COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Jeff Thuneman, Development Services Director
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion: Public Hearing Regarding Annexation Proposal of 3500 Highway 95 North, Mohave County Assessor Parcel No. 120-05-043 (Chris Gilbert)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
N/A
PURPOSE:
To consider annexing a single Mohave County-owned parcel, formerly the Sheriff’s Department building at 3500 Highway 95 North, into the City to manage its future re-use and evaluate its potential as an economic development opportunity.
BACKGROUND:
Lake Havasu City (LHC) approached Mohave County to consider annexing the former Mohave County Sheriff’s Office property, totaling 1.13 acres, into the City. Because this is a metes-and-bounds parcel rather than a platted lot, its full legal description is provided below (from the Mohave County Assessor):
T14N R20W SEC 21 BEG AT THE E2 COR SEC 21; TH S ALONG E SEC LN 330'; TH S 89DEG57' 30W 116.34' TO PT ON ELY BNDRY OF PROSPOSED HWY 95;TH N 16DEG 25' 43W ALONG SAID BNDRY TO PT ON E-W MID SEC LN; TH N 89DEG 57' 30 E 213.17' TO POB CONT 1.13AC
After receiving Mohave County’s consideration, LHC Development Services initiated the steps required to bring this item before the City Council for discussion. Those steps have been completed as outlined below. Under Arizona Statute Section 9-47, several actions, each with specific timing requirements, must be completed for any annexation by Lake Havasu City to be valid. This overview summarizes the early stages of the process leading up to the City Council’s public hearing on the annexation and identifies the remaining steps that will follow should the Council direct staff to proceed.
Step 1: Determine if the property to be annexed meets statutory requirements for size, dimensions, location relative to existing city limit and ability to provide services to the property once annexed.
MEETS REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNEXATION
Step 2: Prepare a Map of the property to be annexed and a blank (unsigned) annexation petition.
COPY OF MAP USED IN PETITION IS ATTACHED
Step 3: Execute an Affidavit Regarding Annexation stating the property is not being considered for annexation by another entity or has been recently attempted.
COPY IS ATTACHED
Step 4: Request the name and address and property valuation of all owners within the area to be annexed from the County Assessor and the State of Arizona Dept. of Revenue.
COPIES OF VALUATIONS FROM STATE AND COUNTY ATTACHED
Step 5: City will file in the Office of the County Recorder (1) the Blank Petition with Map and (2) the Affidavit Regarding Annexation, AND send additional notice with a copy of the petition, map, and affidavit to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Mohave County and the County Assessor.
SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS AS RECORDED
Step 5a: The County will hold this blank petition for 30 days.
TIMER STARTED ON JANUARY 5, 2026, WHEN PETITION WAS RECORDED
Step 6: 15 days before the end of the 30-day county holding period (see Step 5a), the City will advertise in the local paper the area being proposed to be annexed and setting the Council public hearing date, time and location.
NOTICE PUBLISHED IN PAPER ON JANUARY 10, 2026
Step 7: 6 days prior to the end of the 30-day county holding period (see Step 5a), the City will do the following:
• Post notice of the public hearing in at least 3 conspicuous public places in the territory proposed to be annexed. POSTED ON JANUARY 9, 2026
• Notice by first class mail to the chairperson of the County Board of Supervisors with the proposed map. MAILED ON JANUARY 21, 2026
• Notice by first class mail to each owner of real and personal property within the territory proposed to be annexed with the proposed map. NOTICES MAILED ON JANUARY 9, 2026
Step 8: City Council holds a public hearing to discuss the annexation proposal within the last 10 days of the 30-day county holding period.
SCHEDULED FOR JANAURY 27, 2026
Following completion of the required public hearing by the City Council, should it choose to direct staff to continue working towards the annexation, the following would be the next steps:
Step 9: The City provides the Blank Petition to the County for signature, which is permitted to take up to one year to complete by statute. Mohave County may also have actions necessary to take on their end during this period before they can sign.
Step 10: Original signed petition recorded with the County Clerk, copy to the City Clerk.
Step 11: City posts notice of special city council meeting for considering annexation ordinance (depending on how many readings are required) and acts upon Ordinance. Protest/Contest window is 30 days so action not final until end of 30-day window.
Step 12: 60 days after Ordinance action is final the City Clerk files a copy of the annexation ordinance with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Upon adoption, the property must receive a Lake Havasu City zoning designation equivalent to the properties’ existing Mohave County C2H - Highway Commercial Zoning District, which is C2 - General Commercial Zoning District.
All City Departments have completed a preliminary review and at this time staff has no concerns with the proposed annexation.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Lake Havasu City will be able to manage the nature of any economic development re-utilization of the property that occurs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The annexation is expected to generate revenue through future redevelopment of the site and the associated tax contributions. The site will also receive full public safety services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Location Map use in Petition
Recorded Affidavit Regarding Annexation
County Assessed Valuation Report
State Utility Assets Valuation Report
Recorded Blank Petition
Published Public Hearing Notice
SUGGESTED MOTION:Recommended Action
N/A