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MINUTES
WICKENBURG COMMON COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, July 7, 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 5:30 PM
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
C. INVOCATION - Led by Pastor Duane Middleton, Mt. Hope Assembly of God Church
D. ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor BG Bratcher
Councilmember Kristy Bedoian
Councilmember Shawn Clark (On Zoom)
Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
Councilmember Rebecca Rovey (On Zoom)
Councilmember Art Rubash
Absent:
Vice Mayor Brian Jones
Staff Present:
Troy Smith, Town Manager
Trish Stuhan, Town Attorney
Tim Suan, Deputy Town Manager/Economic Development
Steve Boyle, Community Development Director (On Zoom)
Amy Brown, Town Clerk
Les Brown, Police Chief
Robert Martinez, Finance Director
Ed Temerowski, Fire Chief
Herschel Workman, Public Works Director
E. MAYOR & COUNCILMEMBERS REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
• Councilmember Art Rubash reported that the girls U-12 softball is doing well in
their tournament.
• Councilmember Margaret Nyberg complimented all that helped with the 4th of
July Spectacular.
• Mayor BG Bratcher attended the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional
Council meeting, West Valley Mayor’s dinner, Camp Imagination 2 performance,
and the 4th of July event.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 2 of 11
F. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT
• Town Manager Troy Smith reported that the Monarch Fire started on July 1st
south of town on US-60 near the rest area. It burned 148 acres with the Rio Vista
area on a set evacuation. The cause was someone dragging chains.
• Mayor BG Bratcher thanked all the responding agencies as there were several
that helped to keep this fire contained including Arizona Department of Forestry
and Fire Management, Arizona Fire Medical Department, Arizona Department of
Transportation, Bureau of Land Management, Buckeye Fire Department,
Morristown Fire Department, Daisy Mountain Fire Department, Glendale, Fire
Department, Peoria Fire Department, and Surprise Fire Department.
• Chief Les Brown swore in Jerardo “Andy” Diaz.
• Town Manager Troy Smith recognized Ronaldo Ruiz for his five years of service
with the Town of Wickenburg where he started in the Public Works Department
and moved to the Police Department.
• Town Manager Troy Smith commented on the terrific 4th of July celebration with
the fireworks. He thanked Mayor Bratcher and Councilmember Nyberg for
helping to hand out American flags. The town has received the final full draft of
the zoning code with final review continuing. The next step will be the public input
into the code. Fire Station 751 hopes to reopen mid-July. Tegner is receiving a
repaving from US-60 to Sols Wash Bridge.
• Hershel Workman, Public Works Director stated that they did have to tear out a
little sidewalk to fix a section in the area of the parking lot to Ben’s Saddlery, but
pedestrians were able to walk in the parking lot to get around the repair area.
The rain last week did stall the pouring of the concrete for the ADA ramps, but
those should be done this week with the paving starting next week.
• Town Manager Troy Smith reported that some work has happened at Coffinger
Park with new ADA picnic tables and a BBQ grill. The town website has a new
button for citizens to submit a compliment or concern, such as a pothole or
sprinkler being out. The Façade Improvement and the Bed Tax Grants are open
with it closing July 31st. The summer recreation program is out with lots of
activities listed.
G. FINAL CALL for Request to Speak Cards to be turned into the Town Clerk.
H. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
• Rich Hostetter, In-Town Resident, thanked staff for the information on the
concerns button as he didn’t know where to report a sprinkler being out. He was
glad to see something happening with the trash and recycling program.
• Vern Correa, Out-of-Town Resident, stated that he was not able to buy a gun as
he was on the watch list and wanted to be removed.
• Michael Curtis, Out-of-Town Resident and Special Council for the town’s electric
fund, stated that the town is joining the newest cooperative, the Southwest Public
Power Agency (SPPA) along with other government entities to keep the town’s
electric rates low and stable. He attends the meetings on behalf of the town.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 3 of 11
I. ITEMS OF BUSINESS
1. Action on the Consent Agenda -
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to approve items a, b, c, and e of the
consent agenda
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Councilmembers Bedoian, Clark, Nyberg,
Rovey, and Rubash)
a. Consideration and Action to Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting and
Special Meeting of June 16, 2025
By a 6-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve the
minutes of June 16, 2025.
b. Consideration and Action Approving Resolution No. 2381, Appointing Town
Manager Troy Smith to the position of Trustee with Arizona Metropolitan
Trust
Tarah Mayerhofer, reported in her Council routing form that the Arizona
Metropolitan Trust (AzMT) is an employee benefits consortium that is open to
cities, towns, counties, fire districts, municipal corporations and any other
political subdivisions of these types of entities as may be eligible for
membership pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-952 et seq. The Town of Wickenburg
joined the AzMT effective July 1, 2020, approving an Agreement and
Declaration of Trust with AzMT (the "Trust Agreement"). The Town Council is
required to appoint a trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement. Section 3.02 of
the Trust Agreement provides that the trustee shall be the City Manager (or
the participating entity's equivalent). The Town's trustee position was
previously held by Interim Town Manager Andy Granger. Council action is
now sought to appoint Town Manager Troy Smith to the position of Trustee
with AzMT.
By a 6-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve
Resolution No. 2381 appointing Town Manager Troy Smith to the position of
Trustee with Arizona Metropolitan Trust.
c. Consideration and Action to Approve Resolution No. 2377 Designating the
Chief Fiscal Officer for Submitting the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report
for Fiscal Year 2025-26
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, reported in his Council routing form that
Arizona Revised Statues 41-1279.07(E) annually requires a letter to be
submitted to the Auditor General stating the name of the Chief Fiscal Officer
who will be submitting the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report (AELR)
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 4 of 11
certifying the accuracy of the report. Effective in the fiscal year ending 6/30/19
the Auditor General’s office has decided this needs to be done by submitting
either a resolution or meeting minutes annually. This report is prepared by our
contracted auditors, then reviewed and approved by the Town’s Finance
Director.
By a 6-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve
Resolution No. 2377 designating the Chief Fiscal Officer for submitting the
Annual Expenditure Limitation Report for FY 2025-26.
d. Consideration and Action to Approve Resolution No. 2380, Appointing a
Director and Alternate Director of Southwest Public Power Agency
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, reported in his Council routing form that
SPPA is due to update member representatives. Among the 23 members of
SPPA, this resolution authorizes the appointed representatives from the town
to actively monitor, supervise and participate in the general operation of the
Southwest Public Power Agency, which creates reliable electric power supply
for the Town of Wickenburg with the greatest cost stability.
Trish Stuhan, Town Attorney, stated that Michael Curtis, special counsel to
the town attends the meetings on behalf of the town, so the Resolution needs
to be amended to add him as the second alternate.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to approve Resolution No. 2380,
appointing Troy Smith, Town Manager, as Director and Robert L. Martinez II,
Finance Director, and Michael Curtis, Special Council as Alternate Directors
of Southwest Public Power Agency
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Councilmembers Bedoian, Clark,
Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
e. Consideration and Action to Approve Resolution No. 2382, Approving and
Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of the Apache II Resale Agreement
with Southwest Public Power Agency
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, reported in his Council routing form that
the Town of Wickenburg is a member of SPPA (Southwest Public Power
Agency) and engages in the sale and local distribution of electric power and
energy. This agreement allows for trading back and forth to achieve the
greatest flexibility and reliability of resources and enables SPPA to pass
through a share of the benefits and obligations to Participants.
By a 6-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve
Resolution No. 2382 approving and authorizing the execution and delivery of
the Apache II resale agreement with Southwest Public Power Agency.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 5 of 11
2. Public Hearing on the Proposed Final Budget and Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2025-
2026 in the Amount of $87,974,166
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, reported that tonight the final budget is before
the Council for approval through Resolution 2379. The budget development has
been a several month process of meetings, work sessions, and Council actions.
During the budget process, Council reviewed and directed staff regarding
proposed Capital Improvement Projects, Salary Adjustments including
Compression Issues, and other Operational Expenses. These proposed
expenditures culminated into the FY25-26 Tentative Budget of $87,974,166
which Council adopted on May 19, 2025. The Tentative Budget sets the town's
FY25-26 Expenditure Limitation at $63,473,203. The FY25-26 Tentative Budget
was published in the Wickenburg Sun on May 28th and June 4th along with the
date for adopting the Final Budget. The Final Budget before the Council tonight is
unchanged from the Tentative Budget of $87,974,166, however the projected
revenue has increased in the amount of $4,702 due to Final State Shared
Revenue Projections with the following increases:
o Vehicle License Tax increased from $439,618 to $440,469 (+$851)
o Highway User Revenue increased from $650,441 to $651,363 (+$922)
o TPT (Sales Tax) increased from $1,252,119 to $1,253,365 (+$1,246)
o URS (Income Tax) increased from $1,616,322 to $1,618,005 (+1,683)
The State's Official Budget Schedules break down the FY25-26 Final Budget by
Funding Sources with the following seven schedules:
• Schedule A – Summary Schedule of estimated revenues and expenditures
• Schedule B – Tax levy and tax rate
• Schedule C – Revenue by Fund Group
• Schedule D – Interfund Transfers
• Schedule E – Expenditures by Fund
• Schedule F – Expenditures by Department
• Schedule G – Employees and Personnel Costs by Fund
Finance Director Martinez presented some charts showing estimated totals for
FY 2026 as the following:
• General Fund Revenues - $18,233,844
• General Fund Expenditures - $24,255,685
• Special Fund Revenues - $8,200,278
• Special Fund Expenditures - $8,428,498
• Enterprise Fund Revenues - $20,319,473
• Enterprise Fund Expenditures - $22,307,278
• Capital Improvement Program - $19,082,176
There is also an Exhibit B that is new this fiscal year. This will be for purchases
that are greater than $50,000 there were approved in the annual budget and
specifically identified in Exhibit B that are approved pursuant to Town Code and
require no further approval by Town Council.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 6 of 11
Town Manager Smith reminded the Council that the approval of the final budget
will be through Resolution 2379 at a special meeting after the regular meeting.
The primary property tax levy and rate will be on the August 4th meeting for
approval. This budget was started in January with many work sessions since that
time. The budget is in alignment with the Council priorities. This budget will invest
in the community with some large projects including a replacement fire ladder
truck, expansion of the south wastewater treatment plant, design of a new park
and design of the community center renovation. In addition, the Council has set
the priority of public safety which is reflected in the budget as police and fire
make up 48% of the general fund expenditures.
Public Hearing Opened at 6:22 PM by Mayor Bratcher
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 7 of 11
Vern Correa, Out-of-Town Resident, didn’t see anything in the budget to build a
football or baseball field, only the design. Town Manager Smith stated that there
is $650,000 for the design for Sunrise and Sunset Parks for plans up to 60% to
prepare for future fields. Councilmember Rubash stated that the design has to
happen first in order to receive grants to build.
Public Hearing Closed at 6:29 PM
3. Consideration and Action Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute the
Roadway Maintenance Easements within the proximity of the Lewis Addition
Subdivision
Steve Boyle, Community Development Director, started with the history of this
area:
• 2003 - Roadway Safety and drainage assessment conducted
• 2004 - Town annexed the Lewis Addition area
• 2007-2012 - Town began considering the process of obtaining title to the
roadway and assuming maintenance. However, the roads were not dedicated
to the town.
• 2015 - Staff presented options to Council on how to proceed with the roadway
maintenance, however, full dedication was not processed
• 2023 - Staff began again to collaborate with residents to obtain signatures,
while many signatures were obtained, some were determined to be legally
insufficient
• Nov. 2024 - Present- Staff has been working to gain the legally required
information, including obtaining title insurance
The roadway system the town is proposing to maintain is marked with green.
These roads will remain private roads. The red areas will not be maintained as
they are behind a gate or not in a condition that the town can maintain.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 8 of 11
There are currently four properties that have not signed the easement
agreements marked in blue. The first one was not part of the Lewis Addition
annexation but does own part of the road. The town will not maintain that portion
of the road on that person’s property and they will liable and responsible for the
maintenance. The three at Via Tortuga, we expect to get in the near future.
Those three properties have the following status:
• Property is owned by two people with one deceased so we are waiting for the
death certificate from California as the remaining owner has signed the
easement.
• Another property the easement is in the mail, so we should receive any day
now.
• The third just sold, so the previous owners didn’t want to sign, but wanted to
let the new owners sign the easement.
There are risks with taking over the roadways that will be addressed in the next
agenda item as these roads are not built to Maricopa Association of
Governments (MAG) standards. This next fiscal year the town has put $200,000
in the capital improvement projects budget to work on these roads. The proposed
maintenance will not be repaving or widening the roads, but will include:
• Crack Seal
• Potholes
• Chip Seal
• Edge Shoring
• Signage
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 9 of 11
The remaining steps include finalizing the leftover easements with a request to
set a deadline for those easements to be returned. In addition, this item
requested the Council’s approval to authorize the Town Manager to approve the
easements so that maintenance can begin.
Director Workman stated that the maintenance will not be tomorrow, but they will
start soon.
Town Manager Smith recommends giving the residents six months to finalize the
paperwork. The town will still do the maintenance, even with those not finalized.
Bob Bandera, In-Town Resident, thanked the town staff from all the neighbors for
completing this project of getting all the signatures to meet the legal
requirements.
Christina Rizzo, In-Town Resident, thanked the town for some maintenance but
wondered about improving the roads as primitive is a good description of the
roads.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to authorize the Town Manager to
execute the Roadway Maintenance Easements within the proximity of the Lewis
Addition Subdivision
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Councilmembers Bedoian, Clark, Nyberg,
Rovey, and Rubash)
There was a question regarding setting the time limit of six months. Town
Attorney Stuhan stated that the recommendation is to give residents six months
to complete the easements, but that doesn’t have to be in the motion as it is
noted in the minutes as the deadline. Staff can bring it back, if there is a reason
to extend that timeline in the future.
4. Consideration and Action to Approve Resolution 2365 for the Establishment of
Primitive Roadways within the Lewis Addition Subdivision
Steve Boyle, Community Development Director, stated that this item is to
designate the Lewis Addition Subdivision roads that the town has maintenance
easements on as primitive roads. These roads are not up to the standards of
roads today. They are all private roads and most would not be possible to bring
up to MAG standards. There are approximately 2.3 miles of primitive roads that
will have signage added to the roads stating that they are primitive roads to warn
people in order to alleviate the risk to the town. There are a few that were built
after the June 13, 1990 date that aren’t considered primitive, but they are the end
of Amaranth and the end of Paloma Solita. The police department did look for
accidents in the area and there weren’t any as most people that drive this area
are residents that drive slow.
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 10 of 11
Town Attorney Stuhan stated that roads built before June 13, 1990, were not built
to county standards and state law allows the town to designate them as primitive
roads in order to decrease the liability. The roads will be marked as primitive and
not regularly maintained because they were not built to the MAG standards.
There is a risk to drive on these roads. The town will only be doing basic
maintenance. These are still private roads. By designating them as primitive
roads, the town is not liable for damage except for intentional or gross
negligence.
Director Workman stated that they are primitive because of the width of the roads
as they are not wide enough and the sides of many of them falls off.
Town Manager Smith stated that the residents did not want improvements to the
road as stated in the preannexation agreements. They only want basic
maintenance by the town. They didn’t want the road widened or improved.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to approve Resolution 2365,
establishing Primitive Roads within the Lewis Addition Subdivision
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, 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.)
K. SCHEDULING OF FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS - None
Town Council Minutes of July 7, 2025
Page 11 of 11
L. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg to adjourn at approximately 6:53 PM
SECONDED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, 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 July 7, 2025.
I further certify the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
Amy Brown, MMC
Town Clerk