Bullhead City Council Meeting – October 8, 2026

Note on discrepancy: The agenda provided is for a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM. However, the accompanying raw transcript begins with "Today is Tuesday, October sixth, five thirty PM for a regular city council meeting" and covers city council business (liquor licenses, improvement district bonds, etc.), not planning and zoning commission business. The user-specified meeting date (October 8, 2026) is used here per instructions, but the substantive content of this summary reflects the city council meeting that appears in the transcript. The agenda and transcript are from two different meetings.

The meeting included a National Night Out proclamation, extensive public comment, and action on numerous items including a $16.5 million improvement district bond for the City Center development, a $12 million construction contract, a $60,000 grant increase for the Boys & Girls Club, and several infrastructure projects. All votes were unanimous (6-0).

Proclamation & Presentations

• Mayor Karen Dalman proclaimed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as National Night Out in Bullhead City. Police department representatives highlighted the 27th annual event, scheduled for 5–7 PM at 1255 Marina Boulevard, with food, music, and community engagement.
• City manager reported that the finance team received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. An aircraft (airplane) was transported from Fort Hood to the Veterans Peninsula for display, with a formal Veterans Day celebration planned for November 11th at 11:00 AM.
• Police Chief George reported on recent initiatives: coffee with a cop events, streamlined electronic background checks reducing processing time from six months to two–three months, two lateral officers starting, a new drone program, communications system evaluations (Motorola and EF Johnson), Project Lifesaver for missing vulnerable persons, and waterway stats for the season (48 arrests, 172 citations, 1,852 verbal warnings, 14 non-injury collisions, 12 minor injury responses, 0 fatal collisions, 2 drownings with other factors, and 22 ICE referrals).
• Public works team received praise for flood cleanup following recent heavy rains. Sandbags were made available on Friday, October 9th, and again on October 18th at the Optimum Community Center.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Harvey Pryor thanked public works for flood response but expressed strong concern about the lack of a municipal code for post-construction flood control inspections, particularly regarding the planned 4,400-acre industrial park. He called for a code to require ongoing inspection of drainage systems.
• Dennis Rogers and Diana Lestat (Elks Lodge #2282) announced a blood drive on October 20th (9:30 AM–1:30 PM) and a fall festival craft show on October 17th (9 AM–2 PM) at 1745 Emerald Road.
• Elizabeth Jones (with Todd Jones, Terry, Gary Hicks, Todd Lennon) spoke in opposition to Major General Plan Amendment P26-001, arguing it bypasses parcel-level review and sets a dangerous precedent by designating 2,500 acres for light industrial use adjacent to homes. She stated that passing this amendment would allow future data centers to obtain permits "by right" with reduced public notice. She noted a council member told her the council was touring active data center sites, and cited a Bexclusive article quoting Shelby of Diversified Futures mentioning a data center associated with the Laughlin Ranch rezoning. She said she would vote no on the 2026 general plan.
• Todd Jones said he purchased a home in Laughlin Ranch (closed Monday) and was not informed by real estate agents or the city about the rezoning. He questioned the city's responsibility to post signage about pending rezoning.
• McKenzie Covert (private resident, former city PIO) questioned a recent city reorganization involving employee demotions and terminations. She asked how many positions were eliminated, the cost savings, the cost of new positions created, and whether the council was briefed. She also questioned the timing of eliminating the PIO position during an election cycle when the general plan is on the ballot, calling it ill-timed.
• Leland Gilmore (VFW Post Commander) announced an October Fest on October 10th (2–5 PM) at the VFW Post and thanked council members Gene O'Neill and Toby Cotter for helping obtain a stage.
• Rose Jacobs (Colorado River Concert Series) announced the 25th concert season, beginning November 5th with "Best of Broadway" featuring Terry Barber. She sought community sponsors at $500, $1,000, and $2,500 levels. Season tickets are $100, single tickets $35, student tickets $5.
• Larry Two Enforced thanked police, fire, and city staff for flood response, commending the cleanup effort.
• Eva Genevieve announced the 13th annual Halloween pet costume contest on October 17th (check-in 1 PM, judging 2 PM) with proceeds benefiting Black Mountain K9 Search and Rescue. She also promoted the Republican Women's Club meeting on October 7th at Chaparral Country Club.

Discussion Items

• Items 5–7 (Liquor Licenses): Three administrative liquor license applications were approved: Walgreens #3913 (multi-license acquisition), Olive Garden Italian Restaurant (series 12 restaurant license), and Callianos Family Restaurant (series 6 bar license). Staff reported no concerns on any of the three. All approved 6-0.
• Item 8 (Baseline Road IGA): Approved an intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for Baseline Road improvements from SR95 to Raymar Road (2,347 linear feet of complete mill, recompaction, repaving, curb, gutter, sidewalk, ADA ramps, and pavement marking). Funded via state earmark. Approved 6-0.
• Item 9 (Boys & Girls Club Funding): The funding agreement for 2026–2027 was originally $50,000. During discussion, councilmember Ring proposed increasing it to $60,000, citing rising costs and the performance of new director Dave Heath. The additional $10,000 will come from general fund contingency. Council unanimously supported the increase (6-0). Councilmember Smith suggested a $10,000 raise next year.
• Items 10–13 (City Center Improvement District): A comprehensive series of actions to fund and construct backbone infrastructure for the 270-acre City Center development (located along Highway 95, anticipated $1 billion private investment at buildout). The developer (Jay Corda) presented plans including 102 single-family lots (nearly completed), 200 additional lots, a 107-room nationally branded hotel, a national grocer, and other commercial uses. The developer emphasized "attainable housing" (homes starting with a "2") and noted the project is market-driven.
  • Item 10: Approved resolution 2026R-34 authorizing $16.5 million in assessment bonds (special assessment bonds, not general obligation) to finance public infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, storm drain, landscape). The city received an A3 credit rating. Bonds will be amortized over ~25 years at 4–5% interest. Debt service (~$1.2M/year) is assessed to the developer and subsequent property owners, with reserve fund and foreclosure provisions as protections. Councilmember Smith noted the extensive infrastructure scope (4,700 linear feet water line, 5,800 linear feet sewer, 28 manholes, 4,700 linear feet storm drain, 35,000 sq ft asphalt) and concluded the greater risk would be passing this to the developer. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 11: Approved a temporary construction easement for the improvement district. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 12: Approved a construction contract with McCormick Construction Company for $12,096,730 for roadway construction (new curb, gutter, sidewalk, water, sewer, lighting, pavement, grading, storm drain improvements). The project was advertised twice; two bids were received, with McCormick being the lowest ($1.3 million lower than the next bid). Councilmember Smith emphasized this cost is fully paid by the developer through the improvement district, not from city funds. Approved 6-0.
  • Item 13: Approved a materials testing and observation services agreement with Sunbelt Engineering and Testing ($59,570 for City Center testing) and increased the annual testing agreement from $60,000 to $90,000 through June 30, 2027, with a budget transfer to be paid from bond proceeds. Approved 6-0.
• Item 14 (School Resource Officer): Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Bullhead City School District for utilization of a school safety grant to fund a school resource officer (Officer Probst at Fox Creek). Chief noted the city has more schools than SROs but lacks funding for additional ones. Superintendent Carolyn Stewart was present. Approved 6-0.
• Item 15 (South Supply Line Phase 2): Ratified a change order (Change Order 2) for $242,009.42 to construct an additional 800 feet of 16-inch transmission main, using remaining grant funds from Senator Hilde Angus ($1M grant). The original $755,000 bid came in under budget, allowing the extension. Approved 6-0.
• Item 16 (Section 10 Blower Buildings): Approved a construction contract with K Constructors for $4,948,131.94 for two blower buildings at the Section 10 wastewater treatment plant (aeration basin blower building and digester blower building). Utilities Director Mark Clark explained these buildings provide air to keep biological treatment processes alive. The project is part of the multi-phase plant expansion; remaining work includes ultraviolet disinfection and solids handling in subsequent years. Approved 6-0.
• Item 17 (Section 18 Membrane Replacement): Approved a sole-source agreement with Xenon Environmental Corporation for $806,080 (plus applicable sales tax) to replace two membrane trains at the Section 18 wastewater treatment plant. Clark noted the membranes have a 5–7 year life expectancy but the ones being replaced are eight years old. Xenon is the sole source because switching manufacturers would require expensive rack replacement. The plant is an enterprise fund, so costs are covered by customer fees. Approved 6-0.
• Item 18 (Zoning Appeals Ordinance): Approved Ordinance 2026-17, amending Chapter 17.54 to change the appellate body for zoning administrator decisions from the City Council to the Board of Adjustment. City Attorney Garn Emery explained this conforms the code to state statute and existing Board of Adjustment provisions. Councilmember O'Neill initially expressed concern about delegating authority to an unelected board, but Emery noted this had never been tested in practice and that state statute supports the Board of Adjustment's role. Appeal from the Board of Adjustment would be to superior court. Approved 6-0.
• Item 19 (Purchasing Amendments): Approved Ordinance 2026-18, a cleanup amendment addressing chapters 2.16 (city manager) and 3.37 (contracting and competitive bidding) to align with previously adopted policies. Approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• All 15 action items (Items 5–19) were approved by 6-0 votes.
• The Boys & Girls Club funding was increased from $50,000 to $60,000 for FY 2026–2027, with the additional $10,000 from contingency.
• The City Center Improvement District was established with $16.5 million in assessment bonds and $12.1 million in construction contracts, fully developer-funded through assessments, not city taxpayer funds.
• A code amendment moved zoning appeals from the City Council to the Board of Adjustment.
• Upcoming events announced: National Night Out (Oct 7), VFW October Fest (Oct 10), Elks blood drive (Oct 20) and fall festival (Oct 17), Colorado River Concert Series begins Nov 5, Halloween pet contest (Oct 17), Veterans Day celebration (Nov 11).
• Early voting began October 7th and runs through October 30th.