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Safford council approves rezonings, water rules, airport contingency and several contracts
Summary
At its March 24 meeting, the Safford City Council approved first readings for two rezonings, adopted an amendment to municipal water rules, authorized airport contingency spending and several contracts including a five‑year uniform agreement, and approved a property purchase and T‑hangar change orders.
The Safford City Council on March 24 approved a slate of routine and policy items, including two rezoning ordinances' first readings, an amendment to municipal water rules, contingency funding and change orders to finish T‑hangars at the regional airport, and several contracts and a property purchase.
Council members carried first readings of Ordinance 025‑00003, rezoning Graham County parcel 102‑19‑062 (815 West Court Street) from the conventional manufactured‑home district to C3 light commercial, and Ordinance 025‑00004, rezoning a majority of parcel 101‑07‑157A and portions of adjacent parcels from C2 highway commercial to R2 multiple‑family residential. Planning and Zoning recommended approval of both rezonings; staff noted no engineering has been completed and pointed to neighborhood meetings held earlier in 2024 and 2025.
On a second reading, the council adopted Ordinance 025‑00002, an amendment to Title 13 of the Safford Municipal Code governing municipal water systems intended to formalize the city's contractual relationship with customers outside city limits. Council members asked staff to clarify how the change interacts with the city's water‑efficiency provisions; staff said it would bring back specific language for review.
Council also approved Resolution R25‑008, updating administrative policies and guidelines for the Safford water system. During the discussion, staff and council clarified that certain curtailment fees are treated as tariffs and had not required the 60‑day posting some members asked about.
In capital projects business, staff asked the council to authorize contingency spending and change orders to complete electrical and paving work for a 10‑unit T‑hangar project (CIP AP2302). Council discussed using Arizona Department of Corrections crews for paving and the tradeoffs between completing work in‑house over a longer period versus contracting now to put hangars into revenue service. Staff presented a budget recap tracing earlier ARPA funding and the original construction contract; the council approved the requested contingency authorization and a change order for electrical work presented by staff.
The council approved a property purchase of an approximately 0.3‑acre parcel at 105 East Relation Street (APN updated to 101‑13048) for $85,000 plus closing costs to preserve right‑of‑way for future east Relation Street improvements. Council also reappointed Cynthia Demarcus to the Planning & Zoning Commission, approved a five‑year uniform rental and laundry contract with Mission Linen Supply (staff estimated roughly $55,000 per year), and authorized local approvals for special‑event liquor licenses tied to the Graham County Chamber's Spring Festival events.
Votes at a glance: all of the above motions were made, seconded, and carried at the March 24 meeting where staff recommended approval. Where a numeric roll‑call was not read into the record, the official minutes should be consulted for final vote tallies.
The council moved into an executive session after a short recess and later adjourned the regular meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to reconvene for any follow‑up items as needed per the council calendar.
