Review: June 25 City Council Meeting

The Sierra Vista City Council adopted the Tentative Budget for FY 21-22 at its meeting Thursday, which caps the City’s budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Adjustments within the total budget amount of about $115,711,558 can still be made until the City Council votes on final budget adoption at its meeting on July 22 but the budget amount cannot be increased. The Tentative Budget Book and recent updates made prior to Thursday’s vote can be viewed online at the City’s website www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

The FY 21-22 budget proposal is about 32 percent higher than the previous budget due to a large amount of one-time expenses and grant applications, not operational changes that would incur ongoing costs. In order to accept and use grant funding, the City needs to include the potential grant amounts in its budget.

Significant projects in the Tentative Budget include improvements to West Fry Boulevard, construction of a new Emergency Medical Services Substation, airport improvements, a potential purchase of property from the Sierra Vista Unified School District for a future park, and improvements at the Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex. The sports complex improvements are contingent on a pending grant application.

For a detailed breakdown of the budget, listen to the latest episode of the City’s official podcast Let’s Talk Sierra Vista. It’s available on popular podcasting apps and on the City’s website at https://www.sierravistaaz.gov/city-departments/public-affairs/lets-talk/.

In other business:

• The City Council adopted a development code text amendment establishing a Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay District as an option for owners of manufactured home parks on properties of no less than 10 acres.
• The City Council approved a declaration of intent to increase sewer connection fees to fund future plant expansion at the Environmental Operations Park when new construction reaches the point where more capacity is needed. A public hearing on the proposed increase is set for Aug. 26.
• The City Council moved forward amendments to Chapter 33 of the City Code for a 30-day public comment period. This chapter defines details about City departments including the role of each director or chief, divisions of each department, and duties. The proposed amendments reflect changes to departmental names and reorganizations.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, June 24, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the “City Council” folder on the City’s document server at docserve.sierravistaaz.gov/.

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/your-government/mayor-council/council-meetings/ or in the “Council HQ” page at engage.sierravistaaz.gov.