Tri-City Council - Regular Meeting

start this meeting, call this meeting to order. We'd like to welcome everybody here in chamber tonight and also those who might be participate participating in our meeting via our YouTube channel or through the internet. This is the regularly scheduled meeting of the Kingman City Council held at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. I'd like to turn some time over to our city clerk for roll call. Mayor Watkins, present. Vice Mayor Samile here. Council member Dykins here. Council member Savage here. Council member Staley present. [clears throat] Council member Walker here. Council member Ward here. We have a quorum.

Thank you. We would like to invite those who would like to participate in our invocation to stand. Our invocation tonight will be given by Pastor Michael Bell of King Manazarene Church. After which I have asked Councelor Ward to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Let's pray. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Almighty God, praise, glory, and honor belong to you. For you are our creator and savior. We come before you today to ask that you give your hand of blessing on this city board, this meeting, and upon the whole of Kingman. Protect all that work for this town and its inhabitants. Make Kingman a place of blessing and prosperity. Bless us now, Almighty God. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Amen. Your follow.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. The council may go into executive session for legal counsel in accordance with ARS 38-431.03A3 to discuss any agenda item. The following items may be discussed, considered, and decisions made relating there too. Item number one, awards recognition 1A, proclamation um my kid day. And uh we of course we' like to welcome the my kid folks here, Tracy Sullivan and Associates. Welcome here. I have a proclamation I'd like to read. Whereas, and of course, it's MI KID, but you you say my kid, right? Okay. Which stands for Mentally Ill Kids in Distress is an Arizona based 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral health of children and youth through a family centered approach. And on March 11, 2026, celebrates its its 39th anniversary of service. And promoting mental and behavioral health awareness and supporting families strengthens communities, schools, and neighborhoods, enhancing the well-being of the city of Kingman. My Kid provides education, counseling, resources, and support to families of children and youth experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, and other behavioral health needs. And my kids service includes one-on-one family support, peer support, transitional age, youth programs, respite care, support groups, training, education, health promotion, and community- based um living skills

programs. All designed to help children and youth develop coping skills, resilience, and the ability to manage their own physical and mental health. And my kid is unique in that many staff members bring li lived experiences as parents, family members or young adults who have navigated behavioral health challenges, ensuring compassionate, informed and empa empathetic support for the families they serve. And my kid has served thousands of children, youth, and families throughout. If it's all right, would you get a picture with you and have and have we'll have council also come down for the photo? stand right there.

Sarah will arrange us. I'm sorry. Who's [laughter] Can I squeeze it between you? Okay, there we go.

[applause and cheering]

Thank you. Yes, most of you.

Thank you so much.

What a great organization. And like I said, we are blessed in our community to have so many service organizations that help um our families and all of us. Number two, call to the public comments from the public. Those wishing to address the council should fill out request forms in advance. Comments from the public will be restricted to items not on the agenda that advertise for a particular person or group. Comments should be limited to no longer than 3 minutes. The council may not respond to speakers during the call to the public. The council may direct the city manager to study the matter or request that the matter be placed on a future agenda. Like to invite Miss Janette Duran to come forward, please. Welcome, Janette.

Thank you.

I'm here today about this article about Arizona bill pushes for wolf hunting as part of a new management plan. This is garbage. It's not a management plan. It's an annihilation plan that Gossar has come up with with uh the ranchers, the wealthy ranchers trying to push this through. I think that [snorts] in 19 in the 1990s almost all the wolves were annihilated by hunters and they got them on the endangered species. They were incorporated into the endangered species act and it took 25 years or so to reintroduced wolves to Arizona. That's part of Arizona. Wolves are part of Arizona and they're part of their ecosystem and to allow uh Gosar's plan to basically unlimited hunting by not only ranchers but hunters to decimate annihilate all the wolves because the ranchers don't like wolves and wild cats because they insist insist that they destroy their crop, their their cattle, which environmentalists have come up with a lot of stuff about that. And it really the wolves don't do much damage to the cattle. Occasionally, a young one or injured one or a sick one, you know, that's the cost of doing business, but killing off all the wolves is not the answer. And in fact, it would be very detrimental to the environment. And I would like to see this city council send in no uncertain terms a message to Mr. goes and the the federal, you know,

Arizona's federal people that they're against this taking the wolves off the environmental protection because that would be a terrible thing to happen and it would really it would be horrible for the our environment because if you don't have wolves, I mean, they do an important job, you They eat rabbits and, you know, injured animals and they're very important to our environment and uh this is Arizona and we people expect to see wolves. So, please send a message that this is not welcome. Thank you.

Thanks for your comments, Janette. Mr. Jared Marks. [clears throat]

Uh, mayor, council members, the I respectfully but firmly oppose your proposed half percent sales tax increase. We're already the highest in the county by half a percent. And one of the highest in the state. Raising taxes should be the last option, not the first. A half a percent increase impacts every resident, every small business and every family already managing higher costs of living. It makes Kingman more expensive at the register without addressing the root issue. We need more commercial growth. Instead of increasing the rate, we should increase the base. If we want strong stronger long-term revenue, we must make it easier, not harder, for businesses to open here. Commercial impact fees and permit costs are barriers. Reducing or temporarily adjusting them would attract new investment, expand our tax base, and generate recurring sales tax revenue for decades. So many other cities are already doing this and growing exponentially. [snorts] Impact fees are a one-time revenue. Thriving businesses produce ongoing revenue year after year. If we continue to re rely on raising taxes instead of expanding opportunity, we risk slowing the very growth that would solve our revenue concerns. Let's expand the pie rather than making each slice more expensive. Kingman has always been a location has had the location and the potential. City council and management must realize that we have what we have and exploit it, not the people. What we need now is a policy decision that prioritizes growth, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability over short-term tax increases. I urge the council to not consider the half percent increase and seriously evaluate a progrowth alternative. [snorts] Some things to consider. Raising taxes is reactive. Growing the commercial economy is proactive. We can either charge more or

we can build more. Higher sales tax can discourage spending locally. Businesses compare total cost structures before choosing a city. [snorts] One commercial project can generate decades of revenue. A temporary fee reduction can create a permanent tax growth. Residents feel the tax increase immediately. Growth policies show leadership and long-term vision. In closing, growth pays dividends. Taxes create resistance. Let's choose expansion over extraction. And let's build revenue the right way.

Thank you, Jared. Dr. Rob Christensen. Uh, Mr. Mayor, Miss uh, vice mayor and city council members, I attended the Mojave County Board of Super Advisors meeting yesterday where item 43 was discussed. This item was introduced by Supervisor Travis Ringdenfelder and he requested that Mojave County lease approximately 5 acres uh to the city of Kingman for use in developing a new transit hub for the Kingman uh area rapid transit. The city manager testified before the board on this item and provided financial data showing how cart provided bus service to non Kingman residents at the expense to Kingman. Several supervisors were resistant to Super Lingfelter's uh proposal and des and desired to extract additional financial costs from the city. For example, it appeared that one supervisor wanted Kingman to wave the sales tax for Mojave County for any items purchased within Kingman. Given the lack of support by the board, item 43 was continued for 30 days until the board's April 6, 2026 meeting. If the board is unwilling to cooperate with or extort unreasonable concessions, then I request that the city council revisit whether the city should subsidize or operate any bus route that serves non- Kingman residents. As the old saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch. That's a quote from Nobel economist Milton Freeman. It is time for the Mojave County Board of Supervisors to learn that it cannot have something for nothing. I also sent a letter to the Mojave County Board of Supervisors regard regarding my opinion about this issue. I also sent a copy of that letter uh to Mr. Walsh and asked him to circulate it

to the city council. I want to thank the Kingman City Council for its decor respect of Kingman residents. When I attended the Mojave County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday, there is a lack of decor and respect shown by a member of the Mojave County Board of Supervisors to members of the public along with attendees towards the Mojave County Board of Supervisors. I found the lack of civilian and decorum shocking and I expressed my disappointment to the Mojave County Board of Supervisors. I hope that the I hope that uh the Kingman City City Council never demonstrates the lack of quorum and respect witnessed yesterday. In closing, if you have any questions or want additional information regarding the letter submitted or my comments regarding this topic, please feel free to contact me via email or telephone. I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening during this portion of the uh Kingman City Council meeting. Thank you.

Thank you, Rob. Miss Shelley Wit. Hi, I'm back again. I'm not sure if it's on the agenda, so I don't have a point to speak of today, but I'm concerned about the Mesa Verde mobile home park driveway being moved because of the Circle K and the future light installation. Um, it's on the agenda for the business department report. So, I don't have a place to speak today. Correct. No, not today. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Shel. That is it for our call to the public. Once again, thank you for your comments. We encourage our citizens to please come. This is the forum to share your thoughts with our council and with our city at large and city staff. So, thank you again. Item number three, consent agenda. We have items A through J. All matters listed here are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately. Council, is there anything that needs to be pulled and discussed? None on this side. Mayor, I'd like to pull item G.

Item G. Okay. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Okay. Seeing none, can we have a motion then approving our consent agenda I A through J with the exception of item G? So moved. I'll second. We have a motion to second. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Item G, consideration of an amendment to design professionals contract contract for flying fortress Parkway design and construction. The city hired AECOM technical services incorporated to in September 2019 to complete plans for the Rancho Santa Fe Parkway traffic interchange and parkway now known as the Flying Partress Parkway. ACOM is requesting a contract amendment for additional work which includes work completed to revise the Grand Canyon plus or minus to Airway Avenue segment to prepare for bid postdesign services to be completed during construction and work to complete the plans for Flying Fortress Parkway from Airway Avenue to Industrial Boulevard from 95% to bid ready condition. The contract amendment is for a sum not to exceed $394,758. Staff recommends approval. Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mayor. I pulled this uh because I am just a stickler for knowing where the funding source is coming from. So, um it's not on the agenda, and I just for transparency, I want the public to understand where the funding source is. So, I don't know if that's you, Manager Walsh, or Miss Molen.

I I believe I can handle that. Uh I apologize for that. Uh, Madame Vice Mayor, the the funding source for this is from the um and it's sorry it's in the back up here. I'll just put it. Um, I have that right here. I apologize. Um, funding source for this is coming from the the West King or the East Kingman uh expansion improvement project. So, this this will be funded under the the same um capital projects as the um Flying Fortress Parkway and all of that. So,

okay. And I I did read the backup. I just want you to know that I just for the public's benefit. I just I would like to make sure that we make that on the agenda items as to the rest of the items where the funding source. Thank you. Okay. Any other discussion from the rest of council about this item or concerns? Okay. Thank you. Vice Mayor, would you like to make a motion then approving item G, consideration of an amendment to design professionals contract for Flying Fortress Parkway Design and Construction? So moved. We have a second. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. [snorts] Item number four, auction action items. 4A, approval of artistic enhancement to the train silhouette mural at Lewis Kingman Park. Staff will give a presentation on a concept to enhance the existing train silhouette feature at Lewis Kingman Park with an art project. The black paint on the structure is oxidized and needs to be recoded, which has prompted this project. A proposal from an artist has been received to create a custom mural as a Route 66 Centennial project. There will be a fiscal impact of $12,500 to the powerhouse fund. Staff recommends approval. Manager Walsh, do we have anybody that's

We do. We've got Jeremy from economic development that will speak to this. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh, thanks for the opportunity to speak about this. We'll

just get this loaded up here. Thank you. All right, they do it all for me. Okay, so good evening. My name is Jeremy Palmer with economic development uh project manager and I'm here to present the Lewis Kingman Park train silhouette project. So, we'll start off uh last April we partnered with ASU's project cities to complete the art and public places playbook. Um part of this process included a survey went out that went out to the public and the results uh that we received back from them helped to inform sort of the origination of this project. Um 75% of those uh surveyed indicated that they would like to prioritize parks, trails and green space for public art. Uh we also asked you know what kind of art would you like to see more of? and we had 77% indicate more murals in Kingman. Some of the takeaways uh from this survey uh include strong support for continued investment in public art. There's also a prioritiz prioritization of the hilltop and the downtown area for public arts. And uh while anecdotal, there's a sentiment kind of regarding residents who don't really relate to Route 66 or car culture. Uh they want to see other types of art represented in Kingman. So that kind of brought us to this park feature uh at Lewis Kingman. Uh we saw this as an opportunity when it kind of came up that it really needed to be uh addressed, repainted or or something like to that effect. Uh the story of

this feature itself is really not wellnown and through our own efforts and research we kind of discovered that it was essentially something created by ADOT's sign shop when they put this park in in 1968. So there's really no artists attributed to the work. It was more of kind of a a memorial to Lewis Kingman. So why this is important? Uh we're looking at the kind of the West Kingman interchange area. We're not far from uh basically having all of our traffic directed down Bill Street to uh downtown Kingman. Eventually, we're going to have [snorts] everybody kind of pulling off to uh I40 directly. Uh but one of the tools we do have are our attractions, our public art, and our amenities to help entice and bring people from the US and across the world into Kingman. Um, in the current state, this feature is very underwhelming and it's tough to see from Route 66 or Andy Divine as you as you pass by. Uh, this is a shot from Google Earth, which is also or Google Street View, which is a tool a lot of tourists use to kind of plan their trips when they come uh visit Kingman. So, we wanted to kind of illustrate. You can't really see it when you zoom in. You still really can't see the feature in the park. It really does have the potential to become another one of Kingman's signature art pieces simply by bringing a little color and a unique design to it. It could draw in visitors and citizens to a new project, a new art. And from there, we could propose, you know, adding a plaque or something to kind of tell the story. That was something we heard from a lot of commissions where um they wanted to leave it alone, let it speak to Louisis Kingman. we feel, you know, a pop of color might draw people in and then we could tell the story properly uh at the location. So, speaking on Lewis Kingman Park, here's some of the new additions that

have uh taken place over the last couple of years. Um, and you know, we heard kind of back to some of the feedback. I'll sprinkle it in and we'll talk about it at the end with the commissions because this has seen quite a few of the commissions. Um, but a lot of people, not a lot, but there's some feedback that we want to keep things nostalgic in Kingman. We want things to resemble the way they were, you know, in the 50s, the 80s, or, you know, whatever time frame people are are looking back to. But there's also this term called nostalgia where we have the ability to mash up an old feature with some kind of new twist. Excuse me. So while you know a lot of residents have some kind of nostalgia or something in this park, a lot of the visitors do not and we were they're here coming to seek new experiences and this park is full of the Cadillac Ranch experience. We have the leaning shield uh and people gravitate towards these items. Uh we can prove this via the place the data placer data that we have pulled for King Lewis Park. Uh if you zoom in on year-over-year visits over the last three years, we've seen an increase in visitation to this park. And uh we can attribute it to a lot of these new features as well as a lot of the work that the parks crew has done with playgrounds. and uh it you know it's become an anchor for the community for community events, the farmers market, the Route 66 fest. So now turning to uh our recommendation for the artist uh that was selected this uh this group here is Bentenya. Uh they visited us in 2024 at the Route 66 festival. They were touring Route 66 and filming a documentary at the same time. uh when they were here, they really impressed upon our staff sort of the the

interests of the Japanese people in the Route 66 culture. Uh it gave us an opportunity to speak with the producer of the group. Uh and they kind of shared basically what they were here doing and all the engagement that they had when they were in Kingman just kind of getting the word out about Route 66. So the producer Bentya connected us with this artist who is Yuko Wizumi. Uh she is a Japanese artist that's based out of Brooklyn. Her passion is to beautify and revitalize neighborhoods and make art more accessible at the local level. Uh her style is it's really kind of simplistic and graphic in nature with some bold colors. Uh and we she has a lot of experience working with municipalities and you know we like that she could even make a dump a trash truck look beautiful. Uh this was a project in New York City and it kind of shows her work is basically kind of creating these forms and shapes and putting them into like a cutout of a lettering or you know abstract shapes. Uh we thought that would be a great fit for this specific project because of the the shapes we're dealing with. Um some of the feedback we heard was about the work being authentic to Kingman and kind of representing this culture, our community. So, um, part of her process is to actually find out the elements that are important to a community and then weave them into, you know, whatever the graphic is. And this particular one being New York City, you can see that there's elements of the Statue of Liberty. There's the bike culture. There's, you know, things about crossroads and activities and Coney Island. So, all that is represented in these uh in this artwork, but still also being unique to her style. Here's another project from Denmark. And again, the same the same idea where you can tell it's her style, it's her artwork, but it's unique to this community in

Denmark, bringing in bicycles, deer, forest, and even Viking culture uh to this piece. So, the proposal in front of us right now, and it's part of your backup, uh the city of Keeman will prep the surface of the the elements in the park. Uh, and then the artist will take over and kind of take care of the design process, all the materials, the labor, uh, and paint both sides of the of the, um, train silhouette, uh, for a fee of $12,000. Um, some of the elements because some of the feedback again being uh, making sure this is a piece that's authentic to Kingman, uh, we've already started working to float ideas on the icons that are, you know, relevant to us and to our community. So there's a few of them that have already been passed along and uh this process with the artists if if selected does allow for multiple revisions in in the creative process. So you know creative freedom to a point but we also want to make sure it it meets our needs as well. Um and again mentioning that this this initial conversation has happened. We've had about six months worth of commission meetings to kind of get to this point. So, uh, there has been a little bit of back and forth to just see the direction that the artist would like to go in. Um, so here are some of the elements in the preliminary conceptual design. So, I talked about the process. It has been uh a little extensive. We've been doing this for about six months, but it did start back in April with the beginning of this public uh playbook for for public art uh which informed a lot of the decision-m we have had two uh meetings in front of the parks commission. Um a lot of the these miss these meetings kind of gave us great

discussion on you know art the role of art and um what the community is looking for from the various perspectives. Um however, no formal action was taken from either of the parks meetings. Uh we also did present in front of the economic development advisory committee as well as the historic preservation commission uh where we received again some more feedback, great discussion. Uh and and both of those two did pass motions to proceed with this project with all in favor uh at both commissions. Um, so this is kind of a final parting shot here, but we did we did get a lot of that feedback and I wanted to pass forward. You know, we've had everything ranging from leave it alone, paint it black to uh we love this idea of a Japanese artist coming in, the international exposure we're going to get, tourism we're going to get. Um, we've had everything in between. Uh we've had talk about concern over funding and this is to again reiterate that the funding is going to come from the tourism fund. Um we have $60,000 already pre-approved in the budget for art and none of it has been spent to date. Uh it is available and it can only be spent on the tourism projects or in the umbrella of tourism as opposed to sort of these other capital projects. Uh our goal is to get this project um if it's approved. We want to try to get it done before October before the Route 66 fest. So, uh, and the last thing really is, you know, our intent is not to take away from the history, but to promote and draw attention to this item, uh, with a new renewed excitement for an older feature. So, with that, I thank you for your time and, uh, see if anybody has any questions.

Jeremy first, thanks for the report on that. Uh, council, any questions for Jeremy? Yes, Vice Mayor. I'll hold my comments until after the public speaks. Okay, real good. Okay, thank you. [laughter] Thank you all.

Thanks, Jeremy. So, you want to stay close because I'm sure we'll have you back up here in a minute. Um, we do have some citizens that would like to express their views on this item. Uh, first, Miss M Glansancy, would you like to come forward? Hello, my name is Mer Glansancy. I was born in Kingman, so I'm an old-timer. I used to play on that piece of land before it was a park and then really appreciated it when they planted grass and we played football. Just because there isn't a name behind that silhouette, it doesn't make it any less of a piece of art. a piece of art that's been there almost 60 years and been appreciated by the community. Now I it's a reverent thing commemorating something that happened in 1882 and I think drawing drums and stuff on it doesn't help. You know, black makes it maintain its reverence. Now, I love art. If there was any other place that she could put that other than onexisting art, that would be great. But I just don't think that um destroying the integrity of an existing piece of art is the thing to do. So, thank you for hear.

Thank you, M. Miss Karen Fog. Good evening, Mayor Watson, Vice Mayor Samile, Council Members, and City Manager Walsh. I am the chairman of the park commission, which is the parks, aquatics, recreation, and trails. I'd also like to give a shout out to that past M Glansancy. She was honored at the Women's Making uh history annual awards on Sunday for pioneering. When I was a city recorder for the historical preservation commission, Mer Glansancy was a member for many years and I learned so much from her regarding Kingman's history. Lewis Kingman. He was also an early pioneer. He was a civil engineer who surveyed and built several thousand miles of railroad lines. In 1868, he began to work at Atlantic and Pacific Railroad and was responsible for building lines in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Mexico. In 1880, he surveyed and built the line from Flagstaff to Needles through what became Kingman, Arizona. which he is named after. He brought transportation and subsequently settlement to isolated areas. Yes, this item was on our August and November agendas for our input. Our our members had a lot of questions and suggestions and some of those were up there on the on the feature because we wanted to see more turquoise and browns

and things that represented Arizona more when we were discussing painting of this 39 foot long metal silhouette of a train and King and Lewis Kingman a surveyor. Now, it wasn't on our February agenda. That's why I came here to tell you what I'd like to say. I love love the murals around Kingman and the cultural pieces that have been added to this beautiful city. Artist Yukikui, she does beautiful work. I'd rather see her work someplace else and not on the present silhouette train and surveyor. I feel putting art artistic enhancements on the 39 foot metal cutout gets lost. It took me seven times to look at that NYC picture to even know that that was NYC. Maybe something else in the park by the artist. I do have an alternative suggestion. We would like to put that railc car bridge that goes that would spann you could put it there. Go ahead

by her, but I know it's it's going to be coming soon and it's going to take her a while to paint if it does get done. If you only wanted to paint one side and left the backside black, uh that's that's fine, too. I thank you for listening to me. Thank you for your comments, Karen. Okay, council comments. Vice Mayor, do you want to lead off?

Um, I can for sure. So, um, just a couple of things. I think um, Jeremy, I had a question for you first. To just refurbish that asis and get it back to where it was, what is the cost of that? Do you know? Uh, that's good question. Uh, I don't have that exactly. I probably want to ask defer to Mike at the parks department. Uh, we figured it would be about $500, you know, just ourselves kind of coming up with the number.

Okay. All right. That's all I had for you. Thank you, Jeremy. Um, although I respect the findings of the ASU study, I I too have a couple of of comments. Um, just as I didn't want to rename Andy Divine, I don't favor defacing history like this. I to me I although it would be bright and vibrant and pull people off the street um and and give them a photo op. Um, I just think that we're losing we would be losing the theme that it was intended for. And you know what? We we have we have to preserve our history in our community. We we just have to and you know it I I am in favor Karen of doing something on the bridge that's going across. You know I would like to see some the artist come and do something new. I I love the Cadillac Ranch um edition. I love the Route 66 Shield. I don't know why we have to repurpose this art and and so I just um I I'm in favor of of installing a new uh project rather than just uh and recoding this one rather than just u deface the history that we have. Um uh M I I was very supportive of of your uh also your comments. So, I I will not be supporting this. Um I I think that we can do something different with the artist and I appreciate the opportunity that she's giving us um and wants to, you know, contribute to our community, but I I think that we can do something different at that park and add to it, not repurpose. Those are my comments. Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Councilor Savage

history buff as well. Uh, I understand the want for it primarily for the 100th anniversary of 66. I don't see it being a permanent mural at all. Uh, the pastel colors actually blind me. I don't think it fits this area at all. I would possibly being open to um temporary one side, not the whole not the whole train. So if you want to do something for the event itself and maybe have it up for 6 months or a year and then refurbish it back to its original condition, I would support something along those lines. But to have something permanently on both sides of that, no, I'm not for that either. So if there's wiggle room there to do something temporary for the festival and and there seems some hesitation that it might be done in time for the festival. Um is there clarification that if that we do move forward with something like it would be done on time?

Yeah, Councilman Sh it's in the the agreement is I think she has about a four to six week period to get the work completed. So it would be done. Yeah. assuming we get the approval timely on the proofs basically. All right. So, there's time for that. But that that's kind of where I'd stand. I'm not totally for it. I'm not totally against it. I I'm supporting part of it for the event itself, but not permanently. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Savage. Councelor Dykins.

Um I was thinking I was going to be the only one standing this way, but I am not in favor of this either. I like history. As everybody else has been saying, um, the city is doing everything in its power to promote Route 66, which is our history. They're trying to promote neon signs that puts back to the history. To me, this should stay the way it is. Or if it's difficult to see it from a particular road, put a outside little thin white border around it to give it just a little bit of contrast for ease of seeing it. Um, but I'm not in favor of doing what this proposal is. Um, I was already to to say if council was all in favor of this, I still am in still am against [clears throat] not the artist per se, but spending all this money to bring somebody from New York. If we were going to do this, why not have one of our high school or our high schools do a comp a competition, the college or somebody or a local artist. And if it was a competition with the schools provide a grant for helping tuition for a college art class, but overall I think it needs to stay the way it is. But I'm I am not in favor of what this proposal is showing.

Thank you, Councelor Atkins. Councelor Ward, I agree with the vice mayor and Jim. [clears throat] I have no problem painting the train. I don't want it look like a circus train. And to me, that's what that looks like. I I'm I'm not a art critic, obviously, but uh I I'm not in favor of it. Okay. Thank you. Councelor Saley or or Councelor Walker. Councelor Saley.

Okay. I um I was the liaison for the parks commission and I was there for their discussion. Um I just wanted to say there are there are people that are in favor of this project. Um, and then, you know, I think that what I am hearing from people in the public, especially those of us who have lived here a long time, I think that the hangup is that it's on this the art is going on this train. It it feels disrespectful to a lot of people and especially a lot of longtime Kingman citizens. Um, I love the idea of putting it on the new bridge, putting something on the some um, modern art or a mural on that bridge that's going to go in. I think that's a really neat idea that will help um, bring attention to the park, but also let people know that new bridge is there. Um, and so I love art and I I I've been torn about this, but really the feedback that I keep getting is this is a neat idea, but please don't put it on on this train that's been there for a long time.

Good points. Thank you. Councelor Walker, do you want to weigh in? [snorts] I have to echo everything I've heard. I mean, I've I've had a few calls on it saying, "Don't mess with it. Respect it the way it was. I It sounds like we need to re redo it. It sounds like it needs some some love." um having a mural on the new bridge when he gets here. I think it's a great idea. Draw to the new with new, but let's leave this the way it is. Okay. I would um I actually am on board with all that you have said. I think we need to leave this alone. Uh a new fresh coat of paint, freshen it up. But I would like to see I I see parts of her art that I like,

but as most of us, well, some of us or we've seen it when we travel. We've been blessed to be able to travel to other cities or we see it online. A lot of cities will have their city in big letters, vibrantly painted in some bright colors. And I could see her doing that on Kingman and putting that somewhere in one of our parks and well or in this park even or maybe on the mounted on that bridge so people can see it on the one side. I mean there's a couple different places where we could put that. Um because I I am favor of art also. It gives color to our life. So that's sort of where I stand on it. C Vice Mayor, you want to say some more comments? I just I just wanted to add uh before we we take a vote, I just I would like council to consider I would like to see something put into the budget to um refurbish this and add some light. So, do some silhouette or or some something that showcases that it's there. Um our shield is lit up at night. There's no reason why this we can't find a way to light this up um as well. And I think it will really add to everything else that that's there. So, um I don't know um if we want to send it back for that or if we're going to put that in the motion. What do you prefer, Carl? Carl,

I I you would if you're looking to deny this, then you would look to deny it and we would bring something back that would have some budget monies to do what you're asking for and it may be next budget cycle. I don't know, not knowing the cost of those. So, that's going to be a deferral to the city manager and finance director. Then I would like to make a motion if you're

I actually did I did want to I like what what basically what you're suggesting councelor Dyken suggested it too of highlighting it more putting a refresh and even just a really thin line of LED lights around the so it it lights that silhouette up but once again I know we have some citizens that are longtime citizens here. Would that be something that would be that you'd like to see at night so it's lit up? So, we really shouldn't engage without inviting. I'm sorry. Unless I call them forward and we did end that time period, but you as the mayor can reopen it. [laughter]

Well, they were they were nodding their heads and we'll get more feedback on it anyway. So, because like you said, Carl, it would need to be brought forward to us again for so for as a budget item. So, I think manager Walsh has heard what we are desiring and so Vice Mayor, I think you'd like to make a motion denying this denying item 4 A. I would like to make a motion to deny um item for a approval of artistic enhancement to the train silhouette mural at Lewis Kingman Park. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Thank you. Now, Carl,

this these monies, this $12,500 is in this current budget cycle. Is that correct? So there is no reason that we can't get the lights and get this refurbished with these same monies, not using them all, but I mean they can they can find that it's going to be less expensive, but please um get it done with this budget cycles money and don't bring it back in budget. Okay, thank you.

Great. And once again, we would like to thank our commissions and the input that they did give on this. Oftentimes we agree with our commissions. Sometimes we have to deviate a little bit and go a different direction. So, thanks again. Item 4B, discussion and consideration of adopting ordinance number 1992, establishing a four-year mayor term. Staff is bringing this item for discussion and consideration of adopting a four-year term for the mayor. Ordinance number 1992 modifies the city code chapter 2, article 2, section 2-19A, the term of office of the mayor from two years to four years and allows for the change to be placed on the primary election ballot for a vote of the qualified electors of the city to approve the change. Council discretion. Manager Walsh.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, as you're all well aware, uh, council serves on four-year terms. The mayor has served on a two-year term, and that has been the way, I think, ever since we could find. So, that that's been the way it has. There's been some discussion um in the past and and even uh recently about expanding that two-year term to a four-year term. So, um, in order to do so, it would need to go on the bud or on the budget on the ballot. Um, and prior to doing that, we wanted to uh get council's direction on whether or not to put that on the ballot to for the um it'd be the primary ballot of this year uh for consideration if ch if council chose to move that direction. Um just want to point out um timing wise, this wouldn't go into effect until the 2028 election. So it would not be in effect as part of this election. So, um, if it if it were to go on the ballot and if it were successful at the ballot, it wouldn't go into effect until 2028. So, be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, manager Walsh. What are are what is our sister cities doing? Bullhead and Lake Havsu City. My understanding is that both of those have four-year terms mayors. Okay. Thank you. Any questions for manager Walsh Council? Okay. I don't have a question, but can I a comment? Yes. Question comments. I'm sorry. Got a comment.

You know, and I I've thought about this the last time it was on the ballot and that was back in 18, I believe. To be a mayor for two years. You're spending eight months of that 24 months campaigning. To me, that's a waste of time. Uh, the mayor has ideas, shares it with the council, and I think you just need a little bit more time to to get more accomplished. Running a two-year term, I don't think is effective. Thank you, councelor. Any other comments or questions? Councelor Dikens,

I totally agree with Councilman Sal Savage. Um, I the the term that I am on right now is a two-year term filling in for a previous council member. Um, yeah, it's like you're spending 34s of the term dealing with petitions and running for office and everything else. To me, four years is the only smart way to do it. So, I'm in favor of it at least being put on the ballot. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? Yes, councelor W.

I'm opposed to it. I was opposed to it the last time. If you if you get a good mayor, that's great. If you don't, four years is a long time to not be able to vote them out. And I'm reminded of 2020 and uh all the things that took place not here, not just here, but all over the country where the mayors were totally out of control with the force masking and business shutdowns. I'm opposed to it and I will win a no vote. Okay. Thank you, councelor C. The vice mayor.

I will support this. And the reason I support this is you can get a bad council member also. So I feel like the mayor has one vote of seven and they they equally vote as do all of us. So if you do have a bad mayor then you know majority always always rules. So I will be in voting in favor of this. I do appreciate the hard work it is to campaign and to campaign every two years would just be awful. So I commend you. [laughter] Thank you Vice Mayor. I appreciate it. Anybody else? Yeah, I'll councelor Walker,

I support this. Um I I don't think it's fair that it seems like you just get elected and you're already campaigning again and um I think it's fine. Let's put it to a vote of the people that I'll support this to get it to the to the election. Okay. Thank you. Councelor Saley, any comment? You don't if you don't have me, we're good. No, no, you don't because I have something I wanted to say, too. So, we're good. No, please go ahead.

Okay. This is from personal experience. I am blessed and fortunate that I was on council first elected back in 2018 because it sort of gave me an idea of what council does and of course watching the mayor and how she directed the affairs of the city and represented the city in public settings and such. It was huge learning curve and so I appreciate it. Then of course when I was elected in 22 to well I actually I filled fulfilled her term. She stepped down uh early and I finished her term out as as mayor and then of course was reelected in 22 and again in 24. Um it's a learning curve. It's huge. And to learn the responsibilities of what you could do and all the different facets and I still mess up. Manager Walsh can testify to that. I I miss meeting sometimes and I feel bad because it's not the man or woman that fills this position. It's the it's the position itself and the respect that is given and just by having your face there what it means and what it says that you are concerned about our community and I think that's important. So I I am in favor before your term also. So anyway, vice I mean councelor Saley.

Yeah, okay. One more. And this isn't putting you in or putting the mayor in for four-year terms. This is just it's like my petition. Get enough signatures and I'm on the ballot. People can vote for or against, but at least it puts me on the ballot. I look at this as the same thing. We're just putting the issue on the ballot for the community to make a decision.

Well, and the worst thing if for some reason, whether it was a councilman or a mayor that was really messed up and doing things wrong, there's always the the possibility of a recall. So, or that is that the right terminology, manager Walsh, or Yes, sir. Actually, Annie, all of you could weigh in because you all are experts on this. But anyway, there are avenues for removal. Let's put it that way. So anyway, I think that's I think we Is there any further discussion on this item? Can we have a motion then approving item 4B? Discussion and consideration of adopting ordinance sir. You do have somebody signed up to speak on this item.

Thank you. I appreciate that. Thanks for the reminder. We do have a citizen would like to comment on this. Dr. Rob Christensen, please come forward. I apologize. doctors and you're y you all are probably going, "Oh god, that's that Christensen fellow speaking again." [laughter]

Um, Mr. Mayor, uh, Miss Vice Mayor and City Council members, I submitted a letter to the, uh, Kingman City Council regarding this item via Mr. Walsh. In that letter, I expressed my support for the Kingman City Council to permit Kingman voters to decide whether to approve or reject the amendment to the Kingman City Charter to extend the term of the Kingman mayor. Even if the Kingman City Council places this on the ballot, there's no guarantee that it will pass. However, there's a greater point. The Kingman City Council is showing civility and respect towards its voters by letting them decide whether to extend the term of the Kingman mayor. I hope that the King Kingman City Council continues to exhibit civility and respect towards its residents, unlike another governmental body previously mentioned during the call to the public section of this meeting. In closing, if you have any questions or want additional information regarding the letter submitted or my comments regarding this item, please feel free to contact me. Thanks for permitting me to the opportunity to speak on this item.

Thank you, Rob. Any further comment or discussion? Okay, seeing none, can we have a motion then approving item 4B, discussion, consideration of adopting ordinance number 1992, establishing a four-year mayor term. So moved. Second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed?

I thank you. Appreciate that motion carries. Item 4 C, approval of the city of Kingman strategic plan, outlining the city's focus, areas, priorities, and action items for the upcoming fiscal year. The strategic plan establishes the city's areas of focus and identifies the spec the specific priorities and action items staff will work to accomplish within the next fiscal year. The plan is organized into four sections. Infrastructure, economic development, fiscal and organizational responsibility, and community engagement and outreach. The strategic plan is intended to guide staff efforts, align resources, and ensure continued progress in maintaining city services, supporting econom economic growth, strengthening financial stability, and improving communication and engagement with the community. Staff recommends approval. Sarah, welcome. Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, council. Uh, just to give you a little um background on this item. Back in December, council and staff held a fall planning retreat where we identified the city's focus focus areas and began drafting a strategic plan. That draft was presented to council at our work session in January where council provided direction on several updates and changes that they wanted made. Based on that feedback, staff made those revisions. Uh, one of the main revisions was to add a timeline to the main strategic plan document with deadlines and also to redo the layout to make it more user friendly. Uh, tonight we're presenting the updated strategic plan for you. Um, if you have any questions on the layout or any of the content, I'm happy to answer them. And we also have our directors here who can answer on any specific action items.

Council, any questions or comments for Sarah? Okay. Thank you, Sarah. Seeing none, can we have a motion then approving item 4C, approval of the city's Kingman strategic plan? I'll make it. Thank you, Councelor Savage. Do we And do we have a second? Second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Nay.

Thank you. Motion carries. Item 4 D. Adopt a notice of intent to consider increasing certain rates at the Serbach Cliffs Golf Course. Staff has been given direction evaluate direction evaluate rates at the Serbat Cliffs Golf Course to try to get the facility closer to self-supporting. The proposed rate increases were discussed at the February 11th, 2026 golf commission meeting with the commission approving increases to daily fee rates for residents and non-residents unanimously. The commission opted to wait to to consider increases to season passes and related trail fees for a later date by a 3-2 vote. Staff recommends council approve the recommending increases as well as similar increases to season passes and adopt a notice of intent and set a public hearing date of May 5th, 2026. Rob

Mike Mike I mean I'm sorry. It's all right. It's one of those days. Thank you, Mayor C. I'm sorry, Mike. Mayor, vice mayor, and council. Thank you very much. It's okay. You can call me.

I'm good with that. I'm good with that. [laughter] Um, lightens up the golf, uh, rate lingo. Any [laughter] rate, I appreciate though. Appreciate the opportunity obviously to talk to to you about this and, uh, I really appreciate our staff, uh, our new golf professional put a lot of work into this and Patrick, our leadership team at the golf course, they researched a lot of stuff and put a lot of work into this, too. So, and I this is a new one that's up here, but we found out it was brought to my attention earlier today that we had it so that uh the senior and veterans on 18 holes walking were not getting a discount. They they were paying more than uh uh residents. So, it was brought to our attention. So, we think that needs to be changed and hopefully that would be a motion to approve that. But uh and so that's highlighted in yellow there. And that would um it was suggested either 27 or $28. So I would leave that up to the council to make that um recommendation. But uh um and this is what how we got to this. We gave the commission three different options to look at. They they they thought the um the um rack rate is what we call it is the non-resident rate and all these other rates are based off of that. And uh and these rates were based off of a 10% increase to um to residents. So it's not and the the the non-resident rate goes up like 35 or 40%. So um that's kind of what was recommended by the commission, I think. And uh so that's kind of what we went with and they chose the $65 rack rate which affects all these other rates. So that's kind of how we got to that. And uh then the other one is on the weekends staff recommends uh um discounts don't go into effect till afternoon. We don't want to fill up our early morning tea times which are the prime time tea times with discounts. We don't have to discount them. They're packed full. We

rather have people paying the full rate. So that is that. Um and the green just spells out what how we came to this. And um obviously we talked too about the um the resident rate being the water district and and what else we like about that is we think we're going to be able to take the uh software that we have from our water department users and implement that with our golf now software. So it'll be a lot easier to identify who's a resident, who's a non-resident. Um, so that's all that's that about the this is was approved by the commission. And then the um not sure how I get to the other page, but and we can talk I can answer I can answer questions about that if you have questions about that section of it. That's the daily fee rates. So any questions for Mike?

Yeah. Councelor Ward, let's start with you. I don't I don't have a question, but I'm the leazison for the golf commission and a couple of them their main concern was that they wanted people to know that this did not come from the golf commission, that it came from council initially. They to raise the rates and I just wanted to put that out there because they wanted it, you know, and uh but I'm in agreement with Mike so far. Okay, good. Councelor Savage.

Yeah. Just quick question. Uh with the software that you're looking to transfer over for the residentials, what about the citizens that live in condos, apartments that the water bill is not in their name? How would you verify that? Just by the address? Yes. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Walker. Couple things. Mike, when was the last time we had a rate increase? Well, we had a rate increase last year, a small one, but prior to that, it wasn't seven or eight years that we had one. So, and then also, do you think we have too many rates? Well, I definitely think we have too many rates and we always end up coming up with more. So, I mean, it's simp. [clears throat]

Yeah. Well, we tried to make this a little more simple by putting the boxes that the current rate and then the new rate. So, um, if there's some that, um, the council would rather not have, um, we're we're open to that. We're, you know, open to. And how it kind of got started, too, just so you know, the the the veterans and senior rates were were not approved by council in the past for daily fees, but we implemented as a as a special, and then it just kind of got momentum and they just stopped having it as a special and just offered it all the time. So, you know, there's things like that that we could um take out as well. I just think it might, you know, it's it's confusing. I'm not sure how your staff keeps it all straight, but

we think it's confusing, too. It's challenging obviously, but uh with with the um software that we have, it's a little bit better. And what else is really good about the software we have, if uh it's going to be able to be uh that these rates, if it's after noon, that they're they can't ring that rate up before noon. that you can set which is a good thing I think. So in other words, it's not it's not people given special deals which we I I try to stay away from special deals. I think it's important that we treat every customer the same and try to be consistent in what we do. So our staff really understands this better than somebody to look at it. I mean it is challenging with all that we have and that's just the daily fee rates obviously and there's whole another page of the um season passes. So anyway, [sighs] I can move on to the

Do you want to have more? No, we get the next page. Okay. [laughter] Vice Mayor, I'll save mine till the end. Mayor. Yes. Two things now, actually. Yes. The the chart is very confusing, but if we adopt this, won't the chart be cut in half? Because it's not going to show a current versus 26. It's going to show the one thing. That's exactly right.

Okay. Second thing, um, thank you for showing a discount for the seniors and veterans, but when the time comes, I'm going to make a recommendation it not be $28, that it be 27 to make it equal with the rest of what the chart shows. because there's $2 difference throughout the chart where just this little bit is just showing the one. So to make it the same, not $1, not that $1 makes a big deal, but to make it the same throughout.

Okay, good suggestion. And if I could, the uh the rate that we're talking about is 18 holes walking and hardly any of the people we're talking about and seniors and veterans, not very many of them walk, so it's really not going to affect much. Most of them are cart users. So, okay. Any other comments? Yes, councelor Saley. I have um two questions. one. Um, when you talk about the water bill as being proof that you live that you live in Kingman, are you asking people to have a trash bill because those are the Kingman residents, but we do have water service outside of the city limits.

Yeah. Yes, we do. And and our thought obviously was obviously that the water users are what pay for the water at all of our parks, all of our golf course at city complex. and that's why the water district was selected. And we could do the trash service if that's what the council would rather see. We just don't feel like it should be Golden Valley and Valley Vista and uh you know that's kind of what we're trying to get away from. And in the past it was Kingman Unified School District and those are pretty far out too some of them. So we're just trying to get it. So and if if the city of Kingman had a property tax then I would say it should only be people that pay city of Kingman property tax but we don't have that. So that's what we're trying to just get it closer to that.

Okay. I I bring it up just because so many people are confused about whether or not they actually live in the city limits and you're saying they live in Kingman, but not all of them really do live in the city limits if you just go by the water. So that's why I just wanted to clarify how you're handling that. The other question I have is it says on our agenda that increases for the season passes and related trail fees uh will be looked at at a later date. Why are we waiting to look at those and when can we expect to hear a recommendation on that?

Well, our recommendation is that we accept these that are up here now and that's what these are. the the the commission wanted to hold off and talk about it more and a couple of them did it and talk about it more and then implement it a little not 10% which we know that 10% added on to these rates is still a very good deal for anybody who has a season pass in our in the city of Kingman our golf course is a a very good golf course and and when you look at rates that other places have our rates are definitely a very good deal so um so you are recommending we're recommending We're recommending all the staff recommends, right? Is not.

Yeah. The commission wanted to wait and talk about it and implement them later, little by little, and and we don't think 10% is that much to implement them. So, thank you. Thank you, Mike. Vice Mayor,

since uh councelor Staley went there, I'll go there, too. Um, so yes, I I do take issue with us not getting a recommendation from the commission for uh rate increases for season passes. The goal and the directive from council down to the comm the golf commission is to get the golf course in a at least revenue neutral position. we cannot continue to keep doing the same things that we're doing and we're making improvements and we've spent a lot of money on the golf course. So, I also I'm also discouraged that the commission wanted it on the record that these rate increases did not come from them. So, I I say to the commission that I am disappointed that you're sitting on a commission where you've been given a directive from council to make the golf course profitable or at least revenue neutral. We take that very serious. We have had several discussions and that we are very split on our council as far as how we set in the golf course and should we have it? Is it quality of life? You know, it's bleeding, you know, should we h how do we fix this? So, I am in favor of a rate increase for our P season pass holders at the 10%. And again, I do think that is is a great uh value for our season passholders. We need to start getting this revenue in. And the only way to do that, I think, to take it back to the commission and let them continue to discuss about it is not helping our city uh with our overall goal. So, um I only say this to you to put it on the record. So, hopefully the golf commission is listening, but I am going to um support that uh rate increase uh for season pass holders as well as well.

I to councelor Saley's point, I am in favor of the water bill. You know, if you're a rateayer and you're paying into the water bill, you're you're paying into the golf course and it's quality of life and that's what we talk about. So, you know, I I am in favor of using that as a qualifier for being a a resident uh to get the resident rate. So, um yeah, that's that's what I had to say is that I I think we should move ahead with this and let's let's start making money at the golf course, please. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Councelor Walker, I know you wanted to wait for page two. Here it is. I just had a question on the semianual pass. It says we're deleting was never approved by council.

Was that what what what we we're not really deleting it. We're we're we're still going to have one, but it's going to be called You see where it's on there? It's going to be a six-month pass. Okay. So, we're still going to have one. If you're a snowbird, you can pick your months. Yeah. Okay. Right. And it's slightly more than half of what the yearly one is. So, Right. Yeah. That's another month. Now, you can pick, right? That's what you can do. So, Thank you. Yep.

Thank you, counselor, for bringing that up. Any other comments or questions for Mike? More comments about this. Okay. I think Mike, I think you've seen the direction we want to go as a council that of course we want to include just raise all the rates at the same time. No reason to wait. And of course, this will be brought forward as it mentions that it'll become it'll come forward again in council and as a public hearing on May 5th, 2026. So, can we have a motion then approving item 4D, adopt a notice of intent to consider increasing certain rates at the Serb Cliffs Golf Course? So, move.

I'll second that. But I also want to make sure that we include in the motion that uh we are going to in increase the season pass holders as well at a 10% increase. Okay, I agree. We have Okay, we have a motion and then we have a second discussion and yes, council Dens. a little tiny thing about changing it from 28 to $27 for veterans and seniors so that the entire chart kind of equals out correctly. Okay. And that added to it. Okay, Mike. Yep. Okay. But that has to go to that. Is that once again the motion? Are you fine with that council? I'm fine with that change. I'll second that amendment.

Carl's button. Okay. You [laughter] have a motion to approve as presented. Then I asking for a motion that would amend that original motion to add the to include the the change which would has to be seconded. We have just to clarify my interpretation is we have a motion to approve the agenda item and then I seconded but I also asked to increase the annual passholder by 10%. Right.

Councelor Ward amended his motion. I second it. Then councelor Dykins had discussion and councelor Ward amended and I seconded his amendment. If you all are clear, we are good. We need to vote. Carl, I I I'm okay with that. But I just I I think what we want is clarity on exactly what we're doing. So, it would be good to state. Do you want me to redo it, Carl? We can do that, too. Well, can we just ask clerk Meredith to restate the motion?

I I can restate the the motion. I would say for our record purposes, it would be best now that council knows all of the things that you want to maybe withdraw those motions and do a fresh clean motion. I would also note that the staff recommendation does include the portion that vice mayor is requesting. So, that didn't need to be an additional um thing. Is that okay, Attorney Cooper? Attorney Cooper agrees that it would be really clear if you started all over by withdrawing [laughter] your current motion. We we could do that, Carl. We want to be correct and clarity is important. These rates are so confusing.

Do I need to [laughter] So would you prefer that I withdraw my second? Correct. If we just withdrew all our motions that duly noted and then start a new motion. Okay. Knowing that the staff's recommendation already does include what you were asking for. That's right. So, the only additional item would be what Councilman Dykens was looking at if that was added to the motion.

Okay. So, then can we have a motion adopting item 4 D, adopt a notice of intent to consider increasing certain rates at the Serbach Cliff's Golf Course with the qualifier that Mr. Did I legally speaking here under 18? You took it off the thing. 18 holes walking. On the 18-hole walking that the seniors and the veterans pass uh be reduced from 28 each to 27 each so that it sets all of the rates the same way. Okay. Are we good, Carl?

We're good. Second. and Addie. Okay, so we have that motion and of course once again as was pointed out SAR recommends in that that that increases across the board. Season passes everything. Do we have a motion for that? [laughter] We did it. We never talked yet. Okay, good. But yes, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Thank you staff for the guidance. We appreciate it. And Mike, forgive me. Okay.

Item 4 E, annexation, East Walapai, case number AN25-00001. Consideration of discussion to further expand the proposed annexation boundary to include an additional 3,68 acres, of which 3,38 are governed by the Bureau of Land Management, and approximately 30 acres are privately owned, located east of the current city boundary and Cherokee Street, north of Walapai Mountain Road, south of Southern Avenue, and west of Flying Fortress Rancho Santa Fe. Council discretion. Jason, welcome. with expert help from Annie. Mayor, council. Thank you. Before you tonight is annexation case number AN25- Z001. This is the annexation for the East Walpai area, Walapai Mountain Foothills. Uh just a little bit of background, as you all probably remember, we started this process back in 2024. We've brought forward a couple different annexation areas before this body. Uh most recently in December, we came back and we amended the boundary to exclude the portions that were going to be south of Walpai Mountain Road. And then in January uh at uh the request of uh community member and ultimately at the council's uh direction, they asked us to bring back an additional amended

boundary to uh to consider before moving forward. So before you tonight, I'm going to present two potential options for you. Option A, which would be an additional 3,38 acres uh and then option B, which is 3,68 acres. Overall, if we were to annex this the area in and we were to take in all of the uh annexation uh areas, it'd be 4,268 acres of which about approximately or 143 acres would be for future residential, 127 acres for future commercial. 30 acres is currently developed with a single family home as well as some agricultural uses and then 3,038 acres which is currently part of the uh Bureau of Land Management open space. So currently proposed which is uh bound by the yellow boundary. This is the area that uh council's already given staff direction on. So this is what we're already moving forward with. However, before you tonight is the area that's slightly shaded in purple, which is option A, which would be to allow or to add 3,38 3,38 acres to the annexation area. The lands that are proposed, these are all lands that are controlled by BLM. So, Bureau of Land Management, uh, if they were annexed into the city, they'd be annexed in as open space. And then option B for discussion tonight takes into consideration the small area just below the yellow line that is north of Walapai Mountain Road. And again, that's about 30 acres. This is under a single ownership uh by a family member here within the city of Kingman. And again, it does have a single family home and there are some agricultural operations that do take place on the property. So staff is seeking your direction this evening uh ultimately to come back with a revised blank petition final boundary for the annexation. So before you tonight will be options A or B to be

ultimately amended for the annexation boundary. I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you Jason. Questions for Jason.

Yes councelor. [cough] The only question I have is if we annex that uh BLM land, will that change the ability to recreate firearms, uh target shooting, things that we do out there now, Vice Mayor, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilman Ward, uh because it's under the control of BLM, it would actually stay under control for BLM. So, what they currently allow for for uh the purposes of camping and so forth could remain. Uh I'll defer to our police chief who isn't here, but uh there are regulations that discuss the disclo discharging of firearms within the city boundary. So, that would be something that would be restricted uh from a local level, but again, it is under federal control.

City attorney. So my response is that we have a city code section that prohibits the firing or discharging of a a firearm within city limits. There are some exceptions uh pursuant to hunting and being within uh a certain distance which I don't know off the top of my head but I can pull up uh within uh an occupied structure. Uh, so we did have a question regarding uh archery, which is fine, but the the discharge of the firearms, I I'm not sure if that's something that would be superseded by the federal control of that property or if it looks like it's an issue that we need to address, then we can address it in our city code as well. it it is an area that's used quite frequently for target practice and so on and uh that was my only question.

Good question. Councelor Ward Carl, isn't that isn't it a quarter mile within an occupied I believe I was going to try and because there's a a fed a federal a state statute regarding discharge of firearms and then we have one that's our city code and I was going to pull up our city code while we're here. Uh, so if you want to talks amongst yourselves, I will uh see what I can find. Vice Mayor comment while

I had a a question and I was gonna go the opposite way. So I'm hopeful that this bringing this into the city, the BLM land, we will be able to uh enforce ordinances on camping and squatting and all those things that happen up there. So tell me what you know about that and how this will change. Mayor, Vice Mayor, I I would say very similarly because this land is federally controlled under BLM, uh they do allow for camping upon their properties upon obtaining their permit. I think the best thing I could probably give you as a as a description if you were driving into Lake Havsu, there are areas within the city boundary that are BLM lands that they do allow for camping uh with their permits that are obtained. I believe it is does allow for six months at a time.

And I'm talking about those that would not apply for a permit. So, those not applying for a permit again under BLM land, they they would still have the jurisdiction on their land. Okay. All right. Thank you. Good question, Vice Mayor. Any other comment or question for Jason right now while Carl's perusing the city code? I'm almost there. Yes, councelor Sely. between option A and option B. Um can you talk a little bit why why are we being given that option and why would we consider um notching out that little

So specifically under option A because it's BLM land there's not really an opportunity for them to uh vote as part of the annexation process. The other portion uh that's under option B that is an occupied land. it is a kingman or resident that is familiar with the city, they would have voting rights with it. So, should they come forward, should they choose to not want to be part of uh the annexation, they would have the opportunity to actually protest it. Okay. And do we know that where they stand on this?

We have had discussions and conversations with the property owners at this point in time. We believe that we've answered their questions satisfactorily and that they're they are in favor of it. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor. Councelor Dikkins, I don't want to sound like I have no clue what we're doing here, but I guess I will. When we annex BLM land, does that mean that we can develop it uh or anything? Or is it BLM land? And if it stays like that, then what's the whole purpose of going through the process of annexing it? What benefits do we get if we annex it versus leaving it alone?

Question, Jason, I'm sure, or manager Walsh, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilman Dykins. Uh, the property itself, if it was annexed into the city, it would come in as open space. It would remain in that capacity. should the city ever wish to program it, do something developable on it, uh, for open space purposes, regional parks, something of that nature. Uh, I do believe that we have to trade lands with BLM, uh, because these would be lands that were annexed and conveyed accordingly. And I'll defer.

I believe there are opportunities as well. um and I forget the name of it, but working with BLM if it as long as it remains a public entity as long as it remains with the city um and we're not basically we're not selling it or anything like that. There are opportunities where we can acquire property from BLM for parks and and those types of things. So the the benefit on this is if it's in if we annex BLM there it gives us that opportunity to if we do wish to expand and and and put a park or a regional park or something like that we could make that request to BLM to acquire that property.

Doesn't the possibility also exist that of course the BLM could sell off or trade some of that to a private some to private development too down the road which then would be it's already in city limits. So then we we would benefit from that too. That that could be a possibility. Yes. Yeah. Mayor.

Yes. Counc. Also something to consider is it helps the city have some control over what happens in those foothills in that area and that um I think it it's a great benefit to the city to keep it open space to make it a park to um I know that there are some proposed trails um a loop in that area and some other things that that have been mentioned but I I just think overall to be able to have a little bit more control over this vast area is beautiful area and allowed it to stay um open space and and be able to recreate on it is really important.

Okay, councelor Dykins, did you get the answer you were looking for? Oh, absolutely. Good. I think so, too. I think this is it's some great discussion on this. Any other comments or questions? And Carl, did you find it yet?

Yeah, it's a quarter mile if it becomes a problem issue that we obviously and revise our city code if there's we'll have to check and see how it would work on BLM land. If it doesn't look like plan, then we can we can disregard the firearms. If it looks like our ordinance would impact that plan, we can make a modification city code that would exempt this section from Okay.

And of course, if there's hunting, hunting, you know, it's more I think of what council board's looking as just practice of just going up and shooting. If it's [clears throat] hunting, you're good to go. There's an organized range supervised range entity but it's just and I know we can always address it if it becomes a problem. Okay. Thank you Carl. Any other comments or questions? So we need to choose whether we want to go with option A or B. I am I'm ready to make a a motion for doing option B.

I'll second that. Okay, that motion. Okay, we have a motion for option B and we have a second. Any further discussion? Okay, all those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Thanks again, Jason. Motion carries. Thank you.

Okay, item number five. We have 5A public hearings, but we are going to that item is going to be moved forward to a future council date um because we need more information on that subject. So, we will push that. We have item 6A, leg department reports, legislative update, Tom Dorne. Manager Walsh, is Tom available? There he is. He is online. Tom, welcome

everybody. Good to see you all. Uh, great meeting. I always enjoy listening to you guys talk about uh all your plans there. Uh, anyway, just to give you a quick I know it's the end of the meeting, so quick uh update and look forward to seeing you all uh next week for your day down at the Capitol. Um, our three legislators are very excited, looking forward to that and uh we have lunch scheduled at them uh on on Tuesday obviously and then meetings. We're working on some meetings uh some similar from last year and trying to get some different ones for you uh this coming Tuesday. Um, with regard to the legislative session, we are uh day 51. So, we're halfway done, right? Uh, day 51, uh, over 2100 bills have been introduced and, um, 11 have been vetoed and three have been signed by Governor Hobbs. So, um, we just finished what they call the flip or crossover week, uh, when all the bills, uh, from the House have to get out of the house and and vice versa, out of the Senate. So, bills were not heard in committee, uh, they're dead. So, of these 2,000 bills, which were really a waste of time and paper, u uh, are many of them are dead and and the survivors will continue on to the other chamber. We fully expect a lot of bills to be amend. Now is the time where we really have to spend a lot of time looking at amendments because you don't know what dead bill is now being amended on to a germanine bill. And last year when we had Kingman Day at the capital, we decided to keep it around this time because now instead of wasting time talking to them about a bill that didn't

make it, now we know what bills are still alive. And so, but over the next week here, really want to encourage you to and if you have any questions, if I can help you with anything on on answering some questions regarding legislation, it's we're in the perfect time because now bills that are are live, we can talk to our our um legislators as well as others while we're down there at the capital, including the governor's office. So, um the next just so you know a timeline for the legislature. Uh the next uh uh deadline is March 27th and then that's when all the Senate bills have to be heard in the House and the House bills be heard in the Senate and then there's one extra week for the appropriations committees to meet and uh it's and then it's Easter weekend. I always call it Lazarus week because all the dead bills come back [laughter] the very last second uh to get on an agenda and uh all the dead bills come back. Uh anyway uh and then we will be done on the 100th day which is uh April 21st. So um just looking forward to that. Um, it's been my experience every time we have a, and I've told you this before, a Democrat governor with a Republican legislature, we're usually there well into May and often into June. So, we'll see what happens, especially in an election year. Um with regard to u mayor and council members uh with regard to some of the big bills um that are out there, of course we have the uh uh the RTAC, the regional uh transport regional transportation advisory council legislation that takes all the bills all all the priority transportation projects uh from WHOG and all the other COGS and put it into a bill. uh Representative Basuchi being the chair of the transportation committee. He is the

sponsor of that bill. And as you know, we've got uh 9 million requests in there for Rancho Santa Fe, 1.5 for Bank Street uh between Grace Neil Parkway and Cay Castano. I'm just reading this here. And then the 7.3 uh for the Flying Fortress. So, we have a lot of requests out there. And I was talking to Representative Vasuchcci about it and he said, you know, we'll do what we can. He he he's in a position uh as well as Representative Gillette and Senator Angus to fight for everything they can for District 30. And they know that these projects are important to the city of Kingman, especially Representative Gillette, uh being from there. Uh so they're they're they're going to push as hard as they can. The problem is we have a real money shortage here. Uh you hear that all the time, but it's true. And uh especially with some of the things that are hanging out there and the election, the governor is not inclined to uh she she's really going to be pushing on the education funding as she always does. Uh but also this whole tax conformity issue that she has vetoed twice that really throws a wrench into the budget because the Republicans refused to send it up to her again and whatever is going to be done on the conformity that affects our the way we file our t taxes, it will have to be done in the budget negotiations. Okay. So budget negotiations as you know uh oftentimes spill into April and beyond because usually if we get it done early in March that's a good thing because you don't have all the new revenue coming in in April. So when it gets past a certain point uh that's when they start to drag their feet and wait for more money to come in so they don't have to make the tough decisions. And uh uh I have a

sense that's probably what we're going to be dealing with uh again because I've only seen, you know, it's interesting that the entourage comes out of the House and it comes out of the Senate, the the budget lead the leaders and they go into the old capital and I've only seen that twice so far. Usually you see a lot more momentum going. So uh who knows? Hopefully I'm wrong, but uh they just don't seem as quick to to pass a budget uh these days. Um and before I talk about some of the bills, are there any questions at this point? I I know I talk a lot, so you got to interrupt me. Thanks, Tom. Council, any questions for Tom at this point? I do have a couple, Tom. Yes, Vice Mayor.

Good evening. Thanks for joining us. Um are I know we talked about having white papers available for our meeting and I know our meeting is fast approaching but are we going to get some white papers? Is staff working on that for the governor's meeting and then also uh for our delegation? I will uh save Tom on that one. We are working on those. Yes. We've got we're working on both white papers on our projects but then we're also working on um bills that are of concern to the city. So we'll have both of those um to council by the end of the week. that way you have it before we head down next week.

Okay, great. And then so I guess then for you Tom, um I just was wondering um how many in-person meetings you're having with our delegation and what is coming out of those in-person meetings because I know we had talked about that at contract renewal that we really wanted to see you not just passing them in the hall, but actually meeting with them and having conversations with them and talking to them about Kingman. So can you update us on that? uh mayor uh vice mayor council members uh if there is a specific bill uh to talk to them about I do um uh Senator Angus I've been talking with her regarding 1167 which is a priority one of the bills that we're working on it got out of the Senate this past week uh 19 to8 and uh so um that was something that she has been working on uh regarding uh transportation issues and others with Basuchi, Representative Basuchi. I see him and Representative Gillette in the committee uh the transportation committee because I'm in the transportation committees every week. Uh so um I've talked to Representative Vasuchi regarding the water issues on uh the Sacramento uh and the Walopai. Talked to him about that. I represent Gillette. Uh when I run into him, I always ask him, "Is there anything you want to pass on to the council? Uh uh anything I can help you with?" So when I think about it, there isn't any specific bill that Gillette, Representative Gillette and I have talked about. Um it really is has to do with the issues. Uh so that that's my update on that.

Thank you. I have a question, Tom. And hi, by the way. um on transportation with the HERF funds. Um we know that it's been going down for registration purposes because electric vehicles also use the roads and don't pay gas taxes. Has there been any discussion about raising registration fees for electric vehicles?

Yeah, mayor. Uh representative, yes, there I mean councilman, I'm sorry, I'm so used to should have said Mr. chairman and representative or senator uh mayor council members councilman uh yes there's a lot of discussion with regard to uh uh registration changes with regard to uh electric vehicles uh something needs to be done uh this is uh we're getting into so yes there is legislation but it it's not going all the way uh there is some legislation with regard to tax um on the other direction as far as not generating revenue, but uh uh uh tax gas gas tax holidays. And a lot of this is because some of the legis I think it really has to do with wanting to get Governor Hobbs to have to veto it. Look, we tried to cut your gas tax, but she vetoed it. So, that's that's little dance is going on, too. But we don't we don't want the hurf to be reduced in and rural communities especially rural Arizona greater Arizona does not want to see the hurf uh taken down. So uh reduced and so uh I I I need to ask Mr. Walsh and up, you know, to you through him, of course. Uh how do you want to take some positions on some of these uh that would hurt the hear? Um uh because it's it's an election year, so they do these things to cut the gas tax, but then they turn around and complain that there's not enough funding for transportation projects in their district. And so I think see things like that it got through the first half of the session. But those are some things that perhaps we do a white paper on to to really um uh drive it home to the legislators that you cannot you should

be generating more revenue for transportation not finding ways to reduce revenues to the hearthf simply for short-term political purposes. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, [clears throat] Tom, continue please.

Uh, mayor and and uh, council, uh, there's also some other um, I already talked about, but there's other bills that have died along the way. The art the vacation rental issue. Um, it's it was interesting now, as you all know, that that uh, legislation now that the cities after the moratorum, they could do more with regard to short-term rentals if they wanted to. However, the industry, the short-term rental industry, just generated a trillion tons of money to fight um against legislation. So, so much money has gone in the coffers of of the elected officials from this new act, this new group that's being funded by the short-term rental industry. So, uh, where there was high, you know, hopes by many communities from the resolution committee last year, last summer at the league conference, um, that is just not going anywhere. So, that's that. Um, with regard to water, there's a lot of water issues and I'm I'm glad that rural working water water working group is going to be the day after and some of you are staying over uh to attend that on March 11th. That'll be very good. um to go through some of those. It's not as big as last year as far as the water agenda, but it is still out there, you know, with the INA uh legislation. Um uh Gio Griffin is has so many bills, it's ridiculous. Um but many of those will die and the governor continues seems to continue to have the back of rural Arizona with regard to water. Um just the volume's kind of gone down a little bit now with the Queen Creek the urban issues that have happened and Queen Creek has their water and Buckeye has their water. Uh so but but there's more there's a lot to talk about on that. Uh so that's just kind of a quick look at

it. Um uh any other uh items or questions you have for me? I can go on to a few other issues, but is there any questions that you have on specific? Great question, Tom. What is the temperature you're sensing on HB2290? Of course, the TPT or sales tax um change they want to make. Oh, uh Mayor, council, uh with regard to limiting the ability for a city to raise taxes.

Well, no, it's the sales tax where it'll they want to charge where that warehouse where the where the item is shipped from, I think. Isn't that 22.90? Yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. I got all my all my bills right here. Um, yeah, it's you're you're talking about the uh the the some cities are winners and some cities are losers. Where where is Kingman on that? Well, we would be a loser. Be a loser to the So, we are we are against that bill. Yes. Well, I think we are. Are we not council? Yes.

Yeah. mo most of the cities are and uh uh so that bill is still out there. Um but it would be helpful and I'll follow up with um with Mr. Walsh on the details of the actual revenue impact uh because like the rental tax or the food tax, you know, different cities have different impacts and so I I do not know the actual amount that you guys have. So I'd like to to know that. Okay. Thank you, Tom. Well, if you want to continue. Is council, there's any other questions for Tom at this point? Tom, do you have anything else that you want to share?

One last thing I do want to say, uh, mayor and council, is the, um, and I'll be prepared to talk to you a little bit about all the ballot measures when you're down here. Uh, a lot of them are passing out the House and the Senate. uh and and one having to do with prohibiting cities from increasing fees or taxes ever. Uh and and so some of these things are just outright ridiculous. And there are some others with regard to uh transportation, photo radar, uh all of that. But they're they're as I've mentioned to you before, it's the Republican majority is going to determine what they think will help drive uh drive Republican turnout at the ballot in this election. So that's what those resolutions are about. Some of them are about trying to get some policy changes made around the governor and not because she wouldn't sign it if it was sent up. But for the most part, they're trying to determine what would drive voter turnout for certain things. Uh on the flip side of that, there are some initiatives that would be driving Democrat turnout, which the Republican majority feels they may have to counter. So that that political dance is happening too. And don't get panicked over you hear that something passed out of the House or it passed out of the Senate. They still haven't made the decisions. that won't that will be one of the last things they do of the session. Okay, now what are we actually going to put on the send out and get on the ballot. So, um but there is a a growing list and so I'll have that prepared for you when I see you on Tuesday.

Okay. Thank you, Tom. And of course, we will see you next Tuesday. Next Tuesday, nine o'clock. I'll have donuts ready. Great. Thanks again. Have a good evening. See you later. Thank you. All right. Bye-bye. Thanks, council. Okay, moving on our agenda. Item number seven, announcements by mayor, council members, and city manager. Manager Walsh. No, nothing tonight, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Walker. Nothing tonight. Thank you. Okay. Councelor Savage, nothing tonight. Councelor Ward, Councelor Saley, Councelor Dykins, Vice Mayor.

Sheesh. Yes, I do have a couple things. So, um I just wanted to congratulate the uh Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council for opening up their amazing uh facility that is going to help our veterans in our community, our homeless veterans, as well as provide them with wraparound services and uh transportation to medical appointments. I know that uh Mayor Watkins uh was there. Uh we had Congressman Gosar uh visit us for that ribbon cutting. We had uh Councilman Ward was there and I was there. So, um, they did a great job on that facility and, uh, if you want to stop by, counselor Savage was there, but I did not see him, [laughter] but he says he was there. So, if you want to stop if you want to stop by, um, please do. They'll give you a tour. They'll tell you all about um, how they're helping our our veterans and our community. And it is uh, definitely uh, worth stopping in and taking the tour. I also wanted to um invite the public to join us in person away from your computers and out from behind social media on Thursday at 5:00 to our TPT uh work session. This is going to be an opportunity for you to talk um it's a work session for us to talk about the TPT the increase that we are uh proposing for uh road and uh pavement preservation. Um, and I want you to please consider coming with your solutions. It is always one thing to talk about everything that is wrong, but if you come with your solutions or you know something else for us to consider, I think we are a council that listens and we would be more than happy to hear what the citizens have for solutions to our issue. So, thank you for the time.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. I appreciate that. First, I do have a couple things I want to mention. Shortly after our last council meeting, that Friday after, of course, was the funeral for DPS pilot Robert Skanki. And I just want to thank our community for the support and prayers that they have offered uh for the Skakei family and um and support. That was amazing to see that compassion exhibited at that funeral. So, we appreciate that. uh this last Sunday uh I was able to attend the women making history and it's is this was the 42nd annual awards and in fact Miss Yansy was rec was was recognized and she is not here right now she's left but she was also won one of those awards I think there was 10 women total

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11 that uh were honored and recognized for their service they give in our community and of course in different categories but what a common thread in all of that was a a lot of those categories exhibited service too in our community and I am so honored to be a part of a community where service is a priority and I I thank everybody in this room and everybody who pays attention to that service that's given. Thank you. And then lastly, I do want to bring up uh of course echo what vice mayor said about this Thursday and the opportunity again for the coun for the our citizens to participate with council. And then of course March 12th we have our second coffee with the mayor which is Thursday March 12th from 8:30 to 10. And uh our first one that happened last month was quite a success. The room was almost full. There was a couple couple of empty chairs, but it was a great success and we appreciate I think as vice mayor said, get off your computer and come here in person and share your ideas of how we can make our city better and that's why we're doing this and so I appreciate that. That's all all I have otherwise. And uh C number item number eight, council requests for future reports and updates. Any from council? Okay, seeing none, tonight we do have an exe executive session um item number nine um a aloe license agreement which Carl will then enlighten us with some more. So can we have a motion to go into executive session?

So move. I'll second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? And once again everybody here in chambers, thank you for being here and participating in government. We truly appreciate it. Everybody's hungry. They've gone home already.

Okay. Well, we are back from executive session and our city attorney gave us some more information about what is going on with Aloe and so that's where we will leave it for tonight. We are adjourned. Thanks all.