Public Meetings - Bullhead City, Arizona

The Bullhead Area Transit System (BAT) Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 1:45 PM. All commission members were present except Commissioner Ramalat. The meeting included approval of minutes, staff reports on grant transitions and facility planning, commissioner comments, and suggestions for future agenda items. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes from the May 15, 2023 meeting was made, seconded, and approved unanimously by all present members, including Commissioners Meening and Gift who participated via telephone. Discussion Items - Program Updates Report (Michael Peluso, Supervisor): - Financial & Performance Reports: Presented without questions. - 5307 Grant Program Transition: Staff continues working on the transition to the 5307 grant program. A new FTA recipient checklist is being used. Major approvals are pending the creation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which is being handled by the city manager’s office. Updates will be provided as the process moves forward. - Transit Facility Project Update: Council recently approved a contract with Selbergan Associates for engineering services for a new dedicated transit facility. A kickoff meeting has occurred. The project is expected to take about nine months. The identified site is a 1.5-acre parcel next to the DMV, across from Public Works and adjacent to Gary Keith Park. - Marketing & Advertising Update: At the commission’s prior direction, staff discussed increasing bus stop amenities with the human services director and city sponsorship coordinator. The sponsorship coordinator will continue current responsibilities; no new positions are in the adopted budget. Staff will continue evaluating stop amenities system-wide for future budgets. Commissioners discussed the possibility of local businesses sponsoring benches or shelters, noting a prior list of top amenity locations but that some stops on that list had very low ridership. Staff indicated that driver or public requests for amenities are infrequent. - Recent & Upcoming Events: No service on Labor Day (September 4, 2023) and Columbus Day (October 9, 2023) due to staffing levels and historically low ridership on those days. Notifications will be posted on buses. - Commissioner Comments (Chairperson Gary): - Gary, whose term is ending and who is moving outside city limits, shared concerns from a conversation with a bus driver. Topics included: driver safety (cameras, panic buttons, inability to carry pepper spray), low driver pay, high bus mileage, worn driver seats (duct tape), need for driver recruitment/training, cleanliness of buses and stops, and the importance of driver recognition. He suggested periodic forums with drivers and that future commissioners ride buses to hear driver perspectives. - Commissioner Gift (via phone) thanked Gary and Jared for their service and proposed future agenda items: consider rebranding BAT (e.g., “Pole Rider”) during the grant transition; make advertising opportunities available to new business license applicants; update the BAT app with physical addresses for stops; and ask council for more funding for shade covers and seating at all bus stops. - Future Agenda Items: Commissioners discussed adding the rebranding suggestion as a future agenda item. Chairperson Gary encouraged commissioners to work with Michael Peluso to develop ideas and potentially survey the public. No formal action was taken. Key Outcomes - Minutes Approved: Unanimous approval of the May 15, 2023 commission meeting minutes. - No Other Actions: No requests for postponement/withdrawal, no public comments, and no action items other than the minutes. - Next Steps: Staff will continue work on the 5307 grant transition, the transit facility engineering project, and evaluation of stop amenities. Future meetings may include discussion on rebranding and other commissioner suggestions. - Adjournment: The meeting adjourned without further business.

The Bullhead City Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 3, 2023, at 1:30 PM. All seven commissioners were present. The meeting included approval of minutes, discussion of commission bylaws, three zoning and general plan amendment requests for two separate parcels, and a code amendment for accessory structures in multifamily districts. All items except one code amendment vote were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Approval of July 6, 2023 Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes as read was made and seconded. The commission voted 7-0 in favor, and the motion carried. Discussion Items - Annual Review of Planning & Zoning Commission Bylaws: A commissioner proposed amending Section 105B and Section 206 to automatically remove members who miss two (rather than three) meetings in a 12-month period without excuse, eliminating the requirement for a commission vote. Staff noted that any removal would still require City Council action. After discussion, the chair concluded there was no consensus, and the item was tabled without a vote. - Zoning Map Change Z18-006 (Second Time Extension): Request to extend by four years the stipulation deadline for a 52.46-acre parcel (the Laughlin parcel) west of Highway 95 north of 7th Street. Originally approved in 2019 for mixed-use commercial and multifamily, the applicant (Don Anderson, Anderson Nelson) cited pandemic, supply chain, and interest rate delays, stating that 80% plans and a ADOT-approved traffic signal were completed. Commissioner Mel stated a general opposition to four-year extensions after the first extension but noted this was only the second request. Public hearing had no speakers. Motion to approve passed 7-0. - Minor General Plan Amendment P23-001 (2525 Rio Rancho Boulevard): Request to change the land use designation from medium-density residential to light industrial for a portion of an 80.49-acre parcel. This was the first step toward rezoning for sand and gravel mining. Applicant Dan Ayler explained the parcel is a FEMA floodway, and no processing would occur on site. Public comment: Scott Merrill (resident of Desert Glen) expressed concerns about noise, buffers, and 24-hour operations, but said he was not opposing the change. Staff noted specifics would be addressed at the conditional use permit (CUP) stage. Motion to approve passed 7-0. - Zoning Map Change Z23-007 (Same Parcel): Request to rezone the same 80.49-acre parcel from PL (Public Land) to M1 (Light Industrial). Applicant Michael Stone (S&S Concrete) stated the mining would support ongoing demand and create 2–5 new jobs. Public hearing: no speakers. Motion to approve passed 7-0. - Minor General Plan Amendment P23-002 (1805 Bullhead Parkway): Request to change land use from medium-density residential to light industrial for a 78.49-acre parcel. Similar to prior item, this parcel is adjacent to existing CMEX mining operations. Applicant Dan Ayler noted the property has been used for mining since the 1970s. Public hearing: Dan Ayler spoke briefly; no other speakers. Motion to approve passed 7-0. - Zoning Map Change Z23-008 (Same Parcel): Request to rezone the same 78.49-acre parcel from PL to M1. Discussion focused on truck access, separation of operations (Pass Canyon Wash vs. Silver Creek), and that no processing would occur on this site. Commission clarified the two parcels are not contiguous and operations are separate. Motion to approve passed 7-0. - Code Amendment – Accessory Uses, Buildings, and Structures (Title 17, Chapter 17.06.140): Request to add the phrase “in the R2MF multifamily district” to apply the same standard as single-family districts, limiting accessory structures to 50% of primary living space. Staff explained this prevents overbuilding on multifamily lots (e.g., tiny house with huge garage). Public hearing: no speakers. Motion to approve passed 6-1 (Commissioner Steve opposed). Key Outcomes - Approved: Minutes (7-0); Z18-006 time extension (7-0); P23-001 general plan amendment (7-0); Z23-007 zoning change (7-0); P23-002 general plan amendment (7-0); Z23-008 zoning change (7-0); Code amendment (6-1). - No Action: Bylaws amendment discussion – tabled due to lack of consensus. - Next Steps: For the two parcels at 2525 Rio Rancho and 1805 Bullhead Parkway, applicants will return for conditional use permits for mining operations, where specific conditions (noise, buffers, hours) will be addressed.