Yuma putting money back into community

COVID relief fund to benefit local housing and organizations - 13 On Your Side's Arlette Yousif reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma City council members met Wednesday to discuss the use of $600,000 from the COVID relief fund for housing needs, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.

The use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the items on the agenda is already approved by the city.

Now, the plan is in motion.

“Those are going to go for some very specific things. One is going to go to the housing authority, the City of Yuma. And that is to build a prosperity business center, which is an education and training facility for certain businesses,” says City of Yuma Public Information Officer Dave Nash.

Wednesday's agenda was full of other discussions about hud housing, and bar zoning.

During the height of the pandemic, bars and restaurants were allowed to serve customers on extended outdoor patios to help with social distancing. Now, some of those businesses want to keep the extended seating area permanently in order to serve more people during business hours.

“The City of Yuma is working with Jimmie Dee’s to extend the patio so that we can have more seating outside. We’re really thankful that they’re, you know, working with us,” explains Jimmie Dee's Bartender Sydnee Rush.

The all-encompassing meeting also included the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) sharing gratitude for the Yuma Police Department (YPD), honoring officers who made the difference in life or death situations in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive on scene.

Yuma City Council meetings are open to the public. Members of the community can attend and voice their opinions on various topics. The schedule and details about the meetings can be found on the city's website.