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Public commenters urge reopening Kennedy Pool, question Yuma Spaceport spending and use of NDAs
Summary
Two public speakers urged the council to restore Kennedy Pool and seek transparency on the Yuma Spaceport project; one called for a comprehensive business plan before further spaceport spending and another asked the city legal staff to present on nondisclosure agreements used in economic development deals.
During the "call to the public," resident Dennis Franklin urged the council to approach large economic-development projects with a business plan, citing his private-sector experience and advising that the city should frame the spaceport as an investment rather than a cost. "Before you enter into any type of venture, you create a business plan," Franklin said, arguing that a comprehensive plan is necessary to show potential investors where customers and ancillary businesses will come from.
William Katz, a resident who spoke next, focused on Kennedy Pool and city priorities. Katz asked the council to "save Kennedy Pool," criticized the length of time the pool has been closed and said the pool's absence should be addressed; he also blamed the mayor for the pool's closure and urged that the spaceport be defunded. Katz raised concerns about use of nondisclosure agreements in economic development, arguing that NDAs may be shielding information from the public and asking for a presentation from city legal staff on the scope and limits of NDAs.
The council did not take immediate action on the speakers' requests during the meeting; a motion to adjourn to executive session followed public comment. Speakers did not identify additional supporting documents in the meeting record.
