Sierra Vista council reviews code changes to fold golf course into parks rules as neighbors raise music, hours concerns

Miss Wilson, parks and recreation staff, presented proposed amendments to Chapter 94 of the city code that would add the municipal golf course to the chapter’s coverage and add or clarify rules on hours, prohibited activities and enforcement. The revisions include a distinct definition for “golf course property,” a provision permitting the contracted operator to set hours subject to the department director’s approval, a prohibition on metal detecting and fishing in golf course ponds, a ban on camping and loitering at all times, and an allowance for recreational walking only before the first tee time and after the last tee time for safety reasons.

The proposed changes would place enforcement authority for the golf course property under the city ordinance enforcement code (9-403) and add the golf course to ordinances that already govern parks. “This will permit people to walk on the property prior to the first tee time of the day and after the conclusion of golfing at the end of each day,” Miss Wilson said. She also emphasized that the golf course is not being designated a “park” under the revised language and that noise at the golf course would remain governed by Chapter 93 (noise), not the proposed Chapter 94 edits.

Why it matters: the amendments affect how residents can use the golf course grounds and clarify what activities are allowed or prohibited; neighbors and council members said a lack of clarity about times, enforcement and the driving-range music has prompted public concern and petitions.

Council discussion focused on clarity and neighbor concerns. Councilman Jones said callers and an on-file petition of roughly 94 signatures raised worries about music and noise from the driving range and asked whether the ordinance’s walking provisions should instead specify daylight hours rather than tying access to tee times. Councilman Rodriguez and Mayor Pro Tem recommended that staff consider consolidating golf-course-specific language into a dedicated subsection to make the rules easier for the public to understand. Miss Wilson said she would work with the Parks and Recreation Commission on that cleanup if council desired.

Several council members and staff repeatedly noted that the driving-range operator, Paradigm, has been operating under contract and that recent soft openings included music and lights; staff said the operator has been within the decibel limits set in Chapter 93 and that there have been limited formal complaints so far. “We have taken the decibel measurements at property lines,” a staff member said, noting readings below the 50-decibel threshold in code.

Members of the council and staff discussed practical details for the public: the pro shop will be the primary daily source for the day’s first and last tee times, online schedules may be available, and staff will continue working on mitigation of light and noise impacts. Miss Wilson said the parks commission recommended approval at its Nov. 12, 2024 meeting and again reviewed public comments on Jan. 14, 2025 and did not recommend changes at that time.

Next steps: the ordinance revisions were presented and remain on the council agenda for a formal vote at the next scheduled meeting; no final vote was recorded during this session. Council members debated whether to table the item to allow staff to reorganize the language into a distinct golf-course subsection, or to approve the version presented and follow up with clarifying amendments.

Community input and public-notice context: the city conducted a 30-day public review period as required by code (authorized by Resolution 2024-488) and received 13 comments through the city’s Engage platform. Council members urged continued outreach and asked staff to notify neighbors and to provide simple, prominent guidance (for example, the pro shop phone number or an online notice) about the daily walking window and when the driving range is active.

Ending: The council did not finalize the ordinance at this meeting; staff said the item is on the Thursday agenda for formal consideration and that they will continue to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission and the operator on implementation and mitigation measures.