Council accepts Tohono O'odham grant for museum renovation

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.