Bullhead City adopts tentative 2025-26 budget; council agrees to fund pickleball shade area

Bullhead City Mayor Steve D'Amico and the City Council on June 3 adopted the city's tentative fiscal year 2025-26 budget and voted to include funding for a shade structure at Rotary Park's pickleball courts.

The council adopted Resolution No. 2025-R-27 to publish the tentative budget and set the hearing and final adoption dates. City Manager Cotter said the package reflects few changes from the budget workshop, adds contingency, and carries $1,000,000 set aside to build three indoor pickleball courts at the Optimum Community Center. Finance Director Toby said the schedules required by the state are included and noted the city does not levy a property tax; he reported roughly $52,000,000 in contingency across all funds.

Why it matters: The budget will determine which capital projects and services move forward in the year ahead; the council's action also responded to repeated requests from pickleball players for shade and indoor play options. The council and staff described the decisions as balancing infrastructure and public-safety priorities with community amenity requests.

Council and staff emphasized the city's broader fiscal picture. City Manager Cotter said the city recently invested more than $2 million to expand parking at the Optimum Community Center and that the planned indoor courts are part of a phased, pay-as-you-go approach to improvements there. Cotter said the gymnasium will have to be configured to generate revenue for rentals and events in addition to recreation use.

Public comment focused on shade at Rotary Park and timelines for indoor courts. Ken O'Gotta, representing the Bullhead Pickleball Club, told the council the club has more than 200 members and has raised about $15,000 toward shade structures; he asked the city both to install shade at Rotary Park and to restore access to indoor gym time at the Optimum center while longer-term work proceeds. Jim Gandy, a Bullhead City resident, clarified the group's request: he said players sought covered seating/bleacher areas between courts, not full court canopies.

Council members debated whether to add a budget amendment that night. Vice Mayor Dan Alfonso proposed a 50/50 cost split with the pickleball community for the shade; Public Works Director Angie Johnson estimated seating-area shade would likely fall under $50,000 and said the club had offered about $15,000 toward the cost. Several council members said they preferred to preserve contingency for infrastructure and public safety but were open to adding the shade funding if the council agreed.

The council approved adding the shade amendment to the tentative budget and directed staff to reflect a matching contribution from the pickleball community in the revenue side. Finance Director Toby noted that any expenditure over $50,000 would return to council for formal authorization, and Cotter said the indoor courts' construction funds become available July 1 and staff will move as quickly as possible to build the three indoor courts.

Quote excerpts: "We're doing everything we can to take care of our pickleball players," City Manager Cotter said during the budget discussion. Jim Gandy, a resident and player, told the council, "We are not requesting to cover the pickleball courts. We're just requesting to cover a small area between the courts so...we've got a shaded area that we can congregate in and not...have a relief from the sun in between games." Ken O'Gotta said the club "has raised over $15,000 towards the goal of this structure."

What the council approved: adoption of the tentative budget (Resolution No. 2025-R-27 as described in the agenda) and a direction to include a budget line for seating-area shade at the Rotary Park pickleball courts, with an anticipated total cost estimate in staff discussion of about $50,000 and a club contribution of approximately $15,000. Staff said the precise scope and funding schedule will be returned to council if the net cost to the city exceeds $50,000.

Next steps: The tentative budget will be published as required, and the council will hold a final adoption hearing on the date set by the published notice. Staff will work with the pickleball club on final design and funding details and will bring any expenditure over $50,000 back to council for formal approval.

Speakers (first reference gives role): Mayor Steve D'Amico; City Manager Cotter; Finance Director Toby (title provided in the meeting); Vice Mayor Dan Alfonso; Public Works Director Angie Johnson; Ken O'Gotta (Bullhead Pickleball Club representative); Jim Gandy (Bullhead City resident); Mark Kilroy (Bullhead City resident and pickleball player).

Authorities cited: resolution adopting tentative budget (referenced in meeting materials as Resolution No. 2025-R-27); state notice requirements for the tentative budget (referenced by Finance Director Toby). The council referenced state publishing schedules required for budget publication.

Actions - Adopt tentative budget (Resolution No. 2025-R-27 as listed on the agenda); outcome: adopted (vote recorded as "in favor of the motion; motion carries" in the transcript). Mover/second: not specified in the record. Notes: staff will publish the tentative budget and then bring a final adoption hearing date as required by state law. - Add budget line for Rotary Park pickleball seating-area shade (amendment approved); outcome: motion carried (vote recorded as "in favor of the motion; motion carries"). Mover/second: not specified in the record. Notes: Public Works Director estimated the seating-area shade would be around $50,000; the pickleball club committed about $15,000 toward the project; council directed finance staff to include the item and treat the club funds as revenue if and when they are provided; expenditures over $50,000 would return to council for authorization.

Clarifying details - Indoor pickleball courts: $1,000,000 allocated in the budget toward three indoor courts at the Optimum Community Center (source: City Manager Cotter). - Pickleball club contribution: approx. $15,000 (Ken O'Gotta). - Staff estimate for seating-area shade: under $50,000 (Public Works Director Angie Johnson). - City contingency (all funds): cited by Finance Director Toby as approximately $52,000,000.

Proper names: Bullhead City; Optimum Community Center; Rotary Park; Bullhead Pickleball Club.

Community relevance: Geographies: Bullhead City, Mohave County. Impact groups: recreational players and seniors who use outdoor courts; taxpayers (budget and contingency). Funding sources: city general fund, one-time capital funds, community donations.

Searchable tags: ["budget","pickleball","parks","Optimum Community Center","Rotary Park","public_works","Bullhead City"].

Provenance - topicintro: {"block_id":"block_3087.96","local_start":0,"local_end":138,"evidence_excerpt":"Item number 8. This is a public hearing. Discussion and possible action to adopt resolution number 20 25 r dash 27. Adopting the tentative budget..."} - topfinish: {"block_id":"block_4443.42","local_start":0,"local_end":84,"evidence_excerpt":"Mr. Mayor, I move to approve this item as presented with the amendment to the shade covering...in favor of the motion. Motion carries."}

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"engagement_forecast":{"newsworthiness":{"national":0.02,"regional":0.10,"local":0.85,"justification":"Primarily local interest; regional interest limited to recreation infrastructure best practices.","prediction_justification":"Local sports and parks funding tends to attract local readership."},"notify_recommendation":{"audience":"city","reason":"Budget adoption and a community-driven parks funding amendment are relevant to city residents and park users.","audience_regions":["Bullhead City"],"justification":"Direct impact on local services and amenities."},"notify_thresholds":{"local_min":0.3,"regional_min":0.6,"national_min":0.8},"predicted_interest":{"national":0.02,"regional":0.12,"local":0.86,"justification":"High local interest among park users and those following municipal budgeting."},"predicted_click_through":0.40,"predicted_click_through_justification":"Local constituency interest moderate to high."},

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