Council - Regular Meeting

That's rocket ball. I should have had my This is where I go get it.

Welcome to everybody tonight. I will open the regular meeting of city council. It's February 11th, 2026. The time is 5:31. I invite everybody to stand for a moment of silence after which councelor Hettinger will lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Madam clerk, will you please do roll call? Mayor Kidman here. Vice Mayor Pharaoh here. Councelor Hedinger here. Councelor Pller here. Councelor Roundtree is excused. Councelor Hammond is absent.

Item number three, consent agenda, items 3, 1, 3, 2, and 33. Mr. Mayor, I move to approve the consent agenda. Second. Have a motion from councelor Pller and a second from councelor Hettinger. All in favor say I. I. eyes have it. Thank you. Item number four here from the citizens. We do have couple of blue cards. Looks like uh Amanda's joining. Oh, you want to say something about that? Councelor Hammond, can you hear us? I can. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you for joining. 532. We will start with um Gail Priest. Uh just state your full name and city of residence and you will have three minutes. My name is Gayla Priest and I'm a resident of Paige for 44 years. Um, I'm concerned about the community center. The restrooms have been limited to uh one stall for several months and then closed down completely, replaced uh by at least uh one stall working, one stall not working in the community center. They've been replaced by an outhouse outside the building which has been placed in front of a gravel area which is not conducive to wheelchair or walker people who are using walkers to be able to use it. There is also no heater in the outhouse. So if you're going out there in 30°ree weather, it's a little bit chilly. Um the there's quite a few seniors who use the community center every day. I am one. Um, I have some issues uh being able to be able to use the bathroom when I'm there. Um, I know there's a lot of people in the park who also use that facility for restrooms and um I'm not really um know how many, but at least 40 to 60 people a day are at that community center. So, that's a lot of people that are without being able to use the restrooms. Um, I understand that the restrooms were

recently renovated in 2025 and this has been a problem since the renovation was done and completed. So, evidently it's not working and it wasn't working when it was completed. Um, I think this responsibility falls under public works. Um I have not been able to contact anyone in public works. I was told that there was nobody there that it was vacant position. So um do you know when it will be filled? Um other than that that's you know I'd really like to uh urge the council to look into the community center and getting that u b the restrooms completed and working for the public. Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, next we will have Michelle Zia. Good evening. You know me by now. Hello neighbors. Nice to see you guys. So tonight I want to talk about construction and for you to consider what it could be like for we're hearing 5 to 10 years worth of construction. Um, but let's just say it's five years and we have construction going on where there's egress and ingrass on 89 and 98. And these are highways that already have, especially in front of Horseshoe Bend, significant issues with accidents. Paige PD can confirm that. Um, we've been working for years. I worked for the park before and we were working for years on um managing those traffic issues there. Some fatal, some really bad ones. So, uh some of us are wondering how you're going to manage these say a loaded 15 ton construction vehicle dump truck. um you know cruising up and down 89 or 98 you know dozens of those a day every day for five years possibly 10 years 89 and 98 are scenic highways they don't just lead to Paige people traverse through Paige maybe to Paige

and then onto Monument Valley Grand Canyon Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef. Don't forget Glenn Canyon National Recreation Area is right here. All of those places have been preserved. Paige has been preserved. People have been conservative about what they do with the land here. The land's important to the Navajo Nation. We have public lands surrounding us. We are a destination for the beauty, the natural beauty. This is not us. We are kids riding bikes. Kenna, we're people riding dirt bikes and hiking and I my husband and I ride quads up to the top of the pee for that amazing view. Anybody else been out there? We don't want to look at a data center. Nobody wants that. Okay, your your time is up.

Thank you very much.

Um, last we have Angie Crim. Hi, my name is Angie Crim. I live here locally in Paige. I am a business owner and I own Big John's Texas Barbecue and I own the Barnyard and I am a taxpayer. Um about 2022 before the barnyard started being built, um I'm here to speak about the sidewalks and the lighting on Hall Road. In 2022, I started um communicating with the city uh imploring the city to um put some sidewalks and lighting on Hall Road. But I knew how important it would be for my business, for the hotels that are local, um, for people to get back and forth and walk safely, for my staff to walk safely back and forth to work in the daylight and in the evening time. And I have um sent letters, I've sent emails, I've this is probably the fourth time I've come spoken to the city council, imploring the city council to please put uh lighting and sidewalks on Hall Road. I see that obviously that was done uh dur at the end of Hall Road where a paracub is and all that and I think that's great. Um I'm happy for um that it's a start, but I'm here to ask I was told that this is a good time of year to come before the council because the budget is going to be made and to see if the city could put that in their budget to uh extend the lighting and the sidewalks on Hall Road. There's it's not I know at one point it was industrial. It's not just industrial anymore. The ranchets are there. I don't have to tell you guys and some of you may live there. How many folks live on that road? How many kids are going to be heading down

to the new splash pad and to the paracub or I have a friend that owns a business? She has staff that um lives in housing there. The J1s that come over from other countries, they don't have vehicles. um they would love to simply walk to Walmart and purchase items for their home and they can't really do that. I don't know if any of you have ever attempted to ride a bike or walk on Hall Road, but it is not safe. So, um obviously we have a coffee shop coming in. There's hotels on that road. Um and it's not just about me, of course. Yeah, I'm here because I have a business and I'd like the support, but I just think that that's no longer an industrial area. And I would hate to see somebody have to get hurt or get killed on that road before the city makes the decision to make that a priority and put that in the budget. Um, like I said, it's just been really frustrating for me. This being my almost fourth year to come before the city and beg for some help. As a business owner, I have never asked for anything from the city and I don't think this is asking too much. So, I would definitely um urge the council to put that in the budget to keep our um our local community safe and to keep our visitors safe. I'd appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Thank you.

Okay. Item five, reports and announcements. Um, from the mayor, from myself, I have just a review of last meetings um, call for letters of interest for the open county or open council seat that was vacated when we lost a dear friend. Um, those the letters of interest are needed to be submitted by February 19th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. to the city clerk's office. Just a reminder on the qualifications for anybody interested, they need to be 18 years old, at least a qualified elector, and residing within the city of Paige and has lived in Paige at least one year from the date of appointment or prior to the date of appointment. And that is the only thing that I I wanted to review. So for item number 52, city manager's current event summary. We'll turn that over to manager Marberry.

Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. Just a couple tonight. One note, state legislation has changed the if I get this right, the primary dates coming up. So, I wanted to let everyone know that the new primary is August 4th,

July 21st. Okay. So, it's been moved up two weeks from August 4th to July 21st. So, please note that in your calendars and I think that moves everything up two weeks for that election. So, um can I throw you under the bus and say if anyone's got questions to ask the city clerk? So, yeah, if you have questions on that, feel free to to contact the city clerk's office. She's got all of that information. Um, and the other one, I just want to go back to the meeting last Thursday. That was a big long meeting and and just want to recognize my executive assistant, Robin Crother, that set up that whole meeting and took care of everything. And without her, I couldn't get anything done. And so I just wanted to thank her for that and and make sure everyone knew that that meeting went so smoothly because of her. So thank you so much.

Thank you.

Item number six, uh, boards and commissions council leaison reports from any board meetings since our last council meeting. We'll start with councelor Pharaoh and then councelor Hinger. Yeah, we had the uh the airport the newly formed uh airport advisory board met. This is their second meeting and they went over a number of of items to include that the airport master plan is now on the website. They talked about a a number of priorities they're working out and understand what the rules are of the operation of the airport and they're coming together nicely to figure out how to look at how that airport works under the direction of Lore who's working um to everything from parking to the buildings and there's going to be a item on our agenda tonight that they voted on.

Councilor Hinger.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on February 2nd. Our planning and zoning director, Sylvia Schaefer, gave an update on the downtown revitalization project and how that's going. Um, they are continuing to gather input from the public and from business owners. So, if anyone's interested in more information, you can visit page beautifification.com. Um, in case you haven't seen the signs, I know there's one at the library and they've got a couple around town, but the website is also a great source. Um they're preparing the paracub for an open house that will be on March 2nd. And then equipment for the updated lighting at the sports complex has been ordered and should be arriving in early March at which point they can schedule the installation of it. And then the other thing um that the board discussed was priorities for next year's fiscal budget. And one of those ideas that they're um that they've really been diving into is creating an urban trail system. And so I know staff is working on uh looking into a couple of things based on questions that the board had, but I know that aligns with our city council strategic priorities. So I'm excited to hear more as they uh get that plan together. And then as you all know, there's an RFP for the pump track on tonight's agenda.

Thank you, Councelor Prowler.

Thank you. Um I' I'd love to tell you that the Planning and Zoning Commission is the department that never sleeps. Um but we haven't had a meeting in a while. We we did last week. Um it was kind of light, but uh you know, I don't get a report on these much, so I figured I'd get it in here. Um it was just voting on minutes and then some training on open meeting laws. Real real high-speed stuff. But um you know, PNZ lives to fight another day. I will report on PUE's board meeting last night. Um, pee is doing well. The one item that I would like to share is about the water funding update. Um, some of you may have seen news releases from Eli Crane or other sources about a about a lump of money that 3 something million that was finally released for use. That was actually a 2023 fund that got stuck in the bureaucracy and it took that long for them to get it out so that pee could use it. That goes towards um our upgrade of the water treatment plant. Um, we're still working for there the the team is still working for funding from many different money pots to try to pay for all of the of our commitment from the city boundary and the water treatment plant and at the same time trying to uh get the National Park Service to team up with us for um rate American Outdoor Act funding to pay for the lumps um that is the pump station and the piping coming to the city boundary. So that's the efforts being made by the water the water project group at pee

and lately it seems like things are moving. So um otherwise pretty regular meeting from pee. Any others? No. Item number 62, airport advisory board bylaws. Is that over to city manager advisory board by? That would be I'm not sure.

Where is that? City attorney. Okay. It's uh so one of the things that uh our boards do is they um need bylaws to kind of govern some of their operations. Uh because the airport board was just reformed. Um they needed bylaws, but they can't adopt them without city council approval. This is pretty boilerplate. Um it's kind of a form that the city clerk has uh for the bylaws. So the the airport board did vote to approve them as um drafted and so this is kind of a formality probably just to get city council's approval so that they can um become binding. Councelor Frell.

I move to approve the airport advisory board bylaws. Second. I have a motion from councelor Pharaoh and a second from councelor Hettinger. All in favor say I. I. I. I. The eyes have it. Thank you. Item number seven, unfinished business. We have selection of design build team for BMX pump track park. This definitely goes over to city manager.

That one is me and thanks to the attorney for the assist on that one. Um, so yeah, the pump track we received trying to find out five proposals on that. We had a or four proposals. Trying to get my back. Anyway, I can remember it because we had some proposals received on that. uh had a committee of five um review that American Ramp was the the highest ranked firm. They actually had two options in their pricing proposal that were slightly different. one. Option one had a a technically a second track, a little beginner speed loop they called it, in addition to a normal track that I believe would handle, I'm not sure the certification, but UCI sanctioned events. It would qualify to to hold some sanctioned events on it. This option two had a little less track amenities and a raised observation area with some benches. Um, we would recommend probably going with option one to get the most track for our money and then have our park staff work on seating and amenities around it as as we can do in house. Um, so we would uh ask the council recommend going with the the highest ranked firm, American Rank Company. Um, and their proposal was it not to exceed about $500,000.

Okay. Any questions or comments? Councelor Hettinger. Um, I just want to make sure I'm looking at this picture right. So, it's all one track, but kind of the top picture in the back is the beginner loop. Like, you can't get from one track to the other, but it's all kind of connected. Or is it completely separate in a different area? They're they're next to each other, so it's all kind of like a skate park with two different bowls or Perfect. Okay. areas. Um, and their pricing proposal had a pretty good picture of it. So, thank you. But we'll we'll work out details and bring updates to council as we move through the actual design process. Those are more concepts than anything at this point.

Any other comments or questions? I will entertain a motion. Councelor Hinger. Mayor, I move to approve the contract with American Ramp Company for the design and construction of the BMX pump track park option one for an amount not to exceed 500,000. Second. I have a motion from Councelor Hinger and a second from councelor Prowler. All in favor say I. I. I. I.

Thank you. Unanimous approval. Item number eight under new business number one request to terminate airport terminal space lease by Westwind Air Service. This also goes over to city manager. Thank you, mayor. Uh we'll have uh Laura, a new airport director, pinch hit for me on this one. Okay. Yes, sir.

Good evening, Mayor Council. Nice to see you. Yes, my name is Laura. I'm your new airport director and I am here to talk about Westwind Air Service. Um, so West Wind has requested to terminate their lease. They currently occupy the gift shop area of the main terminal. And while the verbiage of their lease makes it a little complex for them to terminate it themselves, there is verbiage that allows the city to terminate it with or without cause with 60 days notice. Um, it is recommended by the airport that we do allow for the termination of this lease. The airport advisory board did actually address this on Monday. And am I allowed to say what they they said? They did allow they did recommend that we also allow the termination of the lease. Um, why should we let them out of their lease? It's a good question. So, first of all, they're excellent tenants and they did request to be let out of their lease. So we would be giving them what they want for sure. Uh secondly, that space is highly sought after. It has been since I've worked at the airport for the past seven plus years, I get at least a couple inquiries every year as to ooh what is that? Can we have that space? What can we do with that space? I feel that if the lease was allowed to terminate, we would not have difficulty finding another person to lease that space. We would go out for proposals and see what kind of services would come to us and then y'all would be able to choose the best thing for the airport, for our guests, and for our citizens. The second reason came up quite suddenly yesterday actually during our pre-construction meeting for the terminal expansion. So if y'all don't know, so the terminal expansion I do now I know because I just found out

yesterday supposed to start between three and four weeks assuming that everything goes according to plan. So, we have the TSA section, but we also have the section that's the counter space that we're redoing. And that's going to displace our tenants. So, the architect and the engineer idea was to kind of create some makeshift counters, some space in the middle of the terminal that would still allow our tenants to do business when we've taken away their counter space for a month to two months. If the Westwind space happened to be vacant, I think it would be an ideal place to kind of shift our current tenants so they can still do business with a really nice space while we've displaced them with the construction. Now, that said, the construction is happening less than six 60 days. So, I don't know if we're allowed, that would be a Josh question. If the council is allowed to terminate the lease more quickly, perhaps at the end of this month or immediately, but if we could terminate it earlier, that would be even better, I think, both for Westwind, who really would like to be out of the lease, and uh for the city. That's it.

Any questions? You can. We can if if if it's at their request, you can. And the reason this is coming to the council is because this is a lease that was approved by the council. So staff doesn't have the ability to modify it. Um and so we're asking now for you to modify um the terms of the lease to allow them um to terminate it less than the 60 days that the lease provides. Okay. Any questions, comments? Anybody want to try that that motion? Go for Do we know when when when they want it to be effective or when we when staff would recommend we it be effective?

Um they would have they would love yesterday. Um I would recommend perhaps just to be clean at the end of this month. That would allow them they've already started getting their stuff out. Um but that would allow them to really make the space clean and then we'd have time to prep it for the construction so we could move people in if that's what we end up doing. count. And I have a question. Do they prepay their lease? Like, have they paid through the end of this month or through the end of a certain period that we're aware of? The billing is monthly. Okay. Um I would need to check with finance as to whether or not they have paid this month or not, but that makes it clean. If we end it at the end of a month, it's just a nice Okay.

And it looks like councelor Hammond also has her hand up. Councelor Prowler. Oh, uh we'll let Councelor Hammond go first. So, I was just kind of Oh, stabbing him. Hammond does have a hand up. Councelor Hammond. Councelor Pller, were you about to make a motion? I was. Go for it. All righty. Uh, I move to allow Westwind Aviation to break their lease with the city of Paige at the end of this month, the 28th of uh, February, 2026. Second. I second. We have a motion from councelor Preller, a second from counselor Hammond and Pharaoh. All in favor say I. I. I.

Thank you. Unanimous. Thank you. Next items are under number nine, executive sessions. We have two executive sessions. Number one, request to amend existing purchase agreement with Tribal Hospitality for portion of partial 8022005A south of 98. And number two, lease agreement with CBI for residential treatment facility. I'm looking for a motion to go into executive session. Councelor Hettinger.

Mayor, I move to go into executive session 9.1 and 9.2. to consecutively in the conference room. Second. We have a motion from councelor Hettinger, a second from councelor Prowler. All in favor say I. I. I. We will go to the conference room and we will return when we are finished. Thank you for the time.