Council approves Rodeo/Fairgrounds master plan contract amid neighborhood concerns over scope and $15.3 million in state funds

The Prescott City Council on Sept. 23 approved city contract 2026-060 with GH2 Architects LLC to develop a master plan for the Rodeo/Fairgrounds property, voting 6-0. The city expects the planning process to run through June 2026 and to include public and stakeholder engagement, conceptual designs, phasing and budget estimates. The vote follows months of work by a city-created steering committee and a competitive request-for-proposal process. “This item is for the development of a master plan at the Rodeo Fairgrounds,” Deputy City Manager Mike Morris told council. The committee unanimously recommended GH2 after reviewing four qualified proposals, Morris said. Council members and dozens of public commenters urged greater clarity about the steering committee’s charter and the plan’s relationship to $15.3 million in state funding that was allocated for infrastructure at the site. Councilwoman Freeworth asked that the committee receive a written mission or charter and that the council be briefed at the 30% and 75% design milestones. Councilman Gamboge and others pressed staff to ensure the master plan addresses user needs such as restrooms and underground utilities. Several neighborhood residents and committee members told council they fear the process so far has emphasized infrastructure and one primary user — the Prescott Frontier Days (the rodeo) — without a broader community vision. “I feel the city staff just keeps pushing the idea of this master plan for the Fairgrounds property when there is such a big opportunity available for us,” resident Sue Manuel said during public comment. Alternate steering-committee member Earl Duque urged a clear mission, a shared vision and a feasibility component to ground the plan in realistic funding and traffic solutions. Council members and staff agreed the master-plan process could proceed while some targeted design work tied to the $15.3 million begins. The city manager said legislators, including state Sen. Mark Finchem’s office, have urged timely activity on projects funded by the appropriation; staff said some utility design and other preparatory work might proceed in parallel with the master plan if appropriate. The contract approved by council covers the scope of work in the RFP; Morris said the consultant proposed optional work items — an economic impact study and additional analysis — that the city declined to include in the base contract. Morris confirmed the contract amount for the selected scope is $145,000. The steering committee and staff said they will return to council with public-engagement results and interim design milestones. The council vote ended the agenda item; staff will proceed to schedule stakeholder and community meetings, site assessments, conceptual designs and a final master plan with phasing and budget estimates expected by June 2026.