Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025

The Bullhead City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1255 Marina Boulevard. All seven council members were present. After an invocation by Pastor Earl Jones of Spirit Life Church and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Council acted on a consent agenda, a liquor license public hearing, a parking lot lighting purchase, a political sign-free zone code amendment, the sunsetting of a commission, and a State Route 68 safety resolution.

Manager’s Report

• City Manager Toby Cotter reported that spring sports tournaments and special events are underway; the previous weekend at Rotary Park included football, softball, and soccer, with a football team from New Jersey playing a team from Colorado. Events will continue through May.
• The Optimum Community Center phase one is nearly complete, including the gym and classrooms; a grand reopening is planned for March, with a soft opening already in progress.
• The Bullhead Animal Rescue Center construction is projected to finish around late August/September 2025. Concrete has been removed, plumbing is set, foundations are scheduled to be poured soon, and framing, drywall, skylights, and AC/duct work are underway or planned.
• The Senior Enrichment Center is nearly finished; electricity is about to be turned on, flooring and moving remain, and an early March opening is planned.
• Right-turn lane construction on Highway 95 has started on three southside locations, with the Thunderstruck/high school project awarded to McCormick starting in March. About $7 million remains; Safeway is next in design. The state was originally asked for close to $20 million and awarded $8 million.

Mayor and Council Member Reports

• Mayor D’Amico offered brief remarks: “Congratulations, America.” No other council reports were given.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously. It included:
  • Minutes of the January 7, 2025 regular council meeting.
  • Ratification of the termination of a 2009 Property Escrow Agreement.
  • Acceptance of right-of-way grants and drainage easements for The Bullhead Commons.
  • A 24.05 acre-foot water allocation for the Goldrush Resort project.
  • Resolution 2025R-1 abandoning a 12-foot pedestrian easement at 2231 Paseo del Rio.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Harold Smith, Veterans in Motion board member, thanked the Council and announced a February 14, 2025 fundraiser at the FSR V Resort Ballroom; he credited Dot Foods, Anderson Ford, Legacy, and Bernard Chiropractic as supporters.
• Jeremy Brunk, TWN Communications, reported the company’s fiber project is about 75% complete for conduit/vaults and 50% for restoration in the Medland One area, and about 80% complete for conduit/vaults and 50% for restoration in Medland Two, with completion on track for March 13, 2025.
• Barbara Pape invited the community to the Colorado Republican Women luncheon on February 5 at Chaparral Country Club, featuring Supervisor Rich Lettman.
• Rose Jacobs, Colorado River Concert Series, announced the 50th anniversary season; the February 4 show 'Decades of Love' with Ernie Haas and the Signature Sound will be at Mojave High School, tickets $35.
• Deborah Rosie, Bullhead City Elks Lodge, thanked the Council for supporting local charities.
• Randy Mack announced Bullhead City now has its own locally programmed Jack FM 103.9 radio station.
• A Bullhead City resident voiced concerns about unfixed intersections, road construction, the recent closure of urgent care on Raymond Road without public notice, an unsafe driveway at the new hospital, and mentioned Senate Bill 1036 and Proposition 416.
• During the sign-free zone discussion, Grace Hecht asked about enforcement and announced Make Bullhead Better’s community baby shower on February 13, with 10 mothers registered and registration at MakeBullheadbetter.com.
• During the same discussion, Scotty, a Bullhead City resident, complained that his campaign signs were removed and two were not returned, said candidates needed clearer education on rules, and called the sign restriction an infringement on free speech.

Discussion Items

• Liquor License – Circle K #9561: Staff said the new Circle K, to be built just south of the current Circle K at 1080 Highway 95, is ready for construction, and the Series 9 Liquor License Job No. 314541, submitted by Maria Danielle Burgess, would be for that store. No applicant was present. The mayor expressed hope the new store would not have the loitering issues seen at the current Circle K. The Council voted to recommend approval to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.
• Optimum Center Parking Lot Lighting: The Council considered purchasing 19 dual-head and 8 single-head solar lights from ClearWorld through the Purchasing Cooperative of America for $214,278.20 plus tax and shipping, plus a budget transfer of up to $260,000 from contingency. Staff noted the original budget had $3 million in contingency, none of it spent, and that lighting was removed from the construction contract to save 15-20% markup. Council questions confirmed no co-op fees, no solar tax credits, and battery replacement costs approximately $550 per single head and $1,100 per dual head after the 5-year warranty.
• Political Sign-Free Zones: Staff explained that Arizona Revised Statute 16-1019(F) allows the City to designate sign-free zones in city rights-of-way in commercial, tourism, resort, and hotel areas; private property signs remain allowed. The original map covered Highway 95, Silver Creek Road, and parts of Bullhead Parkway, based in part on cell-phone data showing hundreds of thousands of non-local visitors. Council discussion added Riverview Drive between Highway 95 and Lakeside Drive, the parkway from 150 feet east of Highway 95 to the Colorado River, Highway 95 150 feet south of Mojave Drive, and Bullhead Parkway 150 feet south of Laughlin Ranch Boulevard. Councilmembers supported the additions as a way to reduce visual clutter in tourist corridors while preserving private property sign rights. Staff said the designated area remains well below the three-square-mile state limit. In response to a public question, staff said illegal signs are already removed; political signs in the right-of-way are given a courtesy call when contact information exists, then removed and stored at City Hall.
• Sunsetting the Franchise License Commission: City Manager Cotter said state law no longer permits cable franchise agreements, so the commission’s original purpose is obsolete; the commission creates staff and clerk workload, while utility companies and citizens already appear before the Council. Councilmembers agreed the commission had run its course.
• State Route 68 Safety Improvements: The Council reviewed a resolution recommending that ADOT study safety improvements on State Route 68 at the gateway to Bullhead City. The manager cited a recent UTV/vehicle crash and a summer rollover fatality, and noted business owners had asked for signage or flashing beacons. The district engineer was willing to receive the resolution. The mayor strongly supported it.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to waive full reading of ordinances and resolutions passed unanimously.
• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Item 6 approved 6-1 to recommend approval of the Series 9 liquor license.
• Item 7 approved 7-0 for the ClearWorld lighting purchase, the $260,000 contingency transfer, and authorization for the City Manager or designee to issue payments.
• Item 8 approved 6-1 to adopt Ordinance 2025-1, Resolution 2025R-2, and Resolution 2025R-3 with the sign-free zone amendments.
• Item 9 approved 7-0 to sunset the Franchise License Commission and direct the City Manager to prepare an implementing ordinance.
• Item 10 approved 7-0 to adopt Resolution 2025R-4 recommending State Route 68 safety improvements.
• Staff will prepare the sunset ordinance, provide candidate education materials on sign-free zones, and send the SR 68 resolution to ADOT.