COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Jeff Thuneman, Development Services Director
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion and Action: Ordinance No. 26-1381 Extending and Increasing the Corporate Limits of Lake Havasu City, Mohave County, Arizona, in Accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 9, Chapter 4, Article 7, by Annexing Certain Territory, 3500 Highway 95 N, Contiguous to the Existing Lake Havasu City Limits (Introduction) (Chris Gilbert)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
N/A
PURPOSE:
To consider introducing an ordinance 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. This item was previously presented at a public hearing before the City Council on January 27, 2026, at which direction was given to staff to proceed with the process of annexation.
BACKGROUND:
Lake Havasu City (City) 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, City’s 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 Revised Statutes Section 9-471, several actions, each with specific timing requirements, must be completed for any annexation by Lake Havasu City to be valid. This overview summarizes the stages of the process leading up to the City Council’s current discussion and action on an Ordinance to annex this property into the City limits.
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.
COMPLETED AND A COPY IS INCLUDED WITH ATTACHED SIGNED PETITION
Step 3: Execute an Affidavit Regarding Annexation stating the property is not being considered for annexation by another entity or has been recently attempted. COMPLETED
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 Department of Revenue.
COMPLETED
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. COMPLETED
Step 5a: The County will hold this blank petition for 30 days.
TIMER STARTED ON JANUARY 5, 2026. COMPLETED
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. COMPLETED
Step 7: 6 days prior to the end of the 30-day county holding period (see Step 5a), the City will do the following: COMPLETED ALL 3 POSTINGS BELOW AS NOTED
• 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 proposed annexation within the last 10 days of the 30-day county holding period. This hearing was held by the City Council on January 27, 2026, and also directed staff to move forward with the annexation process. COMPLETED
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’s Board of Supervisors acted to authorize the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors to sign the Blank Petition at its regular meeting on May 18, 2026. COMPLETED
Step 10: Original signed petition recorded with the County Clerk with a copy to the City Clerk. Signed Petition was recorded on June 2, 2026, following receipt of the original signed document from Mohave County. STEP COMPLETED AND RECORDED SIGNED ANNEXATION PETITION IS ATTACHED WITH LETTER FROM MOHAVE COUNTY.
Step 11: City posts notice of city council meeting for introduction of an ordinance at a public hearing to consider annexing the subject parcel but will not take action. This step also includes notice of the annexation to the local Fire District with jurisdiction, in this particular case, this is Desert Hills. THIS IS THE CURRENT STEP IN THE PROCESS FOR WHICH THIS STAFF REPORT IS PREPARED. NOTICE OF THE ANNEXATION TO DESERT HILLS FIRE DISTRICT WILL BE PROVIDED BEFORE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
FUTURE STEPS TO BE COMPLETED:
Step 12: City posts notice of city council meeting for discussion and consideration of approval of an ordinance to annex the subject parcel. This Ordinance contains language compliant with current state statute, and past annexation procedure, by Lake Havasu City to assign the closest comparable City Zoning District, C-2, to the property, replacing the Mohave County C-2(H) designation. The Protest/Contest window is 30 days in length so this action is not final until end of the 30-day appeal window.
Step 13: 60 days after the Ordinance action is final upon closure of the 30-day appeal window, the City Clerk files a copy of the annexation ordinance with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Upon adoption of the Ordinance, the existing Mohave County zone category of C2(H) - Highway Commercial Zoning District, will be replaced by the Lake Havasu City equivalent zoning of C2 - General Commercial Zoning District.
No City Departments have stated an objection to 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 benefit from full public safety and other City services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 26-1381
Recorded Signed Petition w/Location Map
POSSIBLE MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to introduce Ordinance No. 26-1381 to annex into the Lake Havasu City limits a single parcel of property addressed as 3500 Highway 95 North, Mohave County.
I move to not introduce Ordinance No. 26-1381 to annex into the Lake Havasu City limits a single parcel of property addressed as 3500 Highway 95 North, Mohave County.