Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025
Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2025
The Bullhead City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. All seven council members were present. The meeting included a proclamation, public comments, a manager’s report, a consent agenda, a public hearing, and several action items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) except where noted.
Proclamation
- Council proclaimed Friday, April 18, 2025, as National Lineman Appreciation Day.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Barbara Pape (Colorado River Republicans) announced the May 7th monthly meeting at Chaparral Country Club with speaker Mojave County Education Superintendent John Warren.
- Diana Lestat (Bullhead City Elks Lodge) invited the community to the annual Easter egg hunt on April 19 at Dean Hackett Park.
- Unnamed veteran speaker (Arizona Vetching Canine) expressed disappointment in the lack of support from veteran council members for local veteran causes. He noted a veteran suicide rate of 245% in the county and introduced a new initiative “22 to zero” to reduce suicides. He stated the organization holds Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization status and provides food, clothing, shelter, and canine services.
- Alfonso Domico criticized the council for giving themselves a raise at the April 1 meeting and for delays on Highway 95 right‑turn lane construction. He also stated there are no studio apartments or affordable housing in Bullhead City.
- Randy Mack announced his new morning show “Mac in the Morning” on 103.9 Jack FM, weekdays 7–9 AM.
- Brian Ware complained about a six‑foot fence (18 inches off the property line) blocking views at Fox Creek and said the City is not responding to developer non‑compliance.
- Paula Fontes Hambi expressed concern about attacks on attorneys and the rule of law, referencing a poem by Martin Niemöller.
- Nicole Tracy announced the third annual Kirk Tracy Musical Memorial Walk on May 10 at Heritage Trail. Funds raised provide new instruments for local schools.
- Gary Genovies promoted a honey‑baked ham fundraiser for the Colorado River Museum and Little Red Schoolhouse.
- Grace Hecht announced a drive‑thru food distribution on April 19 at Bullhead Regional Food Bank and the “Make Bullhead Better” youth farmers market program.
- Eva Genevieves promoted the Mojave High School drama production “Into the Woods” (April 16–19) and the America First Victory Gala on May 10 at Riverside Hotel with keynote speaker Andy Biggs.
- Ivy Yeomans requested a change in city code to allow parking a motorhome on property without an adjacent structure, citing Arizona Revised Statutes.
- Julie Hassett congratulated the city on the new John and Olivia McCormick Performing Arts Pavilion and promoted the Colorado River Concerts 51st season (starting November 13).
Manager’s Report
- Bullhead City Summer Camp – 45 camps run May 27–June 27; 340 kids already registered; drone camp sold out. New camps include Slime, Music, MMA, Intro to Drawing, and Chef Masters (taught by Public Works Director Angie Johnson).
- Gary Keith Park / McCormick Pavilion – Official ribbon‑cutting on April 11; the pavilion is state‑of‑the‑art and can host multiple events. The park includes a bathroom, walking path, and stage.
- Highway 95 Right‑Turn Lanes – Three new right‑turn lanes opened at Sterling, Central, and Rising Sun; cost $474,000 funded by $8 million state allocation. Future turn lanes planned at Mojave High School and Safeway.
- State Sovereign Land – HB 2375 – A bill to transfer additional state sovereign lands (north side and Palo Verde Meadows) to city control was signed by the governor; this improves local oversight.
- May 8 Budget Workshop – Will begin at 9:00 AM and continue as needed; public comment accepted.
- Grand Opening – The Abbott – New 1‑2‑3 bedroom apartments on Clearwater Drive open May 8; applications being accepted. Another apartment complex on Havasupai expected to open June 5/6.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approved minutes of April 1, 2025, special and regular meetings. Motion carried 7‑0.
- Item 2 – Approved amendment to Employment Agreement for City Clerk. Motion carried 7‑0.
- Item 3 – (Pulled from consent) Authorized budget amendments from general fund general services contingency to various departments and funds. Includes $200,000 for ADA access at Community Park (wheelchair access to river). Motion carried 7‑0.
Public Hearing
- Item 4 – Public hearing and approval of Series 12 (Restaurant) Liquor License for French Connection Restaurant and Bar at 2245 Clearwater Drive. Applicant Kitty Rain spoke in support; staff expressed no concerns. Motion carried 7‑0.
Discussion Items
- Item 5 – Adopted Resolution 2025R‑13 approving Intergovernmental Agreement with Mohave County Flood Control District for FY 2025‑2026 flood control funds. City Manager Cotter explained the county retains 20% of funds paid in city; funds used solely for flood control. Approved 7‑0.
- Item 6 – Approved purchase of Hydra‑Stop Insta‑Valve equipment, parts, and training for $82,381 plus taxes. Utilities Director Clark stated the equipment allows valve installation without shutting down water/wastewater lines, reducing customer outages. Approved 7‑0.
- Item 7 – Approved agreement with Evoqua Water Technologies for odor and corrosion control at lift stations 10‑1 and 10‑6 ($80,154) and additional bioxide chemical for lift station 16‑2 ($161,101), as sole source. Approved 7‑0.
- Item 8 – Approved rehabilitation of Clarifier No. 1 at Section 10 Wastewater Treatment Plant by WesTech for $753,784 (including installation and up to five extra labor days if needed). Waiver of competitive bidding approved as best interest of city. Approved 7‑0.
- Item 9 – Approved rehabilitation of Clarifier No. 2 for $751,795, including waiver of competitive bidding. Approved 7‑0.
- Item 10 – Approved rehabilitation of Clarifier No. 3 for $781,155, including waiver of competitive bidding. Approved 7‑0.
Key Outcomes
- All agenda items passed unanimously (7‑0).
- Council authorized financial commitments exceeding $2.8 million for wastewater clarifier rehabilitations, $82,381 for valve equipment, and $241,255 for odor/corrosion control.
- Direction to staff to continue pursuing developer compliance at Fox Creek (sump pump issue) and to proceed with ADA river access at Community Park.
- Upcoming events: Summer camp registrations, McCormick Pavilion rentals, Highway 95 turn‑lane construction, budget workshop on May 8, and grand openings of The Abbott and Havasupai apartments.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. This is Tuesday, April 15th, 2025. It's five thirty PM. We're here for a regular skilled council meeting. We call this meeting to order. Could I get a roll call, please? All council members are present. Thank you. We're gonna start with the invocation from Pastor Bill Jones from Bethel Community Church. If you'd like to join us, please stand. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council members and staff and attendees. Would you please pray with me? Most gracious Father, we thank you for your presence here this afternoon, and we ask, Father, for your blessings to be up on this body. Father, as our city leaders prepare to respond to the needs and to the request of the city, we just pray for our city to continually prosper and to be well kept. We ask Father for guidance, understanding, and wisdom as they deal with the city business. And Father, we pray that as we embark upon the summer holidays, that we would remain or maintain a good safe and blessed city. We ask your presence to be up on us as we go from here, and we thank you, Father, for your blessings and for your presence in this bloody in the name of Jesus. Amen. Please follow me in the pledge. Please be seated. All right, we have a proclamation to give out National Lineman's Day, if I could get uh people from MEC up here. And whereas linemen are often first responders during storms and other catastrophic events, working to make the scene safe for other public safety heroes. And whereas linemen must work at h work high atop power lines twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, oftentimes in inclimate weather to keep electricity flowing. And whereas the linemen must also often work under dangerous conditions, separated from their families to keep schools and businesses open. Now, therefore, I Steve Diamico, mayor of Bullhead City, do hereby proclaim Friday, April eighteenth, twenty twenty-five as National Linemen's Appreciation Day. All right, call the public. If you have a group with four or more people with you, let us know. You get five minutes of your individual, you get three minutes. With that being said, who would like to come up first? Good evening, mayor and city council. I'm here to announce you take your name for the record, please. Oh, excuse me, Barbara Pape. I am here to announce Colorado River Republicans and women's monthly meeting, which is on Wednesday, May 7th at the Chaparral Country Club, 1260 Mojave Drive. This is a luncheon, and you can buy you can order hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chef salad, and turkey sandwich. Our guest speaker is um is Mojave County Education Superintendent John Warren. I believe our community is eager to learn about the focus and the plans for the upcoming 2025-26 year. Um if you do if you're not a member uh if you are not a member, our community is always welcome as these meetings uh as you join these meetings. Thank you and good night. Thank you. Who'd like to come up next? Hi there. My name is Diana Lestat with the Bullhead City Elks Lodge, number two four zero eight. I just wanted to invite the mayor, the city council, and of course the families of Bullhead City. We are having our annual Easter egg hunt this Saturday, April 19th at 9 a.m. at Dean Hackett Park, which is at 1051 Terrace Drive, the corner of Terrace Drive and Marina Parkway Drive. We're gonna have face painting, we're gonna have the Easter bunny there. The Easter egg hunt starts at 9 a.m. And when it is over, we of course they can take pictures of the Easter bunny and have their face painted, but also every kid is gonna have their own Easter basket that we're making for everybody too. So we just want to definitely invite parents and grandparents to come on out and have a great time.
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