Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting – January 21, 2026

The Bullhead City Council held a regular meeting on January 21, 2026, with all council members present. Note on sources: the agenda provided is a cancellation notice for the Parks and Recreation Commission’s January 21 meeting, while the raw transcript opens as a regular City Council meeting dated Tuesday, January 20; this summary uses the January 21, 2026 timestamp supplied for the meeting. The council heard extensive public comment, approved appointments and a magistrate contract, accepted an ASPCA grant, received a Red Cross presentation, and discussed state legislative priorities.

Consent Calendar

• The council voted 7-0 to waive the reading in full of all ordinances and resolutions presented for adoption at the meeting.
• The consent agenda, including approval of the January 6, 2026 regular council meeting minutes, was approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stephen Lee urged residents to form a “citizen think tank,” expressed concerns about geoengineering/chemtrails, globalism, and the Davos meeting, and said people cannot rely on elected officials alone to restore “citizen justice.”
• Nancy Horn (Veterans in Motion) announced a Valentine’s Day fundraiser on February 14 at Fiesta RV with a $30 dinner, live band, and raffle.
• Diane Cracklin, Ashley Lambert, and Curly Williams (Raymar Road residents) requested restoration of a four-way stop at Rio Vista and Raymar Road, describing speeding, school-bus danger, and an unsafe crossing for children and elderly residents. Williams said the stop had existed for years and was removed.
• Rusty Brown (Riviera Marina) requested removal of highway medians in his commercial area, saying they caused flooding, made driveways inaccessible, and made it difficult to maneuver his 40-foot trailer/boats.
• Terry Tomlinson (Legacy Foundation and Boys and Girls Club) announced that the Legacy Foundation purchased Holy Spirit Church to build a waiting area for food clients, and encouraged donations to the Boys and Girls Club.
• Supervisor Rich Lettman (Rotary Club of Bullhead City; Mojave County Supervisor) thanked the city for Slaborama support. He reported that a proposed flood-control formula discussed by the Board of Supervisors would give Bullhead City an additional $200,000 but reduce Lake Havasu City by $1.3 million and Kingman by about $200,000; no action was taken, and a subcommittee will work with the four cities.
• Mike Gabrielson objected to a code-enforcement notice requiring removal of dead palm fronds, questioned who decides “attractive appearance,” noted the palms shelter 50-60 quail, and said he found no appeals process and would not comply without one.
• Jackie Miller announced a February 4 Colorado River Republican Women meeting featuring two District 30 State House candidates.
• A Rio Grande-area resident demanded action on flooding in the 2100 block, criticized lack of street pumping, said the Mock School area was dangerously dark, referenced a crossing guard being struck, and urged removal/redesign of medians.
• Rose Jacobs (Colorado River Concert Series) announced the 51st season, including a February 5 Brothers Doobie tribute concert and a March 17 Swan Brothers concert; tickets are $35, students $5.
• Bo Hellems (Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce) said farewell as CEO, thanked the council, and encouraged continued support for the chamber.
• A Mojave High School representative announced the concert choir’s 50s/60s tribute Thursday night with $7 tickets.

Manager’s Report: Public Works & Spring Events

• The Laughlin Ranch right-turn lane opened; final striping will be completed after the pavement “bleeds” oil and rests.
• The Mojave Drive right-turn lane is about two weeks from opening, with temporary striping followed by final striping in 30-45 days.
• The Safeway/Highway 95 right-turn lane project begins overnight construction February 16, 6 p.m.–6 a.m., with daytime lanes open; a groundbreaking is tentatively set for February 17. The project adds a third lane from Wells Fargo to Terribles and creates two northbound exit lanes from Safeway.
• A new middle school park on Highland opened, with a football field and playground accessible to the public after school and on weekends; a second ball field is planned.
• Dave Heath presented the spring sports calendar: Slaborama and a 61-team D1 football tournament drew about 1,200 youth players; upcoming events include a 50-team Power Play baseball tournament, 100+ soccer teams on Presidents Day weekend, the senior Spring Classic softball tournament (about 45 teams), the Dave Cops Tournament of Champions girls’ softball event March 5-7, Golden Games/Easter events April 4-5, River Days soccer April 18-19, Mayhem Motorcycle Rally April 22-25, and more.
• Council reports included RC racing podium finishes at the 2026 Silver State Indoor World Championships and announcements about a February 2 meet-and-greet and June 9 LD30 candidate forum.

Appointments and Action Items

• BATS Commission: The council separately approved Robin Meeting and Livia Hendrickson to the Bullhead City Area Transit System Commission, effective immediately and expiring September 30, 2027. Each motion passed 7-0.
• Parks and Recreation Commission: After hearing from applicants Rusty Braun and David Schott (Ashley Webb was not present), the council appointed Braun to the term expiring June 30, 2027 (6-1) and Schott to the term expiring June 30, 2026 (6-1).
• City Magistrate: The council approved an appointment agreement with Rod C. Galeo as city magistrate for four years beginning January 25, 2026, at an annual salary of $160,000. Public comment strongly endorsed Galeo; the vote was 7-0.
• Animal Shelter Grant: The council approved the 2025 National Shelter Initiative grant agreement with ASPCA for $60,000 to equip the BARC veterinary clinic with three surgical lights and an autoclave and to support TNR, spay/neuter, and humane euthanasia programs. The vote was 7-0.

American Red Cross Presentation

• Henning Larson, executive director of the American Red Cross Northern Arizona chapter, presented the chapter’s mission, structure, and local activities. He explained that the Red Cross receives no government funding, responds to home fires with disaster action teams, provides free smoke alarms, trains volunteers, and supports veterans and families.
• He reported a 330% increase in local volunteers in Mojave County and a 100% local volunteer responder response rate, and said Bullhead City is the proposed focus community for fiscal year 27 resiliency work.
• He asked the council to consider a March proclamation declaring Red Cross Month; no formal action was taken.

2026 Arizona Legislative Session Overview

• Assistant City Manager Travis Pruitt reported the 2026 session began January 12, with about 360 bills already filed. The governor’s priorities include affordability, housing, short-term rental fees, data center taxes, and a draft $18.6 billion budget (up 4.9%).
• Pruitt highlighted bills on short-term rentals, permit-ready housing plans, extension of the Arizona low-income housing tax credit (which helped the Abbott apartments), and data centers.
• Councilmember Smith expressed opposition to permit-ready housing plans as government overreach; several council members preferred neutrality because the city already processes permits efficiently. A motion to oppose the permit-ready housing plan bill failed 3-4, so no official opposition was logged.

Key Outcomes

• Approved waiver of readings and consent agenda: 7-0.
• Appointed Meeting and Hendrickson to BATS: 7-0 each.
• Appointed Braun and Schott to the Parks and Recreation Commission: 6-1 each.
• Approved Galeo magistrate contract: 7-0.
• Approved ASPCA grant: 7-0.
• Received Red Cross presentation; no vote; March proclamation request remains for future consideration.
• Failed motion to oppose permit-ready housing plan legislation: 3-4; staff will continue monitoring legislative issues and may return for direction.
• Upcoming public works: Safeway right-turn lane overnight construction starts Feb 16; Mojave Drive lane opening in about two weeks; Laughlin Ranch final striping pending.