Council HQ

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Sierra Vista City Council unanimously appointed Mark Rodriguez to fill the vacant council seat left open following the recent resignation of Sarah Pacheco.

The City received 22 applications for the vacant seat and the City Council narrowed the pool to four candidates who were selected for interviews with the council conducted early this week. After being sworn in following Thursday’s council meeting, Rodriguez will serve the remainder of Pacheco’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022.

A retired U.S. Army Soldier who served for 21 years, Rodriguez is originally from San Antonio, Texas, and relocated to Sierra Vista in 2014. Rodriguez is currently a noncommissioned officer academy senior trainer with ORSA Technologies LLC on Fort Huachuca.

Being an active volunteer in the community and a father of six children — three of his own and three of his partner’s — has enabled Rodriguez to hear from many different community members and learn about different facets of Sierra Vista. He loves working here and is invested in the community.

“So when the opportunity presented itself I could not pass it up. I hoped that the council would allow me to join them so that I may plug myself in wherever I may be needed to help our city grow economically as well as form better partnerships with our surrounding neighbors,” Rodriguez says.

“My goal is to engage with as many of our citizens as possible and bring their ideas, issues, and needs back to our council so that we can collectively make our City a better place,” he says

In other business:

• The City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City, Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, and Cochise College to continue a partnership to operate the Southeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy on the college’s Douglas campus. Since the academy’s first class began in January, 2019, SVPD has had 10 recruits graduate. SVPD plans to send five more recruits to the class starting in July. The local academy enables SVPD to avoid additional costs that would be incurred sending recruits to other academies in the state.
• The City Council accepted the resignation of Patricia Olson from the Planning and Zoning Commission and appointed Daniel Coxworth to fill her seat. Coxworth’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2021.
• The City Council approved capital financing for two refuse trucks purchased in the current fiscal year.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, June 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 (and on this page). The meetings are also aired on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at www.sierravistaaz.gov/your-government/mayor-council/council-meetings/.

The Sierra Vista City Council approved a proposed Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay District for public comment at its regular meeting on Thursday. It will return to council for final consideration after a 30-day comment period.

The proposal was developed to help facilitate the redevelopment and revitalization of manufactured home parks in the West End. The Sierra Grande, Garden Canyon, Mountain Vista, and Los Arcos manufactured home parks were all acquired by new ownership last year and are now being renovated. The owners are following an aggressive demolition schedule to clear out vacant, non-livable mobile homes, which leaves many empty spaces to fill.

The Recreational Vehicle Park Overlay District offers park owners the flexibility to use spaces for RVs, while also allowing those spaces to be used for manufactured homes in the future without needing a rezoning process. This improves the economic viability of the parks and could help spur additional investment. Currently, manufactured home parks can lease up to 30 percent of the overall spaces for recreational vehicles. The proposed overlay district would remove that cap for parks of 10 acres or more, provided certain standards are met.

Good Living Ventures, which owns the Sierra Grande, Garden Canyon, and Mountain Vista manufactured home parks, worked closely with the City on development of the proposed overlay district and provided a letter in support of it. Good Living Ventures Architecture and Planning Manager Ben Wilde also addressed the City Council at Thursday’s meeting.

“The overlay will allow us to bring RVs into our parks at quicker rate then we could fill them with mobile homes,” Wilde said. He said Good Living Ventures also sees potential in one of their properties becoming a destination for snowbirds and tourists with RVs seeking to stay in Sierra Vista on a short-term basis.

The proposed RV overlay district is now open for public comment before it comes back to the City Council for final consideration after 30 days. The City Council also approved Codification of its Code of Ordinances for a 30-day public comment period on Thursday. To learn more and provide comments on these items, head to engage.sierravistaaz.gov/ or use the Public Comment Items webpage linked from www.SierraVistaAZ.gov.

In other business:

• City Council Member Sarah Pacheco announced her intent to resign from the City Council, which is necessary because she is moving outside the City limits. Details on the process to fill her seat will be announced after Pacheco submits a formal notice of resignation.
• The City Council approved the acceptance of two grants from the Arizona Department of Administration, Office of Grants and Federal Resources, Arizona 9-1-1 Program in support of Southeastern Arizona Communications (SEACOM). The first grant in the amount of $415,529 will cover a variety of costs associated with providing 9-1-1 services through June 30, 2023. The second grant in the amount of $79,576 funds contract services with DATAMARK for Geographical Information Systems data management software and support services.
• The City Council approved an Arizona State Parks and Trails Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application to help fund improvements at the Veterans Memorial Park Sports Complex to include installing artificial turf at the football field, updating the wellsite, and replacing the irrigation system. The grant requires a 50 percent City match and 6 percent surcharge for the $3 million project.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, May 13, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the “City Council” folder on the City’s document server at docserve.sierravistaaz.gov/.

The City of Sierra Vista’s Draft 2021 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan is now open for a 30-day public comment period after being presented to the City Council at a public hearing on Thursday.

The plan was revised based on the guidance provided by the City Council at a public hearing in March when City staff and three nonprofit organizations presented proposals for how to use the City’s anticipated allocation of $254,678 for the plan year starting July 1, 2021. The City receives CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development each year. CDBG funds must benefit low to moderate income persons, aid in the prevention of slums and blight, or meet another urgent community need.

The projects recommended for inclusion in the 2021 Annual Action Plan are:

• Improvements at Cyr Center Park ($170,733) — The proposed funding will be combined with last year’s CDBG allocation to complete a proposed 113-space parking lot in a single construction phase, which will reduce development costs. This proposal builds upon previous improvements to the soccer fields and surrounding area, including demolition of the old public works yard.
• Emergency Home Repair and Disabilities Modification Program ($50,000) — This program offers funding assistance to Sierra Vista homeowners for emergency repairs to correct substandard housing conditions. Accessibility modifications needed for people who are elderly or disabled are also eligible for support under the program.
• Good Neighbor Alliance Kitchen Remodel ($18,945) — The local emergency shelter’s kitchen has not been remodeled since 2005 and needs new countertops, cabinets, drawers, a pantry, and a dishwasher. Good Neighbor Alliance currently prepares about 750 meals each year for the clients they serve.
• Society of St. Vincent De Paul, St. Andrew Conference Paved Parking for Barrier-Free Access and Client Safety ($15,000) — This project entails grading and paving seven additional parking spaces and a drive aisle to provide barrier free access to the food bank and conference offices where clients meet with case workers.

The full Draft 2021 CDBG Annual Action Plan is available for review and public comment.

Council accepts FAA grants

The City Council approved the acceptance of two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration for use at the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport at its meeting on Thursday.

One grant in the amount of $839,469 will completely cover needed pavement rehabilitation work on an apron area near the airport’s terminal and on a nearby taxiway. This grant is being provided through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.

The second grant totals $13,000 and is being provided through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act. The purpose of the grant is help maintain safe and efficient airport operations, to include increased expenses associated with heightened sanitation measures. This includes reimbursement for airport operational and maintenance expenses incurred no earlier than Jan. 20, 2020, or debt service payments that occur on or after Dec. 27, 2020.

The City Council also approved the acceptance of a 20-foot-wide sewer easement to accommodate a sewer line extension for the Dutch Bros site planned for 475 N. State Route 90.

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

The Sierra Vista City Council voted unanimously to adopt proposed development code changes at its regular meeting on Thursday.

One code change creates a process for the City to offer additional flexibility to a resident or homeowner seeking to modify their home to accommodate a disability. The process would allow the modification to exceed certain dimensional standards (building setbacks and height) if it can be proven that the modification would provide the needed accommodation.

The second code change revises the public hearing process for requested map amendments (zoning changes), text amendments, and conditional use permits. The proposed process would only require a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission unless there is an objection or a request for a public hearing before the City Council. The issue will still go to the City Council for final consideration but only requiring one public hearing expedites the review and approval process.

The City Council also unanimously approved the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex football field to Keith Hampton, based on the unanimous recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Hampton, also known as “Coach,” spent nearly 25 years devoted to sports programs in Sierra Vista.

Hampton helped start Arizona Youth Football in Sierra Vista, was involved in Pop Warner Football, and coached in local schools. Later, as his health declined, Hampton went from coach to cheerleader, offering near constant support from the stands and sidelines. Hampton passed away on June 20, 2020.

“We lost this kind gentleman much too soon, but he left an incredible legacy behind in his wonderful children and in all the lives he touched,” Leisure & Library Services Director Laura Wilson said, in her presentation to council on Thursday.

The Parks and Recreation Commission would like to host a public dedication once the field has been rehabilitated and is ready for use.

In other business the City Council unanimously approved:

• An application for a permanent extension of premises permit for Michael Appleton on behalf of Bone Dry Taphouse.
• A resolution restating the City’s commitment to fair housing in Sierra Vista.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, April 8, 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 discussed how to spend the City’s next allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds after hearing presentations from City staff and three nonprofit organizations at its meeting on Thursday.

This was the first public hearing held on the City’s Program Year 2021 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022) Annual Action Plan that will lay out how to spend the City’s $254,678 allocation of CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. City staff will prepare the draft annual action plan based on Thursday’s discussions and will present it to the City Council at another public hearing on Thursday, April 22. That will initiate a 30-day public comment period before the plan returns to the City Council for final consideration.

Staff’s initial proposal to the City Council includes $174,678 for planned improvements at Eddie Cyr Center Park, $50,000 for an Emergency Home Repair and Disabilities Modification Program, $15,000 for neighborhood stabilization, and $15,000 for program services. Program services covers the funds that may be allocated to nonprofit organizations that have submitted applications for CDBG eligible projects. CDBG funds must benefit low to moderate income persons, aid in the prevention of slums and blight, or meet other urgent community needs.

Three nonprofit organizations submitted applications and made presentations to the City Council on Thursday. The Southwest Fair Housing Council requested $10,000 for a fair housing outreach and media campaign, the Good Neighbor Alliance requested $18,945 for a kitchen remodel at the homeless shelter, and St. Vincent de Paul requested $32,455 to pave the parking lot at its office and thrift store located at 614 Bartow Drive.

The City Council expressed strong support in funding the Good Neighbor Alliance request and sought to explore ways to fund or assist with St. Vincent de Paul’s request. Council members also voiced support of fully funding the City staff’s recommendations to follow through on master planned improvements at Cyr Center Park.

Based on this guidance, City staff will be exploring options to move all these priorities forward as the Annual Action Plan is prepared for presentation to the City Council and public on April 22. Options could include repurposing some of the CDBG Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding being used for rental assistance and evaluating public sidewalk improvements that may be made by the City in coordination with the paving of the St. Vincent de Paul parking lot.

In other business:

• The City Council unanimously approved acceptance of an Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety grant in the amount of $69,939 to purchase equipment needed to implement Arizona Traffic and Criminal Software (TraCS). Arizona TraCS is an electronic forms management software program operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation that enables officers to submit electronic citations, traffic crash reports, DUI affidavits, and other forms directly from Mobile Data Computers in their patrol vehicles.
• Cochise College J.D. Rottweiler made a presentation on the success of partnerships between the college and the City.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, March 11, 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 and links to the videos are available on the right side of this page.

At its work session on Tuesday, March 9, the City Council will receive an Economic Development Update and a Strategic Plan 18-Month Update from City staff.

The council will also discuss the March 11 City Council meeting agenda, reports on recent trips/meetings, and a COVID-19 status report. See the full agenda packet.

At its meeting on Thursday, March 11, the City Council will consider funding applications for the program year 2021 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan. It will also consider approval of a Governor's Office of Highway Safety Grant to purchase equipment to implement Arizona Traffic and Criminal Software.

Cochise College President J.D. Rottweiler will make a presentation on the success of partnerships between the City of Sierra Vista and Cochise College.

See the full council meeting agenda packet.

The Sierra Vista City Council voted unanimously to move forward two proposed development code changes for official 30-day public comment periods at its regular meeting on Thursday.

One proposed code change would create a process for the City to provide additional flexibility to a resident or homeowner to modify their home to accommodate a disability. The process would allow the modification to exceed certain dimensional standards (building setbacks and height) if it can be proven that the modification would provide the necessary accommodation.

A separate proposed code amendment would revise the public hearing process for requested map amendments (zoning changes), text amendments, and conditional use permits. The proposed process would only require a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission unless there is an objection or a request for a public hearing before the City Council. The issue would still go to the City Council for final consideration. Only requiring one public hearing would expedite the review and approval process.

The proposed code changes are available for review and comment at engage.sierravistaaz.gov and www.sierravistaaz.gov/your-government/mayor-council/public-comment-opportunities.

In other business, the City Council unanimously approved the submission of a grant application through the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects program. The grant would assist with the replacement of the irrigation system serving the sports facilities located north of the Rothery Educational Service Center. The City purchased this land from the Sierra Vista Unified School District last year.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Feb. 25, 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 will discuss its mid-year budget review and a possible code revision regarding commercial activities in City Parks at its Feb. 23 work session. Access the agenda packet to learn more.

At its Feb. 25 meeting, the City Council will host public hearings on two proposed development code changes currently posted for public comment.

One proposal would revise the public hearing process for requested map amendments, text amendments , and conditional use permits. Learn more and offer input.

The other would create a process to provide additional flexibility to a resident or homeowner to modify their home to accommodate a disability. Learn more and offer input.

The City Council will also consider submission of a grant application through the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects program. The grant would assist with the replacement of the irrigation system at the sports facilities located north of the Rothery Educational Service Center. The City purchased this land from the Sierra Vista Unified School District last year.

Learn more in the Council Meeting agenda packet.

The Sierra Vista City Council voted 5-2 to approve code amendments laying out local rules for recreational marijuana establishments and limits on what can be done with recreational marijuana while on City property at its meeting on Thursday.

Proposition 207, which was passed by Arizona voters in November, allows for the adult use of recreational marijuana within the state. The new law grants local municipalities discretion on whether to allow recreational marijuana establishments to operate within the city and on what zoning regulations to put in place, providing they are not more restrictive than those associated with medical marijuana establishments.

The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the proposed code amendments on Jan. 25 and voted unanimously to recommend their approval with some revisions. The commission recommended the 500 feet buffer between a recreational marijuana establishment and a school or place of worship (located outside the general commercial zoning district), a public park, another marijuana establishment, or public community center be reduced to 300 feet. They recommended maintaining the 500-foot buffer between recreational marijuana establishments and residential areas.

The amendments adopted on Thursday were approved with the recommended revisions from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The reduced buffer zone will also apply to medical marijuana establishments. In addition to the zoning provisions, the amendments prohibit the smoking, consumption, selling, distributing, storing, cultivating, manufacturing, producing, or displaying of marijuana on City-owned property.

Mayor Rick Mueller and Council Member Gregory Johnson cast the two votes against the proposed amendments, commenting that they support outright prohibition of recreational marijuana establishments in Sierra Vista. Following final action by the City Council on Thursday, the amendments will take effect in 30 days.

In other business:

• The City Council voted unanimously to deny a text amendment proposed by a member of the public, which sought to permit up to 30 percent of the total lots in manufactured home subdivisions to have recreational vehicles as a primary use.
• The City Council unanimously approved the acceptance of $93,120 in grant funding from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security through the Operation Stonegarden Program. This funding supports enhanced cooperation between the department, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Border Patrol. It supports proactive deployments to enforce state drug trafficking and traffic laws in the Sierra Vista area.
• The City Council unanimously approved the renewal of an intergovernmental agreement between the City and the Arizona Department of Transportation to continue providing local traffic crash data to the state for statistical analysis and publication.
• The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Gray, Council Member Carolyn Umphrey, and Council Member Sarah Pacheco to serve on the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization board.
• The City Council unanimously approved the appointment of George Fisher, Jr., to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Details on the council meeting items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Feb. 11, 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.