Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - May 13, 2025
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - May 13, 2025
The Lake Havasu City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at 92 Acoma Boulevard South. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, several public hearings, and a call to the public. Key actions included introducing amendments to the animal code and meeting location code, adopting a rezone for a lower-density residential development, and awarding a construction contract for the South Intake Effluent Project.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the April 10, 2025, Budget/CIP Work Session minutes and April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes.
- Resolution No. 25-3827: Abandonment of a 10-foot-wide public utility and drainage easement at 2885 Swanee Lane.
- Resolution No. 25-3828: Intergovernmental agreement with the University of Arizona for the Arizona Project WET Program – Water Festival.
- Resolution No. 25-3829: Intergovernmental agreement with the Mohave County Flood Control District.
- Resolution No. 25-3830: Abandonment of a 5-foot portion of a 10-foot easement at 2565 Caribbean Drive.
- Resolution No. 25-3831: Intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for scoping services to install a traffic signal at Palo Verde Boulevard North and Lake Havasu Avenue North.
- Resolution No. 25-3832: Intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for scoping services to install pedestrian safety features on McCulloch Boulevard from Smoketree Avenue to Acoma Boulevard.
- Resolution No. 25-3833: Abandonment of a 10-foot-wide easement at 2879 Swanee Lane.
- Development Agreement for Island View Estates Subdivision with J & S, LLC, regarding private roadways and drainage.
- Ratification of Change Order No. 2 for the Island Treatment Plant Metal Storage Building construction project with ABCO Builders, Inc.
- Call for an executive session on May 27, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
All consent agenda items were approved unanimously (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing 7.1 (Liquor License): No public comments. The license was approved.
- Public Hearing 7.2 (Animal Code Amendments):
- Patty Gilmore, Executive Director of the Western Arizona Humane Society, expressed full support for the proposed ordinance.
- M.J. Weaver, a professional dog trainer, questioned whether breeders would be considered animal hoarders if they had more than 10 animals. Senior Animal Control Officer Chris Lutgen clarified that breeders not in violation of sanitary or medical care standards would not be considered hoarders. Mr. Weaver suggested the council consider limits on the number of animals or litters.
- Bonny Toy suggested reducing or eliminating annual dog license fees.
- Public Hearing 7.3 (Meeting Location & Executive Sessions):
- Bonny Toy asked for clarification on executive session reasons. Mayor Sheehy explained that the reason would be listed on the agenda.
- Kelly Lutz asked if the reason for an executive session would be listed on the agenda. Mayor Sheehy confirmed it would.
- Public Hearing 7.4 (Rezone at 2250 Marina View Avenue):
- Bonny Toy questioned why the applicant requested to retain the 60-foot height exception, noting no current need for it. She expressed concern about the optics of a “bait and switch” from the original hotel/commercial plan.
- Luke Still, applicant, explained that the height exception was to preserve property rights and flexibility, but he was open to a compromise.
- Public Hearing 7.5 (South Intake Effluent Project Bid): No public comments.
- Call to the Public:
- Nicholas Black asked about construction near Arizona State University.
- Michaela Young, a teacher at Starline Elementary, stated that community leaders not involved in the education system should not speak out on social media about education issues. She asked for support for educators.
- Tim Nelson expressed support for a school leader he described as a positive example and urged appreciation for educators.
- Dana Rickard criticized a councilmember for posting on social media before knowing the facts, calling it unprofessional and poor representation.
- Christina Musselman, a 21-year educator, thanked the council for their support and asked for continued support for Starline staff and students.
- Kori Porter emphasized that strong schools and a growing medical community are key pillars of a strong community.
- Tim Murray highlighted structural cracks in the new sidewalk at Main Street Commons and offered his expertise to help address the issue.
- Bob Barrett opposed the planned stoplight at Jamaica Boulevard and McCulloch Boulevard, citing accident data and arguing that a blinking stop sign would be a cheaper and safer alternative.
- Bonny Toy urged the city to exceed ADA minimum requirements for handicapped accessibility.
- Andrea Helart, CEO of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, extended the deadline for award nominations for the Annual Celebration of Business event.
Discussion Items
- 7.1 Series #7 Beer and Wine Bar Liquor License for Hava Bite LLC: City Clerk Kelly Williams confirmed all posting requirements, fees, and zoning were satisfied. No objections were received. The council voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses & Control.
- 7.2 Ordinance No. 25-1360 – Amending City Code Title 6 (Animals): City Attorney Kelly Garry and Senior Animal Control Officer Chris Lutgen presented the proposed changes, including new definitions, escalation of at-large offenses to criminal on subsequent offenses, unlawful restraint of dogs (first offense civil, subsequent criminal), and animal hoarding (10+ animals under injurious conditions). The ordinance also updates the definition of service animal to match ADA Title II. The council introduced the ordinance unanimously after public hearing.
- 7.3 Ordinance No. 25-1361 – Amending Meeting Location and Executive Session Code: City Attorney Garry explained the amendments update the code to reflect the new council chambers address (92 Acoma Boulevard South) and clarify that executive sessions may be held during any meeting, not just regular or special meetings. The council introduced the ordinance unanimously.
- 7.4 Ordinance No. 25-1362 – Planned Development Rezone at 2250 Marina View Avenue: The applicant, Luke Still, requested approval to rezone 2.31 acres from Mixed Use-Neighborhood/Planned Development to the same zoning, but with a new General Development Plan for eight single-family lots (down from 17 townhomes). The request also sought to retain the previously approved 60-foot maximum building height and exempt certain development code requirements. Councilmembers expressed concerns about losing commercial potential and the height exception. Councilmember Moses moved to adopt without the 60-foot height. After discussion, the motion was amended to allow a maximum height of 45 feet. The ordinance was adopted 5-2, with Councilmember Diaz and Vice Mayor Lin voting nay.
- 7.5 Bid for South Intake Effluent Project: Capital Program Manager Jason Hart presented the project to construct an interconnection line between the Mulberry and Island wastewater treatment plant reuse lines and repurpose a pump. Two bids were received; the low bid from Schofield Civil Construction, LLC was $713,000, within the budget of $800,000. The project is anticipated to start December 2025 and complete March 2026. The council awarded the bid unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
- Liquor License: Motion to recommend approval carried 7-0.
- Animal Code Ordinance (Introduction): Motion carried 7-0.
- Meeting Location/Executive Session Ordinance (Introduction): Motion carried 7-0.
- Rezone at 2250 Marina View Avenue (Adoption): Amended motion to approve with a 45-foot maximum building height carried 5-2 (Councilmember Diaz and Vice Mayor Lin dissenting).
- South Intake Effluent Project Bid Award: Motion to award to Schofield Civil Construction, LLC for $713,000 carried 7-0.
- Future Discussion Item: Councilmember Campbell requested a future presentation on “Child Overwatch,” a facial recognition program for sex offender registry. The request was seconded by Councilmember Diaz and will be scheduled.
- Next Meetings: Budget/CIP Work Session on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.; Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the Lake Havasu City Council. I will now call this or uh this meeting to order on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 at 5 30 p.m. We'll start with an invocation from Miss Joan DeZero, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance that will be led by Dan Roddy with the Kids on the Colorado River. All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Can you hear? Is it coming through? Is it coming through? I'll speak loud. Okay. We can bow our heads. Dearest Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening with grateful hearts for all the blessings you've bestowed on our beautiful city. We ask you this evening to please be with our mayor, our city council members, and staff, that they may sound make sound decisions based on what is best for our city. We also ask for special blessings on our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs who come to our rescue during our most darkest times to make things better. Please give them wisdom and safety. We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. And uh welcome, Mr. Roddy from Kids on the Colorado Row. If you would like to share a little bit about your organization. I would indeed. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh esteemed council members, we appreciate the opportunity to come out today and take a few minutes of your time to talk about kids on the Colorado River. Uh the highlight that we bring today is the uh Chris Cordia Award, which was presented to our organization by Arizona Forward, which is the most prestigious environmental awareness advocacy group in the state of Arizona. Uh our group was selected over 13 other finalists just in this category. And as an example, we were also nominated uh one of five finalists for the governor's award. Uh it's a very prestigious honor. And we were especially proud to bring it home to this uh community. Uh we were up against nominated uh uh groups from the city of Phoenix and many other larger outlets, uh and especially with our being a 501c3 uh that is uh funded solely by the uh support that we get from from local people, uh the rotaries, uh the the koanas, the the local businesses, uh the different efforts that we get. Um I'm trying to advance the slide here. There we go. And so you'll see that we we've created these outdoor classrooms, and it wouldn't be possible without the assistance of uh the local agencies that help support us. We get that from state, federal, county, and city organizations. Uh Chiefs Sterling and Pilifis of the police and fire departments, respectively, have been very strong advocates of ours uh since our founding almost four years ago. Uh this also takes place with great support from the good folks at the Lake Havasu Lake Havasu Unified School District, and we're very proud of the fact that this past season we were able to expand that to offer it to every middle school in our community, uh highlighted by our desert program this past March, or for the first time ever, we were able to also welcome the special needs students to experience the outdoor environment and uh learn more about the history of our town and the uh the different things that are available to people in our community. Uh, we take a lot of pride in demonstrating for people the types of careers that they can uh pursue and exceed and stay here in our local community as they grow older. Um, I think that's exemplified by our board who we have here, Dan Delos Santos, who's recognized widely as one of the Havasu pioneers, Mike Peters, who's a small business owner here in town, um Hazel Hawkins, who works at Foothills Bank, uh Andrea Hellert, who is a graduate of Lake Havasu Unified School District and has been chosen to be the commencement speaker at tomorrow's ASU Havasu uh commencement. Uh Professor, I I think professors correct, uh Jeanette Nangrieve from ASU Havasu, who's been with us since the beginning, and also uh Brittany Reynolds, who is a graduate of ASU Havasoon is a mom, who is also a mom working here in our community and re has recently started uh doing some work with Arizona Gain and Fish, who herself is a graduate of ASU Havasu. So a lot of hometown uh effort behind this. Uh with that being said, we'd like to ask the mayor and and you council members if we could please get a photo opportunity with you here. Uh we'd really appreciate it. Thank you for all the great work that uh you're doing. This is such a great program to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to explore what really makes like Havasu City special. So thank you for for doing that. Uh if you would like to join us in the front of the dice, and you if folks come up, we'll take a photo. Thank you so much. Again, thank you so much uh to the kids on the Colorado River for being here and for the great work that you're doing.
openpublica.com