[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6461693,"mediaKeyId","5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d","parentId",5823253,"title","Payson residents debate Malibu pool vs. Taylor renovation as town readies bond pamphlet","audioSeconds",3320,"startMs",640000,"endMs",3960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d&start=640&end=3960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d/thumbnail_640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461693/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Payson-residents-debate-Malibu-pool-vs-Taylor-renovation-as-town-readies-bond-pamphlet","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461693-cac508b203e45c1044baa1aac4ef603c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456184&Signature=da9wZO3tNtOFqSphZZpx9g3gNp728Ap7trPXkZIsrbIYxAxoJ2w9TaqSYUcx1XaKNT7Wca9BoNxx70ooi7iLHVqUIaqg7SlqHNa35h2GI3G~eNfwtasEMN5a9Ib9wskRL0qE0rv8jdwxFMRC4s~ZEIwnkozNSUuNTBpYojI5Jq5KzQkgXfgf0wElopVIfg7G65ztcUcv5RKj5Qd57cAV-~Dm6fLTVtICYU4tbfHmQ4sV0y7py5d36YDbhxeS1SwSvaXVaKP~i3LcdzsDXm7W2TuJ8uyrZZuKX7aZDdodpoR0woP7sP4a7Ou1vyCXO2ilHnKUQ554Rid8v4CQaXP-IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Payson","date","2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","article","Residents and business owners pressed the Payson Common Council on Sept. 24 to support or oppose a November bond election that would fund construction of a new public pool at the Malibu site or alternatively pursue renovation of the existing Taylor Pool.

Several speakers urged council to let voters decide and thanked the council for placing the proposed bond on the ballot. Paul Fromell, who said he has lived in Payson nearly 12 years, told council he appreciated being given “a choice to vote” and said he believed refurbishing Taylor Pool could be a better fit geographically but that the smaller $16 million bond gave voters a voice that last year’s larger proposal did not.

Lori Permenter, who identified herself as a two-year resident, urged residents to vote yes for the bond and told council that the town’s consultant and cost estimates show Taylor Pool renovation would likely rely on the general fund and that prior estimates to rehabilitate Taylor could be substantially higher than some public estimates. Permenter cited a prior council study that estimated an uncovered Taylor renovation at $11 million and said a covered Taylor pool could approach roughly $14.2 million, while the Malibu plan staff presented as a 40% design estimate was summarized to council as $12.4 million excluding a cover and $16 million with a cover.

Other residents urged delay or more public outreach. A number of speakers who said they represented or supported the Taylor Pool renovation noted polls and local sentiment favoring renovation in some quarters. Several commenters said a no vote on the Malibu bond would not automatically guarantee Taylor Pool would be rebuilt, and noted that Taylor’s renovation would likely require a bond and substantial additional work if pursued.

Town staff said the September 24 presentation was based on 40% design plans and that final costs could change. The town manager told the council that staff will publish an informational pamphlet and a website tab (“Ask City Hall”) on Sept. 30 with updated figures and revenue projections, operating cost estimates and assumptions used in the fiscal analysis. The manager also advised that operating revenue and expenses depend on rate decisions (for example, whether certain age groups are permitted free entry) and that a first-year operating loss projection was in the neighborhood of $309,000 under the assumptions discussed.

What residents asked for: more time to review the proposed code changes and bond details (several said they had just learned of technical details), more transparent outreach, and clearer comparisons of renovation versus new-build scenarios. Town staff said outreach materials and a pamphlet would be issued before the election to provide the public with costs and assumptions.

No formal council action on the bond itself occurred at the Sept. 24 meeting; the council’s immediate actions at the meeting included approving unrelated consent items, voting on the Payson Golf Club development agreement and acting on the wildfire hardening ordinance.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Payson - Payson Town Council - Regular","oneSentenceSummary","Residents at the Sept. 24 Payson council meeting divided over a November bond that would fund a new pool at the Malibu site versus renovating Taylor Pool, prompting calls for clearer cost comparisons and a town information pamphlet due Sept. 30.","taxTitle","Payson, Gila County, Arizona","taxId",60910,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461694,"Payson adopts wildfire structure hardening code after months of debate, council votes 5-2",3265,4837000,8102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d&start=4837&end=8102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d/thumbnail_4837000.jpg","/articles/6461694/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Payson-adopts-wildfire-structure-hardening-code-after-months-of-debate-council-votes-5-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461694-51e2c9a72297b88207707fda53e141f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456184&Signature=mJrfhC8p~WYbWTJ2QIVaz7Qvn8tMecHGjWA5DOO7Z8sMekfRqfY42An1CReT1YMIwT6sQXEYyjcI~XC0qrfmbXd0noDNGxuVEE5gwqgFHZiErN4PMoz~3t9o9iIwMS6Z~xJx48vKGAIlY~1Tb~B~wRhReaoT06zNEIN-spijU2M-3aYF6YuIVzKQNNqytxmzK1kdlPvCv~L1jwP6J3hymMYl3UsD1yasEeeImkiFWpTSEqREPL70N8bP~~WwN40Ph3EmcJt2w1vHw67nkKBFld4eG-Gx4zM6EmN-o-KOevWlzLqBGNTiw3JSTSuJjLBTbekwVB7jiV~AM1OAsJlawQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Payson Common Council on Sept. 24 adopted a new wildfire structure hardening code aimed at reducing structure ignition during wildland-urban interface fires, approving Ordinance 970 on a 5-2 vote after extended public comment and council debate.

The ordinance, described by Assistant Fire Chief Kevin McCully and fire department staff as a performance-based package of building standards, applies to new construction and major remodels. It requires a combination of ignition-resistant materials and construction techniques—measures the staff described as a system that must be implemented together to be effective rather than piecemeal.

In a staff presentation, McCully summarized outreach to the building community and said town staff held a meeting with seven local contractors to discuss the draft code. He told council that eave protection and deck structure requirements were among the most contested items during those contractor meetings. McCully and staff cited research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and local costing estimates to explain why the components were included: for a representative 2,600-square-foot house, staff estimated an added material cost of roughly $560 for fire-rated eave protection and about $700 for ignition-resistant deck structure; treated wood siding was described as about 37% more expensive than certain alternatives, and a manufactured-home “wooie package” figure of $1,800 was referenced for modular builders.

Local contractors and residents urged the council to delay or scale back the ordinance, arguing the measures would raise building and remodeling costs and that stricter enforcement of existing Firewise and defensible-space rules would provide broader community benefit. Several commenters, including contractors and a contractor’s letter read into the record, said many homeowners and builders had not been sufficiently informed about the proposal and worried the added cost could reduce housing affordability and slow remodeling work.

Council discussion focused on balancing wildfire risk reduction against building costs and community equity. Opponents on the council said they were not persuaded the ordinance would meaningfully reduce wildfire losses given the town’s existing fuels and defensible-space challenges, and asked for more precise local cost estimates and broader contractor buy-in. Supporters said structure hardening is one component of a risk-reduction strategy and that the town is land‑locked and will see infill and new development; adopting hardened standards for new builds and major remodels will gradually harden parts of the community over time.

After further debate, a motion to adopt Ordinance 970 passed 5 to 2. Dissenting council members said they were concerned about immediate cost impacts for homeowners and the adequacy of contractor outreach, while supporters said the ordinance reflected IBHS recommendations and local advisory-board input and would improve long-term community resilience.

The ordinance is set to take effect in accordance with the town’s ordinance-adoption schedule. Implementation will require building-plan review and ongoing inspections by town staff; staff said the town will continue enforcing fuels-management and defensible-space rules independently of the building code changes.

","After multiple meetings and outreach with local builders, the Payson Common Council adopted Ordinance 970, a wildfire structure hardening code requiring ignition-resistant materials and other building measures; the council approved the ordinance 5-2 following extensive public comment from contractors, homeowners and fire officials.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461699,"Payson council approves infrastructure deal for Payson Golf Club development",686,4150000,4836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d&start=4150&end=4836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823253-4c3bae276c4ac1f7b3c861135c38e54d/thumbnail_4150000.jpg","/articles/6461699/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Payson-council-approves-infrastructure-deal-for-Payson-Golf-Club-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461699-171126b3f8b5fa6c63427b5adcd5a7d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770456184&Signature=FxZo7yGCCiEuB6Cgwdj8118l9EFYpvYIdKYpU4~RPrz-gynvj~44g0Mz-zHNqB1YEX1PsT1KSTWzzAKf251rkXfXm-JADn~gCGA6bWO8xw9Lg~xj9Fwzp40lTCwxfl5txV26oNXYcEmUBHli0aurKLbpez3ewEi6I454KaocvRoJHlUCHwbX0RVok4OKDbxlm7Z5b8e~mVRoF9F-PDmgce8SXFTaInlyL6EvHdsbWF4DE8o08El96rxPixuQD64nLx-lvtW34ZvPhKshfjyo0PmqCTAU3e-LklbpvG~KbpMSlZA-5mOze1B9xmm1bKwlfNqrRcEq4PkmCTCKjmJ-cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Payson Common Council on Sept. 24 approved a development agreement with Payson Golf Club LLC that requires the developer to fund roadway reconstruction, drainage upgrades and right-of-way dedications for a proposed 125-unit condominium project on the former golf course property.

Council approved Resolution 34-62 on a 7-0 vote after a staff presentation and questions from council members. The agreement, described to council by staff, obligates the applicant to design and construct improvements on Doll Baby Ranch Road, Vista Road and Country Club Drive, add drainage to town standards, reconstruct nearby residential driveways, and dedicate right-of-way for Vista Road and Country Club Drive. The developer will fund safety upgrades to a three-way intersection serving the site.

Staff member Donnie Wilbanks told the council the application had been reviewed by multiple town departments, the town attorney and the developer’s team and that the agreement aligns with the town’s general plan while ensuring infrastructure is delivered “at no cost to the town.” He said private streets inside the development will remain private and that the agreement contains a provision to address a segment of Doll Baby Ranch Road that crosses U.S. Forest Service land: if federal approvals are delayed, the developer will make a cash payment to the town equivalent to the construction cost so the town can proceed later.

Council members asked for clarification about the sawtooth property lines where town and Forest Service parcels intermix and about whether the owner would dedicate existing private roadway sections so the town could maintain them going forward. Wilbanks said the agreement requires right-of-way dedication for the portions that will be public and that private streets inside the development would remain private. The staff presentation said the agreement will expire in three years if planning conditions are not met.

Bob, identified in the meeting as the project representative, said the owner was pleased with the town’s responsiveness and that the parties were “moving forward.”

The vote followed council discussion and a motion to approve the resolution; the clerk recorded the outcome as motion passed 7 to 0.

The agreement does not replace required subdivision approvals; it memorializes variances and infrastructure commitments the developer requested as part of its planning process. Staff told the council that full subdivision and permitting review will still apply before building permits are issued.

Council members and staff said the agreement is intended to ensure needed public improvements are built as the privately owned golf course property redevelops, rather than leaving those costs to the town later.

What’s next: the applicant still must complete the subdivision and permit approvals described in the agreement; the town will monitor the agreed deliverables and the agreement contains a three-year expiration if planning benchmarks are not satisfied.

","The Payson Common Council voted 7-0 to approve Resolution 34-62, authorizing an infrastructure development agreement with Payson Golf Club LLC for a proposed 125-unit condominium project that requires the developer to fund road, drainage and safety upgrades and to dedicate right-of-way to the town.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Payson residents debate Malibu pool vs. Taylor renovation as town readies bond pamphlet

Payson adopts wildfire structure hardening code after months of debate, council votes 5-2

Payson council approves infrastructure deal for Payson Golf Club development