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Camp Verde to terminate rodeo grounds lease with Camp Verde Arena Association; seeks new operator for equestrian center
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Summary
The Town Council voted 7-0 to terminate the Camp Verde Arena Association lease for the rodeo grounds, set a surrender date of March 31, 2026, authorized the mayor to sign the termination notice, and approved issuance of RFQ 2025-224 (due Feb. 2, 2026) for equestrian center operations with additional fiscal and inventory requirements.
The Camp Verde Town Council voted unanimously Dec. 3, 2025 to terminate the lease for the rodeo grounds held by the Camp Verde Arena Association (CVAA), setting an effective surrender date of March 31, 2026. The council also authorized Mayor Marie Moore to execute the formal termination letter on the Town's behalf.
Town Manager Miranda Fisher summarized negotiations and said the Town provided a final amended lease to CVAA on Nov. 11, 2025; CVAA's board voted on Nov. 13 to reject the proposed amendment. Multiple community members spoke during the meeting in support of CVAA, including Mary Phelps, who identified herself as CVAA president and asked the council to extend the surrender date through March 31, 2026. Councilmembers said they wanted staff and CVAA to coordinate with event vendors holding bookings through the proposed extension to minimize disruption.
Council also approved issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2025-224 to solicit qualified organizations to assume management, operation and promotion of the Camp Verde Equestrian Center. Town Manager Fisher recommended an RFQ instead of an RFP to prequalify experienced operators. The council asked staff to add clearer requirements in the RFQ: a submission due date of Feb. 2, 2026; language allowing a pre-submittal walkthrough coordinated with CVAA; an on-site inventory list of fixed assets; inclusion of motorsports as an example of reasonable, compatible non-equestrian uses; and a requirement for audited financial statements and GAAP-compliant recordkeeping for transparency.
On the lease termination motion, Councilor Robin Godwin moved to terminate the lease with a March 31, 2026 surrender date; Councilor Patricia Seybold seconded. The RFQ issuance was approved on a motion by Vice Mayor Wendy Escoffier, seconded by Councilor Patricia Seybold. Both motions carried by recorded roll-call votes of 7-0.
Mayor Moore asked staff to add a continued discussion of negotiations with CVAA to the Dec. 17, 2025 agenda. The termination and RFQ actions provide the Town a path to secure a new operator and require staff to manage vendor coordination during the transition period.