Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - January 27, 2026
Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - January 27, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mayor Cal Sheehy, with all seven council members present. Key actions included approval of a services agreement with Clothes Closet, introduction of an ordinance to protect newly paved streets, and approval of LED lighting upgrades for ball fields. The council also heard updates on e-bike safety and discussed annexation of a county-owned parcel.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the January 13, 2026, regular meeting minutes.
- Approved Resolution No. 26-3892, 26-3893, and 26-3894 for abandonment of utility easements on Lantern Drive, Chip Drive, and Mulberry Avenue.
- Approved cooperative purchases with Amazon.com Services, LLC.
- Approved a use agreement renewal with Lake Havasu Metropolitan Planning Organization for office space.
- Approved a call for executive session on February 10, 2026.
- All consent items passed 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Clothes Closet Agreement (Item 7.2): Christine Watson, director of Clothes Closet, thanked the council and provided statistics: 951 new clients, 2,563 visits, 625 showers, 198 laundry visits, and 391 cooling station visits in the past six months. Multiple citizens (Kimberly Zanon, Rich Tully, Sarah Tully, Ricarda DeAnda of AZ Youth Partnership, Todd Baldwin, Judy Zelleck) spoke in support, citing the program's impact and the need for services.
- Kinder Swim/Mission 5 (Item 7.3): Laura Sprott spoke about the need for a second community pool, citing health benefits and national standards (one pool per 20,000 residents).
- LED Lighting (Item 7.6): Bonnie Toy asked about adjustability of lights; Mayor Sheehy explained engineering. Tim Murray and Taylor Harrison spoke in support, emphasizing safety and return on investment.
- Call to the Public: Bonnie Toy raised crosswalk safety concerns at Swanson and Mesquite near Smoke Tree during Winterfest. Tim Murray clarified his comments are his own and requested direct communication if there are issues.
Discussion Items
- E-bike Safety (City Manager Report): Captain Chad Williams presented e-bike statistics: speed studies on the channel showed out of 96 e-bikes, 8 under 10 mph, 42 between 10-15, 37 between 16-20, 9 between 21-25 mph. Field contacts: 93 from 2024 to 2026. Crash reports: 33 total, 27 injury, 2 fatal. Citations increased from 2 in 2024 to 9 in 2026. Council discussed education, enforcement, sidewalk riding, and potential incentives for safe riding.
- Clothes Closet Services Agreement: Judge Kalauli explained the program for high-risk, high-need individuals in the Building Bridges Court. Estimated 10 participants annually. Cost: $60,000/year, with $25,000 from contingency for FY 2025-26. Council debated using taxpayer dollars for nonprofits; Vice Mayor Diaz noted it's a service contract, not a donation. Councilmember Moses emphasized accountability. Motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Lin recused).
- Kinder Swim & Mission 5: Ready to Rescue: Parks and Rec staff presented a program to extend Kinder Swim for 5th graders, adding hands-only CPR training (American Red Cross Mission CPR). The program will reach about 400 students annually. Rotary Club donates $7,500/year. Resolution approved 7-0.
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Amendments: Adopted ordinance clarifying officer terms, attendance, meeting frequency, and powers/duties. Approved 7-0.
- Rights-of-Way Ordinance: Introduction of ordinance to reduce street cuts in newly paved streets (0-5 years old). Requires compaction testing, extended patch 25 feet each direction, and coordination with utility contractors. Approved 7-0.
- LED Ballfield Lighting: Approved cooperative purchase of MUSCO LED lighting for Rotary Park Fields 1-3 and SARA Park Fields 1-2, $672,000. Council expressed interest in funding additional fields (SARA Park 3 & 4) at a future meeting. Staff will return with options. Motion passed 7-0.
- Annexation of 3500 Highway 95 North: Public hearing held. Property is 1.13 acres, formerly Mohave County Sheriff's Office. Council consensus to proceed with annexation to allow future economic development and city sales tax collection.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Agenda (7-0).
- Approved Series #12 liquor license for Boat House Grill (7-0).
- Approved Services Agreement with Clothes Closet (6-0, Lin recused), authorizing $25,000 from contingency.
- Adopted Resolution 26-3891 for Kinder Swim and Mission 5 program (7-0).
- Adopted Ordinance 26-1377 amending Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (7-0).
- Introduced Ordinance 26-1378 regarding rights-of-way damage (7-0).
- Approved cooperative purchase of LED lighting $672,000 (7-0); staff to explore funding for additional SARA Park fields.
- Consensus to continue annexation process for 3500 Highway 95 North.
- Future meetings: February 10 and February 24, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. I call to order the Lake Havasu City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 5 30 p.m. We'll have our invocation from Pastor Kay Zimmerman from City on a Hill International Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Carol Arsilla and Rita Purser with the Havasu Stitchers Quilt Guild. Good evening. Good evening. Father God, we just thank you. We thank you that you're our God. We thank you that you watch over this city. We thank you that you have great plans for this city. And we thank you, Father God, that each one of us has a part. And I pray, Father God, a spirit of unity in this city that we'll support one another, God. Pray for one another and work together for your plan and your purpose for your glory, Lord. And I thank you for it. I thank you for our mayor and the council, each one leading the city, our fire chief, police chief. I thank you, God. And we're just going to decree tonight, as you told us to decree over the city. I decree over the city of Lake Havasu City, that this city shall be a city of righteousness that honors God in all her ways. A city of hope to all her people and all those who come here. A city of light where darkness finds no room to hide. A city of love that prospers in all her ways, providing prosperity and goodwill to all her people as well as those surrounding her. And a city of peace to all who dwell here. Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands. Hello. Thank you for letting us come and speak before the council today. I'm Carol Arcello. This is Rita Purser. We're with the Havasu Stitchers Quilt Guild here in Lake Havasu. We have about 182 members. But the exciting thing is that which is coming up, not this weekend, next weekend, February 5th through the 7th. We are having our biannual, which is every two years, not every twice a year. But every two years we have a huge quilt show with about 150 quilts. It starts Thursday at noon. The mayor is going to be there. He's going to pick his favorite quilt, which he usually does, and do a proclamation for us, which we really appreciate. Thank you so much for supporting us. And there will be several ribbons. We did have a display of our underwater challenge over at City Hall. I don't know how many people were able to see it, but that was really out of the box thinking for quilting. Um and very spectacular. Our quilters did a great job. That will also be at our quilt show. So please come and join us Thursday, noon to four on February 5th, the 6th and 7th, Friday and Saturday. It is nine to four. And we have two great food trucks, True Eats and Have a Hog. So thank you. Thank you so much for being here. And uh the talent that uh your members have is quite amazing. So I encourage everyone to go check out all of the great works that you do. Thank you again for being here this evening.
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