Council HQ

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Willcox to provide building inspection and plan review services on a short-term basis.

The Willcox building inspector/plan reviewer recently gave notice of accepting another job, leaving the City of Willcox without anyone to provide those services while they hire and train a new building inspector. Meanwhile, the City of Sierra Vista’s building services team currently has the capacity to assist Willcox.

As part of the IGA, Willcox will be billed at the employees’ full salary plus burden rate and for the cost of travel to Willcox and a small administrative fee. The term for the agreement is one year, with automatic renewals for one year thereafter unless either city notifies the other to discontinue the IGA.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed April as Water Wise Awareness Month, Autism Awareness Month, and Fair Housing Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• Council approved Development Code amendments related to conditional use permitting for mobile medical units.
• Council approved the donation of a 2014 Ford Explorer police vehicle to the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy.
• Council approved a resolution restating the City’s commitment to fair housing in Sierra Vista.
• Council approved a Bingo License for the Cochise Chapter of the WeServ Real Wishes Foundation.
• Council accepted the resignation of Ana Smith from the Tourism Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement for a regional SWAT team in partnership with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.

The agreement formalizes SWAT operation coordination between the Sierra Vista Police Department and CCSO, both of which adopted a common policy manual this past February. The joint manual established common standards for team recruitment, selection, retention, deployment status, training requirements, and leadership positions.

While SVPD and CCSO SWAT teams have assisted each other in operations for over 20 years, they began training together full time a couple of years ago to operate more cohesively and explore the feasibility of a regional SWAT team. The closer coordination has improved efficiency, safety, and service delivery to our community while minimizing or eliminating staffing challenges and tactical differences. It also increased the number of resources responding to incidents, including tactical support resources that normally were not available to SVPD like explosive breaching and air unit support.

In other business:

• Council appointed Dakota Martin to the Environmental Stewardship Commission and reappointed Rosie Mackey, Wendee Grinde, and Roger Hunter to the Neighborhoods Commission.
• Council hosted a public hearing on Project Year 2026 Community Development Block Grant funding requests and Annual Action Plan priorities.
• Council declared a 30-day public comment period on a Development Code amendment for business signs, which includes giving owners up to one year to replace temporary signs with permanent ones.
• Council approved the Vista Transit Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan 2026.
• Council approved amendments to the Personnel Rules and Regulations to include standard operating procedures that address presumptive cancer diagnosis in firefighters, fire inspectors, and peace officers.
• Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Cochise County for the disbursement of opioid settlement funds that are required to be used to address the opioid crisis.
• Council approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Organization and the City of Sierra Vista for the Signal Preemption Equipment Project.
• Council approved entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, which would make the City the municipal project sponsor and fiscal agent for the receipt and administration of federal funds for a micro community development.
• Council approved an Industrial Development Authority bond for Champion Schools.
• Council amended the effective date for sewer and sanitation rate increases from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Mar. 26, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the City’s website at www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-documents.

City Council meetings can be streamed live and past meetings can be viewed on YouTube. The meetings are also aired on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at  www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-meetings or in the “Council HQ” page at engage.sierravistaaz.gov.

At a special meeting on Tuesday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved a cooperative agreement with Arizona Land and Water Trust (ALWT), for the distribution of Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Challenge Program funding.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the City of Sierra Vista in partnership with Cochise County, and supported by Fort Huachuca, was awarded REPI Challenge Program funding in the amount of $1,807,185 to create an endowment for long-term management of natural resource projects. The REPI Program was created in 2002 to preserve military missions by supporting cost-sharing agreements to address environmental restrictions that limit military activities.

In accepting the agreement, the City is acting as the fiscal agent for the Adaptive Management Committee representing the interests of the Bureau of Land Management San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) Memorandum of Understanding cooperative monitoring and management signatories. As a direct recipient of federal funds through a separate cooperative agreement with Fort Huachuca, ALWT is able to act as the intermediary to distribute funds from the fort to the City.

The funding serves as seed money to establish a permanent endowment dedicated to the long-term management of regional natural resources, including maintenance and ongoing monitoring expenses. This endowment will provide a sustainable solution for post-construction costs that are vital to conservation work that supports responsible resource management and secures a resilient future for the region’s water and other natural resources.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed Wednesday, March 11, 2026, as Mentally Ill Kids in Distress (M.I.K.I.D.) day.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved a resolution to change the title of Mayor Pro Tem to Vice Mayor.

The vote amends the City’s Code of Ordinances, replacing the title under Chapter 30, Section 30.17. The change was recommended to simplify terminology for the benefit of citizens, and the title is in better alignment with the practices of most Arizona municipalities.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa presented Fry’s Food and Drug with a Commission on Disability Issues Disability Friendly Business Award.
• Mayor McCaa proclaimed February as Career and Technical Education Month.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved amendments to the definitions, mobile food vendors, and matrix of use permissions sections of the Development Code.

The amendments include eliminating redundant annual use permits for mobile food vendors, eliminating conditional use permit requirements for places of worship within general commercial districts, and correcting inconsistency in the use classification matrix for airport zoning and amending the definition of community service use to include emergency medical service providers, allowing sleeping quarters in facilities at the airport for them.

In other business:

• Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pima Community College for paramedic training.
• Council approved the issuance of bonds by the Industrial Development Authority to American Leadership Academy Johnston and Bayou Belle Project.
• Council appointed Demetry Simonton to the Environmental Stewardship Commission and Jennifer Holt and Robert Brooks to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved a $311,574.35 Arizona Department of Public Safety Local Border Support grant for SVPD.

The grant will cover the purchase of two new unmarked pickup trucks with outfitting ($184,474.60), one police K9 with training for the handler ($19,899.75), and two additional years of license plate reader monitoring service through FLOCK ($107,200).

The grant-funded purchases will help augment SVPD’s proactive posture toward combatting and intercepting the flow of lethal substances like fentanyl coming into our community as well as being smuggled northward through our region to other areas of the United States.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa presented a Neighborhood Commission Award of Excellence to Todd Blackaby.
• Council approved a new Off-track Wagering Permit at PC’s Lounge for Skyfall 7 LLC DBA Turf Paradise.
• Council appointed Jessica Kunkel and Dr. Brian Stover to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to amend City Development Code to streamline development processes by authorizing administrative approval for specific plans.

In March, Governor Hobbs signed House Bill 2447, amending A.R.S. § 9-500.49 to require all cities to authorize administrative personnel to review and approve, without a public hearing, land divisions, lot line adjustments, preliminary plats, final plats, and plat amendments.

The City’s amendments to the Development Code align with A.R.S. § 9-500.49, and allow the Development Review Committee (DRC) to approve preliminary and final subdivision plat approval, the Director of Community Development to sign final plats, removes the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council from subdivision approval workflow, reassigns modifications authority to the DRC, and standardizes and modernizes subdivision, minor subdivision, and land division procedures.

The amendments are based on the League of Arizona Cities and Towns’ Model Ordinance and were supported by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Council also moved other amendments to the Development Code forward for public comment. The amendments include eliminating redundant annual use permits for mobile food vendors, eliminating conditional use permit requirements for places of worship within general commercial districts, and correcting inconsistency in the use classification matrix for airport zoning and amending the definition of community service use to include emergency medical service providers, allowing sleeping quarters in facilities at the airport for them. These amendments will return to council for final approval after a 30-day public comment period. To review the amendments and provide input, go to Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa presented Certificates of Appreciation to outgoing or former City commissioners Iris Allison, Berlynda Schaaf, Wesley Hewitt, Alfred Spurgeon, Anthony Isom, and Richard Rhodes. John Moreno received his after the meeting, while Lori Schectman, Debbie Perkinson, Ronald York, Karen Flynn, Bruno Talerico, Steven Spearman, Karen LeMay, Presence Massie, Bradley Snyder, Douglas Phillips, and Gregory Loughran were unable to attend.
• Council approved a Series 9 Liquor License for Ryan Anderson on behalf of Safeway for sampling privileges.
• Council approved the donation of five surplus handheld radios to the Sierra Vista Company of the Arizona Rangers.
• Council approved an amendment to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the City of Sierra Vista Employee Benefit Trust, allowing former City employees who reside in Cochise County outside of City limits to be eligible for the resident seats on the trust.
• Council approved a settlement agreement in the matter of Andrea M. Peter v. City of Sierra Vista in the amount of $90,000, to be paid by the City’s insurance which negotiated the sum and recommended settlement since the cost of ongoing litigation would exceed the settlement amount.
• Council approved an amendment to the City Code of Ordinance allowing construction activities to begin at 5:00 a.m. between May 1 and October 15 in alignment with Arizona Senate Bill 1182 which prohibits municipalities and counties from enacting or enforcing noise ordinances that restrict general construction activities during designated summertime hours.
• Council approved an Industrial Development Authority bond for Desert Star Academy Project.
• Council approved an amendment to the Personnel Rules and Regulations concerning mandatory holdovers, extending the Sunset Clause from Dec. 28, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2027.
• Council reappointed Paul Cimino and Tait Wilcox and appointed Eric Petermann to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• Council appointed Venessa Crabtree to the Commission on Disability Issues.
• Council appointed Paula Smith to the Environmental Stewardship Commission.
• Council reappointed Demetry Simonton to the Industrial Development Authority.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to join the Arizona Mutual Aid Compact.

The compact is an intrastate agreement that establishes the terms and procedures for participating organizations to lend and receive assistance across jurisdictional boundaries during emergencies or disasters.

The City has priorly joined countywide mutual aid agreements, but the last agreement has expired, and Cochise County has joined this statewide compact along with all other Arizona counties and multiple cities and public safety organizations in Cochise County. The City has historically assisted other agencies in need when requested, but this agreement formalizes procedures for requesting assistance and provides clear guidelines on getting reimbursement. Plus, the compact specifies responsibility for workers’ compensation and coverage and has important legal considerations and protections that it covers.

The compact is for statewide mutual aid, but it does specify that those agencies closest to the emergency will be asked to provide aid first. Although Sierra Vista could be asked to provide assistance to organizations outside the county, it is extremely unlikely.

As with most aid agreements, it is at the providing agency’s discretion to assist if they can and there is no requirement to do so.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa, Fire Chief Brian Jones, and Police Chief Chris Hiser presented David Escobar with the inaugural Sentinel of Life Commendation, honoring his exceptional courage and selfless action pulling another resident from a burning home.
• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Nov. 10-14 as Veteran-Owned Small Business Week in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• On behalf of the Economic Development Commission, Mayor Clea McCaa and Tourism and Economic Development Director Tony Boone presented the Business Recognition Award for Veteran-Owned Business of the Year to Semper Fitness Training.
• Council appointed Zachary Plucas, Sr. to the Commission on Disability Issues.
• Council approved up updates to the Code of Ordinances relating to business licenses and solicitors.

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The Sierra Vista City Council approved the acceptance of a $77,854 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to enhance impaired and aggressive driving enforcement in Sierra Vista and the surrounding areas during Thursday’s City Council meeting.

The grant will reimburse the City for overtime and employee related expenses associated with participation in Southeastern Arizona DUI Task Force deployments. In addition, $1,354 of the grant was awarded for the purchase of a new preliminary breath test device and required mouthpieces.

Business license code changes open for input

The City Council also moved forward a set of code amendments for a 30-day public comment period. The amendments pertain to the issuance of City business licenses and to codes associated with solicitors and transient merchants. The changes are intended to clean up code language to make it easier to understand and enforce.

To review the proposed code amendments and offer input, go to Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov. The amendments will return to the City Council for final consideration after the 30-day public comment period concludes.

In other business:

• Council approved the renewal of intergovernmental agreement with the Town of Huachuca City for animal care services.
• Council approved the submission of amendments to the Plan Year Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The amendments reallocate $177,406 of Community Development Block Grant funding from the Montebello Fire Safety Improvement Project to the phase one development of Henry Jones Legacy Park, located on the corner of Fry Boulevard and Fab Avenue. The Montebello project was completed using $184,608, leaving the remainder of its $362,015 allocation to augment $132,660 of CDBG funds already dedicated to the Henry Jones Park project.
• Council approved the authorization of the city attorney to file necessary legal action against John A. Williams, jr. and Rufino Dante Ong, jr. to foreclose abatement liens against these parties associated with two local properties abated by the City.
• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of October 13, 2025, as Women in Business Week.
• Economic Development Commission Chair Scott Krueger presented a Business Recognition Award for Women-Owned Business of the Year to Dawn Tuthill, owner of Ash Canyon Soaps.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Oct. 9, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the City’s website at www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-documents.
City Council meetings can be streamed live and past meetings can be viewed on YouTube. The meetings are also aired on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at www.sierravistaaz.gov/government/city-council/council-meetings or on this Engage page.