11/1/2009 6:00:00 AM
Water, bed tax on menu
Levy on motels not geared to specific projects
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KINGMAN - The Kingman City Council will look at finalizing a 2 percent increase in the city's hotel room tax at its meeting Monday evening.
Council, which voted 4-2 at its last meeting to pursue the increase, will consider final approval of the resolution to raise the hotel tax from 2 to 4 percent, a move which is projected to bring in about $276,000 in additional revenue annually. In making his motion, Councilman Keith Walker requested the new funds be designated for capital improvement projects, though he stated a desire not to earmark the funds for any one purpose, such as downtown renovation or street chip-sealing.
Other supporters of the increase on the Council, particularly Carole Young and Robin Gordon, have expressed a desire to see the funds go toward economic development projects and improvements to the downtown business district. Mayor John Salem and Vice Mayor Janet Watson have stated that they are against any tax raises at this time, given the underlying condition of the local economy.
Council will also look at a last-minute addition to the agenda regarding the Cerbat Water Company, which purchased 1 million gallons of water from the city last week in order to mitigate an engine failure in its well.
The company has sought emergency city water four times in the past year, and currently owes the city more than $20,000 in back fees and deposits.
Since the current emergency water transfer technically breaks the terms of a water service agreement Cerbat and the city agreed to in April, Council must alter the resolution authorizing the agreement. The city has agreed to supply the company with water until Tuesday morning, but it remains unknown what will happen if Cerbat has not repaired its well by then.
Elsewhere on the agenda, Council will consider appointments to the newly-formed Economic Development and Marketing Commission. The new commission was codified on Oct. 19 following the recommendation of the now-disbanded Economic Development and Marketing Work Group.
Members of the former work group have requested the EDMC have 11 members. Four members of the work group have requested positions on the new commission, with another 13 individuals also seeking seats. Before disbanding, the work group recommended Council approve its former members to the board, as well as Mohave County Economic Development Director Jonas Peterson.
Additionally, Council will look at whether or not to approve an abandonment and subsequent rezone for 20.5 acres of land at the southwest corner of Mission Boulevard and Granite Bluffs Drive from Residential Single Family, 10,000 square foot lot minimum to Residential, Multiple Family, Low Density, Planned Development District.
Developer Rolek Gore is seeking to abandon the 8.83 acres of Granite Bluffs III, an undeveloped 27-lot subdivision in the area, to build the Quail Mountain Planned Development District. The district, if approved, would consist of 155 attached homes on 10.16 acres, which has drawn sharp criticism from many residents of the existing Granite Bluffs subdivisions who claim the new development would obstruct the views from their backyards and alter the peaceful character of their neighborhoods.
Monday's meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 310 N. Fourth St. For full agenda details, visit www.cityofkingman.gov and look under "Agendas and Minutes."
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Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009
Article comment by:
kak
Slam dunk...consider it passed. If its easy money for the Council you bet its gonna get grabbed up.
Its only the weak tourists draw an local taxpayers money...
No problem no remorse.
Posted: Sunday, November 01, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Didn't we vote "no" to some recent bond issues basically because they were not earmarked? If the council wants public support, they need to get some guts and state specifically where new funds will be used. The citizens are tired of hearing: "We will see where the money is needed". Because sadly, we do not trust our leaders to spend our money wherever they feel like it. Those types of decisions always appear to be self-promoting, and takes too much research from John Q. Public to decipher if it was spent wisely. Besides; by then, the money is gone.
Maybe they should stop trying to appease EVERYBODY. There will always be a vocal few who oppose any given plan as to where new money is spent. If a plan is correct, the majority of the populace will support it. So go ahead and earmark funds, at least then we will know where you stand on issues and what your priorities are.
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