The City of Yuma is moving ahead with a temporary moratorium on accessory dwelling units.
The first reading of the ordinance enacting the six-month moratorium was passed by the Yuma City Council during its regular meeting last week. In attendance were Mayor Tim McClung, Mayor Pro-tem Jerome Benish, Dan Baucke, Marc Shay and Vanessa Dischner were in attendance. Council members Terri Frame and Zach Diaz were absent.
A public hearing will be held prior to the ordinance’s second reading during the council’s first meeting in June.
The moratorium is for accessory dwelling units, and additional dwelling units on properties with an existing dwelling unit or units.
During the moratorium, the city will be reviewing the Municipal Code and consider possible amendments. It is estimated it will take about six months to complete.
Applications for accessor dwelling units will not be processed during the moratorium.
It has come about due to concerns surrounding issues created when more people are concentrated in an area, such as parking problems. The city does not have specific regulations for such instances, including off-street parking.
Rate study
John Krajewski presented a utility rate study to the council.
The water/wastewater was last increased in 2019. Krajewski said the department’s cash flow and net income is at a $100,000 deficit. He recommended a 12-percent increase for water beginning in 2026, which is an increase of $2.63 per month for a typical account. He said the increase will help the city maintain the system’s integrity, and would end depleting reserves each year in the Enterprise Fund.
The wastewater rate is more complicated as it incorporates EQR, which he said creates inequality among customers. He recommended going to a consumptive use charge, which he said is more fair.
The electric rate has not been raised in 10 years. Krajewski noted the Municipal Energy Association of Nebraska (MEAN) has been able to keep its rate steady, but has announced an increase. Seventy percent of the city’s electrical cost goes toward paying MEAN, so the increase will create more of a deficit for the Electric Enterprise Fund. His recommended increase will help ease that, while the rate would remain competitive with other area municipalities. The electric increase also would be into effect in 2026.
More meeting
The council voted to commit up to $1.9 million for storm drainage and street replacement on three blocks of Third and Fourth avenues.
Total estimated cost is $2.843 million. The city has an application in for a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant for $1 million. The council was told that DOLA wants the city to commit funds to the project, giving it a better chance of getting approved.
Discussion was held regarding the intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Eckley for providing trash pick up. The last update to the agreement was in July 2016. Interim City Manager Karma Wells said that if the council wishes to change the agreement, Eckley needs to be notified prior to the renewal later this summer.
She provided recommended increases on 90-gallon and 300-gallon containers, explaining it represents the increase of costs to the city since 2016.
The council’s consensus was to hold off until a sanitation rate study is done in 2026, so an increase would go into effect in 2027.
An executive session was held to discuss interim police chief compensation, after which the council unanimously approved a motion to make it a salary position at the current police chief rate. The council also discussed a potential annexation and negotiations for an annexation agreement during the executive session.
A resolution covering a merchant agreement with World Fuel Services Card Processing for the fuel farm at the airport was approved. The council also approved an expenditure for water tower maintenance.
Public comment
A Yuma resident addressed the council in regards to the house and resident next door. Pictures were presented along with an explanation the house is a trash dump and serves as a drug flop house. The resident said there have been talks for many years with police officers, past city managers and past mayors but nothing has been done.
McClung said there will be discussions with the city attorney about how to move forward.
“There’s something we have to be able to do about this,” he said.
Another resident addressed the council about ongoing traffic issues his son is having with the police. He said it has been going on for a year, adding, “how much more nonsense does my son need to put up with?”
McClung said the situation will be taken under advisement.