Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Lake Havasu City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting, which adjourned at 7:49 PM, included a consent agenda, multiple public hearings, and a call to the public. Councilmember Michele Lin was absent. Key actions included the approval of the FY2025 audit, a controversial Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan (passed 4-2), the 2025 Water Master Plan (unanimous), and several cooperative purchases for emergency services and fleet maintenance.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the February 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes.
• Approved Resolution No. 26-3897 for an electric easement on city-owned property adjacent to Cypress Drive to UNS Electric.
• Approved Resolution No. 26-3898 for a grant application to the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for Police Traffic Services.
• Approved Task Order No. 11 for design and bidding services for the North Area Hangar Development Project with C&S Engineers, Inc. ($250,000).
• Approved a service agreement with Arizona Bounce Around for inflatable equipment and services for the Teen Break Event.
• Approved a call for an executive session on March 10, 2026, at 4:30 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kelly Lutz (citizen): Questioned how long the Second Bridge funds had been sitting and how interest accrual was calculated from pooled investments. Expressed fiscal responsibility concerns regarding the Parks Master Plan, stating that the Parks Director should be capable of developing such a plan internally without spending $250,000.
• Donna Best-Carlton (citizen, former parks employee): Opposed the Parks Master Plan, citing past studies (2016, 2018) that were shelved due to cost. Suggested partnering with the school district on a bond for a sports complex.
• Don Wisdom (citizen): Questioned the value of spending $250,000 on a plan that might be shelved, noting the city often spends money on plans that are not implemented.
• Bonny Toy (citizen): Opposed the Parks Master Plan, suggesting the money could be used to hire three local employees for a year. Also expressed concern about the cost of the General Plan ($225,000) and asked about the timeline for updating the city website.
• Debra Hunter (citizen): Asked about the budget for the City Council planning session (retreat). Also asked about the source of the city’s water in light of a recent newspaper article about a potential 77% cut in Arizona’s water allocation.
• Bob Bindles (citizen, during Call to the Public): Requested a local ordinance to prevent the establishment of Sharia law in Lake Havasu City, citing concerns about parallel legal systems.
• Bonny Toy (again, during Call to the Public): Suggested installing a hybrid crosswalk beacon at Swanson Avenue and Smoke Tree, similar to the one at Acoma Boulevard and Pima Drive, to improve pedestrian safety.

Discussion Items

• FY2025 Audit Results (Item 7.1): Jean Dietrich of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP presented the audit, noting an unmodified (“clean”) opinion on financial statements. A restatement corrected the allocation of $666,576 in investment earnings to the Second Bridge fund. The city was within its $161.6 million expenditure limitation by $32.3 million. Council accepted the report unanimously.
• Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan (Item 7.2): Parks Director Gabby Vera proposed a $250,000 contract with Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC, for the city’s first comprehensive parks master plan. Councilmembers debated the cost: Vice Mayor Diaz and Councilmember Campbell opposed, citing internal capability and other infrastructure needs; Councilmembers Moses, Dolan, and Coke supported the plan for data-driven decision-making and transparency. The motion passed 4-2 (Sheehy, Coke, Dolan, Moses in favor; Campbell, Diaz opposed).
• 2025 Water Master Plan (Item 7.3): Deputy Director Tim Kellett and Jacobs Engineering’s Mark Elliott presented the updated plan, projecting that by 2040 the city’s water treatment plant capacity would be at or below 80% of capacity, with adequate supply flexibility. The 10-year capital investment plan totals $68.9 million for water resources, storage, treatment, and distribution. Council adopted Resolution No. 26-3899 unanimously.
• Ordinance on Rights-of-Way (Item 7.4): Deputy Director Bill Young presented an ordinance to protect newly paved streets by requiring proper compaction and restoration after utility cuts. The ordinance passed unanimously.
• Cooperative Purchases – Emergency Medical Supplies (Item 7.5): Fire Chief Pete Pilafas requested approval to purchase supplies from Bound Tree Medical, LLC, exceeding the expenditure threshold but within the annual budget, through 2029. Approved unanimously.
• Cooperative Purchase – Fire Department Squad Vehicle (Item 7.6): Chief Pilafas requested approval for a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 service body truck ($107,973.19) for a pilot squad response unit. The vehicle will be used during peak times to improve response efficiency and reduce wear on larger apparatus. Approved unanimously.
• Cooperative Purchases – Fleet Parts and Services (Item 7.7): Bill Young requested approval for routine purchases from Freightliner of Arizona dba Velocity Truck Centers, exceeding the threshold but within annual budgets. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• FY2025 Audit: Accepted unanimously. The city received a clean audit opinion. A restatement corrected the allocation of $666,576 in interest to the Second Bridge fund.
• Parks Master Plan: Approved 4-2 (motion by Councilmember Moses, second by Councilmember Dolan). The $250,000 contract will fund an eight-phase comprehensive plan including inventory, community engagement, and a 10-year implementation matrix.
• Water Master Plan: Resolution No. 26-3899 approved unanimously. The plan outlines a 10-year capital improvement program and emphasizes water supply resilience.
• Rights-of-Way Ordinance: Ordinance No. 26-1378 adopted unanimously, requiring proper compaction and restoration after utility cuts in city streets.
• Emergency Medical Supplies: Approved routine purchases from Bound Tree Medical, LLC, not to exceed the annual department budget through 2029.
• Fire Department Squad Vehicle: Approved purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 for $107,973.19 to support a pilot squad response program.
• Fleet Parts and Services: Approved routine purchases from Velocity Truck Centers, not to exceed annual departmental budgets.
• Future Meetings: Next regular meeting on March 10, 2026, at 5:30 PM; another on March 24, 2026.