Mesquite City Council Meeting – February 24, 2026

The regular Mesquite City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting opened with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, a proclamation declaring March as Women's History Month, and a presentation by Grace Valley Dance Company. Council approved the consent agenda, discussed a grant application for historic building restoration, and deliberated on proposed regulations for e-bikes and e-scooters, directing staff to revise the draft ordinance.

Ceremonial Matters & Presentations

• Father Joji of La Virgin de Guadalupe Catholic Church delivered the invocation.
• Mayor Jesse Whipple read a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Women's History Month in Mesquite, highlighting the Women's History and Culture Center, the annual inspirational women's display at the museum library, and the WOMA (Women of the Moapa Valley and Arizona Strip) awards. Nominations are open February through April.
• Caitlin Vent, owner/director of Grace Valley Dance Company, along with dancers Faith Guerrero and Rosalind Ellis, presented on the studio’s growth, national competition at Disneyland, and the importance of community support.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: approval of the Tuesday, February 3, 2026 Technical Review Meeting Minutes, the Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes, and the Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda; and approval of Notification of Budget Transfers, Budget Amendments, Bills Paid, and Purchase Orders.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Opening Public Comment (non-agenda items):
  • Jean Watkins and Terry (no last name given) encouraged nominations for the WOMA awards, noting nomination forms are available at multiple locations across Mesquite, Scenic, and Moapa Valley.
  • Mike Benham thanked Travis for fixing stones on a sidewalk and mentioned a private meeting in Las Vegas with top officials.
• Item 4.1 – CCCHP Grant:
  • David Baldwin cautioned that previous engineering work (circa 2012–2013) found the Rock House walls unstable; he urged ensuring sufficient funding before starting renovation to avoid structural collapse.
  • Gary Elgart praised Simon (staff) for his attention to detail and care for the city.
• Item 4.2 – E-Bike/E-Scooter Regulations:
  • Mike Benham supported mandatory helmet requirements for all ages, citing safety and noting that Henderson is considering similar rules; suggested educational programs.
  • Sheila Gustave opposed allowing scooters or bikes on sidewalks, stating she is harassed by bikers while walking.
  • David Baldwin argued that helmets should be mandatory for any powered bike (e.g., e-bikes, mopeds) and that riders on sidewalks must travel with traffic flow, not against it.
  • Bob Bradbury expressed concern that moving inexperienced riders from the roadway to the sidewalk merely relocates danger to pedestrians; he opposed allowing e-bikes on sidewalks.
  • Dominic Olivetto said e-bikes with motors are not bicycles; he advocated requiring a driver’s license for motorized vehicles and opposed allowing them on sidewalks due to speed and weight.
  • Gary Elgart said e-bikes can weigh up to 100 pounds and should not be on sidewalks with pedestrians; he preferred they stay in the roadway (shoulder).
  • Becky Peterson shared that her e-bike weighs 75 pounds and can go 28 mph; she stressed the need for training and speed limits, and supported mandatory helmets.
• Final Public Comment:
  • David Baldwin again urged the council to pursue in-kind agreements (e.g., with NRC) for the historic building restoration, suggesting it would be more cost-effective than bidding with prevailing wage requirements.

Discussion Items

• Item 4.1 – CCCHP Grant for Rock House, Relief Society House, and Settlers Square

  • Simon (Director of Community Development) presented a request for direction on applying for a $50,000 CCCHP grant per project (total $150,000) for rehabilitation of the Rock House (built ~1880) and Relief Society House (1929), and improvements to Settlers Square. He noted the structures are among the oldest in Mesquite, have structural issues, and that the city needs to determine future uses. He recommended prioritizing structural integrity, exterior facade, interior, utility connections, and landscaping (to be done later to avoid construction damage).
  • Council members expressed strong support for preservation. Councilwoman Fielding noted the RDA had already earmarked $150,000 for restoration. Councilman Parrish and Councilman Wandless emphasized the historical importance of the buildings.
  • A motion was made to direct staff to proceed with applying for the grants and to continue seeking additional grant funding. It passed unanimously.

• Item 4.2 – Amendment to Municipal Code for E-Bikes, E-Scooters, etc.

  • City Attorney Adam Anderson introduced a draft ordinance to regulate e-bikes, e-scooters, and bicycles. He explained this was a preliminary discussion; formal adoption would require a future ordinance with a public hearing.
  • Council discussion covered:
    • Age limits: Current draft allows minors under 16 on roadways only if accompanied by an adult. Councilwoman Fielding wanted minors under 16 restricted to sidewalks. Others debated using driver’s license/permit status instead of age.
    • Sidewalk vs. shoulder: Some council members (e.g., Parrish) favored removing sidewalk use entirely for e-bikes/e-scooters; others (e.g., Ennis, Wandless, and the Mayor) wanted to allow younger children on sidewalks for safety, possibly differentiating between pedal bikes and motorized devices.
    • Helmets: The draft required helmets for minors; Councilwoman Fielding and others advocated making helmets mandatory for all ages. Public comments strongly supported universal helmet use.
    • Direction of travel: Several council members agreed that riders should be required to travel with traffic (not against it).
  • Chief Fells reported on the police department’s proactive education efforts: flyers to parents, school assemblies, helmet giveaways, and reward coupons. He noted that parental responsibility is key.
  • Councilman Ennis made a motion to direct the city attorney to take all comments from the public and council, revise the draft ordinance accordingly, and bring it back for further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda (minutes, budget transfers, bills paid, purchase orders).
• Unanimously directed staff to apply for CCCHP grants for the Rock House, Relief Society House, and Settlers Square, and to seek additional grant funds for historic preservation.
• Directed the city attorney to revise the draft e-bike/e-scooter ordinance based on council and public input, including considerations of age restrictions, sidewalk vs. shoulder use, mandatory helmets, and riding with traffic. A revised version will be presented at the next meeting.
• Item 4.3 (amendment regarding Mayor Pro-Tem selection process) was removed from the agenda because it was not properly agendized on the website.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned after the final public comment period.