Lifeguards presented with national awards at Council meeting

At the regular City Council meeting on Thursday, lifeguards Nathan Gluck, Briana Kellie, and Jocelyn Hite were presented with national awards on behalf of the American Red Cross.

On Sept. 25, 2025, a seven-year-old girl had a medical emergency in the water during swim practice. A team of lifeguards both on duty and off quickly came together along with a bystander to pull the victim out of the water and begin CPR, reviving her within 45 seconds and continuing to administer care until EMS professionals arrived.

In honor of their courageous actions in helping to save the girl’s life, Hite was awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professionals and Gluck and Kellie were awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Merit.

The Lifesaving Award for Professionals is given by the Red Cross to an individual, or team of individuals, who save or sustain a life outside of a medical setting as part of their employment or while on duty.

The Red Cross Certificate of Merit is the highest award given by the Red Cross and is presented to an individual or team who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Preparedness and Health and Safety Services course. Gluck and Kellie, who both received this training as part of their employment at The Cove, garnered this recognition because they were both off duty at the time of the incident but assisted anyway.

Mayor Clea McCaa and Sports and Aquatics Supervisor John Healy presented the awards to Kellie, Hite, and Gluck at Thursday’s City Council meeting. Gluck, who enlisted as a Combat Medic Specialist in the U.S. Army, participated virtually while his father and brothers accepted the award on his behalf.

In other business:

Mayor Clea McCaa proclaimed the week of Sept. as Minority-Owned Business Week in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
The Economic Development Commission presented a Business Recognition Award to Juan’s Barber Shop for earning Minority-Owned Business of the Year. More information can be found on the City’s website at www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.
Mayor McCaa presented the City’s Procurement Division with an Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award on behalf of the National Procurement Institute.
Mayor McCaa presented Chief Procurement Officer Helen Lee with the 2026 Procurement Manager of the Year Award on behalf of the Copper Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing.
Council approved Development Code amendments that allow small contractor yards as a principal use within the General Commercial and Light Industrial zoning districts.
Council approved Development Code amendments that consolidate interceptor standards into a single Design Manual to eliminate duplicate rules, streamline permitting, and simplify future engineering updates.
Council approved Development Code amendments that relocate water conservation codes to Residential, Plumbing, and Mechanical Codes to consolidate building-code related standards within a single regulatory framework.
Council approved Building Code updates that adopt building, mechanical, plumbing, energy, conservation, fire, fuel, gas, residential, existing building, swimming pool and accessibility, and fire codes regulating and governing the construction conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings, and structures in the City.
Council approved submission of the 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Caper describes the Community Development Block Grant funding projects, activities, and accomplishments over the last year.
Council approved a Series 10 Liquor License for B&S Oriental Market.
Council approved a change of agent for a multi-license acquisition of a Control Liquor License for Walgreens.
Council authorized the Industrial Development Authority to issue a charter school bond for the Casa Academy Project.