Council HQ

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council considered the City’s annual action plan for its allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which is currently open to public comment.

At its meeting on March 15, Council heard requests for CDBG funds from Good Neighbor Alliance, Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista, United Way of Sierra Vista and Cochise County, and City of Sierra Vista projects, including Montebello neighborhood fire safety improvements and general program administration. Those requests have been recommended for inclusion in the City’s annual allocation of CDBG funds and the CDBG Five-Year Consolidated Plan.

The City receives an annual allocation of approximately $250,000 in CDBG funds, and the plan identifies goals, objectives, and strategies for addressing housing and community development needs with that funding. The City has also completed an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, which represents Sierra Vista’s efforts in making an objective assessment of the nature and extend of fair housing concerns in the City and the potential impediments to making fair housing choice available to its residents.

Both the CDBG Five Year Consolidated Plan and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice 2024 Update are available for public review and comment until Wednesday, May 8. To read the documents and offer input, visit Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed April as Water Awareness Month, Fair Housing Month, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the week of April 8 through 12 as Young Child Week, in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council passed a resolution restating the City’s Commitment to Fair Housing in Sierra Vista.
• The City Council approved a new Series 10 Limited Liability-type Liquor License for Francisco Javier Romero on behalf of the Dollar General Store located at 5240 E. Highway 90.
• The City Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to issue, offer, sell, and deliver one or more of its Education Facility Revenue and Refunding Bonds for Desert Heights Charter School Project. This does not result in a financial commitment or liability for the City.
• The City Council authorized the IDA to issue, sell, and deliver one or more of its Education Facility Revenue for Edkey Charter Schools Project. This also does not result in a financial commitment or liability for the City.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved an amendment to the Development Code allowing eligible property owners to claim credit for portions of adjusted right-of-way property.

In February, City Council approved and adopted the Sierra Vista Roadway Design Manual and associated code amendments that, among other things, revised road classifications for some City streets and adjusted minimum required right-of-way widths.

The newly incorporated amendment concerning right of ways now allows property owners to claim credit for portions of the adjusted right-of-way property to construct porches or room additions. The new amendment applies only to residentially zoned properties and does not grant a reduction of right of way for portions of a front building façade containing an enclosed garage or carport so that adequate parking may be preserved.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of March 10 through 16 of 2024 Girl Scout week for the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council approved the transfer of a Series 12 Liquor License for Andrea Dahlman Lewkowitz on behalf of RMH Franchise Corporation dba Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar. The transfer is in reference to an acquisition of control on a corporate level, which allows for the transfer of the license.
• The City Council authorized the City attorney to pursue legal action against Edwin Groover to set aside liens Mr. Groover filed against the City of Sierra Vista. The City attorney determined that the liens have no basis in fact or law and noted that this action is the only to way set them aside.
• The City Council authorized changes in the Industrial Development Authority’s issuance of its Education Facility Revenue Bonds. This amending resolution simply updated the firm the IDA is working with and the date to reflect accuracy.
• The City Council appointed Richard Rhodes to the Sierra Vista Transportation Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to distribute the City’s positive fund balance from Fiscal Year 2022/2023 to streets improvements, capital projects, and the retirement fund for public safety personnel.

When closing out the books for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, the City of Sierra Vista’s fiscally conservative approach to budgeting led to having $5.6 million in revenue left after all expenditures cleared for the last fiscal year, ending on June 30, 2023. On Thursday, City Council voted to approve staff recommendations to transfer $2 million to the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), $1 million to the Capital Improvements Fund (CIF), and to make an additional payment of $2 million to the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).

The HURF and CIF transfers will help fund potential FY 2024/25 projects, including the North Garden Avenue streetscape project in the event the City cannot secure grant funding. The PSPRS payment will be split with $1,250,000 towards the police department unfunded liability and $750,000 to the firefighters’. The additional $600,000 will help grow the unrestricted General Fund Reserves by about 8%, bringing that balance to a projected total of $7.77 million.

“By being conservative in projecting revenues for the budget, we ensure that we can take care of our staff, maintain service levels, and move key projects forward even if we receive less funding than anticipated,” City Manager Chuck Potucek says. “It’s much better to be in this position where we can use a positive fund balance to make strategic investments in projects and improve our budget outlook in the future.”

In other business:

• Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Umphrey presented the City’s Chief Financial Officer David Felix with an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for excellence in financial reporting.
• City Council heard funding requests for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Funding is being considered for Good Neighbor Alliance, Boys and Girls Club of Sierra Vista, United Way of Sierra Vista and Cochise County, and City of Sierra Vista projects, including Montebello neighborhood fire safety improvements and general program administration.
• City Council voted to abandon a portion of right-of-way along Charleston Road that exceeds the 100-foot-wide width. Ownership of the property will transfer to Cochise Crossroads, where it can be used for future development.
• City Council approved acceptance of sewer easements along Northeast Highway 90-92 to allow the construction of a public sewer line to bypass a failing sewer line and better serve the area.
• City Council accepted the resignation of Shelly Short from the Environmental Stewardship Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, the Sierra Vista City Council approved code amendments concerning warehouses, storage, and distribution.

With increased interest in warehousing space in the community, which is in short supply, Council approved amendments to the City’s Development Code. The changes include allowing warehouse, storage, and distribution as a principal use in General Commercial zones under certain provisions.

“The main motivation is to increase reuse potential of larger, empty buildings on the West End,” Community Development Director Matt McLachlan says.

The amendments and accompanying provisions are anticipated to meet business demand and encourage development while maintaining City standards. They were moved forward for a 30-day public comment period on Dec. 14 and the City received no public comments. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the amendments after holding a public hearing on Nov. 15.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the month of February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council approved and adopted the Sierra Vista Roadway Design Manual and associated code amendments. The Roadway Design Manual includes construction standards for roads, sidewalks, curb and gutter, access management, revised road classifications, revised street profiles, sight distance requirements, and landscaping and irrigation standards in the right-of-way. Also included are minimum standards for drive-thru vehicle storage.
• The City Council authorized an amendment to the Traffic Circulation Plan of Vistas 2030 that reclassifies Foothills Drive, El Camino Real, Golf Links Road between 7^th Street and Coronado Drive, and Wilcox Drive east of the Cochise College downtown campus as Minor Collectors.
• The City Council moved forward amendments to the Sierra Vista Development Code concerning right of ways. These modifications allow eligible property owners to claim credit for portions of adjusted right-of-way property to construct porches or room additions. The public can view the amendments and submit comments through March 11, 2024, by visiting engage.sierravistaaz.gov.
• The City Council authorized the transfer of a series 7 liquor license application from Delect Foods of Arizona to Pizza Hut. The license is for a beer and wine bar at 3680 E. Fry Boulevard.
• The City Council accepted the resignation of Karly Scarbrough from, and appointed Allyne McFalls to, the Arts, Humanities, & Cultural Diversity Commission.
• The City Council accepted the resignations of Rosemary Mackey, Pam Anderson, and Tait Wilcox from, and appointed Wendee Grinde and Alvira “Vera” Gates-Williams to, the Neighborhood Commission.
• The City Council voted to appoint Mayor Clea McCaa, Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Umphrey, and Council Member Marta Messmer as primary members; to appoint Council Members Angelica Landry and Mark Rodriguez as alternate members; and to reaffirm City Manager Chuck Potucek as an alternate member of the Upper San Pedro Partnership Advisory Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council authorized the Parks, Recreation, and Library Department to submit a grant application in the amount of $35,000 to the Arizona Game and Fish Department to develop an archery shooting range.

During the council meeting, Parks, Recreation, and Library Department Director Laura Wilson cited over 20 years of success in the City’s archery program, while noting its location on Brown Field as a limitation for its growth. She also noted the potential for increased sports tourism as a factor in pursuing the grant. Currently, there is no designated location for on-going archery training, additional classes, or to host local or regional tournaments.

Staff has identified the City-owned, undeveloped land north of the Domingo Paiz parking lot and east of the bike track as the future location of the range and have already met with a representative from the Arizona Game and Fish Department who visited the site.

To satisfy the grant’s 50% match requirement, staff will request $17,500 for the project during the FY25 budget process.

In other business, the City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) to collect the Transaction Privilege Taxes the City levies and remit them to the City. The City first entered into an agreement with ADOR in 1974. The IGA also includes other benefits and revenue-related support for the City.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to accept a $65,000 grant award from the Tohono O’odham Nation to assist with renovations already underway at the Henry F. Hauser Museum.

The funds are conveyed as part of the Nation’s 12% local revenue-sharing contribution and the grant requires no match. It will be used in addition to the generous donation received last year from the Sierra Vista Historical Society (SVHS) to improve infrastructure and capacity by updating lighting, replacing flooring, purchasing new display cabinets, painting, incorporating new technology, and demolishing walls to expand exhibition space. Also included in the Tohono O’odham grant is $25,000 earmarked for creating a children’s discovery room.

The Henry F. Hauser Museum is already in the beginning stages of renovations using funds from the $100,000 SVHS donation received in December of 2022. So far, three walls have been removed, expanding museum exhibition space by over 50%.

In other business:

• The City Council authorized changes to the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (SEALETA) Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Sierra Vista, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cochise County Community College District to reflect minor revisions required by Cochise College due to a change in campus location, housing, and training site locations.
• The City Council moved forward code amendments to the Sierra Vista Development Code that primarily concern warehouses and distribution centers. Interest has increased in warehousing space in the community, which is in short supply. The changes include allowing warehouse, storage, and distribution in General Commercial zones under certain provisions. The amendments are now open for public comment before they return to the City Council for final consideration. The public can view the amendments and submit comments through Jan. 18, 2024, by visiting Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov.
• The City Council moved forward adoption of the Sierra Vista Roadway Design Manual and associated development code amendments. This proposal is now open for public comment before returning to the City Council for final consideration. The public can view the amendments and submit comments through Jan. 18, 2024, by visiting Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov.
• The City Council voted to reappoint Barbara Fleming to the full-time employee vacancy and Neil Gago and Ronald York to the resident vacancies on the Employee Benefit Trust when their current terms expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
• The City Council accepted Barbara Fleming’s resignation from the Police and Fire Pension Board and appointed Assistant City Manager Victoria Yarbrough to serve out Fleming’s remaining term, which is set to expire Aug. 1, 2024.
• The City Council voted to reappoint Wesley Hewitt, Berlynda Schaaf, and John Moreno to the Parks and Recreation Commission when their current terms expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
• The City Council voted to appoint Bruno Talerico to the Environmental Stewardship Commission.
• The City Council voted to appoint Lexi Prickett to the Youth Commission.
• The City Council voted to reappoint Bradly Snyder when his term expires on Dec. 31, 2023, and to appoint Rachel Gray and Tait Wilcox to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• The City Council accepted the resignation of Stephen Peterson from, and appointed Kierra Wright to, the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council voted to appoint Keith Landry to the Transportation Commission.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved the final plat and improvement plans for the development of Buffalo Soldier Ranch subdivision.

The Buffalo Soldier Ranch plot is located to the southeast of the intersection of Buffalo Soldier Trail and State Route 92, directly east of the Holiday Retreat subdivision and north of Golden Acres Drive. It includes 349 lots for single-family detached homes. Originally, the developer submitted the final plat for review in March of 2007, but postponed due to unfavorable market conditions. The land has remained undeveloped since.

Last night, City Council approved revised plans from Canyon Vista Land, LLC, which is interested in purchasing and developing the property. Council passed three separate resolutions concerning the development: acceptance of the final plat, a five-phase development plan, and revised developer obligations consistent with the VISTA 2030 General Plan and applicable Development Code requirements. Once development begins, each phase is expected to take two years, with full build-out anticipated in 10 years.

In other business:

• The City Council approved rezoning the property located at 405 South Garden Avenue from a manufactured home residence to manufactured home residence/recreational vehicle park overlay district to facilitate redevelopment, revitalization, and the repositioning of a once largely abandoned mobile home park. The property currently contains 231 spaces, and redevelopment plans include a clubhouse, pool, playground, and dog park.
• The City Council approved four resolutions to accept pre-annexation agreements for properties in Fry Townsite. Pre-annexation agreements may be utilized by the City in future annexation attempts but carry no inherent financial impact in and of themselves.
• The City Council authorized the renewal of an existing intergovernmental agreement between the Sierra Vista Police Department and Phoenix Police Department/Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Lead Agency for future grant funding.
• The City Council voted to accept the resignation of Patrick Murphy and to appoint Joelle Buffa to the Sierra Vista Environmental Stewardship Commission.
• The City Council voted to appoint Ann Lund as a temporary, interim hearing officer, until such time as a formal search for a hearing officer takes place and a person is selected and subsequently approved by Council.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Nov. 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 page.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council authorized acceptance of grant funding in the amount of $29,254 for overtime costs associated and other employee-related expenses tied to DUI and aggressive driving enforcement.

The Sierra Vista Police Department has been a member of the Southeastern Arizona DUI Task Force for over 20 years. This task force operates DUI/Impaired driving enforcement deployments throughout the county, with most deployments occurring in the greater Sierra Vista area. While on these deployments, officers are committed to focus on DUI/Impaired and aggressive driving enforcement and are not subject to handling regular on-duty calls for service.

SVPD applied for and was awarded a grant through the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to enhance these operations throughout the City of Sierra Vista and surrounding area. The grant funds will reimburse the City for overtime in the amount of $20,900 and employee related expenses in the amount of $8,354.

In other business:

• The City Council authorized an Intergovernmental Agreement with Whetstone Fire District that allows the City of Sierra Vista to provide fueling services to them for the actual price per gallon paid by the City plus a 5-cent per gallon flowage fee. The initial term of the agreement is Sept. 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and may be renewable for successive one-year terms as of July 1 each year.
• The City Council approved the 2023 Title VI Nondiscrimination Plan for the City of Sierra Vista/Vista Transit. The Federal Transit Administration and Department of Transportation require that the City/Vista Transit update and reapprove this plan every three years.
• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Oct. 29 through Nov. 4 as Veterans Small Business Week.
• Mayor McCaa presented an Economic Development Commission Business Recognition Award to Doc’s Watering Hole as the Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year. To learn more about Doc’s Watering Hole and this award, see the story published on the City’s website www.SierraVistaAZ.gov, in the City’s email newsletter, and on the “City of Sierra Vista” Facebook page today.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Oct. 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 its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Cochise College to provide an expedited fire certification program for fire recruits hired by the City.

Recruits in the academy will be prepared to complete the state fire service exams, fire I and II certification, along with HazMat training within a two-month period. The recruits will go to school 40 hours per week to fulfill the requirements needed to take the final tests. This process normally takes one year.

Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services has eight cadets signed up for the expedited program. They will be ready to be in service by February of 2024. This program may be expanded in the future to include other area agencies.

In other business:

• The City Council approved the Program Year 2022 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report for the City’s Community Development Block Grant fund program.
• The City Council approved the adoption codification of ordinances passed between July 14, 2022, and August 10, 2023, in the City Code of Ordinances.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Sept. 28, 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.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved a development agreement for the construction of a new charter school within the Tribute Specific Plan area located east of Highway 92 and Buffalo Soldier Trail at its regular meeting on Thursday.

The development agreement between the City, Sierra Charter, LLC, and Castle & Cooke Arizona pertains to the construction of a public charter school, American Leadership Academy. The school’s construction requires an extension of Buffalo Soldier Trail east to connect with Ben Franklin Boulevard, a future street in the Tribute development.

The extension of Buffalo Soldier Trail is the City’s cost responsibility and the City’s budget includes up to $2 million for estimated construction expenses. If the cost exceeds $2 million, the agreement will return to the City Council for authorization of the additional amount. The first phase of the new school campus is scheduled to be completed by next summer in time for the start of the 2024 academic school year.

In other business:

· The City Council approved proceedings of the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista regarding the issuance of Education Facility Revenue and Refunding Bonds for the Liberty Traditional Project in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20 million.

· The City Council approved the donation of four surplus vehicles to Sierra Vista’s sister city Cananea, Mexico.

· The City Council approved the appointment of Douglas Phillips, Aaron Hennequin, and Rebecca Smith to the Tourism Commission, said terms to expire April 30, 2025.

· Mayor Clea McCaa issued a proclamation declaring October 2023, as Fire Prevention Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.

· McCaa issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 17 through Sept. 23, 2023, as Minority Enterprise Development Week in and for the City of Sierra Vista.

· McCaa presented the Economic Development Commission’s business recognition award for Minority Enterprise Development Week to Choson Martial Arts.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Sept. 14, 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.