Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – August 26, 2025
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – August 26, 2025
The Lake Havasu City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. All seven councilmembers were present (Mayor Cal Sheehy, Vice Mayor Michele Lin, Councilmembers Campbell, Coke, Diaz, Dolan, and Moses; Councilmember Dolan participated via remote conferencing). The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, public hearings on airport and infrastructure matters, and a call to the public. Key decisions included approving an airport lease audit and lease transfer, seeking federal housing funds, and awarding a water main replacement contract.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the August 12, 2025, City Council Regular Meeting minutes.
- Approved Resolution No. 25-3864 authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office for use of the Police Department’s radio system.
- Approved Resolution No. 25-3868 authorizing a similar MOU with the Bullhead City Police Department.
- Scheduled an executive session for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 4:30 PM.
- All consent items were approved unanimously (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Darren Craig (leaseholder at the airport since 2003) requested the Council table the airport audit item for 30 days to allow leaseholders to meet with staff and understand the audit’s intent and ramifications.
- Bonny Toy (citizen) asked about pipe durability with population growth regarding the water main replacement project; Mayor Sheehy responded that pipes are engineered to upgrade from 4-inch to 6-inch based on current and future needs.
- Kelly Lane (citizen) raised safety concerns about new medians on Highway 95, questioning design and width for RVs and boat trailers; she requested transparency on safety information.
- Kim Sweet (citizen) praised Councilmembers Campbell and Diaz for their “no” votes on the airport audit contract, arguing the work could be done in-house and that the city should spend money more wisely.
- Dante Marinelli (Havasu Air Center) welcomed the airport audit and said they would work with the consultant for positive change. He also addressed a prior fee collection item, supporting reasonable and justified fees for the airport and suggesting a fuel flowage fee for military use.
Discussion Items
7.1 – Airport FBO Lease Audit Professional Services Agreement City Attorney Kelly Garry explained that the agreement with Aeroplex Group Partners, LLC (dba Ascension Group Partners) would conduct a review, inspection, and evaluation of airport Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) to assure lease compliance, review lease policies, and identify conflicts with FAA/state requirements. The concept originated in 2022 from complaints about non-compliance. Council discussion included:
- Councilmember Campbell expressed concerns about using an outside consultant when city staff have expertise, and questioned transparency after the Airport Advisory Board was dissolved.
- Councilmember Diaz questioned why the city could not internally determine lease compliance.
- Vice Mayor Lin requested adding language to ensure engagement with city staff and FBO leaseholders.
- Councilmember Dolan viewed the audit as a valuable tool to gather facts and level the playing field.
- Mayor Sheehy noted the scope includes separate functions beyond lease review (industry best practices, competitive positioning). The motion (by Vice Mayor Lin, seconded by Moses) to approve the agreement at a cost not to exceed $26,000, with an amendment to include engagement with city staff and FBO leaseholders in Section 1.1(G), passed 5-2 (Aye: Sheehy, Coke, Dolan, Moses, Lin; Nay: Campbell, Diaz).
7.2 – FY2026 Community Development Block Grant Application Community Grants Specialist Heidi Hernandez presented Resolution 25-3869 to apply for federal CDBG funds for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low-income homeowners. Maximum assistance is $43,200 per person (up to family of eight). The program invested about $556,000 in the last two-year cycle, helping 16 homeowners. The resolution was approved unanimously (7-0).
7.3 – 2025 Water Main Replacement Project Bid Award Project Manager Brent Cummings reviewed the project: replacing 12,300 linear feet of 6- and 8-inch water main, water services, and fire hydrants based on age, material, and break history. Engineer’s estimate was $3,648,728 (base) plus $1,115,860 (four additive alternates). Four bids received; lowest from Mountain High Excavating, LLC for $3,575,694 (including alternates). Council noted cost savings and possibility of adding more roads via change order. The motion to award the contract passed unanimously (7-0).
7.4 – Transfer of Airport Sites 3 and 4 FBO Leases City Attorney Garry presented the request to consent to transfer leases from Desert Skies Executive Air Terminal, LLC to Havasu Air Center, LLC. Both leases allow assignment with city consent. Amendments corrected names, legal descriptions, added lien/mortgage terms, and added FAA grant assurance requirements. Site 3 lease (original 1992, assigned 2007) expires September 30, 2027; includes restaurant, hangars, office. Site 4 lease (original 2008, assigned 2014) includes hangars, office, pool. The motion to approve the second amendment for Site 3, first amendment for Site 4, consent to assignment, and estoppel certificates passed 5-2 (Aye: Sheehy, Campbell, Dolan, Diaz, Lin; Nay: Coke, Moses).
Key Outcomes
- Approved Professional Services Agreement with Aeroplex Group Partners for airport FBO lease audit ($26,000) with an amendment to include engagement with staff and FBO leaseholders. Vote: 5-2.
- Adopted Resolution 25-3869 authorizing FY2026 CDBG application for housing rehabilitation. Unanimous (7-0).
- Awarded 2025 Water Main Replacement base bid and four additive alternates to Mountain High Excavating for $3,575,694. Unanimous (7-0).
- Approved lease amendments, assignment, and estoppel certificates for transfer of Airport Sites 3 and 4 from Desert Skies to Havasu Air Center. Vote: 5-2.
- Heard public comments on Highway 95 median safety and city spending; Councilmember Campbell reported on Rural Transportation Advocacy Council discussions about a potential retail delivery tax to fund local roads.
- Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 5:30 PM (regular meeting).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I call to order the Lake Havasu City Council regular meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 530 p.m. We'll have an invocation from Pastor David Jackson with Hilltop Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Kim Sterling with hashtag UMatter. Let's have a word of prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, uh, we just thank you for our city council. We thank you for the men and women women who serve our city. We pray that you uh bless them, uh bless their homes, uh, bless their lives, Lord, uh bless their other endeavors or businesses. We just pray that they handle themselves with uh dignity and respect here and uh that we are unified and we make decisions that are best for our city and ultimately that glorify your name and the people of Havasu Lord. We love you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of 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 for joining us. If you'd like to share a little bit about hashtag UMatter with us. This is a suicide awareness uh team. We are under the umbrella of the Havasu Community Health Foundation. And uh we work together as a team to provide ongoing community awareness, collaboration, and prevention concerning the cause and impact of suicide among students, adults, and veterans in our community. We have been successful in doing so through our annual suicide awareness and prevention walk and the free programs that we offer to the Lake Havasu City community. Our UMatter members want to arm the community with the knowledge to support and help a person before it is too late by empowering the community to recognize warning signs for suicide and how to get help that can save a life. The team aims to help people struggling with thoughts of suicide and to help their family, friends, and loved ones before they make a permanent decision. We're very excited to announce our ninth annual UMatter Suicide Awareness Walk on September 13th here at Rotary Park. We're going to be meeting at Ramatus C at 7.30 in the morning for the kickoff, and all of the proceeds will be going to fund a community speaker in January of next year. Over the last nine years, our team has provided peer-to-peer support groups to survivors of suicide and sponsored profession professional speakers to share their messages with our community. Former Harlem Globetrotter and motivational speaker Melvin Adams spoke to our students and school faculty at the Lake Havasu High School. Katie McPherson, a community mental health advocate, has appeared twice in our community to speak on her work and school leadership and youth mental health initiatives to help us navigate digital wellness with our youth and mental health advocacy. Kevin Hines, an American suicide prevention speaker who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, came to our community and shared his insights and experiences related to mental health and suicide prevention. These individuals have dedicated their lives to encouragement and support and their stories have inspired and educated us. They have provided valuable resources and strategies for coping and connection with others who may be struggling. Looking ahead, I encourage you to attend our community events, engage in conversations, and share what you have learned with others. Together we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and create a community where everyone feels valued and supported. Let's continue to work together to raise awareness and save lives. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you for all the great work that UMatter is doing in our community. Thank you very much. Item three on the agenda is our roll call. Ms. Williams, if you please call the roll. Council members Nancy Campbell here. Jenny Koch. Here. Jim Dolan. Chair. David Diaz. Here. Cameron Moses. Here. Vice Mayor Michelle Lynn. Here. Mayor Kal Sheehy. Here. Thank you.
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