Presentation

TOWN OF WICKENBURG
Residency Policy Review
Key Municipal Position
Tarah Mayerhofer, HR Director
September 15, 2025

• Review current residency
requirements for key leadership
positions
• Compare Wickenburg’s policy with
other Arizona municipalities
• Provide data to inform Council
decision on proposed policy updates
• Q&A
2
Agenda

3
Current Residency Policy:
“Section 4. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS – All employees of the Town
are required to establish and maintain residence in accordance with
departmental policies as approved by the Town Council within three
(3) months after the completion of their probationary period, except
for the Town Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief and Public Works
Director, all of whom shall be required to maintain residence within
a five (5) mile radius of the Town Limits.”

4
Current Residency Policy
All employees required
to establish and
maintain residency per
departmental policies
and as adopted by
Council.
01
Exceptions: Town
Manager, Police Chief,
Fire Chief, Public
Works Director must
live within 5 miles of
Town Limits.
02
Immediate residency
requirement not
consistent with current
practice.
03

9; 31%
13; 45%
7; 24%
Yes
No
N/A
• Several cities don’t employ fire
services directly (contract districts)
• Where applicable, many policies
allow flexibility (e.g., within 15–30
miles or reasonable response time)
• Some report “informal” expectations
but not formal requirements
Survey Results: Fire Chief
5

9; 31%
17; 59%
3; 10%
Yes
No
N/A
• Many contract services with MCSO
or other agencies
• Some have formal or informal
“response time” requirements
(15–30 minutes)
• A few cities note historical practice
of chiefs living in town but not
required
• Housing affordability was cited as
a barrier to strict residency
Survey Results: Police Chief
6

6; 21%
23; 79%
Yes
No
• Most jurisdictions do not require
residency
• Instead, they use flexible guidelines
such as “within 20 miles” or “within
15–30 minutes”
• Several highlighted challenges
recruiting for this role (vacancies,
affordability, need for quick response
but not in-town residency)
• No “N/A” reported for this data
Survey Results: Public Works Director
7

8
Key Takeaways from Survey Data
Most cities do not
require residency;
instead use
response-time
standards. 
01
Recruitment &
retention: strict
rules shrink
candidate pools,
especially in tough
housing markets.
02
Emergency readiness:
Response-time
expectation balance
accessibility with
flexibility (managed
administratively).
03
Policy alignment:
Removing residency
rules modernizes
practice and matches
peer municipalities.
04

9
Proposed Policy Update
Town Manager: Residency required; terms defined by Council
in contract.
Fire Chief and Police Chief: Residency that ensures reasonable
response times, determined by Town Manager.
All other employees: No residency requirement.

10
Policy Comparison
Item
Current Policy
Proposed Policy
All employees
All employees required to establish and maintain
residence per departmental policies approved by
Council
Not required to establish or maintain residency
Town Manager
Required to maintain residence within 5 miles of
Town Limits
Required to establish and maintain residency;
requirements set by Council in the employment contract
Fire Chief
Required to maintain residence within 5 miles of
Town Limits
Maintain residency that provides for a reasonable
response time as determined by the Town Manager
Police Chief
Required to maintain residence within 5 miles of
Town Limits
Maintain residency that provides for a reasonable
response time as determined by the Town Manager
Public Works Director
Required to maintain residence within 5 miles of
Town Limits
Not required to establish or maintain residency
Timing
Immediate / within 3 months of probation
Subject to contract (Town Manager); Fire/Police Chiefs
per Town Manager limits; others exempt

11
Staff Proposed Residency Policy:
“Section 4. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS – The Town Manager,
appointed by the Town Council and serving under contract, shall be
required to establish and maintain residency. Residency
requirements for the Town Manager shall be defined by the Town
Council and specified in the employment contract approved by the
Council. The Fire Chief and Police Chief shall maintain residency
that provides for a reasonable response time as determined by the
Town Manager. All other employees of the Town shall not be
subject to residency requirements.”

• Approve the proposed policy
update for the Town Manager,
Fire Chief, and Police Chief
• Removes outdated restrictions,
aligns with peer municipalities,
and maintains flexibility for
operational needs
12
Staff Recommendation

Questions?
13