through direct conversation. (Smith) • Combining small-group sessions with specific topics could help attract residents interested in particular issues by connecting community conversations to matters currently before City Council and giving residents additional opportunities to provide input. Legal staff could also attend sessions when appropriate to help address potential legal concerns. (Morales/Reichelt) • Community engagement events could use a variety of formats depending on the topic and purpose, including both focused discussions and general listening sessions. Informal interactions could also help residents connect with councilmembers on a more personal level while providing opportunities to share feedback and concerns. (Martinez) • Structured, topic-focused community events could provide residents with a venue for two-way conversations on issues that cannot be discussed during Call to the Public and may encourage greater participation. Full City Council participation could broaden engagement but would require additional Open Meeting Law considerations, including recording, minutes, staffing, and safeguards against deliberation. An initial event could be held before the end of the year. (Morris/Reichelt) Reichelt summarized City Council’s direction to plan an initial community engagement event with the full City Council in the fall before determining the format for future events, move worksessions to Mondays, maintain regular City Council meetings on Wednesdays, and explore relocating worksessions to Room 190. III. Regular City Council Meeting Agenda of August 5, 2026 Motion Consent Agenda Item C.12 – Contract Award: Partnership Development and Implementation Management Services for the Yuma Innovation District (Authorize the award of a professional services contract with WT Partnership of Austin, Texas for Partnership Development and Implementation Management Services for the Yuma Innovation District, in an amount not to exceed $270,000.00.) (RFQ-26-226) (City Admin) Discussion • The consultant will provide advisory services for the public-private partnership process, including identifying qualified investors and developers, assisting with procurement documents, and supporting the selection of a development partner for the innovation hub and future district. (Smith/Simonton) • The public-private partnership process will include City Council participation to identify project priorities and goals. Existing Brownfields planning documents will serve as the initial foundation, with individual meetings with councilmembers planned during the first phase of the project to gather input. (Smith/Simonton) • Development of the Innovation District is planned as a phased effort, beginning with the innovation hub and efforts to secure private investment for its construction and occupancy, then expanding to additional areas as property is acquired and investment opportunities increase. (Morales/Simonton) ____________ Motion Consent Agenda Item C.3 – Cooperative Purchase Agreement: Amazon Business (Authorize the purchase of various products offered from Amazon Business utilizing Omnia Partners cooperative purchase agreement at an estimated annual amount of $500,000.00.) (CPA-27-016) (Fin) Discussion • The cooperative purchasing agreement with Amazon is intended to provide an efficient procurement option for items that are not readily available through local vendors. City staff will continue to prioritize local purchasing whenever feasible, using Amazon primarily to streamline procurement of needed goods when local sourcing is unavailable or impractical. (McClendon/Simonton) • The authorized spending under the cooperative purchasing agreement represents approximately 0.5% of the City's annual operating budget for non-personnel expenditures. (Mayor Nicholls/ Simonton) Executive Session/Adjournment Motion (Morales/Smith): To adjourn the meeting to Executive Session. Voice vote: approved 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. ___________________________ Janet L. Pierson, City Clerk APPROVED: ___________________________ Douglas J. Nicholls, Mayor Approved at the City Council Meeting of: ___________________________________ City Clerk: __________________________ Approved at the City Council Meeting of: ___________________________________ City Clerk: __________________________