Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - October 1, 2024

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., the Bullhead City Council met in regular session at City Council Chambers, 1255 Marina Boulevard. All seven council members were present. The meeting included two proclamations, public comments, a manager’s report, approval of the consent agenda, and three action items involving a street sweeper purchase and two Highway 95 right-turn-lane construction contracts. Every voting item passed with a 7-0 vote.

Proclamations

• Mayor Steve D. Amico proclaimed Wednesday, October 2, 2024, as “National Night Out” in Bullhead City, marking the 40th annual National Association of Town Watch program. The local event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the new location in front of the Bullhead City Police Department, 1255 Marina Boulevard. Partners include the Bullhead City Police Department, Bullhead City Fire Department, Mojave Electric Cooperative, and the Boys & Girls Club, with raffle prizes and Walter the burro expected. Note: The proclamation as transcribed says “October 1st,” while the agenda and later comments identify the event as October 2nd.
• Mayor Amico proclaimed October 6-12, 2024, as “Fire Prevention Week” in Bullhead City. The 2024 theme is “Smoke alarms: make them work for you.” The annual community risk reduction safety fair will be held Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at Anderson Auto Group Field House. Fire officials noted that roughly three out of five deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or with no working smoke alarms, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires almost in half, and escape time in modern home fires has dropped to about 3 minutes compared to about 17 minutes approximately 40 years ago.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stephen Lee urged the city to enforce Arizona voter identification requirements against what he described as federal interference, and recommended over-the-counter substances he said could address injected nanotechnology, including calcium disodium EDTA, liposomal vitamin C, and methylene blue. He provided contact information for follow-up.
• Barbara Pape announced the Colorado River Republican Women’s monthly meeting on October 2 at Chaparral Country Club, with guest speaker April Smith discussing ballot propositions, and reminded attendees that the voter registration deadline is October 7.
• Tracy Browning, owner of National Construction and Development, said she has lived in the community since 2005 and started her company in 2008. She asked for the opportunity to bid on city water, sewer, and utility projects, saying “let’s keep it local.” She cited her licenses, 25 years of utility experience, and work on the Merrill and Highway 95 crossing project.
• Grace Falsner, a Fiesta RV Park resident, requested another entrance or exit so residents can use the center turn lane on Rainbow Drive to safely turn south onto Highway 95. She said heavy traffic and her limited ability to drive quickly make the current situation difficult.
• Jeremy Brunt of TWN Communications provided a project update: approximately 104,000 feet of conduit has been installed on multiple streets; riverfront and Stallman Drive restoration is complete; upcoming work includes Terrace Drive, Lakeside, Roadrunner, micro-trenching on Lynn Drive, and drilling on Colorado Rio Vista and Winkler Drive.
• Rose Jacobs announced that the Bullhead City Fire District’s Station 7 in Laughlin Ranch will hold an open house Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. She also promoted the Colorado River Concert Series’ 50th anniversary season, with sponsorship opportunities beginning at $300 and $500 levels, student outreach sponsorships at $1,000, and community business partnerships at $2,000. The season starts November 21 with a Forever Simon and Garfunkel tribute show.
• Eva Corbett promoted the 11th annual Halloween H.O.W.L. pet event at Cal Ranch on October 19 from 1:30 to 3 p.m., with prizes of $100, $50, and $25, and highlighted adoptable puppy Lily, available at the shelter October 7.
• An audience member later identified as Mr. McClure angrily accused Mayor DeMico and others of targeting his campaign manager and treasurer, threatened legal action, criticized efforts to obtain a restraining order, and said veterans did not want help from a “libertarian.”
• Pamela Smith invited the council to a Daughters of the American Revolution monument unveiling and dedication on October 12 at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.

Manager’s Report

• City Manager Toby Cotter reported that the United States District Court for Arizona upheld Bullhead City’s food-sharing ordinance and dismissed the lawsuit filed by Norma Thornton in October 2022. Cotter called it a common-sense law and said the Institute for Justice has stated it will appeal.
• Cotter reported on a Saturday morning event at the skate park with hundreds of kids and families, noting the city has budgeted money for additional improvements and is asking the community for ideas through Dave Heath.
• The Senior Enrichment Center is still expected to open in November, pending Southwest Gas and Mojave Electric Cooperative utility work. Cotter guessed mid-November, possibly right before Thanksgiving.
• Cotter announced a community cleanup day on Saturday, October 19, with Mohave County and Republic Services at the Gary Keith Park/MVD parking lot. It will accept household hazardous waste, electronics, shredding, bulky items, a small amount of tires, and aluminum cans.

Mayor and Council Members’ Reports

• Council members promoted upcoming events: the First Friday cleanup on East Sterling from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; National Night Out on October 2; the farmer’s market opening October 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Park; a museum ribbon cutting October 11 at 9 a.m.; the community risk reduction event October 12, 9 a.m. to noon; and the Bullhead City Balloon Festival on October 25-27.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the September 17, 2024 Regular Council Meeting.
• Approved the “City of Bullhead City and Bullhead City Fraternal Police Officers Association Memorandum of Understanding July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027, revised by the City Council on October 1, 2024” and authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement.
• The consent agenda was approved in one motion with all seven council members in favor.

Action Items

• Item 3 – Street Sweeper Purchase: Council approved a purchase contract with Balar Equipment of Phoenix, Arizona, for a Schwarze M6SE Avalanche 5 Cubic Yard Mechanical Broom Street Sweeper, not to exceed $465,300.27. Public Works Director Angie Johnson said the sweeper is under a source-well contract, is a budgeted item, includes a two-year warranty, and had a letter of intent issued in January due to 10-12 month lead times. During public comment, Mr. McClure complained about dust and debris near gas-line work. The motion passed 7-0.
• Item 4 – Route 95/Thunderstruck Southbound Right Hand Turn Lane: Council approved a construction contract with McCormick Construction of Bullhead City, Arizona, not to exceed $348,359.00. The project adds approximately 500 feet of right-turn lane serving Mojave High School, with new pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, a new signal pole, and relocation of street lights. The contract length is 160 calendar days. Cotter said this is the first expense from the city’s $8 million state highway allocation. The motion passed 7-0.
• Item 5 – Central Avenue/Rising Sun Road/Sterling Road Right-Hand Turn Lanes: Council approved a construction contract with Perco Rock Co. of Cedar City, Utah, not to exceed $474,254.00. The project includes three new southbound right-turn lanes, with Rising Sun and Sterling each approximately 300 feet long and Central approximately 200 feet long, along with pavement, curb and gutter, street-light relocation, and new sidewalk at Central. The contract length is 120 calendar days. Cotter estimated the city still has about $7 million remaining; if the Safeway-area project costs $2-3 million, about $4 million could remain, potentially funding another five to ten additional right-turn lanes depending on bid prices. The motion passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• All seven council members voted 7-0 to approve the waiver motion, the consent agenda, and action items 3, 4, and 5.
• No items were withdrawn from or added to the agenda.
• The city will proceed with the police officers’ MOU, the street sweeper purchase, and the two Highway 95 construction contracts.
• The food-sharing ordinance remains in effect pending a possible appeal by the Institute for Justice.
• Staff will continue planning additional Highway 95 right-turn-lane projects, with the Safeway-area project expected to be the next major expenditure. The meeting adjourned after the final action item.