Camp Verde council hears housing strategy for Verde Valley; tribal representatives urge funding
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Summary
At its July 9, 2025 special session, the Camp Verde Mayor and Council received a presentation on affordable and attainable housing and the General Plan drafting process; representatives of the Yavapai-Apache Nation asked the council to support funding for low-income tribal housing.
At a July 9, 2025 special session, the Town of Camp Verde Mayor and Council heard a presentation on the future of housing in Camp Verde and housing initiatives across the Verde Valley, and received public comments urging funding for tribal housing.
Special Initiatives Manager Cliff Bryson outlined the distinction between "affordable" and "attainable" housing, summarized current housing initiatives in the Verde Valley, and highlighted residential projects planned or under construction in Camp Verde over the next few years. Bryson also demonstrated a newly public Community Development GIS dashboard intended to give residents access to development and planning data. Town Manager Miranda Fisher and Economic Development Director Molly Davies answered Council questions about timelines and next steps.
During the public-comment portion of the housing discussion, Sheri Benson and Edwin Hazel, representing the Yavapai-Apache Nation, spoke in favor of funding to support low-income homes for tribal members and described upcoming tribal development plans. Mary Chicoine of the Verde Valley Community Development Organization described that group's work to advance housing initiatives and pointed Councilors to resources on the organization's website. Town staff responded to the commenters' questions and provided clarifications about available programs and local planning tools.
Fisher told the Council that the General Plan's Technical Advisory Committee has moved into drafting the element chapters required by Arizona Revised Statutes and that staff will post draft chapters for public review and present them to Council and commissions for input. Staff encouraged Council members to share the draft chapters with community members to broaden outreach.
No formal vote was taken on housing policy at the July 9 meeting. The Council recessed briefly at 5:58 p.m. and reconvened at 6:06 p.m. The Council will review draft General Plan chapters in upcoming meetings as staff posts them for public comment.