Lake Havasu City Council Tentative Budget and CIP Adoption - June 11, 2024
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting and Tentative Budget/CIP Adoption - June 11, 2024
The Lake Havasu City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included adoption of the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the tentative fiscal year 2024-2025 budget, as well as public hearings on several ordinances and a rezone. Key highlights included the launch of city-operated ambulance transport, updates on public works projects, and community input on a proposed second swimming pool.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (7-0) with no items removed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joan DeZero asked for clarification on the $2.5 million pool funding timeline. Staff confirmed it is in the 2025-2026 CIP and that design/RFP would begin in FY24-25.
- Bonnie Toy urged the council to lower aquatic center rates for children during summer and inquired how to start that process. The mayor noted that only she had raised the issue and that sponsored free swim days are available.
- Rick Wheeler, head coach of Havasu Stingrays, presented a vision for a new pool, emphasizing water safety, expanded programs (CPR, adult swim, swim-in movies), and community health benefits.
- Jennifer Blair, a nurse practitioner and Stingrays president, highlighted health and wellness benefits of pool access, including physical therapy and reduced drowning risks.
- Kelly Benich spoke about the benefits of aquatic therapy and limited access for special needs populations.
- Deborah Miller, a business owner and parent, supported the new pool citing its value for all demographics and asked about outcomes of a Red Cross survey on underserved populations.
- Travis Vessels, a resident and swim parent, thanked the council for including the pool in the budget.
- Taylor Newman expressed support for road maintenance and cautioned against overdevelopment.
- Kelsey Dill, a kindergarten teacher, praised the Kinderswim program and supported a second pool to separate programming.
- Taylor Newman (on rezoning) voiced concern about the city resembling Southern California high-density development, but acknowledged the proposal fit the area.
- David Diaz asked about the UTV model (Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000).
- Don Wisdom suggested a roundabout for the new bridge intersection.
- Mark Masterson (Republic Services) announced a second household hazardous waste event on June 29, 2024, at Fire Station 2.
Discussion Items
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City Manager’s Report (Item 6.3):
- Fire Chief Pete Palace announced the city received its Certificate of Necessity at 4:30 p.m. that day, beginning ambulance transport within city limits in partnership with River Medical. The first transport occurred shortly after 5 p.m.
- Public Works Director Ron Fog highlighted recently completed projects: Site 6 boat launch ramp, well rehabilitations (Wells 10 & 14), Daytona Wash stabilization, El Dorado Wash culvert, Mulberry WWTP aeration basin, Island Path repave, downtown HA5 seal, and more. Underway projects: airport fire hydrants, odor control upgrades, city core paving/water main replacement, police facility rehab. Upcoming: Grand Island Path, horizontal collector well rehab, weather observation system, Catalyst Park construction (dirt moving starting June 12), city fueling facility, and second bridge design (RFQ issued that day).
- Battalion Chief Tim Maple received the Emergency Medical Care Technician of the Year award for the Western Region from Arizona DHS.
- Kinderswim program celebrated 25 years, noting $200,000 in donations from London Bridge Rotary Club.
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Item 7.1: Adoption of 5-Year CIP (Resolution 24-3754)
- Presented by Ms. Olson. Total CIP: $332 million, with $221 million in grant funding. FY24-25 CIP: $62 million ($21 million grants). All projects fully funded. Councilmember Dolan clarified a rumored $10 million downtown parking garage is not in the budget. Adopted 7-0.
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Item 7.2: Adoption of Tentative FY24-25 Budget (Resolution 24-3755)
- Total budget: $257 million. Property tax rate unchanged for sixth year; levy up 4.7% due to increased assessed valuation. Includes $500,000 for parks amenities, replacement of the CAD system, deferred maintenance, and a classification/compensation study. Budget stabilization reserve doubled. Council discussion on $2.5 million pool project: originally in CIP for 2025-2026 (FY25-26), but council expressed desire to accelerate design and possibly move construction earlier. Councilmember Campbell voiced concerns about maintaining existing parks versus building new facilities. Motion carried 7-0.
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Item 7.3: Ordinance 24-1334 – Prohibiting Vehicle Sales on City Property
- Amends code to prohibit parking vehicles for sale on city-owned/controlled property. Adopted 7-0.
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Item 7.4: Ordinance 24-1335 – Rezone 2305 Victoria Farms Rd
- Rezone 10-acre parcel from Light Industrial (LI) to Industrial (I) to allow heavy industrial use. Planning commission recommended 7-0. Adopted 7-0.
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Items 7.5 & 7.6: General Plan Amendment (Resolution 24-3751) and Rezone/PD for 2778 & 2786 McCulloch Blvd N
- Minor general plan amendment changed land use from Low Density Residential to High Density Residential to match existing R3 zoning. Councilmember Campbell questioned the lengthy and costly process (3-4 months, ~$6,000 in fees) and noted a mismatch between the 2016 general plan and zoning maps. The second item approved a Planned Development rezoning (R3 PD) to allow nine dwelling units on 0.57 acres. Both adopted 7-0.
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Item 7.7: Purchase of Two Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs)
- $81,059.70 from a state grant, plus $4,000 change order authority for a total of $85,059.70. UTVs will be used for desert/shoreline patrol and community cleanups. Local vendor Anderson Power Sports was low bid. Adopted 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- CIP (FY25-29) adopted – Resolution 24-3754, 7-0.
- Tentative FY24-25 budget adopted – Resolution 24-3755, 7-0. Property tax rate unchanged; pool project deliberations continue.
- Ordinance banning vehicle sales on city property adopted – 7-0.
- Rezone of 2305 Victoria Farms Rd approved – 7-0.
- General plan amendment and PD rezone for McCulloch Blvd N approved – both 7-0, with council direction to address land use/zoning map discrepancies in the next general plan update (2026).
- UTV purchase approved – 7-0, with $85,059.70 authorized.
- Upcoming meetings: June 25, 2024 (budget adoption), July 9, 2024 (property tax levy hearing).
- City manager directed to begin design and RFP process for the second swimming pool to potentially accelerate construction.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I call to order the like Havasu City Council regular meeting, our tentative budget and CIP adoption on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 at 5 30 p.m. We'll now have an invocation from Michael Ganian, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sarah Mesmer from Hospice of Havasu. Thank you. Um if you would join me in in prayer. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your breath that you put in our lungs daily. Thank you for your sacrifice, your love, your grace, and your mercy for all have fallen short to your glory. Yet you still laid a path for us to be with you. Give us an understanding heart to discern between good and evil. Let us trust in you with all our hearts, and do not let us lean on our understanding. We lean on your spirit to guide and lead us. Let us not be foolish, but understand what your will is for your word and scriptures inspired by you and profitable for teaching, for approof, for correction, for training and righteousness. So that the men and women may be acquitted and equipped for every good work. Bless this meeting between the leaders and the citizens here of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. We come to you in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Please join me for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, and welcome, Sarah. If you please share a little bit about uh Hospice of Havasu. Great, thank you. Good evening, Mayor Sheehe, Vice Mayor Cameron Moses, Council members and city staff, and Lake Havasu City Citizens. My name is Sarah Messmer, and I am the community liaison at Hospice of Havasu. Hospice of Havasu is a 501 C3 not-for-profit hospice agency proudly serving Lake Havasu City since 1982. Hospice of Havasu was the first hospice in Lake Havasu, and we are still the only not-for-profit hospice serving Lake Havasu City and the Bullhead City area. Being not for profit gives Hospice of Havasu the opportunity to provide programs and services to the community at no cost. For example, some of the services we offer. The transitions program helps community members get connected with resources and services that they need as they start to age or their health starts to decline. We offer weekly grief support groups that are open to the community at no cost. Anyone can call us to learn more about hospice care, the transitions program, and grief support. And we are the only five-star rated hospice in Mojave County. We also operate the Hospice of Havasu resale store, which is open seven days a week for your shopping pleasure. Thank you. Thank you, and thank you for all that uh hospice havasu does for our community. Thank you. The next item on our agenda is the roll call. Miss Williams, if you please call the roll. Council members, Nancy Campbell, here. Michelle Lynn? Here. Jenny Coke. Here. Jim Dolan. Here. David Lane. Vice Mayor Cameron Moses. Here. Mayor Cal Sheehy.
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