Prescott Valley council tables citizen recreation advisory appointments after conflict concerns

The Prescott Valley Town Council on March 13 voted to table final appointments to the 2025 Citizen Recreation Facility Advisory Committee and asked the Board and Commission Selection Committee to review the applicant list and return recommendations at the next council meeting.

The committee will advise the town on plans for a proposed aquatic center, a project council members repeatedly described as high-cost and high-stakes. Councilman Kevin Williams told colleagues the town could be considering “a gold‑plated Cadillac version of the aquatic center” that might approach $49,000,000, and said that made vetting appointees’ experience especially important.

Public commenters raised objections to two prospective appointees. Patricia Betzold, introduced as a resident living in Chino Valley, urged the council not to appoint Sandy Griffiths, saying Griffiths’s role as executive director of the Yavapai County Contractors Association created a conflict because the association “promotes political action and networking for the benefit of its members.” Isabelle Serizadez, a 16‑year Prescott Valley resident, urged removal of a different prospective member, saying the selection was “stacked” with current Parks and Recreation commissioners and recounting an episode she described as hostile behavior from a commissioner during a past advisory process.

Council members discussed procedure and the limits of public personnel discussion. Town attorney Seth Legler advised that an executive session on appointments would have to name a particular candidate and that the named person would have to receive notice of the executive session. Councilman Freund asked whether a personnel executive session would be appropriate; Legler said it could be, but only if tied to a particular candidate and with notice.

Councilman Williams proposed three motions: that staff ask all applicants to submit fuller résumés and references; and that the council remove two named applicants from the slate. The motions to remove the named individuals did not carry. Vice Mayor Zircher moved to table item 8C, convene the Board and Commission Selection Committee to review the list, and return with recommendations; that motion passed.

The council did not finalize the committee roster. Council members who supported tabling said the extra review would allow more vetting of applicant experience and reduce political friction; those opposed said the town should respect volunteers who had applied. Mayor Paul Gutta and staff said the town intends the committee to perform community engagement and to help determine feasibility, funding and program priorities for an aquatic facility.

The council’s action means the citizen committee will not be seated immediately; the Selection Committee is to meet and present a revised recommendation at a forthcoming meeting.