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MINUTES
WICKENBURG COMMON COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, November 3, 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 Community Development Director Steve Boyle
C. INVOCATION - Led by Wickenburg Christian Academy Director Chris Lowe
D. ROLL CALL
Present:
Mayor BG Bratcher
Vice Mayor Brian Jones
Councilmember Kristy Bedoian
Councilmember Shawn Clark
Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
Councilmember Rebecca Rovey (Left at 7:22 PM)
Councilmember Art Rubash
Staff Present:
Troy Smith, Town Manager
Jon Paladini, Town Attorney
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
E. MAYOR & COUNCILMEMBERS REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
• Councilmember Margaret Nyberg attended the gala fundraiser with the
Wickenburg Art Club and K9 Konnection.
• Councilmember Shawn Clark announced that the museum had received a $20
million donation to start building their new museum which is one of the largest
donations in the State of Arizona to an art museum.
• Councilmember Art Rubash stated that the fall youth sports have concluded for
soccer and football.
• Vice Mayor Brian Jones welcomed back the winter visitors as he has noticed the
increase in horse trailers.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 2 of 13
• Mayor BG Bratcher stated that there is a new sculpture outside the museum and
Safeway had a grand reopening after their remodel and presented donations to
Project Salt and the schools.
F. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT
• Town Manager Troy Smith congratulated Judge Charles Adornetto for receiving
the 2025 Justice Michael D Ryan Award by the State Bar of Arizona in honor of
his distinguished service, unwavering integrity and outstanding contributions to
the cause of justice.
• Community Development Director Steve Boyle reported that the town has
contracted with Upfront Planning and Entitlements to review the Zoning Code
update and conduct the public input portion of the update. The plan is to have the
final approval in May 2026.
• Town Manager Troy Smith continued that Waste Management (WM) will take
over the sanitation and recycling service in December and will keep the same
schedule. ADOT is working on the sidewalks and driveways from Vulture Mine
Road to US-93 along Wickenburg Way. In addition, they will be paving US-60
from Wickenburg to Morristown. Southwest Gas is replacing the main line in
town. There will be a meeting regarding the Community Center design with an
open house on Wednesday, November 12th with presentations at 4:00 and 6:00,
but mostly it is a drop in situation for the public to drop in and provide their
feedback. The photo contest winners will be announced on November 19th. The
Fall and Winter recreation program is now available.
G. FINAL CALL for Request to Speak Cards to be turned into the Town Clerk.
H. CALL TO THE PUBLIC - None
I. ITEMS OF 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 Study Session and
Regular Meeting of October 20, 2025
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve the
minutes of October 20, 2025.
b. Consideration and Action Authorizing the Call of Election for the Town's 2026
Primary and General Elections
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 3 of 13
Amy Brown, Town Clerk, reported in her Council routing form that the Town’s
Primary Election is scheduled for August 4, 2026. This election will be held for
the purpose of nominating candidates for three (3) Council seats. Any
candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast for that office at the Primary
Election will be declared elected to that office without running at the General
Election (November 3, 2026). If not all seats are filled at the Primary Election,
then the Primary Election is deemed a nominating election and those
candidates receiving the highest number of votes proceed to the General
Election. The number of candidates to proceed to the General Election is two
times the number of available seats. For example, if two (2) Council seats are
not filled in the Primary Election, up to four (4) candidates would proceed to
the General Election.
The Councilmembers up for re-election include Kristy Bedoian, Brian Jones
and Art Rubash.
Nomination packets are available for distribution at the Town Clerk's Office
starting November 3, 2025. The deadline for submitting nomination packets is
April 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Candidates seeking nomination for Council
Member will be required to obtain a minimum of 147 valid signatures and can
file their forms with the Town Clerk no sooner than 8:00 a.m. on Saturday,
March 7, 2026. Candidates must complete a Statement of Interest prior to
collecting any signatures and file that with the Town Clerk's office.
The cost of an election is based on the number of registered voters, with
Maricopa County charging $0.50 per voter and Yavapai County charging
$2.25 per voter. In November 2024, we had 4,565 registered voters in
Maricopa County and 1,691 in Yavapai County.
All information is based on current law and is subject to change by the State
Legislature. There is a possibility that the Primary Election date might be
moved up by one or two weeks, which will then change all the dates.
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to authorize the Call
of Election for the Town's 2026 Primary and General Elections.
c. Consideration and Action to Move $73,060 from Airport Contingency Funds to
Increase the Budget for the Airport Taxilane Project
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, reported in his Council routing form that
the current budget allocation for the Airport Taxilane Project is $1,125,000.
However, following the bidding process, the total project cost has been
determined to be $1,198,060. This necessitates an increase in the budget to
accommodate the actual costs. The town and ADOT will pay 2.5% of the total
with the FAA paying the remaining 95% of the project. At the original
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 4 of 13
budgeted amount, the town's estimated portion was $28,125.00. With the new
project cost, the town's portion increased by $1,826.50 to the budget
breakdown below.
Budget Breakdown:
•
Total Project Cost: $1,198,060
o Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Contribution: $1,138,000
o State Share: $29,951.50
o Town Share: $29,951.50
The original budget was based on preliminary estimates. As part of the grant
application process, we are required to have bids in hand prior to submission.
Bids were received in May after the tentative budget was approved, and they
were slightly higher than the initial estimates. Following FAA approval of the
grant funding, we submitted a funding request to the Arizona Department of
Transportation (ADOT) for their share. We are currently awaiting confirmation
from ADOT regarding their approval of the funding request.
By a 7-0 vote under the Consent Agenda, Council moved to approve to
increase the budget for the Airport Taxilane Project from $1,125,000 to
$1,198,060 by moving $73,060 from the Airport Contingency Funds.
2. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the BNSF Railway Co's Request of
Maricopa County to Rezone Approximately 4,300 Acres of Vacant Land
Southeast of Wickenburg
Mayor Bratcher provided the instructions for this presentation and discussion.
Both sides will receive ten minutes to explain their information. Each Town
Council member had the opportunity to meet with or have a phone conversation
with BNSF representatives as well as the opposing side. There will be no
questions and answers following the presentations tonight. Public comments will
be limited to three minutes for each speaker. The audience must refrain from
clapping, booing, or expressing support or opposition. Order and decorum must
be maintained during the meeting.
Kyle Cooper, BNSF Railway, reported that in 1895, the Santa Fe Railway built
the Wickenburg rail depot that currently stands and houses the Chamber of
Commerce. In 2004, BNSF acquired the first portion of the property they are
proposing to develop with 720 acres. In 2011, this area was added to the Arizona
State Rail Plan as a future rail facility as critical infrastructure for the state. In
2022, BNSF acquired an additional 3,500 acres on the northern portion of the
property through the Arizona State Trust Land. There are currently 590 miles of
track and 1,500 employees statewide.
This Logistics Park Phoenix project will be a 4,300-acre new intermodal facility.
The north part of this project is the Intermodal Facility on 1,770 acres. BNSF
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 5 of 13
currently has an intermodal facility in Glendale that is at peak capacity. Just
south of the intermodal facility is the Logistics Park on 1,420 acres, which will be
a warehousing district that won’t have direct rail service but will have freight
coming in containers and trailers. It is estimated that about 70% of the incoming
trains will have goods and products brought to the logistics park for redistribution
into the Phoenix area based on the demands in the region. The Phoenix line is a
dead end, so products that are coming into this park are for this area. The last
part of the project is the Logistics Center of approximately 1,109 acres with direct
rail served parcels. The logistics park is expected to have about 18 million square
feet of new warehousing with build out in 10-15 years. It is expected to bring in
an additional $8 million tax revenue. Rail is one of the most fuel-efficient modes
of freight transportation. This will bring jobs for all skill levels to the area along
with products to local businesses
Laura Deaver and Kirby Anderson are from the opposition group. Laura Deaver
stated that she lives in the area that will be surrounded by this project on three
sides. Most of the neighbors are opposed to this project. This is too close to the
Nadaburg schools, being just 1,337 feet from their property line, with semi-trucks
driving past the schools.
Kirby Anderson stated that he also lives in that area. They have been working on
this for three years. He sent a health study of a school district that was close to a
railroad. People from that area do come to Wickenburg to shop. They are
opposed to this project as it is not the right location for it as it will destroy the
area. He asked the Council to pass a resolution tonight similar to the City of
Surprise in opposition to this project. It could result in a child being hit by a truck
or a long train delaying medical attention for someone.
Laura Deaver then talked about the executive summary from a traffic study that
BNSF provided to Maricopa County. At full build out, they estimate 23,242 daily
trips of semis in and out of this facility. In addition, Wickenburg fire currently
comes to assist accidents or incidents at US-60 and 74. Water is the other
concern as it is a limited resource. She thanked the Council for prioritizing the
safety, health, and character of Wickenburg over the interests of large
corporations. She urged the Council to approve the resolution of opposition to the
BNSF Logistics Park Phoenix.
Mayor Bratcher clarified that there is not a resolution on the agenda for tonight,
just direction to staff and the attorney for possibly a future agenda item. Town
Manager Smith confirmed that there is no resolution, but the Council can take a
voice vote stating a position.
Robyn Jones, Out-of-Town Resident, thanked the Council for listening and stated
that the trucks will impact Wickenburg.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 6 of 13
Bud Meador, Out-of-Town Resident, stated that the truck traffic will affect
Wickenburg residents, either coming through Wickenburg or as residents go to
Surprise to shop. He requested the town join with the City of Surprise to oppose
this project by making a formal statement. The town should put the public’s
health over corporate profits.
Jane Meador, Out-of-Town Resident, stated that she put a post on Facebook and
it reached 25,000 people in two days. Wickenburg can either accept the project
and accommodate what happens or join with other west valley communities like
Wittman, Sun City West, Sun City, and Surprise to oppose this. Wickenburg
could be isolated from the west valley due to traffic getting there. Wickenburg
could also do nothing which would relinquish the town’s opportunity to influence
the outcome.
Jeffrey August, Out-of-Town Resident, is the President of Keep Us Rural LLC
that is working on incorporating Wittmann. Nadaburg is opposed to the railroad.
There is a lack of transparency by the railroad.
Wally Smith, In-Town Resident, stated that he just moved to town in January
from Prescott. They moved here because it is a small, conservative town with a
low crime rate. This will change Wickenburg and could result in a Walmart in the
area. This is a quality-of-life issue with all the semis. You do have to have semis
as he owned a bunch of them, but not in the roundabouts with the cars.
Mercedes Person, Out-of-Town Resident, stated that she did some research
from a Jossart Law Office regarding lawsuits. There was a 2023 fire where
natural vegetation blew up on the rails to cause the fire and found 100 fires in ten
years. In 2024 the Snohomish Tribe won $400 million against BNSF for violating
the terms of their agreement by running four times the allotted train cars. In 2014
there was a $15.3 million workers comp award for an injured worker.
Paul Woley, In-Town Resident, stated that what he would like to see stopped is
all the growth in housing developments up Grand Avenue by the City of Surprise.
He didn’t think this would be a big deal for Wickenburg as he figured it would
reduce the number of trucks through Wickenburg. Products will come in on the
train and then go to Phoenix from the railyard. They will not come in trucks from
Las Vegas. In addition, looking at the plan, there are two exits to the North to 74
and only one to 60.
Councilmember Bedoian stated that this is not Wickenburg’s jurisdiction and the
information provided is conflicting. She would have liked to have heard from
Wickenburg residents. She is hoping the Maricopa County’s Board of
Supervisors is requiring more of companies who want to develop in the county.
Vice Mayor Jones stated that he is worried about the traffic, especially at the
163rd and Loop 303 area. In addition, water and noise might be an issue. He was
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 7 of 13
hoping to hear from Wickenburg residents regarding the traffic and railroad
crossings. He expressed that it would be premature to take a position tonight
because the details have not been finalized. This is still being negotiated with no
development agreement yet.
Councilmember Rubash stated that the traffic will have an impact on the quality
of life and the town should stand with its neighbors as this will affect Wickenburg.
Councilmember Clark stated that he ran on controlled growth and there are lots
of moving parts with this project. In a large project like this, efficiency is the key to
keeping everything in a concentrated area and taking the burden from other
areas. He is not in favor of deciding now until we see the final deal. The Chamber
of Commerce’s in the west valley are in favor of this project. In looking at their
traffic details, they will only account for 4.5% of the traffic going south. The
demand due to the growth in Phoenix must be met. If it is not via rail, then there
will be more truck traffic. He thought that this project would make truck traffic in
Wickenburg better.
Councilmember Nyberg stated that she has been looking at this for three years.
There are people in the middle of this project. The Loop 303 area used to be
farmland and is now warehouses. She is not for the plan as it is right now. The
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors need to negotiate a good deal as there
will be more traffic. With this being in that area, it will bring longer trains through
Wickenburg, so she does not support the project.
Councilmember Rovey stated there has been a lot of conflicting information out
there. She would like to see more details on the traffic, and the effect on public
safety and health. She would like to take no action tonight.
Mayor Bratcher stated that she has been to several meetings regarding this
project. There will be traffic, noise, water and environmental issues as well as
place a burden on public safety. There hasn’t been an environmental study
completed, and they are not being required to replenish the aquifer. The
development agreement hasn’t been drafted yet as she would like to see them
reassess to minimize the impact. She is opposed to this location, but there is not
enough information right now.
MOVED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg to opposed the BNSF project as
presented now
SECONDED BY Councilmember Art Rubash
Vice Mayor Jones agrees that the Council doesn’t have all the answers so it
would be irresponsible to vote on this tonight. They have preemptive authority to
build the intermodal facility. The questions is the logistics park and center. He
doesn’t want the town being misrepresented since there is not a final plan yet.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 8 of 13
Councilmember Rubash stated that this goes to the Board of Supervisors on
Wednesday to look at the zoning issues and he wants them to rethink this
project.
Mayor Bratcher stated that the November 5th meeting has nothing to do with
zoning but it is a plan amendment. Town Attorney Paladini confirmed that the
meeting on Wednesday is to possibly amend the county plan as it is listed as
mixed use residential instead of industrial. The county plan is similar to the
town’s General Plan.
VOTE: 2 – 5 (Yes – Councilmembers Nyberg and Rubash) (No – Mayor
Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers Bedoian, Clark, and Rovey)
MOVED BY Vice Mayor Brian Jones to take no position tonight
SECONDED BY Councilmember Becky Rovey
VOTE: 5 – 2 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers
Bedoian, Clark, and Rovey) (No – Councilmembers Nyberg and Rubash)
3. Presentation and Discussion Regarding the FY26 First Quarter Financial Update
Robert Martinez, Finance Director, provided a first quarter financial update
starting with the revenue. There is recurring revenue that is continuous income or
part of ongoing operations such as local sales tax, state shared revenue, or
permits & fees. Non-recurring revenue is one-time income that is not from
ongoing operations such as a sale of property. Then there is annual revenue that
is income over a 12-month period such as the payments from the fire IGA. Below
is the revenue summary showing the first quarter of FY26:
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 9 of 13
The town reduced the expected revenue by $1 million for a budgeted amount of
$18.8 million. In the first quarter the town brought in $4.4 million. The property tax
only comes twice a year, so that doesn’t show up yet. For the local sales tax
(TPT), the comparison for the first quarter shows the town down 32.24%. Below
is the first quarter sales tax by category.
Vice Mayor Jones asked if the construction difference was from Wickenburg
Ranch. Director Martinez said that construction has slowed down in that area.
Town Manager Smith stated that they only have 100 lots left to build on and they
are not building any spec homes now because the market is lagging.
Director Martinez looked at the TPT going back to 2014. The town’s current
numbers look closer to FY22.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 10 of 13
Councilmember Clark asked how the town compares to other cities in the state
for their TPT. Director Martinez hasn’t compared it to other cities, just other years
for Wickenburg to see the trends. The second and third quarters are always
higher. Construction and real estate are down across the board as it is a buyers’
market since many houses aren’t moving. Town Manager Smith stated that he
has talked to other West Valley cities and they are still growing, so they are not
slowing down in revenues.
Councilmember Bedoian reminded everyone that the state stopped the town
from being able to collect residential rental taxes.
Director Martinez took out a sale of property for $588,783 since that is a non-
recurring revenue. In addition, he divided the Fire IGA amount into 12 months to
only put this quarter’s amount. The town is at $4.046 million with those changes
and the town should be at $4.565 million. So the town is looking to be down by
about $500,000 in the first quarter. The departments are on target with most near
the 25% mark. There are a few anomalies such as the Town Attorney as we went
to a fixed amount, so that will be predictable and had to catch up. The General
Services is very low because all of the contingencies are in there, so we hope to
not spend many of those.
Vice Mayor Jones thanked staff for being conservative on their budgeting to
reduce the expected amount.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 11 of 13
Councilmember Bedoian stated that this is the reason that she doesn’t like to
spend contingency as we should stick to the budget unless it is an emergency.
4. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding an Intergovernmental Agreement with
Maricopa County, administered by its Human Services Department, Related to
Workforce Development
Tarah Mayerhofer, HR Director, reported that she would like to review the
contract in executive session first and then come to out review her presentation.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to adjourn into executive session at
7:00 PM under item J1
SECONDED BY Councilmember Rebecca Rovey
VOTE: 7 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers
Bedoian, Clark, Nyberg, Rovey, and Rubash)
Council reconvened the meeting at 7:15 PM.
Director Mayerhofer reported that the town originally entered into an IGA with
Maricopa County Human Services Department (Arizona@Work) in 2015 to
provide local job placement, resume support, and employer connections. The
services were offered in-person at Town facilities with strong community
engagement. This same system was in place from 2015 until 2020 with walk-in,
short-term job assistance and resume help. There were also local job fairs and
direct employer partnerships. Typically, there were 200–300+ clients served
annually. In 2021, the county began realigning programs under Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) compliance. Their new focus was on
training outcomes (credentials, education hours), which saw a decline in local
flexibility and client access. By 2023 there were stricter grant terms which meant
that staff must track upskill and credential attainment. This eliminated most walk-
in and short-term placement services. The performance metrics were tied to
training completions, not immediate employment. In 2024, this changed to
require anyone requesting services to enroll in their case management system
with training only offered in Phoenix-area host cities. The county workforce focus
shifted to large municipalities in the valley. This year local participation has
dropped by more than 95%, and Wickenburg’s coordinator role is now limited to
case management for enrolled participants only.
In looking at the caseload for the first quarter of this year, there are only eight
participants, none from Wickenburg. The Workforce 2 You program offered a
class in medical billing with 2 participants from El Mirage and Surprise only and is
no longer being offered. The August 2025 job fair showed 52 job seekers and 12
employers with 3 hired but that number is not accurate since the school’s Jobs
for American’s Graduates (JAG) program was required to attend as part of their
course work.
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 12 of 13
The current system is not working for Wickenburg residents as the initial
enrollment in the system requires a two-hour intake and all training is in the
Phoenix area. They no longer assist walk-ins to help them find immediate job
placement.
The Economic Development Transportation Advisory Committee (EDTAC)
identified needs for service worker training, restaurant and hospitality skills and
customer service development. Those are not covered in the WIOA-funded
upskill programs. The program has shifted away from transactional services such
as resume help, interview skills, and job search.
In summary the program costs are exceeding the budgeted amount with
diminishing value. The contract is for $60,000 with $55,000 in the budget.
Participation and outcomes have declined significantly. The current WIOA
structure does not appear to fit Wickenburg’s workforce model. The county
supports an amicable sunset at the calendar year-start. Staff’s recommendation
is to authorize the Town Manager to provide termination notice on 11/4/25.
MOVED BY Vice Mayor Brian Jones to authorize the Town Manager to provide
termination notice
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
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 legal
advice, discussion, consultation, and possible instruction to the Town Attorney
regarding an Intergovernmental Agreement between Maricopa County
administered by its Human Services Department and the Town of Wickenburg
related to Workforce Development.
2. An executive session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3), (A)(4), and (A)(7) for
discussion or consultation with the Town Attorney regarding the Town's position
regarding lease agreements at the airport. The purpose of the executive session
is to discuss the following agreements:
1. Kelly and Laurie Elsner Airport Hangar Lease
2. Dallas "Rusty" Gant Airport Hangar Lease
3. John Grace Airport Hangar Lease
4. Master Aircraft Services Airport Hangar Lease
5. Quadair Airport Hangar Lease
6. Volare Hangars Proposal
Town Council Minutes of November 3, 2025
Page 13 of 13
Councilmember Rovey declared a conflict of interest and didn’t participate in the
executive session.
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to adjourn into executive session at
7:22 PM
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 5 – 1 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers
Bedoian, Clark, and Nyberg) (No – Councilmember Rubash)
Council reconvened the meeting at 8:35 PM.
K. SCHEDULING OF FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS - None
L. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Councilmember Kristy Bedoian to adjourn at approximately 8:36 PM
SECONDED BY Councilmember Margaret Nyberg
VOTE: 6 – 0 (Yes – Mayor Bratcher, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmembers Bedoian,
Clark, Nyberg, 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 November
3, 2025. I further certify the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was
present.
Amy Brown, MMC
Town Clerk