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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – September 22, 2026

City Council & Planning and Zoning — Tuesday, September 22, 2026

BodyLake Havasu City, Arizona

SessionCity Council & Planning and Zoning

DateTuesday, September 22, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:40:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Council regular meeting on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 5.30 p.m.

0:05

Before our invocation, I would like uh to have you join me in a moment of silence in honor of B.

0:11

Evans.

0:12

Uh she's a longtime invocator for the Lake Havasu City Council and Lake Havasu City events, uh passed away uh yesterday morning.

0:19

So if you could please join me in a moment of silence, um, and then we'll have an invocation from Pastor David Jackson with Hilltop Charge.

0:53

And Pastor.

0:57

Let's have a word of prayer.

1:00

Gracious Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the gift of life.

1:03

Uh we thank you for relationships, uh, how we can impact each other and uh Lord uh as we go through this meeting and let us remember how our words impact each other, uh how our uh attitudes can impact each other and Lord.

1:18

Let's be a beacon of light in Havasu and show that we can uh stand on your godly principles and on the Constitution and be an example to the rest of this country about how good you can be and how much you bless us and we stand united in you, Lord.

1:33

Bless us as we make decisions and may you be glorified and bless those who serve us in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

1:41

And now we'll have an invocation led by Ricardo Deanda and Lori Howell with the Yada, Young Adult Development Association of Lake Havasu.

1:54

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:02

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:11

Good evening, everyone.

2:12

My name is Ricardo DeNda.

2:14

I'm with Arizona Youth Partnership and also the Young Adult Development Association of Havasu.

2:19

This is Lori Howell, also a part of Yada and with Mojave College.

2:23

Um our coalition, Yada, here in Lake Havasu focuses on drug prevention for youth and community members.

2:31

So we have some exciting news this year.

2:33

We do have an upcoming event, um the annual walk away from drugs, but this year we are excited to partner with Mojave College's Human Services Health and Wellness class.

2:43

So students have been working alongside the coalition on a community-based prevention and recovery project connected to the walk away from drugs.

2:50

Throughout their eight-week course, students will explore community health and wellness while completing project phases designed to contribute to and strengthen the local event.

2:59

This collaboration gives the students opportunity to move beyond learning about human services just in the classroom and begin experiencing what it means to colla collaboratively work with community partner partners to address real community need.

3:13

Um so some details about our walk.

3:15

I did place some flyers out on the table.

3:18

Um it's gonna be October 23rd, Friday, October 23rd, um, from 4 to 7 p.m.

3:24

It's gonna be in the main street commons area downtown.

3:27

Um, some highlights of the event.

3:29

We're gonna have two walking routes this year, one shorter and one um a little bit longer.

3:33

Um there'll be local resources with tables set up.

3:37

Um we'll have a DJ.

3:39

We'll have free tacos provided by La Carcacha.

3:42

So that's a good incentive if everybody wants to come get some free food.

3:45

Um we also will have testimonials.

3:47

We'll have some testimonials given by um a couple of the band of brothers uh members that Stacey Lee runs, that group.

3:54

We're excited about that.

3:56

Um we're also going to have a red ribbon week art contest that is going to be um created by local students here in Lake Havasu from Telesys, Thunderbolt, and some other uh youth groups.

4:07

Uh we're gonna have giveaways, the color guard will do a ceremony and a proclamation from Mayor Cal Sheehy.

4:13

Um but yeah, it'll be a really really great night for the community to come together and really just promote a drug-free Lake Havasu.

4:20

So we invite everyone in the community.

4:22

It's it's a free event.

4:23

Um come on down.

4:24

We will have the the PD will be there and they're gonna try to bring the bear cat and some other um vehicles that kids can check out.

4:30

So that's exciting this year too.

4:32

I um also set out some registration forms on the table.

4:37

So if any organization or if you know of an organization that would like to set up a local your resource table, that we're we're welcoming that as well.

4:45

So thank you for having us here.

4:46

I hope to see you all there.

4:48

Thank you so much, and thank you for all that you do for Lake Havasu City.

4:50

Yes.

4:51

Yeah.

4:52

All right.

4:55

We'll now move on to item four, which is the roll call.

4:57

Ms.

4:57

Williams, if you please call the roll.

5:00

Williams if you please call the roll council members Nancy Campbell Jenny Coke here Kim Dolan Cameron Moses Michelle Lynn here Vice Mayor David Diaz Mayor Kal Shee here thank you thank you item five is our call to the public this is where citizens have an opportunity to address the city council on items within the jurisdiction of Lake Havasu city your comments are limited to three minutes and there will be uh our indicators on the screens around the room you don't have to sign up for call to the public uh and we didn't have anyone sign up for call to the public but if you'd like to address the council please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record if you are here for one of our public hearings this evening we do encourage you to stay and reserve your comments for that time because we can have a two-way conversation at that point call to the public we can just listen intently so with that if anyone would like to address the city council during call to the public please make your way to the podium good evening mayor council penny pew with Congressman Gosar's office and I just want to remind everyone that we are available to help with federal issues um veterans social security anything that is federal or you need a connection to the state we're happy to help we spend a lot of time up in Lake Cavasu and it's a wonderful place and a patriotic and we want to keep it that way.

6:15

So thank you so much.

6:17

Thank you Penny and thank you for your service to our residents would anyone else like to address the city council during call to the public mayor city council my name is Nancy Icheveria and I moved to how su in 1984 so I'm a 42 year resident back in 84 I saw a much happier have a suit here moved here with families planning on starting a business and uh young adults and retirees plan to start a new uh life here today we have people who move here with their toys whose only intent is to enjoy the lake on the weekends and holidays we have people who come here as renters and VRBOers we no longer have neighbors and neighborhoods we have absentee landlords or homeowners my concern is that our residential looks like a town in decline it's a town that looks as though it has no zoning no restrictions it's a town that allows any number of vehicles to be parked around a home not only on the driveway but on dirt and gravel so it is not unusual to see pickups trucks cars motorcycles off road vehicles trailers jet skis motor homes boats and RVs amidst weeds in what should be neatly kept yards sometimes these toys have obviously been abandoned in previous years and are sitting in the yard in a dilapidated condition two more words used to describe these yards trashy and ratty it is not unusual to see a weedy yard in the golf course area code enforcement says there is no weed control until the weeds get to be an unsightly two feet tall also there does not seem to be any restrictions against hoarders who stash possessions all over their property that should be stored inside a garage or a storage unit.

8:43

People are no longer coming here and having an interest in bettering our town large older homes in desirable locations are being purchased by people who obviously are operating businesses out of them or perhaps multiple families are living in a house in order to pay the rent or the mortgage the last time I talked to our code enforcement officer they had over 750 code violation reports.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Engagement█████████████████17%

Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%

Transportation Safety█████████████13%

Procedural█████████9%

Technology and Innovation███████7%

Code Enforcement██████6%

Parks and Recreation█████5%

Public Safety████4%

Animal Welfare████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Lake Havasu City Council Regular Meeting – September 22, 2026

The Lake Havasu City Council met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 5:30 PM. Mayor Cal Sheehy presided; present were Councilmembers Jeni Coke, Cameron Moses, Michele Lin, and Vice Mayor David Diaz. Councilmembers Nancy Campbell and Jim Dolan were absent. The meeting began with a moment of silence for Chaplain Bea Evans, an invocation by Pastor David Jackson, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Young Adult Development Association of Havasu (YADAH).

Consent Calendar

The council approved the consent agenda (5-0) comprising the following items:

Approval of September 8, 2026 meeting minutes.
Resolution 26-3948: Intergovernmental Agreement with Kingman for SAMHSA grant.
Resolution 26-3949: Intergovernmental Agreement with Bullhead City for SAMHSA grant.
Resolution 26-3950: Intergovernmental Agreement with Mohave County for MS-4 sampling services.
Resolution 26-3947: Adoption of amended Transit Title VI Plan.
Professional services contracts with Southwest Behavioral Health, Averhealth, and SCRAM of Arizona for Veterans Treatment Court (SAMHSA).
Agreement with CenturyLink/Lumen for city internet services.
Call for executive session on October 13, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

Penny Pew (Congressman Gosar's office) offered assistance with federal issues including veterans, Social Security, and federal matters.
Nancy Echeverria (42-year resident) expressed concerns about declining residential appearance due to short-term rentals and code violations including excessive vehicles, weeds, dilapidated conditions, and hoarding. She noted code enforcement had over 750 violation reports and urged the city to address these issues.

Discussion Items

City Manager’s Report

City Manager Jess Knudson reported:

Recognition of Councilmember Coke for completing the Civic Craft Leadership Program (League of Arizona Cities and Towns).
Retirement of Police Officer Justin Wilson after 21 years of service.
Second Bridge Groundbreaking Ceremony on October 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM.
Launch of ActiveNet online registration and reservation system for Parks and Recreation.
Other announcements including the 9/11 commemoration, ICSC conference, Sleepless for a Cure fundraiser, and Constitution Week.

Police Department Presentation

Police Chief Troy Stirling presented on Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR). The city has used 10 fixed cameras from Flock Safety for two years. He described the technology (captures vehicle images and license plates, no facial recognition, no audio, 30-day data retention), safeguards (dual authentication, monthly audits, required case numbers, alerts for multiple searches), system usage (16,000-22,000 images captured daily, up to 70 searches per day, primarily for drug investigations, hit-and-runs, thefts, and missing persons), and success stories (Calvary Church arson, missing dementia patient, kidnapping). He stated ALPR is a lawful investigative tool that enhances public safety while respecting constitutional rights.

Public Hearing Items

8.1 – Liquor License (Bad Miguels): The council considered a Series #12 restaurant liquor license application for Bad Miguels. Staff confirmed all requirements met with no objections. No public comments.
8.2 – Lease Agreement (Yacht Club): City Attorney Kelly Garry presented a proposed 10-year lease for 631 London Bridge Road with the Lake Havasu Yacht Club, annual rent $1,248, requiring the Yacht Club to maintain the property and make facilities available for city use at least four times per month and for other civic groups. Discussion addressed scheduling procedures.
8.3 – Off-Road Vehicle Ordinance (Introduction): Staff explained the amendment corrects a code reference for fines. Bonny Toy asked for clarification; staff noted it is a text amendment only.
8.4 – Animal Definition Ordinance (Introduction): Chief Stirling explained the need to revert to a definition including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians after the 2025 revision inadvertently excluded birds and other non-rabies-susceptible species.
8.5 – Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance (Introduction): Engineering Manager Mike Wolfe described updates required after an ADWR/FEMA audit, addressing minor deficiencies in the floodplain management program.
8.6 – Bridge and Street Naming: Mayor Sheehy provided history of the second bridge and proposed naming it “Freedom Bridge” and the new street “Freedom Avenue.” Public comments: Paul Smith requested tabling for community input; Brian Wedemeyer (former councilmember and Freedom Bridge Foundation president) thanked the council and acknowledged volunteers; Bonny Toy expressed disappointment the name wasn't consistently used; Nancy Echeverria questioned whether the public had been given the opportunity to suggest names.
8.7 – Water Main Replacement: Project Manager Brent Cummings presented the 2026 Water Main Replacement Project covering 19 roads and 2 alleys, replacing pipes with C900 (upsizing from 4”/6” to 6”/8”). The project addresses 87 main breaks and 30 service breaks. Discussion included budget ($4.5M), low bid $3,053,842.50 from Pat Bern Construction, pipe quality, and long-term reduction of breaks. Staff noted catch-up efforts and discussed pressure reduction projects.
8.8 – UV Disinfection System: Capital Program Manager Jason Hart requested approval to purchase a Trojan UV3000+ disinfection system for the Island Wastewater Treatment Plant at $760,400 (budget $1M), with 14-16 week delivery and completion by February 2027.
8.9 – ADA Vans: Transit Manager Patrick Cipres requested approval to purchase two BraunAbility ProMaster vans for $288,492 — one replacement (2015 Ford Transit) and one expansion vehicle. He provided ridership statistics (22,614 trips, 24,179 passengers, 11,939 positive comments) and explained the need for fleet backup. Discussion noted weekday service hours 6:30 AM-5:35 PM and self-sustaining model. Bonny Toy requested a phone scheduling option; staff confirmed paratransit by phone is available.
8.10 – Cintas Services: Deputy Director Bill Young requested approval for aggregate expenditures for fire protection and first aid supplies citywide, expected to exceed $100,000 annually. Discussion included locations such as the aquatic center.
8.11 – Pavement Preservation: Bill Young requested approval for HA5 high-density mineral bond pavement preservation services from Holbrook Asphalt for $130,433.78 for FY 2026-27.

Key Outcomes

The council took the following actions (all votes 5-0):

Approved the consent agenda (as listed above).
Recommended approval of a Series #12 restaurant liquor license for Bad Miguels.
Approved the lease agreement with Lake Havasu Yacht Club for 631 London Bridge Road, effective through June 30, 2036.
Introduced Ordinance 26-1385 (off-road vehicle violation/penalty reference), Ordinance 26-1386 (animal definition), and Ordinance 26-1388 (flood damage prevention) — all will be subject to future adoption hearings.
Adopted Resolution 26-3951 naming the second bridge “Freedom Bridge” and the new street “Freedom Avenue.”
Awarded the 2026 Water Main Replacement Project base bid to Pat Bern Construction, LLC for $3,053,842.50.
Approved purchase of UV disinfection system replacement from Trojan Technologies Corp. for $760,400 plus applicable taxes.
Approved cooperative purchase of two BraunAbility ProMaster ADA low floor vans from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, Inc. for $288,492.
Approved aggregate expenditures with Cintas Corporation No. 2 for fire protection and first aid supplies, not to exceed annual departmental budgets.
Approved cooperative purchase of HA5 high-density mineral bond pavement preservation services from Holbrook Asphalt, LLC for $130,433.78.

Current Events / Committee Reports

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting scheduled for September 28, 2026 at 6 PM in the Council Chambers.
Go Lake Havasu board is nearing selection of a new director.
Mohave County Water Authority update: working through Bureau of Reclamation's record of decision and developing legislative agenda for water augmentation and conservation.

Future Meetings

Regular meetings on October 13, 2026 and October 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM.
The Freedom Bridge (formerly Second Bridge) Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on October 13, 2026 at 8:30 AM on the Island side.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Council regular meeting on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 5.30 p.m. Before our invocation, I would like uh to have you join me in a moment of silence in honor of B. Evans. Uh she's a longtime invocator for the Lake Havasu City Council and Lake Havasu City events, uh passed away uh yesterday morning. So if you could please join me in a moment of silence, um, and then we'll have an invocation from Pastor David Jackson with Hilltop Charge. And Pastor. Let's have a word of prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, we just thank you for the gift of life. Uh we thank you for relationships, uh, how we can impact each other and uh Lord uh as we go through this meeting and let us remember how our words impact each other, uh how our uh attitudes can impact each other and Lord. Let's be a beacon of light in Havasu and show that we can uh stand on your godly principles and on the Constitution and be an example to the rest of this country about how good you can be and how much you bless us and we stand united in you, Lord. Bless us as we make decisions and may you be glorified and bless those who serve us in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. And now we'll have an invocation led by Ricardo Deanda and Lori Howell with the Yada, Young Adult Development Association of Lake Havasu. 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. Good evening, everyone. My name is Ricardo DeNda. I'm with Arizona Youth Partnership and also the Young Adult Development Association of Havasu. This is Lori Howell, also a part of Yada and with Mojave College. Um our coalition, Yada, here in Lake Havasu focuses on drug prevention for youth and community members. So we have some exciting news this year. We do have an upcoming event, um the annual walk away from drugs, but this year we are excited to partner with Mojave College's Human Services Health and Wellness class. So students have been working alongside the coalition on a community-based prevention and recovery project connected to the walk away from drugs. Throughout their eight-week course, students will explore community health and wellness while completing project phases designed to contribute to and strengthen the local event. This collaboration gives the students opportunity to move beyond learning about human services just in the classroom and begin experiencing what it means to colla collaboratively work with community partner partners to address real community need. Um so some details about our walk. I did place some flyers out on the table. Um it's gonna be October 23rd, Friday, October 23rd, um, from 4 to 7 p.m. It's gonna be in the main street commons area downtown. Um, some highlights of the event. We're gonna have two walking routes this year, one shorter and one um a little bit longer. Um there'll be local resources with tables set up. Um we'll have a DJ. We'll have free tacos provided by La Carcacha. So that's a good incentive if everybody wants to come get some free food. Um we also will have testimonials. We'll have some testimonials given by um a couple of the band of brothers uh members that Stacey Lee runs, that group. We're excited about that. Um we're also going to have a red ribbon week art contest that is going to be um created by local students here in Lake Havasu from Telesys, Thunderbolt, and some other uh youth groups. Uh we're gonna have giveaways, the color guard will do a ceremony and a proclamation from Mayor Cal Sheehy. Um but yeah, it'll be a really really great night for the community to come together and really just promote a drug-free Lake Havasu. So we invite everyone in the community. It's it's a free event. Um come on down. We will have the the PD will be there and they're gonna try to bring the bear cat and some other um vehicles that kids can check out. So that's exciting this year too. I um also set out some registration forms on the table. So if any organization or if you know of an organization that would like to set up a local your resource table, that we're we're welcoming that as well. So thank you for having us here. I hope to see you all there. Thank you so much, and thank you for all that you do for Lake Havasu City.

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