Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Page public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with high priority
Youth needs assessment for PERA building programming
The Youth Advisory Commission is hosting its first community event — a movie day on April 25 at the PERA Community Building. They picked 'The Sandlot' (with 'Top Gun: Maverick' as backup), set a 4 p.m. showtime, and are borrowing a popcorn machine from the Page library. It's a free, family-friendly activity organized by the city's youth members.
Water Supply and Treatment Plant Expansion
Installing filters at the wastewater treatment plant is on the agenda as new business. The upgrade could improve treatment performance and keep the plant compliant with environmental standards.
Terminal construction and airport projects
The terminal counter renovation should start in early April if environmental testing clears, but the larger expansion is briefly delayed while the city decides whether to build a bigger TSA secure area — a choice partly driven by which EAS carrier and routes are selected.
Contour Airlines Service Performance
Contour Airlines provides commercial air service at Page Municipal Airport, and its monthly report was on the agenda. Riders and local businesses depend on this service for connections.
Albertsons Opioid Settlement Agreement
The council will consider joining the Albertsons opioid settlement, part of the nationwide wave of settlements with companies over the opioid crisis. Any funds coming to the city could support opioid remediation efforts.
Downtown Beautification Design Contract Amendment
The downtown beautification project is underway with heavy business involvement, and a business facade program is proposed for next fiscal year; parking on Sixth Avenue for oversized vehicles came up as a safety concern.
Page Magistrate Treatment Court Enhancement Grant
Page's recovery court won a rare national $759,189 grant to add a DUI track and double its reach to 80-100 more participants over four years. About 75% of graduates stay arrest-free, and the program emphasizes treatment over jail time.
Data Center Overlay Zoning Rules
Resident Maschelle Zia sharply criticized the council over a secret land deal with Huntley for a hyperscale AI data center, saying the city hid vital information and intimidated peaceful protesters with a heavy police presence.
Small business support and recruitment
The board wants to survey local businesses about their needs — staffing, equipment, marketing, training — and hold stakeholder meetings beyond just chamber members. A prior survey got only ~20 responses, so reaching people is the challenge. Customer service training came up repeatedly.
New Residential Treatment Center in Page
The long-awaited detox facility is still hoping to open by end of summer — it just needs furnishing and state licensure. It's a big deal for a region with few treatment options.
Youth prevention programs in Page schools
County health is finally getting vaping and nicotine prevention into area schools, and the task force will run a booth with impairment goggles and giveaways at National Night Out. Freshmen Focus support for Page High School, including possible funding, waits until October.
Colt Springs Phase 3 rezoning to larger lots
The Colt Springs development is seeking a minor general plan amendment and zoning map change for its Phase 3. This shapes how the next phase of that neighborhood grows.
November 3 general election services and logistics
Page voters get early voting, a drop box, and Election Day voting all at City Hall. Key dates: request a mail ballot by October 23, early in-person voting ends October 29 locally, polls open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. November 3. Ballots carry eight statewide propositions plus Page's Prop 406.
Electrical supply, rates, and on-site generation
A station-service transformer at the dam failed and is being replaced by a rental unit, raising board concerns about whether the dam can reliably power the pumps that supply Page's water. Staff stressed the water intake sits far below power pool, countering viral rumors that Page will run out of water.
Future Parks Projects List
The board floated big FY28 ideas: an urban trail, an ultra-accessible ADA playground at Annex Park, and improvements to the Vermillion View Trail Network. These discussions shape what parks projects could get funded in the next budget cycle.
Tourism visitation and marketing
Visitor numbers at Carl Hayden and the Chamber hub are down, and international travelers are still far below the 4.5 million pre-COVID peak. Franz cited visa costs, expensive food and tours, and geopolitical factors; the board discussed whether the city or state tourism office could advocate for relief.
County-funded youth mental health programming for Page
Coconino County has grant money dedicated to Page for a full-time and part-time youth program staff, art and music supplies, and instructors — but needs community input on what to build. Teens say they want hands-on art workshops, gaming and hangout space, and career exploration. A long-term student center idea surfaced, and a work session was set for October 13 to plan a survey and goals.
Alcohol-related police incidents and retailer overservice
Police data shows alcohol-related calls spiked in 2025 but have dropped below 2024 levels. Board members want arrests broken down by location, naming Safeway, Maverik, and Circle K as problem spots, and want to renew conversations with store management about moving mini-bottles away from self-checkout.
Airport Hangar Lease Terms
Board members raised concerns about non-aviation use of hangars, people with gate cards who have no aviation business on the field, fake tail numbers, and speeding between hangars. The item was deferred so members can study current lease language and bring recommendations to the City Council.
Airport security and gate card enforcement
Councilmember Roundtree raised resident complaints that hangar owners share gate keys with friends, and Scott Golba described joggers, scooters, and even illegal dumping inside the fence. The director explained the hangar area isn't technically a secure SIDA zone, but stricter rules could come with future security upgrades.
Water Team Update
The board was scheduled to hear an update on funding for water projects. Water funding affects rates and the reliability of Page's water infrastructure.
Page Utility Enterprises Power Cost Trends
Page's electric utility runs on about $13 million a year, with $7.7 million for wholesale power. Reduced CRISP hydropower allocations mean more exposure to volatile market prices tied to natural gas, and new Southwest Power Pool fees start this year.
Middle School Feasibility Study
City Manager Frank Marbury outlined next steps for a feasibility study on a recreation and aquatic center at the middle school site. No action was taken.
Horseshoe Bend Parking Lot Resurfacing
Council wants a cheaper, better-defined annual pass for Page residents at Horseshoe Bend — possibly $10-15 for a non-commercial vehicle of up to five people — instead of the proposed $50 for ten visits.
Short-term rental licensing and the human trafficking training question
Council is reviving a stalled licensing program for vacation rentals, with debate over window stickers, human trafficking safeguards, parking, and a state-capped $250 fee. Staff will bring back a department and fee plan.
City-owned lots at 105 and 109 Aero Avenue — employee housing vs. sale
The board was scheduled to discuss and possibly act on Coconino Community College's workforce housing project. Workforce housing is a live concern in Page, where housing costs and availability affect employers' ability to attract and keep workers.
Potential Purchase of State Land
The city may buy state trust land across the river — a flat, annexed carve-out — with ideas from ten-acre homesteads to industrial parks to a distant data-center site. Studies could cost around $85,000, and an open public auction could let another buyer win it.
Workforce housing project with Genterra and CCC
The city made it past the first cut for congressional funding for the Gentera/CCC workforce housing project and expects a final determination later this year.
Facade Improvement Program
Downtown beautification is moving toward a construction-manager-at-risk bid with construction hoped for 2027, and the facade program got $100,000 (down from $200,000) for next fiscal year. Councilor Hammond wants this board reviewing both before council does.
Sale of city land for resort development (Parcel 80220005A)
Two developers want to buy parts of a city-owned parcel near Horseshoe Bend — Shaandin Resort for a luxury resort expansion, and the Tenarena team for a land art destination. The council hasn't decided; it wants a tax breakdown and a safety study before negotiating.
Resort development zoning near Highway 98 and Copper Mine Road
A 55-key destination resort with a lodge, restaurant, event center, amphitheater and trails could bring roughly $150 million in private investment to Page. The rezoning step is a prerequisite before site plan review; the City Council makes the final call.
Navajo Nation Water/Sewer Connection Talks
The LeChee Chapter is working with the city on future wastewater planning and a better connection to Page's water and sewer system, backed by a $3.3 million grant. Emergency water supply from the new line at the old NGS intakes was also discussed.
Page Utility Enterprises FY 2026-2027 Budget
The council locked in WAPA to keep scheduling and settling Page's wholesale power through 2028-era market changes — a service WAPA nearly dropped in 2023. Without it, the city would need a costly in-house trading operation.
Protecting the Future of Recreation on Red Mesa
A luxury resort developer wants to buy about 96 more acres that overlap the Red Mesa Rim Trail, potentially eliminating roughly half of the trail including its best slick rock sections and eastern overlook. The parks board says the trail is irreplaceable and recommended rejecting the sale; council makes the final call.
Canvass of the 2026 Primary Election
The official results are now certified: Bill Diak unseated incumbent Mayor Steven Kidman, and Michael Cody Woods joins returning councilmembers John Kocjan and Kenna Hettinger. Voters also approved a permanent base adjustment to the city's expenditure limitation via Proposition 402.
Urban Trail Master Plan
Discussion covered trail types — ADA-accessible, hiking, and sidewalks — and building a connected trail network for walking and biking.
Lake Powell Boulevard Safety
Voters will decide the initiative about the lanes on Lake Powell Boulevard at the November 3, 2026 general election.
Fourth of July Event Safety and Traffic
Clubhouse Drive will be closed to parking during the July 4th fireworks so emergency vehicles can get through, after last year's congestion raised safety concerns. The city will run free shuttles from the sports complex with overflow parking at the PERA Club and amphitheater.
Ambulance mutual aid agreement with Kane County
The city joined the state mutual aid compact so emergency responders can cross jurisdiction lines to help — and be helped — during disasters.
2026 Coconino County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Adopting this five-year update keeps Page eligible for FEMA mitigation grants and maps the city's top hazards — drought, wildfire, flooding, even aviation accidents given the busy airport. The county covered the full local cost of the update.
Court Resurfacing and Frost Park Work
Little League's 29 teams strained the city's six lit fields this season, forcing play at Birch, and restroom overflows briefly closed facilities. The league wants field dirt work done before baseball season so tournaments aren't lost.
Trout Land Development Land Sale
The council approved an ordinance authorizing the negotiated sale of city-owned land to Trout Land Development, advancing that development project.
PUE Budget and Golf Course Expenses
The board wants the city, not the utility, to absorb $140,000–$150,000 a year in golf course irrigation costs carried since the 2012 utility merger. Council indicated the expense is already in the city's proposed budget for tomorrow's adoption.
Airport Parking Signage
Cars have sat in the terminal lot for months or years, crowding out renters, travelers, and airport employees. The board recommends 14-day maximum signs citywide for the lot, enforcement through the police department's abandoned-vehicle code, and employee parking permits as a first step.
New Airport Concessionaire Agreement
The draft concessionaire agreement would raise Avis's monthly cost from $5,000 to roughly $9,000, cut parking from 25 spaces to 15, and eliminate the vehicle staging curb. Owners of the 50-year-old franchise say that math drives them off the airport, and the board agreed to send the lease back for serious re-review.
FY 2027 Library Budget and Electrical Upgrades
The library's 2027 budget is in good shape and includes funding to fix electrical problems that force staff to shut off equipment just to run kitchen appliances. Final approval is expected in June, and staffing stays at full level.
FY 2027 Preliminary Budget Adoption
The draft budget spends about $16 million more than it takes in, dropping fund balances from $84M to $68M — about 19%. Council debated whether that's responsible or too cautious, noting $40.7M of it is one-time capital spending.
Assistant City Manager Position
City Manager Marbury proposed a ~$222K assistant city manager to manage his 12 direct reports and handle special projects. Council was split; Roundtree opposed, Farrow supported it. It stays in the budget but comes back for a formal vote next meeting with a job description.
Vista/Navajo street rebuild
A $2 million project to fully rebuild Vista and part of North Navajo — Page's worst street. Council kept the money in but held off starting it until land sale funds close, and debated undergrounding utilities.
Swimming pool and old middle school as rec campus
Council discussed a $30,000 feasibility study on buying the middle school (appraised at $18M) as a city hall/rec/pool campus, versus a $2M pool design at the Para Club. Most agreed to hold both until the study comes back; pool design dollars stay in the budget.