Council HQ

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.

The Sierra Vista City Council will discuss its 2021 legislative agenda and the November/December Council Executive Report at the work session on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m.

The Council will also discuss the items set for action at its Thursday, Feb. 11, Council Meeting during Tuesday’s work session. Access the work session agenda packet to learn more.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, the City Council will consider and may take final action to adopt local regulations on recreational marijuana. It will also consider a zoning amendment requested by a member of the public that would allow recreational vehicles as a primary use on up to 30 percent of properties in manufactured home subdivisions.

For more information on all the items up for consideration on Thursday, access the council meeting agenda packet.

The Sierra Vista City Council work session and meeting scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this week have been canceled due to staffing issues related to COVID-19.

Some City staff have been placed on quarantine to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The City conducts rigorous contact tracing, and that can mean a short quarantine for those who may have been exposed to the virus.

“The health and safety of our staff, council members, and the general public are top priorities,” says City Manager Chuck Potucek. “Canceling this week’s council meetings is a precautionary move that is intended to reduce everyone’s exposure to this highly transmittable virus.”

The Council work session, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 9, and regular meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 11, are still on the books. Items on this week’s agendas will be moved to the February meeting agendas.

The Sierra Vista City Council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement continuing the joint emergency medical services and fire science program between Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services and Cochise College at the council’s first regular meeting of 2021 on Thursday.

The only significant change to the current agreement is that the new agreement will remain in effect for five years, instead of three. Otherwise, the details of the program and partnership remain unchanged.

“It is the intention of both the City and the college to continue this valuable program for many years,” Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services Chief Brian Jones said in his briefing to the council on Thursday.

In other business the City Council unanimously approved:

• A memorandum of understanding with Cochise College for the City to provide fleet maintenance services for a 1997 Pierce 1,000-gallon pumper fire truck that was donated to the college from the City for use in the fire science program.
• The appointment of Daman Malone to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• The appointment of Jessica Kunkel and Joseph Hayes to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
• The appointment of Rachel Gray as Mayor Pro Tem.

A ceremonial swearing in was conducted at the council meeting for newly elected council members Angelica Landry and Gregory Johnson, and Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Gray, who was reelected in 2020. These council members started their four-year terms in January.

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

This week's meetings mark the first with newly elected City Council Members Gregory Johnson and Angelica Landry, while Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Gray begins a new four year term on council after being reelected in 2020.

The work session agenda includes a discussion about Proposition 207 and potential code amendments for recreational marijuana dispensaries. The City Council will also receive a COVID-19 status report.

Thursday's council meeting agenda includes an item to amend the IGA between Cochise College and the City for their joint program to train EMS and Fire Science students. It also includes an MOU requested by Cochise College to receive fleet maintenance on a fire truck that was donated to the college by the City for use in the college's Fire Science Technology program.