Safford council adopts 2026–2036 General Plan, sets November ratification vote

The Safford Mayor and City Council voted to adopt the city’s 2026–2036 General Plan on June 22, sending the measure to the November 3, 2026 ballot for voter ratification.

City planning staff and Garrett of the Planning Center presented the final draft, saying the update carried forward most of the 2016 plan while adding new actions and policy language. Garrett told the council the plan reflects months of public outreach and agency review and is intended to guide growth after Safford passed the 10,000-population threshold.

The adopted plan includes a new goal to ensure proactive maintenance of city assets, updates terminology from "impact fees" to "capacity fees," and adds an ordinance recommendation to better protect prehistoric archaeological resources through desktop reviews, mitigation protocols and tribal consultation. Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval following a June 1 public hearing.

Several agency comments resulted in minor edits: the Safford City–Graham County Library requested wording changes; the Arizona State Land Department requested clear references to participation in airport master planning; and the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office asked staff to call out a multiple-resource area and to add protections for prehistoric artifacts.

Director Ambich told council members the city will begin voter outreach in August, including radio outreach, and stressed the update is not a tax increase but a planning framework. Councilors asked staff to coordinate ballot language and consult Grant County elections to confirm the measure’s ballot number and title.

The council adopted Resolution R26-016. Staff will return with outreach materials and a final concept schedule ahead of the Nov. 3 ratification vote.