Council HQ

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to dedicate the central event space at Veterans Memorial Park as the Frederick W. “Rick” Mueller, II Parade Field, honoring the former Sierra Vista mayor who passed away on May 29, 2024.

The resolution to dedicate the space to Mueller was brought forward by Parks, Recreation, & Library Director Laura Wilson on behalf of City Manager Chuck Potucek. It was first presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission, which, along with City staff, recommended approval.

“Naming the central area of Veterans Memorial Park as the Frederick W. “Rick” Mueller, II Parade Field would be a fitting tribute to Rick’s lifetime of service and his tireless dedication to Sierra Vista,” Wilson said. “It would honor not only his military service but also his unparalleled commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all who live in and visit our community.”

The space will be dedicated to Mueller during the Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday, Nov. 11.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Oct. 27 through Nov. 2, 2024, as Veterans Small Business Week in Sierra Vista.

• The Economic Development Commission honored Urban Axe Yard with a Business Recognition Award. Urban Axe Yard owners Cary Brown and Vish Hirani, accompanied by family, friends, and employees, accepted the award for 2024 Veteran-Owned Business of Year. Learn more of Brown and Hirani’s story on the “City of Sierra Vista” Facebook page and at www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

• Council voted to dedicate the dog parks at Thompkins Park to Canine Bones, who worked alongside Sgt. Allyn from 2016 to 2021 and whose contributions greatly enhanced public safety and community wellbeing.

• Council voted to approve an intergovernmental agreement between Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services and Cochise College to provide training, training facilities, and vehicular rotations for college firefighter and driver/operator students.

• Council voted to accept Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant funding in the amount of $88,099 to support DUI and aggressive driving details and equipment. The grant funds overtime costs in the amount of $54,643, Employee Related Expenses in the amount of $21,857, the purchase of new preliminary breath test devises in the amount of $2,199, and the purchase of a new Intoxilyzer 9000 device in the amount of $2,199.

• Council voted to approve a settlement in the matter of the City of Sierra Vista vs. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America in the amount of $135,000 to cover losses incurred by check fraud perpetrated against the City last December.

• Council voted to approve amendments to the City Code to clean up outdated provisions in Chapter 31 related to the office of the City Manager.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to approve preliminary plat for the development of Estates II at Holiday subdivision.

Castle & Cooke, in conjunction with Walston Homes, is proposing to construct 10 detached single-family homes in Estates II, located northwest of the intersection of Canyon de Flores and Great Basin Lane. The subdivision will encompass 4.5 acres and be developed in one phase.

This preliminary approval begins the process as development plans move forward to bring a final plat before Council. After approval of a final plat, construction can begin.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Oct. 13-19 as Women in Business Week.
• The Economic Development Commission honored Seasun Creations with a Business Recognition Award. Seasun Creations owner Marisol Tabler, accompanied by family and friends, accepted the award for 2024 Women-Owned Business of the Year. Learn more of Tabler’s story on the “City of Sierra Vista” Facebook page and at www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.
• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month.
• Chief Procurement Officer Kennie Downing accepted the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award on behalf of the City’s Procurement Department.
• City Council voted to accept the submission of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Program Year 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER).
• City Council voted to rescind Resolution 2024-029, donation of two surplus vehicles to Sister City Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. At this time, Cananea is unable to accept these donations and requested the City to rescind it. The 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 truck and 2005 Ford F250 truck will be auctioned off by the City instead.
• City Council approved an amendment to the Personnel Rules and Regulations to add paid paternal leave.
• City Council voted to appoint Daniel D. Haws, II as counsel for water representation.
• City Council voted to abandon a sewer easement and accept a sewer, drainage, and public utility easement on lots 8-11 of the Crossroads Commerce Center subdivision.
• City Council approved an owner transfer of a Series 6 Liquor License for Sara Jill Adams on behalf of Sierra Vista Golf Center at Pueblo del Sol.
• City Council approved a limited liability-type of ownership for a Series 12 Liquor License for Kevin Arnold Kramber on behalf of Guadalajara’s Sierra Vista located at 99 S. Highway 92.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to accept a Tohono O’odham Nation grant to fund new air bag lifting equipment.

The City of Sierra Vista was recently chosen as a recipient of a Tohono O’odham Nation 12% Distribution Grant in the amount of $36,000 to fund the new emergency equipment.

These life-saving lifts are primarily used for vehicle stabilization, building collapse, or heavy rescue (when someone is pinned beneath a vehicle).

Although Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services already has two air bag lifting systems, they have reached the end of their recommended lifespan and may not be deployable due to rubber degradation. The new equipment will ensure SVF&MS has these important tools in case they are needed in future emergencies.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Sept.16 through 22, 2024, as Minority Enterprise Development Week.
• The Economic Development Commission honored Sakura with a Business Recognition Award. Sakura owner Ruby Tran, accompanied by family and friends, accepted the award for 2024 Minority-Owned Business of the Year. Learn more of Tran’s story on the “City of Sierra Vista” Facebook page and at www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.
• City Council voted to amend the City’s Development Code to expand the hours of operation for recreational marijuana facilities from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• City Council voted to allow the City Attorney to pursue legal action against Charles Long to collect a debt owed to the City.
• City Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority to issue a bond in the amount of $3,500,000 to Liberty Traditional Private School.
• City Council appointed Iris Allison and Lana Tompkins-Stutzman to the Commission on Disability Issues.
• City Council accepted the resignation of Alvira (Vera) Gates-Williams with regret and appointed Presence Massie, Roger Hunter, and Angela Givens to the Sierra Vista Neighborhoods Commission.
• City Council appointed Gregory Loughran to the Sierra Vista Transportation Commission.
• City Council accepted the resignation of Ryley Absalon with regret from the Youth Commission.

At its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 8, the Sierra Vista City Council moved forward development code amendments for public comment that would expand the hours of operation for recreational marijuana facilities.

The amendments were requested by Trulieve, a recreational marijuana dispensary in Sierra Vista. The change would expand the hours of operation from no earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m. to no earlier than 8 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m.

To review the proposed amendments and make comments, go to Engage.SierraVistaAZ.gov. Please submit comments by Monday, Sept. 9.

In other business:

• The City Council adopted the primary tax levy rate of $0.1033 per $100 of assessed value, generating an estimated $387,167 this fiscal year. This is a slight increase from the $382,261 collected in the prior fiscal year due to new construction. The rate was decreased so the amount paid by citizens is the same as the prior year.
• The City Council approved acceptance of a $120,000 grant from the Arizona State Parks, Heritage Fund, Non-Motorized Grant Program for the construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act accessible public restroom at Garden Canyon Linear Park off of St. Andres Drive. The City will provide an in-kind match of $30,000.
• The City Council approved amendments to the City’s tax code in accordance with the state’s Model City Tax Code.
• The City Council approved acceptance of the resignation of Bruce Phillips and appointment of Karen LeMay to the Sierra Vista Environmental Stewardship Commission, said term to expire April 30, 2026.
• The City Council approved designation of David Felix as the Chief Financial Officer authorized to submit the Annual Expenditure Limit Reports for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and Fiscal Year 2024-2025.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Aug. 8, 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, July 25, the Sierra Vista City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Final Budget.

The final budget amount of $172,359,341 remains unchanged from the tentative budget approved on June 27, 2024. The final budget book will be developed and made available in early October. The public will be able to access the budget book on the City’s website, at the Sierra Vista Public Library, and at City Hall. The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The City Council also held a public hearing on the adoption of the proposed property tax levy rate at $0.1033 per $100 of assessed valuation, which would generate an estimated $387,068 in FY24. The tax levy rate was decreased slightly due to an increase in valuation of taxable property, so the amount paid by citizens remains the same. The total revenue is slightly higher than the $382,261 collected last year due to new construction.

The City Council will take final action to adopt the property tax levy at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 5 p.m.

In other business:

• Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the month of August 2024 as Hummingbird Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• Heinfeld Meech and Company, P.C. presented the Fiscal Year 2023 audit as required by Arizona law.
• City Chief Financial Officer David Felix presented the City’s compliance with ARS 9-481 and ARS 41-1494.
• City Council reappointed Gary Smith and Victoria Yarbrough to the Fire and Police Pension Board.
• City Council accepted the resignations of Sophia Rosa and Lexi Prickett from the Youth Commission and appointed Ian Burnett and Anna Burnett.
• City Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority to issue Educational Facility Revenue Bonds to benefit the American Leadership Academy. As usual, the City incurs no financial responsibility or risk with these bonds.
• City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Cochise County for funding a consultant to promote retention and expansion of missions on Fort Huachuca.
• City Council approved the release of the payment plan with Castle & Cooke, contingent on the transfer of the Pueblo del Sol golf course property.
• City Council approved updates to the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations, including adding a definition of a domestic partner; changing the falsification of an employment application disqualification time from indefinite to two years from the date of the application; adding a definition for mandatory holdover and defining its compensation; changing vacation usage eligibility from six months to 30 days; adding domestic partner as an eligible family member for the purpose of bereavement leave; and modifying the amount of paid bereavement leave from 24 hours to 40 hours and from 60 to 48 for Fire personnel.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, July 25, 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 the Vista 2040 General Plan.

The plan provides an over-arching guide for future development over the next 10 years and informs the City Council’s strategic planning efforts. It contains five themes: community growth and development; economic vitality; connectivity; public facilities and services; and environmental sustainability.

Before finalizing the plan, the City sought feedback from City commissions and offered two cycles of public feedback that included both in person and online opportunities to review the plan and comment on it. That feedback helped to shape the final draft, which will come before Sierra Vista voters in the November 5, General Election. The plan will be available for review online at www.SierraVistaAZ.gov/Vista2040 and physical copies will be available for review at City Hall and the Sierra Vista Public Library.

In other business:

• Mayor McCaa proclaimed the week of June 23 through June 29 Boys and Girls Club Week in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• City Council approved the FY2024/2025 Tentative Budget. The tentative budget adoption effectively caps the upcoming fiscal year at $172,359,341. This means changes may be made within that spending limit prior to adoption of the final budget, but the total amount cannot be increased.
• City Council designated David Felix as the CFO authorized to submit the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report with the State.
• City Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to issue its Charter School Revenue and Refunding Bonds to LEAD Charter Schools.
• City Council authorized the IDA to issue its Charter School Revenue and Refunding Bonds to Leading Edge Academy Maricopa Charter School Project. The City and IDA have no financial burden for these bonds.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to renew an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for a continuing partnership between the City of Sierra Vista, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cochise County Community College District to operate the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (SEALETA).

The purpose of the agreement has been to enhance law enforcement services by offering a local, cost effective, law enforcement training academy. So far, the agreement has proven to be successful.

“This particular academy is producing the highest caliber recruits we’ve seen,” Sierra Vista Police Chief Chris Hiser says.

Within the IGA, the Sierra Vista Police Department agrees to provide a recruit training officer at the academy and to allow SEALETA to utilize the SVPD defensive tactics room for training when needed. In return, Cochise College agrees to reimburse the City up to $11,800 for overtime pay for the officer assigned to the academy.

In other business:

• Mayor McCaa honored the winners of the Council Chamber photography contest. The winning photographers have their work featured in a display that was part of an update to the City Council Chambers. The winners received a certificate of appreciation and honorarium for their work.
• Mayor McCaa and Chief Hiser honored the Sierra Vista Police Department Annual Awards winners.
• Council voted to adopt the Surface Water Master Plan (SWMP) and associated code amendments. The SWMP guides the planning, construction, location, and function of surface water conveyance systems and erosion control measures within the City.
• Council authorized submission of the City’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, and the 2024 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for review and approval.
• Council approved an addendum to the City Attorney’s contract to allow the annual base salary to correlate with salary increases received by other City employees on an annual basis.
• Council adopted updates to the City’s policies and procedures for naming and renaming public facilities and areas. These changes reflect updated commission and departmental names, remove redundancies, and ensure that the policy is clear and easy to understand.
• Council approved a loaned employee agreement between Cochise County and Southeastern Arizona Communications (SEACOM) to retain the services of SEACOM Executive Director Tammy-Jo Wilkins.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council voted to terminate development agreements between the City and Lawley Holdings, LLC, and Sanctuary Revocable Living Trust.

Prior to last night’s Council meeting, Sean Lawley requested that the City terminate four separate development agreements pertaining to seven different tax parcels–owned by Lawley Holdings and Sanctuary Revocable Living Trust–on the grounds that they were placing an unnecessary encumbrance on the potential sale of those properties. The City’s Community Development Department reviewed the development agreements and determined that the conditions had been met or were no longer applicable to future development.

The City terminated a similar agreement for the Mall at Sierra Vista in 2020 and has now instituted sunset provisions on new development agreements that include benchmarks for termination of the agreements. This will eliminate the need to bring these agreements back before Council.

The Council’s decision will remove unnecessary obstacles for Lawley Holdings and Sanctuary Revocable Living Trust as they move forward on the sale of the properties and transference of their titles.

In other business:

• Council approved the abandonment of a portion of Charleston Road right of way and reserved a sewer easement on the property. The property, located along the south side of Charleston Road between the roadway and the Cochise Crossroads shopping center, exceeds the 100-foot-wide right-of-way width requirements and serves no public benefit. The abandonment will transfer ownership of the property to Cochise Crossroads, where it can be used for future development.
• Council approved a Conditional Use Permit to authorize New Hope Fellowship Church to construct a 1,200 square-foot expansion to the auditorium on their property. The church falls within a Single-Family Residence-36 zone, which classifies places of worship as a conditional use that requires City Council approval.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved an agreement to accept Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) exchange funding for a pavement replacement project on Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway.

In the approved resolution, Council authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation to accept $405,000 in HURF exchange funds for pavement replacement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway between the bypass and Avenida Escuela. The pavement in this area is at the end of its lifecycle and needs reconstruction due to the high volume of heavy truck traffic that services retail development there.

The HURF exchange funding stems from federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) funds that are appropriated to state highway funds. The state can then allocate the funds to areas having a population of 200,000 or less.

No matching funds from the City are required.

In other business:

• The City Council approved the donation of two surplus vehicles–a 2000 Chevy Silverado truck and 2005 Ford F250 truck–to Sierra Vista’s sister city Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.
• The City Council approved an Intergovernmental Support Agreement with Fort Huachuca for the City to perform needed repairs and maintenance to washing machines and dryers on Fort Huachuca. In return, Fort Huachuca has agreed to a cost that covers hiring two additional Public Works Facilities Tech I employees and one additional work truck, with a second work truck purchased in the sixth year. Fort Huachuca will also reimburse the City for the costs of parts purchased to maintain the machines. The agreement is for one year, but is renewable annually for the next 10 years.
• The City Council approved the renewal of Turf Paradise’s Off-Track Wagering Permit at PC’s Lounge.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, May 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 in the “Council HQ” page at engage.sierravistaaz.gov.