KINGMAN – Public Information officer Colleen Haines briefed the Kingman City council Tuesday on the Arizona state legislative session that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the session was rather uneventful.
“No bills that we were tracking made it. They only passed 89 bills out of a little more than 1,600,” Haines said. “We were obviously tracking and making some really good headway on some really important bills, but they’re done. They’re dead. They adjourned last week and every bill on the table is gone.”
Haines advised that many expect lawmakers will reconvene to handle budget matters. She said it remains to be seen what other legislative business might be addressed and that it’s not yet known when the special session will start, though it could be later this month.
Haines said some of her peers and others believe that both state legislative chambers may go blue in coming months.
“You know there’s an election coming up. What we’re hearing, what I’m hearing, from the League (of cities and towns) and other elected people around the state and other ‘Intergovs’ is that the house will flip back to democrat. It will not be a GOP-run legislature anymore,” Haines said. “They’re also concerned about the senate possibly flipping as well. So, the makeup next year will look much different.”
In other business, the Council approved adoption of a tentative budget totaling almost $223 million. The spending plan can be adjusted, and decreased but not increased, before final adoption expected June 16.
City Manager Ron Foggin reported that Kingman is coming along nicely with its 2020 Census gathering effort. He said Kingman currently has the fourth best community census reporting rate in the state.
Council unanimously approved an Adopt-a Park/Trail Program. It’s modeled after the Adopt a Highway program that allows citizens and organizations to help keep highways, in this case parks and trails, free of debris and litter.
Parks Director Mike Meersman said Kingman’s programs pulls many of the best features of similar programs already implemented in other cities and towns. He and Manager Ron Foggin said a number of citizens and organizations have already expressed interest in participating in the program that will be introduced to the community in a future news release. Those who get involved would be credited on the city website and the Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page.
- Dave Hawkins
