Bullhead City council to revisit rules for two river access points after residents cite crime, trash and safety hazards

Bullhead City councilmembers directed staff to bring back an amended ordinance addressing two specific Colorado River public-access points—Lakeside Drive and River Gardens—after residents and councilmembers described repeated safety, sanitation and noise problems at several street-end access points.

City Manager Toby Carter said staff can return a focused amendment for council consideration. “We could bring back the ordinance at the next meeting for discussion on just that specific one,” Carter said, referring to Lakeside Drive and noting River Gardens could be included as well.

The discussion grew out of a staff presentation that mapped the city’s public legal access points to the Colorado River and summarized their conditions. The packet included 2016 minutes and a letter from David and Susan Anaka of 101 Riverfront Drive describing recurring problems at the Lakeside terminus. Carter told the council that “Public Works Director Johnson actually did block one of them off because it's a current safety hazard.”

Why it matters: council members said weekend crowds, transient visitors and short-term rentals have intensified use of river access points and increased calls for police and park-ranger response. Residents who testified said trash, human waste,…