Camp Verde council approves land donation for water tanks, zoning tweak and road-work restrictions; raises pesticide questions for river restoration

Mayor Dee Jenkins called the Town of Camp Verde Mayor and Common Council to order at 6:00 p.m. on April 2, 2025, and the council moved through a full agenda that resulted in unanimous votes on several land-use and administrative matters.

The most consequential policy move was approval of Resolution 2025-1171, a development agreement with Verde Commercial LLC for the donation of about 58.86 acres (parcel 403-22-035Q). Utilities Director Jeff Low said the site is intended to host two 500,000-gallon storage tanks and a pump station to serve the Verde Commercial subdivision; applicant Blake Carroll confirmed the land donation. The motion to approve the resolution passed on a 7-0 roll-call vote.

Council also approved Ordinance 2025-A503, an amendment to the Planning and Zoning Ordinance that exempts subdivisions developing on vacant lots of 20 acres or more from the Planned Area Development (PAD) process so long as they do not request changes to parcel sizes, setbacks, or other use-district requirements. Acting Senior Planner Cory Mulcaire told the council staff had identified a drafting error and recommended the exemption to avoid unnecessary PAD reviews for large, standard subdivisions. The ordinance was adopted 7-0 after staff clarified a scrivener's error in subsection lettering.

In another land- and infrastructure-related action, the council adopted Ordinance 2024-A497 to add restrictions on work in newly paved or resurfaced public roadways and rights-of-way. CIP Project Manager Martin Smith framed the amendment as protecting street investments that support commerce and access; the ordinance passed 7-0.

A consent-agenda item drawing discussion was a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the Verde River for tamarisk mitigation at the Town-owned Parsons Riverfront Preserve. Councilor Robin Godwin raised concerns about the insecticides and herbicides planned for invasive-tamarisk removal. Stormwater Specialist Patricia Mancini introduced Program Manager Elaine Nichols from the Friends of the Verde River, who described the group’s study of chemical and mechanical treatment options and explained planned application methods and safeguards. “We have studied how the herbicides, pesticides and chemicals will be used in the process,” Program Manager Elaine Nichols said, summarizing the organization’s outreach and technical review. After staff and the Friends’ representatives answered council questions, the MOU was approved as pulled from consent by a 7-0 vote.

On personnel, Town Manager Miranda Fisher described a near-term operational need in Community Development for better backend support and recordkeeping; the council approved hiring a temporary Administrative Assistant to support code enforcement and planning operations, 7-0.

During Call to the Public, resident Melinda Jessop said her comments about the demolition of her property were omitted from the past two meeting minutes and asked the council to address that record. Mayor Jenkins also proclaimed April 2025 as Fair Housing Month; CIP Project Manager Martin Smith accepted the proclamation on behalf of NACOG and the Arizona Department of Housing.

Votes at a glance

- Consent items 4.a and 4.b (minutes and meeting schedule): Approved (motion by Councilor Wendy Escoffier, seconded by Vice Mayor Marie Moore). Roll-call: Bolton, Foreman, Murdock, Godwin, Escoffier, Moore, Jenkins — all aye (7-0). - Consent item 4.c — MOU with Friends of the Verde River for tamarisk mitigation at Parsons Preserve: Approved (motion by Councilor Robin Godwin, seconded by Councilor Wendy Escoffier). Roll-call: all aye (7-0). Key issue: Councilor Godwin asked about insecticide use; Friends’ Program Manager Elaine Nichols and Stormwater Specialist Patricia Mancini described study and application plans. - Resolution 2025-1171 — Development agreement with Verde Commercial LLC (parcel 403-22-035Q) to site two 500,000-gallon storage tanks and pump station: Approved (motion by Councilor Robin Godwin, seconded by Vice Mayor Marie Moore). Roll-call: all aye (7-0). - Ordinance 2025-A503 — Amend Planning & Zoning to exempt 20+ acre subdivisions from PAD process (no change to district standards requested): Adopted (motion by Councilor Robert Foreman, seconded by Councilor Robin Godwin). Roll-call: all aye (7-0). Note: staff identified a scrivener’s error in subsection lettering (J vs. L) that was clarified on the record. - Ordinance 2024-A497 — Amend Code (Chapter 7) to add restrictions on work in newly paved or resurfaced roadways and rights-of-way: Adopted (motion by Councilor Robin Godwin, seconded by Councilor Robert Foreman). Roll-call: all aye (7-0). - Temporary Administrative Assistant position for Community Development: Approved (motion by Councilor Robert Foreman, seconded by Councilor Wendy Escoffier). Roll-call: all aye (7-0).

What this means

Residents can expect the donated site to be used for new water-storage infrastructure once the town proceeds with design and construction steps; the ordinance changes reduce procedural requirements for large conventional subdivisions that do not seek dimensional or use deviations; the road ordinance seeks to protect new pavement investments by limiting disruptive work soon after resurfacing; and the MOU with the Friends of the Verde River advances tamarisk removal on town land while prompting council questions about chemical treatments.

Next steps and context

Staff answered council questions during the meeting and will proceed with implementation steps (design, permits, and any required environmental precautions) tied to the development agreement and the tamarisk mitigation work. The council adjourned at 7:04 p.m.