During a final public meeting before submitting budget requests for the 2026 fiscal year, town staff were caught somewhat off guard when downtown business owners suggested the efforts for downtown streetscape improvements be refocused away from a priority on Avenue of the Fountains.
These significant stakeholders in the project were asking staff to take a second look at plans for the Avenue and begin work on Parkview Avenue and Verde River Drive.
Economic Development Director Amanda Jacobs heard the suggestions and amended her budget request to ask for funding the design work on Parkview and Verde River during the coming year. Although the budget is still a work in progress, council members generally endorsed the change in focus on the streetscape project. Jacobs told The Times Independent that staff are now using that council discussion as direction on how to proceed.
