Council HQ

The Sierra Vista City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement between the City, Cochise College, and Cochise County Sheriff’s Office to continue partnering on the operation of the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy at its regular meeting on Thursday.

Under the agreement, one SVPD officer may serve as a recruit training officer, while Cochise College agrees to reimburse the City for up to $11,800 in overtime for the officer while assigned to the academy. The college hosts the academy at its Douglas campus and SVPD allows the academy to use its defensive tactics room for training when needed.

Several council members voiced support for the academy based on its success in lowering the cost for local agencies to train recruits and because the recruits receive instruction from personnel working for local agencies. To date, 17 SVPD recruits have graduated from the academy, which began instruction in January 2019.

In other business:

• The City Council approved an amendment to the contract of the City Attorney’s annual base salary to correlate with the current market salary of the Cochise County Deputy Attorney.
• The City Council approved an update to the City Council Practice and Procedure Guidelines. The primary change was the addition of a contract review during the annual litigation update.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, June 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 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 an intergovernmental agreement with the Palominas Elementary School District to provide the district fleet maintenance and repair services at Thursday’s regular council meeting.

The school district reached out to the City to request the services and the City has capacity to meet the district’s vehicle maintenance needs. Agreements like this one help both the City and its local government partners maximize the benefits and minimize the costs associated with fleet maintenance.

In other business:

• Mayor Rick Mueller proclaimed the month of May as Nurse’s Month in and for the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council received a presentation on the City’s annual audit in accordance with a new state law.
• The City Council approved the codification of code ordinances and declared a 30-day public record before final adoption. This codification is an administrative process to adopt recent code amendments as a permanent record of the City.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, May 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 on this page.

The Sierra Vista City Council authorized staff to proceed with the issuance of up to $25 million in Municipal Facility Revenue Bonds to fund the second phase of an energy initiative with Schneider Electric at its meeting on Thursday.

The project will result in significant energy and operational savings, which will help recoup its cost over time. It tackles major City needs and numerous strategic objectives set by the City Council without requiring any additional tax burden on local citizens as the debt service will be repaid by a portion of the City’s sales tax collection reserved for capital improvements. The exact terms of the bonds will depend on the interest rates the City receives, but they may not exceed a 5 percent interest rate or a 20-year maturity, with a preference for 15 years.

The project will kickstart implementation of the Citywide Parks Master Plan and initiate redevelopment of the Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex to include replacing the old Apache Middle School football field and track. The new field and track will be a modernized facility with artificial turf and efficient LED lights suitable for both soccer and football. It will also feature bleachers with a capacity for 2,500 people.

Other sports-related improvements include the installation of two new lighted basketball courts, lights at the tennis courts and future sand volleyball courts, plus the inversion and improvement of the softball field. ADA accessible pathways between parking and facilities will also be constructed.

This initiative will advance Sierra Vista’s commitment to responsible energy and water use with the installation of a smart irrigation system Citywide, significant renovations at The Cove, solar covered parking spaces, numerous facility renovations and building envelope upgrades, the installation of LED lighting at multiple facilities, the addition of EV charging stations in public parking lots, and more.

The project is estimated to generate more than $37 million in savings and $101 million in economic impact over its 25-year lifecycle. It advances numerous strategic priorities set by the City Council, to include a goal to generate an additional $3 million in sports tourism over the next two years. It will also save more than six million gallons of water each year.

The project is also funded in part by a Land Water Conservation Fund grant of $1.5 million, which will assist with improvements at the Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex.

“We have seen tremendous results from our first phase of this initiative, with improvements generating significant savings and economic impact,” Assistant City Manager Victoria Yarbrough says. “Field and sports facility upgrades have enabled us to assist local sports organizations with attracting numerous tournaments that have brought in new dollars and new visitors to our community.”

The phase I energy initiative with Schneider Electric resulted in five artificial turf soccer fields at Cyr Center Park and the Domingo Paiz Sports Complex, while upgrading sports field lighting at 17 fields and courts, among numerous improvements. It facilitated the attraction of 18 tournaments in 2019-21, bringing in about 11,490 visitors with an economic impact of about $3.3 million to the community.

For more information about phase II of the energy initiative with Schneider Electric, access the presentation made to council in the April 12 City Council work session folder on the City’s document server at docserve.sierravistaaz.gov/.

In other business on Thursday, the City Council approved:

• An intergovernmental agreement with Cochise County for election supplies and services associated with conducting the City Council election during the General Election on Nov. 8, 2022. The City has budgeted $25,000 to cover costs associated with the election.
• Acceptance of a $523,623 grant from the Arizona Department of Administration, Office of Grants and Federal Resources, Arizona 9-1-1 Program for Southeastern Arizona Communications (SEACOM). The grant will reimburse the City for costs associated with regional 9-1-1 services provided by SEACOM.
• A pre-annexation agreement with the Cochise College Foundation for a residential property it owns located at the northwest corner of East Theater Drive and North 6^th Street.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, April 28, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the “City Council” folder on the City’s document server at docserve.sierravistaaz.gov/.

The Sierra Vista City Council accepted a $100,000 grant for a new multi-use path and related improvements at Cyr Center Park at its meeting on Thursday.

The grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and is provided by the Arizona State Parks Non-Motorized Grant Program. The City will contribute an in-kind cash match of $3,250.

The grant will fund the construction of an ADA compliant path, related drainage improvements, two ADA ramps, and signage along the pathway. The new path will connect the existing pathway around Cyr Center Park with another existing path just south of Kayetan Drive. It will also provide pedestrian access from the new public parking lot being constructed at the park.

In other business, the City Council approved the issuance of economic development revenue bonds by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista. 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. The Council approved IDA bonds for the same purpose in October 2021 and these new bonds were issued based on an opportunity to expand the efforts of the Georgetown Community Development Authority.

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 City has no fiscal liability associated with the issuance or repayment of the bonds.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, April 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 acceptance of an Operation Stonegarden grant totaling nearly $100,000 to support the Sierra Vista Police Department’s efforts to support federal agencies with border security.

Provided by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, the grant covers $83,913 for overtime and full employee related expenses and $12,460 for mileage. State and local agencies participating in Operation Stonegarden enforce state law and coordinate enforcement efforts with federal partners to provide overlapping layers of public safety for the communities they serve.

Operation Stonegarden deployments enhance SVPD’s proactive enforcement of state drug trafficking and traffic laws in Sierra Vista and the immediate surrounding areas. These funds are also being used to support SVPD’s participation in Operation Safe Streets.

In other business:

• The City Council accepted a warranty deed needed for public-right-of-way along the eastern side of Judd Street, adjacent to Los Arcos Estates. The City is in the process of preparing a grant request for improvements that support safe pedestrian access to transit stops in the area. The proposal includes constructing curb, gutter, and a shared use path along the eastern side of Judd Street, between Timothy Lane and Busby Drive. Los Arcos agreed to donate about 0.81 acres of property needed for the right-of-way improvements.
• The City Council adopted a resolution restating the City’s commitment to fair housing in Sierra Vista. Mayor Rick Mueller also issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month.
• Mayor Mueller issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Mayor Mueller issued a proclamation declaring April 12, 2022, as Education and Sharing Day.
• The City Council recognized the 2021 Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Service Award winners.
• The City Council recognized the 2022 Water Wise Youth Poster Contest winners.

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

The Sierra Vista City Council approved a utility easement for Arizona Water to provide services to an Emergency Medical Services substation under construction on the northeast corner of Buffalo Solider Trail and 7^th Street at Thursday’s regular council meeting.

The substation will provide quick back up for the Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services EMS crew on Fort Huachuca, improve EMS response for many military families living off-post, and benefit the community at-large with reduced response times. More than 90 percent of the calls SVF&MS receives each year are medical in nature and this new station will help the department keep pace with an increasing call load.

Construction is expected to be complete in the summer. It is funded in part by a Defense Community Infrastructure Program grant of more than $1.4 million from the Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

In other business, the City Council approved two separate pre-annexation agreements for single family residential properties. The properties are located at 226 N. 2^nd Street and 218 N. 1^st Street.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved amendments to the West Sierra Vista Redevelopment Area Plan, which was the final step needed to enable the City to provide matching grant dollars to additional commercial tenants and property owners seeking to improve their sites in the West End.

The original redevelopment area was established in 2017 and encompassed about 23 acres, before being expanded in 2019 by another 29 acres. The newly expanded area adds 162 non-residential parcels, totaling about 111 acres west of N. 5^th Street, where there has been significant interest from businesses seeking to apply for matching grant funds under the City’s West Sierra Vista Partnership Program.

The amendments approved on Thursday also increased the annual planned allotment for the grant program from $50,000 to $100,000, subject to the City’s annual budget process. The plan amendments also recommend establishing a $15,000 annual budget for increasing public art in public spaces to add vibrancy to the downtown area and create a stronger sense of place.

The City will begin accepting applications for properties in the new expansion area immediately and can begin approving them in 30 days once the resolution takes effect.

Both the West End Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption of the plan amendments. The Planning and Zoning Commission found them to be consistent with the City’s General Plan Vista 2030.

Concept plans for the property located on the southeast corner of Fry Boulevard and Fab Avenue property were removed from the plan amendments and will return to the City Council at a future work session as a stand-alone item to discuss the future direction of that site. The plan amendments as approved do still include drainage and right-of-way improvements for that property, which will be part of the budget recommendations for next fiscal year.

Council considers CDBG requests

The City Council heard proposals for how to use the City’s next allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds, anticipated to be about $260,000.

The Sierra Vista Dream Center and United Way of Sierra Vista each presented requests and the City presented two projects.

The Dream Center requested $30,000 for solar parking lot lights and proposed a partnership with the City to share a parking lot that could also be used for tournaments at Cyr Center Park. The United Way requested $39,000 to assist low-income community members with the following services: food assistance, education assistance, homeless assistance, and employment.

City staff recommended $225,000 for improvements at Soldiers Creek Park and presented a request for $235,971 in improvements along Judd Street as an alternate option.

The Council expressed interest in supporting all the projects in some manner and City Manager Chuck Potucek said there are other funding opportunities that may be pursued to support the Dream Center and Judd Street projects, leaving the United Way and Soldiers Creek project as the tentative recommendations for CDBG funding. Staff will do more research and these options will return to the City Council for further discussion at an upcoming work session.

In other business:

• The City Council approved the modification of conditional use permits for two communications towers to change them from “stealth pole” designs to “monopine” designs. The changes were needed to facilitate the addition of 5G equipment to the towers and minimize their visual impact.
• The City Council granted authorization to approve a settlement agreement in the civil lawsuit Mary Brown v. the City of Sierra Vista.
• The City Council approved the donation of four Ford Crown Victorias to Cochise College to support the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy.
• The City Council approved an addendum to the City Manager’s contract.
• The City Council approved a minor subdivision plat splitting the property located at 500 N. Garden Avenue into two separate parcels.

More information from Thursday’s City Council meeting is available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, March 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 on this page.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved a mid-year 4 percent increase to compensation for City staff at its meeting on Thursday to help keep pace with comparable cities in Arizona.

The increase will take effect on Feb. 28 and will be reflected on the March 18 payroll. It applies to both full time and part time City staff.

Chief Human Resources Officer Barbara Fleming said that preliminary information received as part of an annual market comparison with similar cities in Arizona shows that the City of Sierra Vista’s salaries have fallen about 5 percent behind on average. As a result, staff recommended doing a mid-year market shift now and then consider an additional increase as part of the budget for the new fiscal year starting July 1.

Fleming said many cities have indicated they are preparing for additional wage increases in the upcoming fiscal year amid a highly competitive market for employees. The City will have more information on how it compares in the coming months as the budget process for all Arizona cities moves forward.

City Council Member Gregory Johnson motioned to amend the recommended increase from 2 percent to 4 percent. The City Council unanimously approved the motion and adopted the resolution as amended. The increase does not impact pay for council members. Council members agreed that it is important to do more now to ensure employees stay with the City and keep the City’s compensation rates competitive with its peers.

The City Council received a mid-year briefing on the budget during this week’s work session on Tuesday. The report detailed how revenues are significantly ahead of budget and expenditures are below budget, which puts the City in a favorable position to make a mid-year adjustment to the compensation plan.

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.