Residents voice concerns to Mayor at neighborhood meeting

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY) - Mayor Douglas Nicholls hosted Yuma’s fourth Community Conversations meeting Thursday night, where he learned what residents are wanting from the city for the coming year.

Community Conversations is a chance for residents to ask the mayor questions in an environment less formal than city council meetings. Residents can ask questions, voice concerns or simply just listen.

“We put on these community meetings because it had to do with being accessible,” said Mayor Douglas Nicholls.

Topics ranged from traffic violations, to the 2020 Census, to drug usage. A dozen people participated in the hour and a half long meeting held at Palmcroft Elementary School.

Many residents voiced concerns about the new flashing yellow traffic light seen in Yuma. Some thought the lights confused drivers and others are worried winter visitors won’t know what to do.

One resident asked the mayor where he sees Yuma’s drug problem.

“From having had Narcan at the high schools to what you see at the elementary school level, it’s everywhere” Nicholls said. “Personally, regularizing even recreational use of other less sever drugs ends up just encouraging more and more participation of the harder drugs.”

Following each meeting, Mayor Nicholls has an action plan using the list of concerns made.

“Staff takes a look at it and sees if there’s something we can do,” Nicholls said. “Is it something that’s going to be a long term fix? Or is it going to be a short term fix?”

Mayor Nicholls made sure to remind residents he can't change anything that’s been a problem in the past and that “We have to work from where we’re at today.”

There is one more Community Conversations meeting scheduled. It will be held at the Yuma Readiness Center, on Thursday, December 5 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.