Lake Havasu City Council OKs Phase 2 design work for Environmental Learning Center

The Lake Havasu City Council voted 6-1 on Oct. 22 to approve Amendment No. 1 to the architectural services agreement with Jones Studio Inc., authorizing phase 2 design work for the proposed Environmental Learning Center and allowing Pillar 4 to use remaining America's Best Communities (ABC) Vision 2020 funds to complete that work.

Council approval advances design development and a marketing/fundraising package for a facility envisioned as a regional clearinghouse for Colorado River research, water-quality laboratory space and visitor amenities. Supporters said phase 2 is needed to produce renderings, floor plans and cost estimates that potential funders and partners require.

City Manager Jess Knudson introduced the item and described the project’s origin in the community-led Vision 2020/America’s Best Communities work. Charlie Cassens, identified in the meeting as the Pillar 4 spokesperson, told the council phase 2 will use information from the feasibility study and visioning sessions to produce the master plan, phasing and a marketing package to solicit partners and grants. “Phase 2 will actually give us the collateral materials that we need and answer all of the unanswered questions,” Cassens said.

Former Mayor Mark Nixon and representatives from Arizona State University, Arizona Game and Fish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Jones Studio joined Pillar 4 presenters. Brian (Jones Studio) and Michelle Kauk (Mode Public Affairs) described phase 2 as the step that turns feasibility work into design documents and fundraising materials; Kauk said substantial federal or private grants exist but require concrete project materials and a clear financial ask.

Project details discussed at the hearing include a preliminary building footprint of about 8,800 square feet with roughly 400,000 square feet of outdoor improvements; a preliminary construction estimate of about $7 million with approximately $1.6 million in soft costs; and an allocated 2,200 square feet for a water-quality laboratory inside the building. Cassens and others emphasized the city facility status is driven by Recreation and Public Purposes Act requirements; Cassens said the project is intended to be operated as a city-run program. The council record indicates $500,000 of the $2 million ABC award was set aside for this Environmental Learning Center effort.

Council members and public speakers pressed organizers on funding risk and long-term sustainability. Councilmember Gordon Groat asked whether the phase-2 contract reimburses particular partners; Groat also pressed for clarity about lab equipment and operating bandwidth. Cassens and other presenters said the phase-2 budget does not include high-end laboratory equipment (that would be funded by separate grants or partner commitments) but does allocate floor space and develop the documents needed to pursue that equipment. Cassens said: “If the money’s not there when it’s time to go to construction, we don’t go to construction. We don’t have a project.”

Presenters outlined a preliminary pro forma that showed a first-year operating shortfall in the neighborhood of $300,000, with projected revenue lines including admissions (about $415,800), memberships (about $70,000), commercial leases (about $12,000), special events (about $150,000), corporate sponsorships (about $42,500), donations (about $51,000) and grants (about $85,000). Organizers said those estimates would be refined in phase 2 and that the Pillar 4 group intends to seek federal, state and private funding rather than rely on city taxpayer funds.

Councilmember Kevin Dolan moved the phase-2 amendment; Councilmember Gordon Groat seconded. The motion directed the city to enter Amendment No. 1 with Jones Studio for phase 2 and to allow Pillar 4 to spend remaining ABC funds on that phase. The motion passed 6-1. The council’s action authorizes the design/fundraising phase but does not obligate the city to fund construction; speakers and several council members said construction will proceed only if outside funding is secured.

Supporters at the hearing — including representatives from Arizona State University, Arizona Game and Fish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local Vision 2020 Pillar 4 members — urged continued momentum and said phase 2 materials are necessary to attract partners and grant awards. Opponents and skeptical council members argued for caution, citing competing city priorities, possible future budget constraints and the need to avoid a taxpayer-funded shortfall.

Council action on Oct. 22 moves the Environmental Learning Center from feasibility toward schematic design and a marketable fundraising package. Pillar 4 and Jones Studio will proceed with phase 2 materials and outreach; any future construction or city budget commitments were left for later decisions.