Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – January 14, 2025
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – January 14, 2025
The Lake Havasu City Council met on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included unanimous approval of the consent agenda and all public hearing items, a city manager’s report highlighting employee retirements and community events, and a lengthy discussion on the process for council members to place items on future agendas. The council directed staff to prepare an ordinance changing the requirement from a first, second, and third to a first and second only.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the December 10, 2024, City Council Special and Regular Meeting minutes.
- Ratified submission of a grant application to the Arizona Department of Housing for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation (Resolution No. 25-3797).
- Approved abandonment of utility and drainage easements at 4010 Arizona Plaza and 3285 Palm Grove Drive (Resolutions No. 25-3798 and 25-3799).
- Adopted the revised Lake Havasu City Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (Resolution No. 25-3800).
- Approved a ground lease agreement with Messmer Properties, LLC for parking and landscaping adjacent to 921 N. Lake Havasu Avenue.
- Approved a reclaimed water agreement with Island Venture, LLC.
- Approved purchases exceeding expenditure thresholds for cumulative reoccurring purchases with Grainger, Inc., Unifirst Corporation, Ferguson Enterprises, and Southern Tire Mart.
- Called for an executive session on January 28, 2025, at 4:30 PM.
City Manager’s Report
- City Manager Jess Knudson announced the retirements of Sherry Kowalski (34 years, Parks and Recreation), Officer Cindy Slack (27 years, Police Department), and Captain Nick Jones (26.5 years, Fire Department).
- The city hosted the Leadership Lake Havasu program for a government impact day, including a mock council meeting.
- The Veterans Treatment Court graduation took place on January 10, 2025, at the council chambers.
- A free household hazardous waste event will be held February 1, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Fire Station 2 (2065 North Kiowa Boulevard).
Public Hearings
7.1 Rezone of 21.4 Acres from R-1 to P-1 (360 Cypress Drive, 340 Mulberry Avenue, 1873 Walnut Drive)
- Staff presented the need to rezone city-owned property to allow construction of a new water quality laboratory at the Mulberry Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 7-0 on December 18, 2024.
- Public Comment: None.
- Councilmember Jeni Coke expressed excitement for the long-needed upgrade.
- Motion: Councilmember Coke moved to adopt Ordinance No. 25-1352; Vice Mayor Michele Lin seconded. Vote: 6-0 (Councilmember Moses absent).
7.2 Master Services and Purchasing Agreement with Axon Enterprises for Draft One AI Report Writing Software
- Chief Sterling explained that the AI software generates reports from audio captured on body-worn cameras, saving officers an average of 15 minutes per report. The 30-month agreement is $259,914.73 total, with $20,793.18 available in the current budget. Safeguards require officers to add personal observations and attest to accuracy.
- Public Comments:
- Emiliano Torres (resident) expressed concern about AI suggesting wording rather than the officer’s own words.
- Kelly Lutz asked if multiple officers’ cameras would generate separate reports; Chief Sterling confirmed supplemental reports are possible.
- Councilmember David Diaz noted the software saves man-hours and includes warranties.
- Motion: Councilmember Diaz moved to approve the agreement; Councilmember Nancy Campbell seconded. Vote: 6-0.
7.3 Change Order for Rehabilitation of High-Service Pump #12
- Tim Kellett explained that additional repairs were needed after disassembly of the 3,000-gallon-per-minute pump, which supplies over half of the city’s water distribution system. The change order totals $54,324.15.
- Public Comment: None.
- Motion: Councilmember Coke moved to approve; Councilmember Campbell seconded. Vote: 6-0.
7.4 Construction Contract for FY 2024-25 Crack Seal & Mastic Program
- Bill Young stated the contract with Holbrook Asphalt is for $562,860, covering 150 lane miles of crack seal. The next lowest bidder was over $300,000 more.
- Public Comment: None.
- Vice Mayor Lin asked about traffic control costs; staff clarified they are a moving operation.
- Motion: Councilmember Diaz moved to approve; Vice Mayor Lin seconded. Vote: 6-0.
7.5 Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding Council Requests (Agenda Item Placement)
- Councilmember Diaz proposed reverting the rule from requiring a first, second, and third to a first and second only, arguing it blocks transparency and is unique among 91 Arizona cities. He cited his campaign promise and public feedback.
- Mayor Sheehy provided history: the current rule was adopted in March 2023 after a 4-3 vote. He stated no council member has been denied an agenda item through alternative channels (working with the mayor or city manager).
- Councilmember Campbell recounted a personal experience where her request failed to get a third, and she felt the process silenced the public.
- Vice Mayor Lin raised concerns about open meeting law restrictions on discussing items before placing them on the agenda.
- Councilmember Coke and Councilmember Dolan expressed support for the current rule, citing past “willy-nilly” requests and the ability to get items on through other means.
- Public Comments: Seven speakers (Jeannie Taylor, Evelyn Tensley, Bonnie Toy, Greg Logan, Neil Tinsley, Kelly Lutz, and an unidentified speaker) all urged the council to revert to a first and second, citing transparency, consistency with other cities, and the negative optics of the 2023 change.
- Outcome: Mayor Sheehy directed staff to bring forward an ordinance at a future meeting that would change the requirement to a first and second only. The council will then vote on introduction and adoption.
Call to the Public
- Bonnie Toy raised concerns about lack of handicap accessible parking and sidewalks at new apartment complexes on Swanson Avenue.
- Kelly Lutz criticized the reclaimed water agreement with Island Venture, LLC, arguing it wastes water, creates stagnant water issues, and gives away water for free while neighbors pay. She called for more transparency and comprehensive solutions.
- Unidentified speaker thanked the council and urged support for Fire Station 7 to fill a coverage gap on the hill.
Future Discussion Items
- Councilmember Campbell requested a future discussion on why trees in the city are dying. The motion received a second from Vice Mayor Lin and a third from Councilmember Diaz, so it will be placed on a future agenda.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items and public hearing items (7.1–7.4) were approved unanimously (6-0).
- The council directed staff to prepare an ordinance to change the agenda item placement rule from requiring a first, second, and third to a first and second only. The ordinance will be introduced at a future meeting.
- A future discussion item on tree mortality was approved for placement on a future agenda.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025, at 5:30 PM, followed by a planning session on January 30, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I call to order the Lake Havasu City Council regular meeting on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 at 5 30 p.m. We'll now have an invocation from Pastor Dale Ray with Lakeview Community Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Randy Nelson with the Stone Bridge Veterans. Happy New Year. Could you turn New Year? Pastor, could you just hit the button? Thank you. It's a new year, and it's a new day. One of the great things about the new year is we reflect over where we've been and where we're going. The scriptures remind us in Psalm 118, this is the day the Lord has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Also, we're reminded, give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his mercy endures forever. Tonight as we pray, Lord, I ask your mercies be refreshed upon our mayor and upon our council members. But we also look expectantly for the victories and the successes for the things that you have in store for these precious folks as they govern our city, Lake Havasu. Lord, we pray your hedge of protection about the city and all that inhabit this place. And we certainly remember those in California. We ask, Lord, that you would bring relief. Lord, I ask in particular that you would protect them from fresh fire storms, that you would bring peace and healing to the people who have suffered such great loss and bring those who have the responsibility to govern and bring out of the ashes of destruction. I ask a miraculous restoration. So we give you thanks, we give you praise, bless our mayor, bless our council, bless Lake Havasu City for the year that is to come, 2025, to your glory and honor in Jesus' name. Amen. And to the Republic for which stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. One of the guys was a Navy, Navy fellow, and one was a marine, and they said, Well, we can do that here. So we started with three members. We now have 194 veterans. We get about 40 to 50 at each meeting. And what we do is provide speakers that can come in and talk to veterans about things that are important to them, things that are important to the veteran community. Mr. Mayor, as you know, talk about things that are happening in the city. We had the police chief, the uh sheriff of uh Mojave County, and they they talk about things within the computing community that are important to veterans. And then we have people that come in and talk to things that are important directly to the veterans. One thing that we uh try to do is to make it an opportunity for veterans to make a difference in their lives through camaraderie and meetings and having people come in and talk to them. The biggest thing that I think that I get out of it is the camaraderie that they enjoy because these veterans have not known each other forever. And when they meet each other, all of a sudden they're friends, they're buddies because they do have a common thing and a thing in common. When do you uh when do you meet? Pardon? When do you meet? Oh, we meet every Wednesday morning at the VFW at nine o'clock. Now a lot of guys get there at eight, and they start uh chit-chatting. Well, they have breakfast. And they have breakfast, sure. Excellent. Well, thank you so much for presenting this evening, and thank you for uh what your group does in Lake Havasu City. Thank you for having us. Take care. Item four on the agenda is roll call. Miss Williams, if you please call the roll. Council members Nancy Campbell here. Jenny Koch. Here. Jim Dolan.
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