Regular City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025
Regular City Council Meeting – March 4, 2025
The Bullhead City Council held its regular meeting on March 4, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included a call to the public, reports from the city manager and council members, and action on four agenda items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless noted otherwise. The meeting opened with an invocation by Captain John Birks of the Salvation Army and the Pledge of Allegiance. The mayor apologized for an earlier workshop that started before its scheduled time; no action was taken at that workshop.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barbara Pape announced the Colorado River Republican monthly meeting on March 5, 2025, at Chaparral Country Club, featuring speakers John Martell and Lauren Spadvick.
- Diana Lestat promoted an Elks Lodge golf tournament on April 12, 2025, to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Jack C. Warder Elks Youth Camp. Registration is $100 per player; hole sponsorships are available.
- Brian Ware (resident of Brookfield Homes Development) complained about a booster pump 18 inches from his property line at 2633 Wilderness Lane, running all night. He asked if permits existed and whether the city was failing to provide adequate water pressure. City Manager Cotter responded that the pump is a developer-required addition and staff would investigate why the temporary system is still in use.
- Harvey Pryor (Bullhead RC) thanked the city for supporting RC activities at Rotary Park and announced a trail crawl on March 9, 2025, at 9:00 AM on Treadless Trail.
- Captain John Birks (Salvation Army) described services offered: family food boxes (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–12 PM), homeless food bags, clothing vouchers, furniture assistance for fire victims, and homeless showers. The thrift store provides water and a place to sit for homeless individuals on Tuesdays.
- Gary Genevis (Colorado River Historical Society) promoted Easter honey-baked ham fundraisers and highlighted upcoming museum speakers.
- Eva Genovese announced the Bullhead City Celebrity Cook-off on March 8, 2025 ($40/ticket) benefiting the food bank, and a St. Patrick's Day-themed event for cats on March 16, 2025, at Mojave Steakhouse.
- Scott (last name not given) criticized the council for starting a workshop early, questioned a $20,000 donation to an organization (implying conflict of interest with a council member's vacation), and threatened to pursue legal action regarding election campaign signs and Senate Bill 1036. The mayor defended his vacation as a personal trip to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands with 14 couples from Bullhead City.
Manager's Report
- Red Light Enforcement Update (Chief Trebes): Since late 2024, 222 hours of dedicated enforcement on Highway 95 between Hancock and Riverview resulted in 181 stops, 157 citations (110 for red-light violations), 24 warnings, 13 arrests, and one 20-day vehicle impound. Two collisions were handled. Overall accidents on the highway decreased by 30–40 from the previous year, under 400 total. Enforcement will continue.
- Spring Sporting Events: The Bullhead City Tournament of Champions softball event will be held March 6–8 at Mojave High School and city softball fields. Other tournaments will run through May.
- Summer Camp: A full report will be given at the next meeting; registration opens April 1, 2025.
Discussion Items
Item 2 – Purchase of Slurry/Micro Surfacing Machine
- The council approved the purchase of a new RoadSaver RS-3G slurry machine from E.D. Etnyre & Co. for $477,003 plus taxes and freight, and waived competitive bidding. The machine will replace a 2016 unit. Staff cited uniformity of parts and operator familiarity as reasons for single-source purchase. The new unit has a 24-month/250,000-mile chassis warranty and a 12-month/100,000-mile warranty on major components, plus a 5-year/100,000-mile emissions software warranty. Delivery expected August/September 2025. The old truck will be sold (estimated $100,000–$150,000). Sales tax and freight were not included in the listed price but will be added. (Motion approved 7-0)
Item 3 – Precast Concrete Restroom for UTV/ATV Trailhead
- The council approved purchase from CXT Precast Concrete Products for $219,665.39 plus a $20,000 contingency (total not to exceed $239,665.39). The restroom will serve the new UTV/ATV trailhead parking lot. The project is partially funded by a $1.398 million grant from Arizona State Parks and Trails (federal and OHV funds). An initial bid for a stick-built restroom exceeded $300,000 and was rejected. The restroom will include an adult changing station as required by state law. Water and sewer lines are already in place. Security cameras may be added later. (Motion approved 7-0)
Item 4 – Resolution 2025R-8: Transfer of National Park Service Lands
- The council adopted a resolution directing staff to seek transfer of approximately 900 acres of National Park Service land within city limits but outside Lake Mead National Recreation Area to the city for public benefit. Current city permits cover Heritage Park (south of the bridge) and two beautification projects. City Manager Cotter stated the NPS has no plans or funds for the land. If transferred, the land would be used for parks, recreation, streets, water, sewer, and other public purposes – not for sale or mining. The timing is favorable due to supportive congressional delegation and administration. No immediate development plans exist; the land would be preserved for future use. (Motion approved 7-0)
Item 5 – Update on State Legislative Activities
- Assistant City Manager Travis Pruitt reported on key bills:
- HB 2769 – Sovereign Land Transfer: Requests transfer of 37+ acres (peninsula behind Palo Verde Meadows and three islands) to the city. Passed first House committee; expected to proceed through Senate.
- SB 1353/HB 2866 – Municipal Development Permit Review: Would limit city timeline for permit approvals/inspections and allow developers to hire third-party reviewers if deadlines are missed. City is monitoring.
- SB 1013 – Fee Increase Vote: Would require a two-thirds council vote for any fee, tax, or assessment increase. Passed Senate; moving to House.
- Highway 95 Funding: Mayor and staff are seeking additional state funds for right-turn lanes on Highway 95, building on previous allocations of $9 million and $8 million. A meeting with Rep. John Gillette is scheduled.
- Food Tax Limitation: Proposed statewide cap at 2% (elimination initially proposed). Bullhead City does not have a food tax, so no direct impact. No action was taken on this update.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (minutes of Feb 18, 2025) approved without discussion (7-0).
- Waiver Motion to read ordinances and resolutions in full was approved (7-0).
- Item 2 (Slurry Machine): Approved (7-0).
- Item 3 (Restroom): Approved (7-0).
- Item 4 (NPS Land Transfer): Resolution adopted (7-0).
- No action on Item 5 (legislative update).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. This is Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, 5 30 p.m. We're here for our regular scheduled council meeting. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Could I get a roll call, please? All council members are present. Thank you. We're going to start with an invocation from Captain John Burks from Salvation Army. If you'd like to join us, please stand. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for being with us tonight. We ask that as we uh go about the business of the city that you'd be uh present in it, that you would move us to the right decisions, and that uh you will help us uh grow the city into what you would want to have out of it. We uh thank you so much for all those who uh serve not only on the council but also uh fire and also the uh city um police lord. We thank you. We ask you to protect them. Lord, I thank you so much for all you have done for each one of us, and I ask that you uh would just continue to bless us in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the Pledge of Leaders. And to report for which appreciate. Please be seated. Before we start with our call to public, uh, I just want to bring something up. We had a workshop prior to this in our agenda setting, and everything we knew we were going to do it right after our tour of the animal shelter. And it was supposed to start at 445. We started prior to that. I'd like to apologize for the council. No action was taken in this meeting. We basically went over a couple uh items, and we will be having another workshop to follow up on this. It is available online for everyone to see. Uh, I just want to let that known that we were supposed to start at 445 and we did start a little earlier. Uh with that being said, we're gonna start with our call to the public. If uh you're here as a group, there must be uh at least four people here with that group, and you get five minutes. Let us know ahead of time, and we'll make sure you get your five minutes. Otherwise, as an individual, you get three minutes. With that being said, who'd like to come up first? Good evening, City Council and Mayor. Uh I'm here to announce our Colorado River Republic. Oh, I'm sorry, Barbara Pape. Sorry about that. I'm here to announce our Colorado River Republican monthly meeting. It's going to be tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5th, in at uh 1260 uh Malhave Drive. It's at the Chaparrail Country Club. Our guest speakers are going to be John Martell of Mojave Electric Co-op and author of the Free Market Warrior, Mr. Lauren Spadvick. This is a uh a luncheon, and you do not have to uh eat there or or join us, but we always exp uh we always welcome our our uh community to our meetings. And thank you. Good night. Thank you. Next thank you, Mayor Diumiko, Vice Mayor Alfonso, Council members and staff. My name is Diana Lestat.
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