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Camp Verde council unanimously approves update to water settlement with Yavapai-Apache Nation
Summary
At a Feb. 18 special session, the Camp Verde Mayor and Council voted 7–0 to adopt Resolution 2026-1206, authorizing the mayor to sign an update to the town's Water Settlement Agreement with the Yavapai-Apache Nation after an executive-session review and staff direction on related water and park-pond matters.
CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — The Camp Verde Mayor and Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-1206 on Feb. 18, authorizing Mayor Marie Moore to sign an update to the town’s Water Settlement Agreement with the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The special session began at 5:00 p.m. and moved into executive session to receive legal advice and consult on water-resource matters, ponds at Verde Lakes Community Park, and negotiations related to water settlement agreements and potential litigation with the Yavapai-Apache Nation under A.R.S. § 38-431.03. Vice Mayor Wendy Escoffier moved to enter executive session; Councilor Patricia Seybold seconded, and the roll call vote was 7–0.
Mayor Moore reconvened the regular session at 5:44 p.m. and stated that "direction was given to staff for Items 4 and 5," referring to water resources and the ponds at Verde Lakes Community Park. The council then considered Resolution 2026-1206. Councilor Jessie Murdock moved to approve the resolution; Councilor Robin Godwin seconded. The resolution passed by roll call vote, with all seven members voting "aye." The meeting adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
The agenda references consultation with Town Water Attorney Steve Wene of Moyes, Sellers & Hendricks and cites A.R.S. § 38-431.03 as the statutory authority for executive-session discussion. The minutes record that Town Manager Miranda Fisher, Town Attorney Trish Stuhan, Utilities Director Lisa Vaughn and Town Clerk Leah Rhodes were present; the clerk left the meeting at 5:03 p.m.
The resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the update to the town’s water-settlement agreement with the Yavapai-Apache Nation; the minutes do not provide the text of the update, financial terms, or implementation dates. Those details were discussed in executive session and are not included in the public minutes. The action taken was limited to adopting the resolution and authorizing the mayor to sign the update on behalf of the town.
What happens next: The minutes do not state an implementation schedule or whether the signed update requires additional approvals by other parties. The resolution’s adoption indicates the town authorized execution; further procedural steps, dates, or partner approvals were not specified in the public record of this meeting.
