Extracted text (via pymupdf)
13258 characters
MINUTES
WICKENBURG COMMON COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, April 21, 2025 - 5:30 P.M.
155 N. TEGNER - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
WICKENBURG, ARIZONA 85390
A. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Bratcher called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Brigadier General David Berkland
C. INVOCATION - Led by Pastor Jeffrey Hull, Faith Baptist Church
D. ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor BG Bratcher
Vice Mayor Brian Jones
Councilmember Kristy Bedoian
Councilmember Shawn Clark
Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
Councilmember Rebecca Rovey
Councilmember Art Rubash
Staff Present:
Troy Smith, Interim Town Manager
Trish Stuhan, Town Attorney
Tim Suan, Deputy Town Manager/Economic Development
Steve Boyle, Community Development Director
Amy Brown, Town Clerk
Les Brown, Police Chief
Robert Martinez, Finance Director
Tarah Mayerhofer, Human Resources Director
Ed Temerowski, Fire Chief
Herschel Workman, Public Works Director
E. MAYOR & COUNCILMEMBERS REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
• Councilmember Rebecca Rovey congratulated Hillary Rigo on coaching the
Wickenburg Christian Academy archery team who are going to nationals.
• Councilmember Margaret Nyberg congratulated Julie Brooks on winning the
Elizabeth Hudson Smith Western Woman of Distinction award from the Desert
Caballeros Western Museum.
• Mayor BG Bratcher stated that she has been to lots of meetings but won’t go
thought the list to save time.
Town Council Minutes of April 21, 2025
Page 2 of 6
F. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT
• Fire Chief Ed Temerowski swore in new firefighters Michael Cookman and Jonah
Dozier with the oath of office.
• Police Chief Les Brown swore in new police officer Deven Vigueria with the oath
of office.
• Interim Town Manager Troy Smith reported that the draft of the zoning code was
sent back to the company on April 8th, and we expect the final draft back within
30 days. The town will use another consultant for the public input part of the code
approval with most of the review in the fall.
• Interim Town Manager Troy Smith gave an update on the Lewis Addition Roads
that there were originally 61 properties, but that has been reduced by 19
properties. That leaves 42 properties with staff actively seeking signatures on
nine of them. 22 of the properties have been completed and 11 are in the
process with either title or legal.
• Interim Town Manager Troy Smith updated the town on the Tegner Street
repaving project. In 2024, the town repaved Tegner from Highway 93 to Frontier
Street. Phase 2 is to repave the rest of the way to Highway 60. Staff met with
business owners on April 9th to get their feedback on the timeline, which was
originally planned to start on May 5th. Following the meeting the input was
analyzed with a cost-benefit analysis of each of the proposed alternatives. It was
determined to be in the best interest of everyone to move the start date back to
June 27th with a timeline of 4-5 weeks for Tegner Street to be closed.
• Interim Town Manager Troy Smith stated that the pavement preservation projects
are going on around town with a schedule on the town website. He congratulated
Carrie Lane and Trynna Johnson for winning the Moonshot Rural Pitch
Competition with their Way Out West Wellness and will complete at the state
level in October. There is an Arbor Day workday at Coffinger Park on April 22nd,
Battle in the Burg Softball Tournament with police and fire teams on May 4th, and
two classes for workforce training starting on June 9th.
G. FINAL CALL for Request to Speak Cards to be turned into the Town Clerk.
H. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
• Vern Correa, Out-of-Town Resident, talked about the need for more sports fields
since there are two school football teams in town now.
• Bob Bandera, In-Town Resident, addressed the Turtleback Roads saying that
the area south of the cattle guard is the area that has the issues.
• Rich Hostetter, In-Town Resident, requested to know why Councilmember Rovey
recused herself from voting on the apartment issues since she said she didn’t
have a legal conflict. Town Attorney Stuhan stated that Councilmembers can’t
respond to questions during Call to the Public, but he can ask her after the
meeting.
Town Council Minutes of April 21, 2025
Page 3 of 6
I. NEW BUSINESS
1. Action on the Consent Agenda -
MOVED BY Councilmember Rebecca Rovey to approve items a, b, and c of the
consent agenda
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 7 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers
Bedoian, Clark, Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
a. Consideration and Action to Approve the Minutes of the Special and Regular
Meetings of April 7, 2025
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve the
minutes of April 7, 2025.
b. Consideration and Action Regarding New Appointment of Connie Jenson to
the Planning and Zoning Advisory Commission as an Alternate
Amy Brown, Town Clerk, reported in her Council routing form that the town
has one alternate position open on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Connie Jenson has submitted an application. This will fill all seats on this
commission.
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve the
appointment of Connie Jenson as an alternate on the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
c. Consideration and Action Approving Ordinance 1242 Amending Town Code
Section 12-2-16 Regarding Requirements for Temporary Work Zone Traffic
Control to have a Police Officer Present for Safety
Les Brown, Police Chief, reported in his Council routing form that previously,
the Town of Wickenburg discovered a need to correct and amend a current
ordinance during a standard review arising out of a complaint regarding
construction activities causing traffic problems along HWY 60. In response,
on 6/6/22, Council approved Ordinance 1226, adding requirements for
temporary work zone traffic control, which did not address traffic monitoring
for traffic safety needs while conducting roadwork on rights-of-way.
This amendment is to update the code to industry standards, requiring a
police officer's presence when construction obstructs traffic flow within 300
feet of a signal or interrupts the flow of traffic, as determined by the Public
Works Director.
Town Council Minutes of April 21, 2025
Page 4 of 6
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve
Ordinance 1242 amending requirements for temporary work zone traffic
control requiring a police officer presence for safety.
2. Presentation by Luke Air Force Base Regarding Operations, Flight Paths and
Airspace for Training
Brigadier General David Berkland stated that Luke Air Force Base has the
largest fighter wing in the world where they train 75% of the world’s F-35 pilots.
They have 135 F-35 planes with pilots training more than fourteen hours per day
with 130 missions. They currently also train with the Dutch, Danish, Norwegian,
Belgium and Italian military. Canada will soon be added to that list. They are
training for high end combat readiness throughout the night with advanced
combat training. He started at Luke AFB in 2000 as an F-16 pilot and came back
to train in 2020 with the F-35. He introduced Chas Buchanan, the Director of
Range Management, and Mark James, from Luke AFB’s community engagement
office.
Chas Buchanan, Director of Range Management, stated that the military started
training in this area in the 1940’s. There are three air force wings, the Yuma
Proving Grounds and Marines as well as Fort Huachuca who train in the area.
Their air-to-air combat training will happen in the area over Wickenburg. The air-
to-ground training is done in the southern part of the state. Wickenburg is in the
Yarnell Special Use Airspace (SUA) which connects to the Gladden and Bagdad
SUA’s. Some areas they train between 5,000 and 33,000 feet plus. The pilots
start with basic training including take off and landing. They will start with one v.
one fighter maneuvers and then move to two v. two. Advanced training can
include four v. eight or four v. twelve. They are training pilots for combat. He
showed a map of Wickenburg being in a supersonic avoidance area as the pilots
have maps on a tablet. There is an auxiliary field where they will practice their
instrument approach in the Wittman area.
Vice Mayor Jones stated he loves to see them in the area.
Mayor Bratcher asked if they could explain the sonic booms since she heard at a
meeting that they can travel up to thirty miles. Mr. Buchanan stated that they can
go up to fifty miles depending on the aircraft and atmosphere. In the winter, the
sonic booms will travel farther and be louder.
Mayor Bratcher also asked about a rumor that they touched down at the
Wickenburg airport. Mr. Buchanan stated that the runway is too short to land or
touch down as they need 8,000 feet, but they might do a no instrument approach.
Sue Wesolowski, In-Town Resident, stated that she lives near the airport and
likes the quiet of Wickenburg. She said the sonic booms have decreased since
she talked to someone at Luke AFB. She explained on April 4th that they put
Town Council Minutes of April 21, 2025
Page 5 of 6
down their landing gear but didn’t touch down at the airport. She would like to
request that they not use Wickenburg airport.
3. Public Hearing and Action on a New Liquor License Application, Series #12 to El
Ranchero, 683 W. Wickenburg Way, Applicant Theresa June Morse, and
Forward a Recommendation to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and
Control
Amy Brown, Town Clerk, reported that Theresa June Morse has applied for a
new liquor license, Series #12, for El Ranchero the Wrangler Mexican Restaurant
and Seafood, located at 683 W. Wickenburg Way. El Ranchero has recently sold,
so this permit is for the new owner and includes an interim permit since the
transfer of ownership happened on March 14, 2024. The application was
appropriately posted for twenty days. The Town Clerk's Office did not receive any
comments from the public. Additionally, the application was forwarded to the
Police Department and the Community Development Department for their
review. There were no issues identified with the application.
Public Hearing Opened by Mayor Bratcher at 6:16 PM
Public Hearing Closed at 6:16 PM with no input.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to forward a recommendation to the
Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to approve Theresa June
Morse's application for a new Series #12 liquor license for El Ranchero
SECONDED BY Councilmember Rebecca Rovey
VOTE: 7 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers
Bedoian, Clark, Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
J. EXECUTIVE SESSION - (Council May Vote to Go Into Executive Session Pursuant
to A.R.S §38-431.03(A)(3) to Receive Legal Advice from the Town Attorney on Any
of the Above Agenda Items.)
1. An Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3) and (A)(4) for
discussion and consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney to consider
its position in pending litigation. The purpose of the executive session is for the
Town Attorney and Risk Management to update Council regarding the process
and status of notices of claim and litigation matters against the town.
2. An Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3) and (A)(4) for
discussion and consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney to consider
its position in Spellins v. Armstrong, et al., Case No. CV2023-012279, Maricopa
County Superior Court. The purpose of the executive session is for the Town
Attorney, outside counsel Kristin Mackin of SIMS MACKIN LTD., and Risk
Management to update Council regarding the global settlement agreement.
Town Council Minutes of April 21, 2025
Page 6 of 6
MOVED BY Vice Mayor Brian Jones to adjourn into executive session at 6:17 PM
for items J1 and J2
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 7 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers Bedoian,
Clark, Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
The meeting was reconvened at 6:59 PM.
K. SCHEDULING OF FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS
• Interim Town Manager Smith stated that since the Council isn’t done with the
review of the budget, there needs to be another study session which was set on
Monday, May 5th from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
L. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Councilmember Shawn Clark to adjourn at approximately 7:02 PM
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 7 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers Bedoian,
Clark, Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
BG Bratcher, Mayor
ATTEST:
Amy Brown, Town Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I, Amy Brown, the duly appointed and qualified Town Clerk of the Town of Wickenburg,
do hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes
of the regular meeting of the Town Council of Wickenburg, Arizona held on April 21,
2025. I further certify the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was
present.
Amy Brown, MMC
Town Clerk