Wickenburg council unanimously approves consent agenda including school resource officer IGA, Vision Zero resolution and multiple FEMA grant applications

The Wickenburg Common Council on June 15 unanimously approved a consent agenda that included an intergovernmental agreement with the Wickenburg Unified School District for school resource personnel, adoption of Resolution No. 2396 committing the town to the Vision Zero goal, and authorization to pursue several federal grants for emergency response and flood mitigation.

Vice Mayor Brian Jones moved to approve the consent agenda and Councilmember Rebecca Rovey seconded; the motion passed 7–0. The consent package covered minutes approval and multiple grant- and policy-related authorizations.

Police Chief Les Brown summarized recent SRO grant cycles and the district’s new 2026–2029 award. The district’s grant will fully fund two positions for the three-year period and partially fund a second School Resource Officer for one year; the IGA approved by council authorizes the Town to provide a School Resource Sergeant at Wickenburg High School and School Resource Officer positions serving the high school, middle school and elementary school.

Grants Administrator Kathleen Crutchfield told the council the town would act only as a fiscal agent for certain nonprofit applicants if they receive Tohono O’odham Nation grant awards; that arrangement would limit the town’s role to receipt and disbursement of funds, not program administration. Council approved the fiscal-agent authorization by unanimous consent.

The council also adopted Resolution No. 2396, aligning the town with the Vision Zero initiative and authorizing submission of an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. Crutchfield described the SS4A program as a federal opportunity to fund planning and implementation projects that aim to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

For emergency response, the Fire Department sought permission to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase two utility task vehicles (UTVs), two trailers and associated safety equipment for remote rescues. The grant application request is $180,000 with a local match requirement estimated at 5% ($9,000). Council authorized submission of the AFG application.

Council also authorized staff to apply for FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding to address chronic flooding on Jack Burden Road, seeking up to $1,000,000 with a projected 25% local match. Finally, the council authorized a BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) application to fund flood-control improvements around the South Treatment Plant, with a tentative project cost estimate of $400,000–$600,000 and an expected 25% local match.

Per the council’s consent vote, staff will proceed with preparing and submitting the grant applications and return to council for acceptance of any awards and for approval of required matching commitments. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:03 p.m.