Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - July 2, 2024
Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - July 2, 2024
The Bullhead City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, call to the public, manager's report, reports from council members, and action on consent and regular agenda items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from May 13, 2024 Special Budget Meeting, June 18, 2024 Special Council Meeting, June 18, 2024 Special Budget Meeting, and June 18, 2024 Regular Council Meeting.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024R-32 appointing Finance Director Robert Drexler to submit the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report to the Arizona Auditor General.
- Approved the Thirteenth Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement with the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of the Colorado River for $50,000 for FY 2024-2025.
- Approved a 5.67 acre-foot water allocation for the Bullhead City School District’s DEN (District Employee Neighborhood) under Ordinance No. 2023-16.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Stephen: Urged the council to study threats from a DHS whistleblower, referencing FEMA camps, illegal aliens, and World War III. Stated, "eternal freedom requires eternal vigilance."
- Daniel Rodebeck: Expressed concern about a new development blocking Merrill Avenue, forcing residents to drive through a strip mall to reach Highway 95. Cited safety worries about criminal elements and border crossings. Requested that Merrill Avenue remain open.
- Jim Fuller: Discussed his experience with city staff when flying flags at Hancock and 95, and read scripture from John 15. Expressed frustration about being "chased out" by a city cabinet member and not being allowed to express his candidate choice at a Republican committee picnic.
- Barbara Pape: Announced a Colorado River Republican Women meeting on July 3rd and spoke about freedom of speech, citing Article 19 of the ICCPR. Stated that freedom of speech is not absolute and has limitations.
- Kathleen: Addressed a prior incident with the police chief and Donna Doyle. Accused the council of taking advantage of her absence at the June 18th meeting and calling her a liar. Asked for a formal apology to Donna Doyle, stating the chief's response was "unprofessional, rude, and absolutely no bearing on the subject at hand."
- Donna Doyle (President of SAINT): Rebutted the chief’s implication that she was involved in Kathleen’s complaint. Stated she had met with Chief Trebes on January 18th to discuss ordinance changes, contrary to his claim that she never reached out. Called the council’s applause at the chief’s response "appalling and very disappointing."
- Sean (veteran): Criticized the chief’s behavior, including climbing over a chair to confront a speaker. Defended citizens' free speech rights. Questioned why a citizen’s request to change a flag was met with hostility while another request was quickly fulfilled. Stated, "as a veteran, I'm disgusted" and suggested turning the flag upside down as a sign of distress.
- Nick Parsons: Discussed solar propulsion systems and urged the council to create comprehensive legislation for residential solar and EV charging. Proposed buying one EV and building a charging station to reduce reliance on fuel. Noted that Bullhead City is 300 miles from a port and that high gas prices stop the economy.
- Scotty: Complained about losing almost 50 campaign signs, accusing the city of holding two of his signs. Discussed Proposition 416 and criticized Mayor Brady’s sign placement. Claimed Councilmember Grace Heckt signed nomination papers twice, calling it a felony. Said, "she's not gonna get elected anyway."
- Hilda Angus (County Supervisor and State Senate candidate): Listed ARPA-funded projects in Bullhead City, including the ADA playground, Davis Camp improvements, Boys & Girls Club, Veterans in Motion van, and the Gary Keith Amphitheater. Thanked the council for their help.
- Eva Corbett: Promoted a WeCare for Animals fundraiser on July 7th at Mojave Steakhouse.
- Nicole Tracy: Thanked the city for permitting a walk for her husband, which raised funds for school music instruments and nonprofits. Presented checks of $1,500 each to Bullhead City Morning Kiwanis and SAINT.
- Gary Genovice: Made a humorous remark about the 4th of July: "Don't celebrate the fourth with a fifth on the third."
Manager’s Report
- Summer Camp: Recreation Superintendent Dave Heath reported the second year of summer camp concluded with a theater performance. Attendance grew from 500 registrations in 2023 to 761 registrations in 2024, with about a dozen more camp types. Registration for 2025 opens in March. A video with testimonials from parents and campers was shown.
- ADA Playground at Rotary Park: Assistant City Manager Eddie Kajirwa announced the ribbon cutting for the new ADA-accessible playground. Funding sources: $20,000 from Rotary Park, $30,000 from BHHS Legacy Foundation, and over $100,000 in ARPA funds secured by Supervisor Hilda Angus. A video of the ribbon cutting was shown.
- Summer Safety on the Colorado River: City Manager Cotter noted that Father’s Day Saturday was busier than Memorial Day Saturday. For the 4th of July weekend, increased enforcement from Arizona Game and Fish, Nevada Wildlife, and possibly the U.S. Coast Guard is expected. Police will enforce fireworks laws; only safe-and-sane fireworks from Safeway are legal. The city does not shoot off fireworks. Police will respond to all fireworks calls.
Discussion Items
- Item 5 – Auditing Services: Awarded contract RFP 2024-215 to Baker Tilly US, LLP for $231,885 over three years (FY2024-2026), with an option to extend two additional audit periods. Unanimously approved.
- Item 6 – Bus Stop Amendments 2024: Adopted Ordinance No. 2024-21 and Resolution No. 2024R-33 making it unlawful for any person to remain at a bus stop shelter or bench after hours. Unanimously approved.
- Item 7 – Improvement Districts Assessment: Approved the total annual assessment of $105,056 for all lighting districts for FY2025, authorized the City Manager to sign tax levy forms, and forwarded to Mohave County. A public commenter asked about dark sky alternatives; staff responded that new developments use case-by-case lighting, including lower-mounted solar lights. Unanimously approved.
- Item 8 – Lake Improvement Fund Restroom: Adopted Resolution No. 2024R-34 to apply for and receive Arizona State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF) program funds from Arizona State Parks and Trails for an additional restroom facility at Community Park (six stalls, ADA accessible). Unanimously approved.
- Item 9 – Water Conservation Grant: Ratified receipt and execution of a $3 million Water Conservation Grant from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA). The grant will remove non-functional turf at HOAs (Pelverdi Meadows, Arroyo Vista) and city parks. The Mayor and Assistant City Manager made two trips to Phoenix to advocate for the grant. Unanimously approved.
Key Outcomes
- All consent and action items were approved unanimously (7-0).
- The council heard extensive public comment on free speech, animal welfare, signage, development concerns, and community projects.
- The council acknowledged the successful summer camp program, the new ADA playground, and the upcoming summer safety enforcement.
- No items were withdrawn from the consent agenda, and there were no agenda modifications.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. This is Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024, 5 30 p.m., our regular scheduled council meeting. I'm calling this meeting to order. Could I get a roll call, please? All council members are present. Councilmember Hecht will be joining us tonight via telephone. Uh, Councilmember Hecht, can you hear me? Thank you. All right, we're gonna start this evening with an invocation from Pastor Nicholas Granger from Hope United Methodist Church. If you'd like to join us, please stand. I invite you each to adopt the attitude of that is most prayerful for you. Let us pray. Holy one known by many names and in many ways, we lift before you all who govern, particularly those of this council of Woolhead City. Bless these public servants that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, justice, and mercy. Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. May we always remember your generosity and constantly strive to do your will. Bless our land with honesty in the workplace, truth and education, and responsibility in daily life. You have shown us the splendor of diversity and the beauty of unity. Make us who come from many nations with many languages a united people that delight in our many different gifts, defend our liberties, and give those who we have entrusted with authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common welfare. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, from cynicism, selfishness, corruption, and every evil act. Grant in your mercy just and honest government and give us grace to live together in peace. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the pledge of the flag of the United States of America. Please be seated. All right, we're starting out the night with a call to the public. If you're individual, you get three minutes. If you're a group, uh, you get five minutes, you must have your group with you. That being said, come forward. Stephen. Greetings, mayor, city council. Um I am gonna put out some information after uh I tell you what I'm gonna tell you, and uh it will be forwarded to all council members, everyone on my email list. Uh, anyone who wants this information, uh, can also a members of the public that aren't on my list can email me, speakerbooking at iCloud.com, and you will get it as well. It's a DHS whistleblower uh that has just recently come up today. With that said, eternal freedom requires eternal vigilance. Before you celebrate our freedom and independence from a king and a feudal society, I urge all of you, especially those of you who are sitting and seated to serve us, we the people. I beg you, I implore you to please study and understand the real threats that we are all facing today. With FEMA camps, illegal aliens, pandemic 2.0, world war three. This is all some of the things that are revealed from this Department of Homeland Security contract whistleblower who's been in the agency for a long time and is blowing the whistles. It'll take you an hour to watch it. I'll include some other articles as well, and I strongly urge everyone as you celebrate the fourth. Please realize we need to stand for freedom. Um we don't have to solve all our differences to unite over our basic freedoms. It's easy to listen to good news in the media and see a full victorious win and only see the glasses half full. That's what they're selling us that all's well. That we have victory, Trump will win. As Ronald would say, as Ronald Reagan would say, well, nothing could be further from the truth. It should be abundantly clear to all that Biden has not been in charge, so nothing has changed but perception. We need our local elected officials to understand the facts of the threats we face and have a plan for our vigilance. I will put out evidence, some of the very real threats to you tonight via email.
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