Page local news summary
Week of October 21 2025
Page City Council interviews four finalists for city manager
Candidate Chiapetti pitches ‘housing and beyond’ strategy
Kimball presents phased six-month plan for Page
Marbury likens city management plan to riding a bike
Candidate Young urges city to first define future identity
Finalists offer diverse professional backgrounds
Housing dominates discussion among city manager hopefuls
Candidates emphasize need for economic diversity beyond tourism
County to lead statewide push on homeowners insurance crisis
Supervisors seek more local control over short-term rentals
Northern Arizona Healthcare seeks public input on potential hospital relocation
Page City Council interviews four finalists for city manager
PAGE, Ariz. - The Page City Council held a special meeting Monday to conduct public interviews with the four finalists for the city manager position. The candidates—Frank Chiapetti, Yvonne Kimball, Frank Marbury and Kelcey Young—each delivered a 30-minute presentation outlining their qualifications and vision for the city. The public presentations were followed by individual executive session interviews with the council. Mayor Steve Kidman called the selection a “critical junction” for the city.
Candidate Chiapetti pitches ‘housing and beyond’ strategy
PAGE, Ariz. - Frank Chiapetti, the current city manager of Gallup, New Mexico, identified housing as the “backbone” of Page’s future economic health in his presentation to the council. Arguing that economic development and tourism cannot succeed without adequate housing for workers, Chiapetti proposed a plan focused on public-private partnerships, a comprehensive study of land availability and educational programs for first-time homebuyers. He stressed the importance of breaking down departmental “silos” within city government to ensure infrastructure projects are coordinated efficiently.
Kimball presents phased six-month plan for Page
PAGE, Ariz. - Yvonne Kimball, a city manager with 17 years of experience and former city manager of Morro Bay, California, presented a detailed six-month action plan titled “Uniting People, Pride and Potential.” Her strategy is organized into three phases: “Page Listens,” an initial period of information gathering; “Page Connects,” focused on building relationships and clarifying priorities; and “Page Forward,” which involves budget preparation and implementing strategic goals. Kimball emphasized the need for a formal council strategic planning session to establish collective goals and a data-driven approach to tourism marketing.
Marbury likens city management plan to riding a bike
PAGE, Ariz. - Comparing the first 180 days in office to training for a bicycle race, candidate Frank Marbury outlined a four-phase plan to address the city’s challenges, focusing on workforce housing. Marbury, public works director/town engineer for Chino Valley, proposed a strategy that begins with identifying challenges, developing a strategic plan, achieving “quick and early wins” to build momentum and then entering a period of “hard work.” He advocated for exploring accessory dwelling units, mixed-use zoning and partnerships with incoming industries to expand housing options.
Candidate Young urges city to first define future identity
PAGE, Ariz. - Kelcey Young, the city manager of Pinole, California, urged the council to first lead a community discussion to define what Page should become in the next decade before creating specific policies. Young presented a wide array of potential economic diversification strategies—including becoming a hub for the “blue and green” economy, film and media or artificial intelligence—but stressed that the community must first decide its goals. Citing her background in finance and grant writing, Young stated that once a clear vision is established, the city can strategically pursue the necessary funding and partnerships.
Finalists offer diverse professional backgrounds
PAGE, Ariz. - The four finalists for the city manager position bring a diverse range of professional experiences to the table. Frank Chiapetti comes from a long career in public education, including serving as a district superintendent before becoming a city manager. Yvonne Kimball offers 17 years of direct city management experience in several states. Frank Marbury has a background in engineering and public works, currently serving as a department head. Kelcey Young’s expertise is rooted in municipal finance, economic development and emergency management.
Housing dominates discussion among city manager hopefuls
PAGE, Ariz. - Affordable and workforce housing emerged as the central issue during presentations from all four city manager candidates. Each finalist presented a unique approach to tackling the city’s housing shortage. Frank Chiapetti called it the foundational issue for all other growth, while Frank Marbury used it as the core focus for his 180-day plan. Yvonne Kimball and Kelcey Young integrated housing solutions into their broader proposals for strategic planning and economic diversification, signaling that any new city manager will be expected to make housing a top priority.
Candidates emphasize need for economic diversity beyond tourism
PAGE, Ariz. - While acknowledging the critical role of tourism, the city manager finalists consistently advocated for diversifying Page’s economy. The candidates proposed leveraging the city’s unique location and resources to attract new sectors. Ideas included developing a wellness and sports medicine industry, creating a research hub for renewable energy and marketing the area to remote tech workers. The consensus among the candidates suggests a strategic shift toward building a more resilient, year-round economy is a key priority for the city’s future leadership.
County to lead statewide push on homeowners insurance crisis
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Coconino County Board of Supervisors is set to lead a coalition of counties in urging the state legislature to address the escalating homeowners insurance crisis. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board finalized a resolution for the upcoming County Supervisors Association summit that calls for legislative action to increase the availability and affordability of insurance, particularly in areas with high wildfire risk. The proposal, co-sponsored by Pima County, avoids mandating coverage but seeks to create a menu of options for reform, such as requiring longer notice periods for non-renewal. Supervisors emphasized the urgent need for solutions as more residents, especially in communities like Mount Elden and Williams, are being dropped by their insurers or facing unaffordable premiums.
Supervisors seek more local control over short-term rentals
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Coconino County will again ask the state to roll back preemption laws and grant more local control over short-term rentals (STRs). The Board of Supervisors identified the issue as a top legislative priority Tuesday, citing severe impacts on housing availability and community character. During the discussion, Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros noted that data from Williams shows 70 percent to 80 percent of STRs are owned by corporations or out-of-state investors, countering the narrative that they are primarily used by local “mom and pop” owners. The county plans to join with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and the Arizona Association of Counties to present a united front at the legislature, advocating for the ability to regulate STR density and operations.
Northern Arizona Healthcare seeks public input on potential hospital relocation
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) is planning a new round of public listening sessions to gather community feedback on the future of the Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) campus should the hospital be relocated. Colleen Maring, NAH’s chief legal counsel, announced the forums during the public comment period of Tuesday’s board meeting. Maring stated that unlike a failed 2013 plan, NAH wants to determine a plan for the current FMC property before finalizing any decision to move. The sessions are scheduled for Oct. 29 at noon and Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. in the McGee Auditorium at FMC, 1200 N. Beaver St. No new site has been selected, and no decision to move has been made.
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