Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - October 14, 2025
The Lake Havasu City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. All seven councilmembers were present (Mayor Cal Sheehy, Vice Mayor Michele Lin, Councilmembers Nancy Campbell, Jeni Coke, David Diaz, Jim Dolan via remote conferencing, and Cameron Moses). The meeting adjourned at 7:13 PM. The council addressed six public hearing items and a consent agenda, all approved unanimously (7-0).
Consent Calendar
- Approved the September 23, 2025 regular meeting minutes.
- Resolution No. 25-3873 approving abandonment of the southerly 40 feet of a 10-foot-wide public utility and drainage easement at 3375 Yavapai Drive.
- Resolution No. 25-3874 ratifying submission of a Victims of Crime Act grant application to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for victim assistance services.
- Partnership Agreement with Lake Havasu Detachment 757, Marine Corps League, Inc., to publicly display a U.S.S. Arizona relic.
- Call for an executive session on October 28, 2025, at 4:30 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robert Fischer (citizen): Encouraged the council to continue opposing water transfers; expressed concern that building code updates increase construction costs; asked whether the water treatment plant software upgrade would protect against cybersecurity attacks (staff clarified it is a process improvement, not security); criticized the Go Lake Havasu annual report for not clearly explaining benefits to residents; noted scuff marks on new Highway 95 medians and said lanes have been narrowed by 14 inches, creating a hazard.
- Bonny Toy (citizen): Questioned why the water treatment plant software upgrade would take five months (staff explained extensive testing and screen creation); suggested the city prohibit use of flushable wipes; commented that median damage on Highway 95 is comparable to older medians despite being new, and noted a broken crosswalk signal on Magnolia Drive that has been unrepaired for over a year.
- Donna McCoy (citizen): Thanked the council and staff for their hard work.
- Kim McCoy (citizen): Thanked the council for approving the partnership agreement to begin construction of the U.S.S. Arizona relic display at London Bridge Beach.
- Tim Murray (citizen): Praised roadway improvement projects, especially Jamaica Boulevard paving, and encouraged applying lessons learned from the Main Street Commons project to future projects.
Discussion Items
- Go Lake Havasu Annual Update (ID 25-4957): CEO Shawn Buckley presented the tourism marketing organization’s performance. Key statistics: nearly $4.2 million in TPT tax generated annually (38% of which funds Go Lake Havasu); residential contribution estimated between $30,000 and $430,000; 2 million visitors per year; summer visitor spending data showed 34% spent at local businesses (up 1% year-over-year); USA Today 10 Best awards (#10 lake, #6 lake beach, best lake for water sports). Councilmember David Diaz asked about rodeo promotion and suggested biannual updates for taxpayer transparency. Mayor Sheehy thanked Go Lake Havasu for taking leadership of the London Bridge Days Parade.
- Resolution No. 25-3875 – Opposition to Colorado River Water Transfer: City Attorney Kelly Garry detailed the history: Greenstone bought 500 acres of farmland in Cibola area, sold 4th priority water rights to Queen Creek; transfer opposed by on-river communities; lawsuit by Mohave, La Paz, Yuma counties and Yuma city resulted in federal court ordering a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by April 2027. Resolution renewed opposition. Public comment by Robert Fischer supported continued opposition. Adopted 7-0.
- Ordinance No. 25-1370 – Building Codes Update (Introduction): Building Official Steven Blake proposed adopting 2024 International Codes (I-Codes) with local amendments, moving from 2018 codes adopted in 2021. New codes include 2024 International Building, Mechanical, Existing Building, Fuel Gas, Plumbing, Property Maintenance, Residential Codes, and 2023 National Electrical Code. Implementation: 90-day grace for projects under 2018 codes; effective date February 1, 2026. Councilmember Diaz asked about 180-day permit validity. Public comment from Robert Fisher noted increased costs. Mayor Sheehy acknowledged concerns but said updates are insignificant and balanced by ISO rating benefits. Introduced 7-0.
- Ordinance No. 25-1371 – Fire Codes Update (Introduction): Fire Chief Pete Pilafas presented companion ordinance adopting 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments, following same timeline as building codes. About seven new amendments from 2018 to 2024. Councilmember Nancy Campbell questioned language allowing sprinklers to be omitted from gazebos, ramadas, and detached shipping containers; Chief Pilafas clarified it depends on occupancy and hazard. Public hearing had no comments. Introduced 7-0.
- Professional Services Agreement – Water Conservation and Reuse Improvements (ID 25-4948): Capital Programs Manager Jason Hart requested $110,528 to Carollo Engineers, Inc. for design of reclaimed water service to Rotary Park, Cypress Park, and Jack Hardie Park. Project scope finishes 2018 plans; expected completion April 2026. Councilmember Moses noted it will lessen Colorado River demand. Approved 7-0.
- Professional Services Agreement – WTP Filter Software Integration Upgrade (ID 25-4951): Public Works Deputy Director Tim Kellett requested $167,875 to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for final SCADA system update at the 26 million gallon per day water treatment plant. Five-month project includes extensive testing and screen creation. Public questions answered: not a security update (SCADA isolated and secured); timeline explained. Approved 7-0.
- Cooperative Purchase – Flygt Submersible Sewage Pump (ID 25-4946): Wastewater Superintendent Thilak Fernando requested $150,699 (plus taxes) to replace a 19-year-old pump at the North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Public comment from Bonny Toy suggested prohibiting flushable wipes. Approved 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- All six public hearing items and the consent agenda were approved unanimously (7-0).
- A future discussion item was requested by Councilmember Campbell (seconded by Vice Mayor Lin) to discuss the selection process for Vice Mayor.
- Upcoming meetings: October 28, 2025, at 5:30 PM (regular meeting); November 11, 2025, meeting canceled (Veterans Day); November 25, 2025, regular meeting at 5:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I call to order the Lake Cavasu City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 5 30 p.m. Thank you for joining us. We'll start with an invocation from Pastor Tim Giles with Inspire the Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mary Lou O'Connell with the Haven Center. Again, it's a privilege and an honor to be here with you guys. If you would bow your heads to pray with me. Heavenly Father, we come before you. And as we gather, we seek you first for wisdom and strength to guide this city. We first acknowledge that you are our hope and our trust. We seek you for divine providence and grace over our beautiful city. And we ask for wisdom to be godly stewards and strength to move this city towards its divine destiny. We thank you for all these things, and I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation and God and with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And now welcome Mary Lou. Thank you. My name is Mary Lou O'Connell. I'm the director of Haven Center. I have some of my board members with us. We are the local victim advocacy center. We've been providing services in the community for over 24 years. We've had a contract with the city for over 20, so thank you for that. We work very closely with law enforcement, child protective services, criminal justice system, mental health providers. We also have a community outreach component that has programs such as Food for Kids, Child Abuse Prevention, Mandated Reporter, Positive Parenting. We host community events. October is domestic violence awareness month. So on October 24th, we're hosting the 12th annual Save a Life Domestic Violence Awareness Walk at Road Reef, 5 30 p.m. We you can register on our website, or we ask that you wear purple and come walk with us. We walk to raise awareness, provide resources, honor victims, and let victims know they're not alone. Uh this year we've partnered with the Humane Society to walk in the parade with a campaign called Dogs Against Domestic Violence. It is an awareness campaign that highlights the healing relationship between pets and people and recognizes that domestic violence affects all families and all of the family and sometimes pets, unfortunately. So we ask you to join us on the 24th to come walk, wave at us on the parade, and thank you for your support. Thank you so much, and thank you for all the all the work that your organization does in our community. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Item four on the agenda is the roll call. Ms. Williams, if you please call the roll. Council members, Nancy Campbell here. Jenny Koch. Here. Jim Dolan. David Diaz. Here. Cameron Moses. Here. Vice Mayor Michelle Lynn.
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