Council HQ

At Thursday's City Council Meeting, Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller recognized City Manager Chuck Potucek for recently receiving the John J. DeBolske Professional Excellence Award at the Arizona City/County Managers Association Winter Conference.

The top honor ACMA can bestow upon a member, the award recognizes city, county, and town managers who demonstrate the highest level of professional excellence in local government and who have made life contributions in serving the profession. Potucek has served Sierra Vista for 36 years, including 26 as city manager.

“They have finally figured out what we have known for years and years in the City of Sierra Vista, that we have the best city manager in the state,” Mayor Mueller said on Thursday.

Potucek said it is honor to be recognized by his peers in the state and to receive an award named in honor of Jack DeBolske, who served as executive director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for 40 years. DeBolske was the father of the Phoenix freeway system, Arizona’s state shared revenue system, and the state’s groundwater laws.

“I just want to thank the community that my wife Maureen and I have been able to call home over the last 36 years. It’s been a great community to live in, and work in, and raise our kids in,” Potucek said.

Potucek thanked the current mayor and council, in addition to their many predecessors for allowing him the privilege of serving the community for so long. He said anyone in a position like his cannot do it alone and he’s been fortunate to work with an extraordinary staff both past and present.

“I’ve had tremendous people to work with through the years … without them I wouldn’t be standing here tonight,” Potucek said.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Feb. 10, 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.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Sierra Vista City Council celebrated the early repayment of bond debt tied to many of the public facilities and amenities our community has been able to benefit from over the past two decades.

The bonds were originally issued in 2000 and 2008, before being refinanced together in 2017. They amounted to more than $38 million and paid for key projects including Fire Station 3 and the tower 3 fire engine, the Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center, Cyr Center Park, The Cove, the Pedro Castro Maintenance Center, a police station expansion, a parks maintenance building, and the Centennial Pavilion.

These projects provided needed public safety improvements and quality of life amenities. City Manager Chuck Potucek noted that by paying this debt off about a year and a half early the City positions itself well to address future needs.

“What that will do on behalf of the community is free up over a million dollars a year that’s been going toward that debt service,” Potucek said. “That will certainly help use with projects such as our parks plan, the payments we have to make toward the public safety retirement system, as well as our street maintenance. A lot of good is going to come out of this in the future and it’s nice to have more budget flexibility as a result.”

Holding a copy on the initial bond statement, Mayor Rick Mueller credited the City management team, as well as current and past city councils, for their prudent financial management that has put the City in a favorable position today.

“When you talk about this much money paid off early, it has a great impact on a City whose average budget for the last years has been just a little over 80 million,” Mueller said, shortly before tearing the ceremonial document to a round of applause.

“That’s a big deal. At one point we had $44 million of debt in the City and now we’re down to just a couple,” Mueller said. “And that’s over a period where we were going through a recession.”

Grant will help fund major park and sports facility improvements

The City Council accepted a $1.5 million grant for improvements at Veterans Memorial Park and the adjacent Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex. The grant was awarded by Arizona State Parks & Trails, with funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The grant will go toward improvements that will help conserve water, provide additional public park area, and reduce ongoing maintenance costs. The improvements include:

• Installing artificial turf at the sports complex football field
• Reconfiguring the sports complex soccer field and installing drainage improvements
• Updating the Veterans Memorial Park wellsite with a storage tank, booster station, and necessary electrical components
• Replacing the irrigation system at the sports complex

The total estimated project cost is $3,090,000, including a City match of $1.5 million and grant-required surcharge of $90,000 also paid for by the City.

In other business:

• The City Council approved an easement for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative to place electrical lines needed to power the new emergency medical services substation being constructed at the corner of Buffalo Soldier Trail and 7^th Street.
• The City Council approved amendments to Chapter 30 of the City Code of Ordinances, which governs the council. The amendments update the code language to reflect current technology and practices.
• The City Council approved the reappointment of John Moreno to the Parks and Recreation Commission, said term to expire Dec. 31, 2023.
• Mayor Rick Mueller proclaimed Jan. 17, 2022 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in and for the City of Sierra Vista.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Jan. 13, 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.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved the creation of a new, nonregulatory City commission focused on economic development at its regular meeting on Thursday.

The Economic Development Commission will work to maximize economic development opportunities through citizen engagement, partnerships, and public input. It will also review and support efforts to achieve City economic development goals outlined in its current economic development framework and specific initiatives identified within the City Council’s Strategic Plan.

The City Council discussed the establishment of such a commission in a series of work sessions this year, following a proposal made by City Council Member Gregory Johnson. The commission will operate within the guidelines of a nonregulatory department commission as identified by City policies and procedures adopted in June, 2020. Economic Development Manager Tony Boone will serve as the City staff liaison to the commission.

To learn more about City commissions and how to apply to serve on one, go to www.sierravistaaz.gov/your-government/commissions-boards-committees/commissions or email the City Clerk’s Office at Jill.Adams@SierraVistaAZ.gov.

At the start of Thursday’s meeting, Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller presented the United Way of Sierra Vista and Cochise County a Mayor’s Award for the critical role United Way played in distributing Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding during the COVID-19 crisis. United Way personnel worked closely with City staff, local charities, and persons in need, ensuring more than $75,000 in federal funds were spent as intended and were available promptly for persons in need during this critical time. The Mayor’s Award is the highest honor that can be given by the City to any local organization.

In other business:

• The City Council approved acceptance of a $150,000 grant from the Arizona State Parks Non-motorized Grant Program to construct a stabilized ADA loop trail at Garden Canyon Linear Park off St. Andrews Drive. It will also fund the construction of five small ramada pads, one large group ramada pad, and a concrete pad for a future wildlife education area as part of ongoing planned improvements to the park. The City will contribute an in-kind match of $18,780.94.
• The City Council approved a Public Transportation (Transit) Agency Safety Plan for Vista Transit in accordance with federal requirements.
• The City Council approved the appointment of Leslie Thomas and the re-appointments of Brad Snyder and Daniel Coxworth to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• The City Council approved acceptance of public improvements of the Holiday at PDS, Phase 5A subdivision plat.
• The City Council approved the re-appointment of Debbie Perkinson to the Employee Benefit Trust.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved the expansion of the West Sierra Vista Redevelopment Area boundaries by 162 parcels, totaling about 111 acres west of N. 5^th Street, as part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the West End through both public and private investment at its regular meeting on Thursday.

When the redevelopment area was established in 2017 it encompassed about 23 acres. It enabled the City to provide matching grant dollars to tenants and property owners in the area to improve their properties. With more property owners becoming interested as they saw improvements moving forward, the area was expanded by 29 acres in 2019.

Prior to Thursday’s vote, a Finding of Necessity Study was conducted and found that the predominance of the properties in the proposed expansion area met the criteria needed to expand the redevelopment area. That study was funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Grant administered by Cochise County.

The findings of the study and the City’s redevelopment objectives were presented at a public meeting on Oct. 27, which was well attended by property owners in the proposed expansion area. All property owners in the area were notified of the meeting via a mailed advertisement three weeks prior. The City also received several letters of support from property owners seeking to be included in the area.

The expanded redevelopment area will enable the City to continue making public, private partnerships as part of multi-faceted efforts to revitalize the West End, which include improvements to Fry Boulevard that will make it function like a main street.

“The West End not only has historic significance but also greatly contributes to our civic identity as a gateway district to our community. It’s our downtown and we’re soon going to have walkable main street that’s accessible to everyone,” Community Development Director Matt McLachlan said Thursday. “Public, private partnerships are a proven effective tool and approach to community and economic development, and your approval today will help us expand our reach to form new partnerships on the West End.”

Following the expansion of the redevelopment area’s boundaries approved on Thursday, staff will next work on necessary amendments to the West Sierra Vista Redevelopment Area Plan to address the expansion area. The proposed amendments will be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which will review it to ensure conformity with the City’s General Plan, Vista 2030. Then the amendments will move forward for the City Council’s consideration.

In other business:

• The City Council approved the issuance of charter school refunding and revenue bonds and education facility revenue bonds by the Industrial Development Authority for two different projects. This action has no impact on the City’s budget because the IDA is a separate entity, however the City Council’s approval is required to finalize the issuance of bonds by the IDA. Neither the City nor IDA has any fiscal liability associate with the issuance or repayment of the bonds.
• The City Council approved amendments to the City of Sierra Vista City Council Practice and Procedure Guidelines.
• The City Council approved amendments to Chapter 30 of City code and declared a 30-day public record.
• The City Council approved a General Plan Amendments to convert the land use designation of Cyr Center Park from Industrial to Public.
• The City Council approved rezoning of the five parcels that comprise Cyr Center Park to Open Space.
• The City Council approved acceptance of sewer easements for Veritas Christian Community School.
• The City Council approved dedicating public right-of-way at Seventh Street and Buffalo Soldier Trail.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Nov. 18, 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 on this page.

The City will use about $5.796 million of budget surplus to pay off debt in its development fee funds and bolster its General Fund reserve following City Council approval at a regular meeting on Thursday.

As a practice, the City makes conservative projections when forecasting revenues. Heading into the fiscal year that began July 1, 2020, there was additional uncertainty regarding how COVID-19 could impact local sales tax revenues. When the actual sales tax figures came in, they showed double digit percentage growth that surpassed anything City of Sierra Vista Chief Financial Officer David Felix has seen before in his 26 years with the City. A legislative change to enable local governments to collect sales revenue from online sales contributed only a small portion to the growth.

“This is more than just internet sales … This is the best I have ever seen in the history of the City since I’ve been here,” Felix told the City Council on Thursday. In addition, the City did not need to use any of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding in FY 2020 and was able to carry it all forward to cover public safety salaries in FY 2021, the fiscal year that began July 1, 2020.

The City Council approved staff’s recommendation to use the excess revenues over expenditures in the General Fund to pay off debt in its development fee funds including $3.1 million transferred to the parks development fee fund, $775,000 to the police development fee fund, and $1.2 million to the fire and medical development fee fund. The remainder of about $720,000 will be added to the General Fund reserve, bringing the total in reserve to about $6.7 million, which meets the City’s fiscal goal of having two months of operating expenses in reserve.

City Manager Chuck Potucek said this enables the City to change how it uses development fees in the future and use them to proceed more vigorously with the recently adopted Citywide Parks Master Plan. It also helps with debt service and allows the City more flexibility to allocate future funds to needs like projects, street maintenance, and public safety retirement contributions.

“This proposal gives you much more flexibility going forward to accomplish those things, as well as weather any economic storms that may hit us over the next decade,” Potucek told the City Council.

Development fees, also known as impact fees, are one-time fees on new residential and commercial development that cover the costs associated with additional public facilities and services that will be needed for the new construction like public safety, roads, and parks. The City’s current development fees were designed to bring the funds whole over a period of about 10 years.

The transfers approved Thursday, nearly bring the funds whole on their own, but don’t completely pay off the balance because development fees were calculated against the deficit and must be collected until new fees are assessed and adopted. As a result, staff recommends an update to the impact fee study be conducted as part of the development of next fiscal year’s budget.

In other business:

• The City Council approved updates to the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulation after first approving an amendment to the updates so that the Sierra Vista Employee Council will be comprised of one individual from each City department.
• The City Council approved a pre-annexation agreement with Mr. Fix it Properties LLC DBC Properties Plus for its property located at 117 N. 5^th Street.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Oct. 28, 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 on this page.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved the issuance of economic development revenue bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista at its meeting on Thursday.

The proceeds of the bonds will be loaned to the Georgetown Community Development Authority, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, for the purpose of financing and refinancing the acquisition and improvement of community facilities. While these facilities are in Seattle, Washington, the fee paid to the Sierra Vista IDA will be used by the IDA to spur economic development efforts here in Sierra Vista.

This action has no impact on the City’s budget because the IDA is a separate entity, however the City Council’s approval is required to finalize the issuance of bonds by the IDA. The IDA intends to use the funds that it will receive from the borrower to help incentivize companies to locate in Sierra Vista, with an emphasis on job creation. Neither the City nor the IDA has any fiscal liability associated with the issuance or repayment of the bonds.

In other business:

• Mayor Rick Mueller recognized the City’s Marketing & Communication Division for winning a national 2021 Silver Circle Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for its 2018-19 Save the Santas campaign during the association’s annual conference in September. Sierra Vista took second place in the Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars spent category among communities with a population of 50,000 or fewer. The judges’ remarked “This is a great community story that reflects what can be accomplished when people come together for a common goal.”
• The City Council approved reappointment of Wesley Hewitt and Berlynda Schaaf to the Parks and Recreation Commission, with terms set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
• The City Council approved the acceptance of grant funding from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to enhance DUI and aggressive driving enforcement throughout Sierra Vista and the surrounding areas conducted by the Sierra Vista Police Department. The grant funds will reimburse the City for overtime in the amount of $21,549 and other employee related expenses in the amount of $8,452. In addition, the grant funds will reimburse the City for the purchase of four portable breath testers in the amount of $2,400. The total grant amount is $32,400.
• The City Council approved the designation of the City Attorney as the individual authorized to sign settlement documents associated with the Arizona Opioid Settlement. This allows the City to receive its proportionate share of settlement proceeds.
• The City Council approved acceptance of public improvements associated with the Summit Heights and Canada Vista subdivisions.
• Mayor Rick Mueller issued a proclamation declaring October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Sierra Vista.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Oct. 14, 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 on this page.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council approved amendments to the City’s development code that provide additional flexibility and clarity.

The proposed text amendments were unanimously recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and received no comments during a 30-day public comment period. The amendments revise the definitions of “finished grade” and “building height” to be less restrictive than the previous standard and provide more flexibility. This is consistent with City Council Strategic Plan objectives, which have sought to reduce unnecessary code provisions and make the City more collaborative and efficient.

The amendments also exempt essential communication facilities for emergency, police, and medical service dispatch located on public property from the requirements of the Communication Facilities Section of the development code. This will expedite the review and construction of emergency communication facilities.

In other business, the City Council approved the City’s Program Year 2020 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), which outlines activities performed using the City’s allocation of Community Development Grant Dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Sept. 23, 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 on this page.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, the Sierra Vista City Council authorized City Manager Chuck Potucek to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of the City in support of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plan.

Several years in the making, the MOU is an agreement between the BLM, Cochise County, Fort Huachuca, and the City, which reaffirms the partners’ commitment to water and ecological conservation of the San Pedro River and the Sierra Vista subwatershed area.

The MOU also provides a plan to ensure the achievement of mutual goals, including: a healthy San Pedro River and ecologically viable San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA); adequate long-term water supplies for residents, property owners, and the SPRNCA; more opportunities for continued economic growth and development within Cochise County; and an operationally secure Fort Huachuca that can accomplish national defense missions, have a safe and adequate water supply, and comply with all obligations under the Endangered Species Act.

In other business:

• The City Council approved an increase in City sewer connection fees. The fee increase will affect new construction and will not impact current commercial and residential properties.
• The City Council approved an application for a liquor license for Urban Axe Yard, a new business venture. With Council’s approval, the license is forwarded to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control for final approval.
• The City Council approved a resolution to permit reimbursement to itself for capital expenditures if they occur before related financing is in place, as required by the Federal Treasury. The requirement covers vehicles, equipment, and land purchases noted in the FY2021-2022 City budget, Schedule C. The budget can be viewed on the City’s website, SierraVistaAZ.gov, under the City Departments menu (select Finance).
• The City Council designated the City as the official Destination Marketing Organization for Sierra Vista. Although the City has been performing promotional duties for three decades, the official action enables the City to continue to apply for state and federal dollars to aid tourism marketing efforts.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Sept. 9, 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 live on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at SierraVistaAZ.gov/your-government/mayor-council/council-meetings/ or on this page.

The Sierra Vista City Council adopted a comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan at its regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 12.

The plan was informed by extensive public input provided by a community survey on Citywide park amenities and proposed options for Veterans Memorial Park and adjacent sports facilities acquired by the City from the Sierra Vista Unified School District. The plan was also based on a needs assessment conducted by staff and was identified as an objective in the City Council’s Fiscal Year 2020-21 Strategic Leadership Plan.

The plan outlines proposed upgrades to existing parks and sports facilities, maintenance needs, and new park development. It is intended to both improve quality of life for local residents and continue positioning Sierra Vista as a destination for sports tournaments to bolster economic development and tourism efforts.

Projects outlined in the plan will be accomplished as funding opportunities can be secured. City staff will continue to pursue grants to help carry out the plan in the coming years.

In other business:

• The City Council moved a series of code amendments to the City’s Development Code forward for a 30-day public comment period. The proposed text amendments will provide flexibility and clarify existing code language, which is consistent with City Council initiatives intended to make processes easy for residents and business owners. The amendments pertain to communications facilities, architecture and design review applicability, and definitions for building height and finished grade. To review the proposed amendments and submit comments, go to www.SierraVistaAZ.gov and click the link to the “Public Comment Item” webpage.
• The City Council adopted amendments to Chapter 33 of the City Code. This chapter defines details about City departments including the role of each director or chief, divisions of each department, and duties. The amendments reflect changes to departmental names and reorganizations.
• The City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Property Tax Levy at a rate of $0.1108 per $100 of assessed value, generating an estimated $377,145.
• The City Council approved acceptance of a $32,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for American Rescue Plan Act funding. The funds are intended to address operational impacts from COVID-19 and will be used at the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Aug. 12, 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 view the videos on this page.

The Sierra Vista City Council adopted the Final Budget for fiscal year 2021-22 at a special meeting on Monday, July 26.

The final budget of $115,711,558 remains unchanged from the Tentative Budget that was approved on June 24. The budget, which is for the fiscal year that started July 1, is about 32 percent higher than the previous budget due to numerous 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 and Garden Avenue, construction of a new Emergency Medical Services Substation, airport improvements, a purchase of property from the Sierra Vista Unified School District for a future park, and potential grant-funded improvements at the Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex.

The final budget book will be developed and made available online, at City Hall, and at the library by early October. To hear a detailed breakdown of the budget, listen to the June 25 episode of the City’s 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/.

The City Council also held a public hearing to set the annual property tax levy, which is scheduled for a vote on Aug. 12. The proposed tax rate equals $0.1108 per $100 of assess valuation and the overall property tax revenue estimate at that rate is $377,145. This revenue is slightly higher than the previous year due to new construction.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Monday, July 26, 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.