Prescott Valley council approves attendance rule, water design agreement and transfers Yaveline service to SIMPO

Prescott Valley — The Town of Prescott Valley Council on March 20 approved changes limiting when councilmembers may participate remotely, authorized engineering design work for a water transmission main and multi-use path, and agreed to transfer the town’s pilot Yaveline microtransit service to the regional transportation agency SIMPO, among other routine items.

The attendance policy ordinance, approved on second reading, narrows when council members may appear and vote remotely and includes an allowance — added at the council’s request — to permit a member to use technology to participate remotely two times per calendar year once the council’s upgraded audiovisual system is operational. Town attorney Mark Legler presented the amendments as a clarification of article 2-4 of the town code; Councilman Freund proposed the two-absence provision during discussion.

The meeting also authorized a professional services agreement with David and Associates for engineering design of the Old Black Canyon water transmission main and a 12-foot-wide asphalt multi-use path (the Lasso Loop Trail segment) for $113,090. Public works staff said the transmission main is intended to provide redundant water supply around Quailwood and to reduce reliance on well treatment for PFAS contamination.

Council members voted unanimously on the ordinance and the design contract, and on a separate motion to assign the Yaveline transit operation to SIMPO effective July 1, 2025. The council also acted on routine consent items and approved a second-reading amendment creating a dedicated parks and recreation department in the town code.

Why it matters: The attendance ordinance clarifies when remote participation is allowed and adds a predictable allowance for occasional remote attendance; the water transmission main design move advances a project staff says is intended to improve system redundancy and address PFAS-related supply constraints; and transferring the microtransit pilot to SIMPO moves the service from a grant-funded pilot toward a regional, continued service model.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance (amend article 2-4 council procedure; add limited remote participation; two technology-based attendances per calendar year once audiovisual system operational) — Ordinance number (as read aloud): 2025-952 — Outcome: Approved unanimously. - Professional services agreement with David and Associates for Old Black Canyon water transmission main and multi-use path design — Amount: $113,090 — Outcome: Approved unanimously. - Assignment and assumption agreement to transfer Yaveline microtransit operation to SIMPO effective 07/01/2025 — Outcome: Approved unanimously. - Ordinance (amend Town parks/playgrounds rules to reflect newly created Parks & Recreation Department) — Second reading — Outcome: Approved unanimously. - Consent agenda (routine items) — Outcome: Approved unanimously. - Construction contract for Summit Tank 18-inch waterline (CIP CW2507) — Item withdrawn/tabled after low bidder withdrew; council voted to remove the item from tonight’s agenda to return it at a later meeting.

What the council said and next steps Town staff said the attendance change is aimed at narrowing the broad COVID-era electronic attendance language now that in-person processes have resumed. Town staff will return the Summit Tank construction item after staff reviews bidder withdrawals and the project procurement timeline. For the Yaveline transfer, Council and staff said Prescott Valley will continue to coordinate with SIMPO to ensure local service levels and to seek budget approval through the regular municipal budget process.

Public comment and presentations One member of the public spoke during the call to the public to express opposition to smart meters; members of the council made short community announcements. APS representatives and town staff made separate presentations earlier in the agenda about fire mitigation and water projects.

Ending: The council adjourned after completing the evening’s business; the items withdrawn or tabled will return to a future meeting.