Bullhead City Council Regular Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Bullhead City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1255 Marina Boulevard. Mayor Head presided. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Stephen Brown of Praise Chapel and the Pledge of Allegiance. Judge Stephen Moss administered the Oath of Office to new City Magistrate Rod Gilleo. All agenda items were approved by unanimous 7-0 votes.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the February 3, 2026 special and regular meeting minutes as amended, with corrections including changing Stallman to Dalman, ribbon to rebound, P5 to P flag, and a page number correction from three to five.
• Accepted dedication of public utility easement for parcels shown on Plats Book 40, Page 29, Section 16, T20N, R22W.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stephen Lee expressed concerns about what he called domestic enemies, alleged government overreach, and harassment of citizens; he also referenced a San Francisco condominium sprinkler retrofit assessment and local weed code enforcement.
• Barbara Pape asked the council to restore airport air service, saying she used to fly from John Wayne Airport in less than 45 minutes and now faces a four-hour drive; she urged city, county, and airport officials to stop fighting and work together.
• Representatives of Beat the Heat Women's Retreat introduced their 501(c)(3) organization and annual free retreat for women, and said they are seeking donations and sponsorships.
• Will Lee, a retired ranger naturalist, raised safety and access concerns for the trail near the Copper Crossing (Target) Bridge, noting no access from Highway 95 and high vehicle speeds; he offered help building trails.
• Stephen Brown, on behalf of Bullhead Regional Food Bank, announced a March fundraiser with giveaways and said the food bank fed over 1,200 families the previous week.
• A resident identified as Gotti complained about disability access, election paperwork, park rental restrictions, and the timing of council member reports; he stated he planned to contact the Arizona Attorney General.
• A speaker discussed opposition to ballot measure 416, defended Assistant City Manager Eddie, and criticized what he described as a small-minded attack.
• Maria Stanowski invited the public to the Colorado River Republican Women's Club lunch meeting on March 4, featuring Constable Paul Briscoe and Mayor Head.
• Harvey Pryor, speaking for a group, gave schedules for Bullhead RC off-road racing, no-prep drag racing, Rotary Park Raceway events, and a drone fly-in, and thanked the city for the RC track.

Manager's Report

• Utility rate discounts: A third-party mailing incorrectly suggested a February 1 deadline; there is no deadline to apply. Discounts are available for low-income residents, disabled veterans, and active military.
• Weeds/code enforcement: Due to recent rain, code enforcement will be lenient for the next month or two, but weeds will eventually become a fire hazard and property owners should remove them.
• Election information: Governor Hobbs signed House Bill 2022, moving the 2026 primary election from August 4 to July 21. Voter registration deadline is June 22, early voting starts June 24, last day to request a mail ballot is July 10, and last day to vote early in person is July 17.
• Wells Fargo to Safeway right turn lane: The third-lane project began at 3:00 p.m. that day; work will occur at night for 60-90 days, and the speed limit in the construction zone will be enforced at 30 mph.

Councilmember Reports

• Councilmember Smith encouraged voters to drop off mail ballots at the library during early voting and warned that street lights are being removed along the construction stretch, so drivers should use headlights.
• Vice Mayor Ring noted tickets remain for the History of Rock and Roll event on Friday at the Optimum Community Center.

Liquor License Recommendation

• The council held a public hearing and voted 7-0 to recommend approval of a Series 6 (Bar) liquor license and interim permit for O'Leary's Pub, 1063 Highway 95, submitted by Michael Raymond Kaffer Jr. Staff had no concerns, and no public comments were made.

The Heights at Laughlin Ranch - Final Plat Extension (Item 4)

• The council approved, 7-0, an amendment to S06-027, Stipulation No. 10, granting additional time to record the final plat for Phase 1 of The Heights at Laughlin Ranch. Staff said this was the fifth extension overall but the first for the current property owners. The approved 2007 plat calls for 185 single-family lots ranging from about 8,200 to over 30,000 square feet. Planning staff addressed resident concerns about density, 28-foot private streets, access, and sewer capacity. The planning commission recommended approval.

Zoning Density Change - The Heights at Laughlin Ranch (Item 5)

• The council voted 7-0 to adopt Ordinance 2026-1, changing the zoning from R1L-PAD to R1L-D6 for the Heights property. Staff explained the change was needed because 30 of the proposed 185 lots did not meet the D8 density width requirement. Of the 185 lots, 8 are under 9,000 square feet, 34 are between 9,000 and 10,000, and 143 are over 10,000 square feet. Councilmember Newland moved to approve with the stipulation that lot sizes in the preliminary plat not be reduced; the applicant on Zoom agreed. The council passed the motion 7-0.

Zoning Map Change - 3801 Highway 95 (Item 6)

• The council adopted Ordinance 2026-2, 7-0, rezoning a 0.82-acre portion at 3801 Highway 95 from C1 to C2. The applicant, Milestone Land Company, proposes a three-story, climate-controlled indoor storage facility with a 24,000-square-foot footprint and 72,000 square feet total. The project is set back from Highway 95, would use solar energy, and keep loading indoors. Councilmembers discussed traffic and possible glass glare; the applicant agreed to evaluate glass choices. No highway driveway access is proposed; access is from Central Avenue. The planning commission recommended approval.

Zoning Amendment - 1600 Highway 95 / Merrill Avenue Project (Item 7)

• The council adopted Ordinance 2026-3, 7-0, extending time to obtain building permits for the Merrill Avenue mixed-use project on the former 18-acre state land site. The project includes two hotels, a condo tower, restaurant pads, a fueling station, and storage. Merrill Avenue improvements are completed; fueling station plans are approved but the permit has not been picked up. The planning commission recommended approval. One public comment criticized the Merrill Avenue traffic light timing.

Odor Control Unit Purchase - Lift Station 18-1 (Item 8)

• The council approved, 7-0, the purchase of a replacement EcoVerde Odor Control Unit for Lift Station 18-1 from EcoVerde LLC for $354,440 plus applicable taxes and tariffs, and authorized the City Manager to issue payments. The system will include an H2S scrubber and activated carbon polishing filter. Staff said the city has standardized on EcoVerde units, the unit should last 15-20 years, and replacement material is available from other vendors. Councilmember O'Neill said she was getting complaints about odors and wanted the unit installed quickly.

SR 95 Median Removal Contract (Item 9)

• The council approved, 7-0, a construction contract with McCormick Construction Company for the State Route 95 at Central Avenue to Ricardo Avenue median removal and paving project, in an amount not to exceed $128,836, plus a $128,836 transfer from the General Fund contingency to the transportation capital project fund. Work is expected to take a couple of weeks, with temporary striping followed by permanent striping. Public commenters supported the median removal; one speaker urged removing medians further to Long Avenue. The council had previously voted to take over Highway 95 from the state.

Chaparral Golf Course Budget Amendment (Item 10)

• The council approved, 7-0, a $650,000 budget amendment from General Fund general services contingency to the Marketplace Chaparral Golf Course to cover costs through July 1. Staff said daily revenues are covering operating expenses, the course is improving, and the restaurant menu is being revised. Councilmember Dalman spoke in favor after seeing improved fairways.

Airport Authority Board Resolution (Item 11)

• The council approved Resolution 2026R-1, 7-0, requesting that the Mohave County Airport Authority appoint a city council member to its board for an existing vacancy and amend its bylaws to permanently provide two board seats for city representatives. The motion also appointed Councilmember Gene O'Neill as the city representative. City staff said the airport authority needs city partnership and transparency, and that Laughlin interests are already represented on the board. Public speakers asked about conflict of interest and whether the authority could decline the request; staff said there is no conflict and the authority could decline, but the city believes the request should be honored. Another speaker complained about past lack of transparency and supported the appointment.

Bureau of Reclamation Lake Powell/Lake Mead EIS Letter (Item 12)

• The council approved, 7-0, the mayor's letter to the Bureau of Reclamation for the public comment period on the Environmental Impact Statement for operational guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Staff described serious concerns about timing of river releases, potential loss of 10,000 acre-feet of water in the worst case for Bullhead City, lack of upper basin mandatory cuts, and legal disputes among basin states. The city is coordinating with Mohave County, the Mohave County Water Authority, and the Central Arizona Project. Councilmembers expressed strong support for the letter.

Public Nuisance Abatement - 1978 Highway 95 (Item 13)

• The council voted 7-0 to authorize legal action to abate a public nuisance at 1978 Highway 95, the former La Plaza Inn, including all remedies up to demolition, and directing the City Attorney and City Manager to take necessary actions, including spending funds for legal fees and services. The City Attorney said the city will seek a court order and, if needed, abate the property and place a lien on it. One public commenter, an architect who said he represents the property owner, stated the owner has an open building permit and is under construction; the City Attorney responded that the permit is expired and further legal positions would be presented in court.

Key Outcomes

• All action items passed unanimously by 7-0 votes.
• New City Magistrate Rod Gilleo was sworn in.
• Council set a stipulation on the Heights zoning to prevent reduction of lot sizes in the preliminary plat.
• Council appointed Councilmember Gene O'Neill to the airport authority vacancy request.
• The city will submit the Bureau of Reclamation comment letter, begin the La Plaza Inn abatement process, proceed with the SR 95 median removal contract, and purchase the Lift Station 18-1 odor control unit.