City Council Special Meeting

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTTONWOOD, ARIZONA, HELD JULY 21, 2026, AT 5:30 P.M., AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS--RIVERFRONT LOCATED AT 1083 E. RIVERFRONT ROAD, COTTONWOOD, ARIZONA. A COMPLETE RECORDING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING HELD JULY 21, 2026, IS AVAILABLE HERE: (FULL AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING OF JULY 21, 2026, SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING) TIMESTAMPS FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM ARE PROVIDED BELOW THE CORRESPONDING ITEM DISCUSSED. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Roll call was taken as follows: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT Ann Shaw, Mayor Felicia Coates, Vice Mayor Stephen DeWillis, Council Member Christopher Dowell, Council Member Robert Marks, Council Member Joy Mosley, Council Member Debbie Wilden, Council Member STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Mario Cifuentez, II, City Manager John Gaylord, City Attorney Tami Mayes, City Clerk Kirsten Lennon, Financial Services Director ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION Public Hearing for City of Cottonwood final budget for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (Audio at approximately 5:30 p.m.) Mayor Shaw announced that public comments regarding agenda items are limited to three minutes per speaker per session and opened the public hearing on the City of Cottonwood Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Final Budget. Mayor Shaw stated that the public hearing would remain open briefly to allow additional time for members of the public to provide comments or ask questions. Public hearing opened at 5:31 p.m. Mayor Shaw then invited Financial Services Director Kirsten Lennon to proceed with her presentation on Item Number 2. Cottonwood City Council Special Meeting July 21, 2026 Page 2 Consideration and adoption of Resolution Number 3406, adopting the City of Cottonwood’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 final budget and expenditure limitation (Audio at approximately 5:32 p.m.) Presentation by Ms. Lennon. Ms. Lennon stated that no changes had been made between the tentative budget adopted by City Council in June and the proposed Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Final Budget, which totaled $151,414,495. She noted that the budget incorporated items discussed during the City’s budget meetings, presentations, and internal review process. Ms. Lennon reported that the budget included six new full-time equivalent positions. One position was approved for implementation, while the remaining five positions were contingent upon the receipt of grant funding. The budget also included approximately $63 million for capital projects and capital improvements across City departments, including Parks and Recreation programs and improvements such as lighting at Kids’ Park. In addition, the budget provided for employee wage adjustments and implementation of the compensation study, which had occurred following the beginning of the new fiscal year. Ms. Lennon concluded her presentation and invited questions from City Council regarding the proposed budget or any matters that may have arisen since the previous budget discussions and adoption of the tentative budget. Council Member Wilden asked whether any aspects of the proposed budget had caused concern for Ms. Lennon or other staff members. Ms. Lennon stated that the overall budget process proceeded smoothly. She noted that staff had productive discussions with City departments regarding their budget proposals and began the process with a strong budget foundation. She further stated that the budget presentations to City Council provided Council Members with an opportunity to review the proposed budget, ask questions, and receive responses and additional information from staff. Mayor Shaw asked whether there were any additional comments or questions. Hearing none, Mayor Shaw closed the public hearing Public Hearing closed at 5:34 p.m. Mayor Shaw requested that City Council consider the adoption of Resolution Number 3406. MOTION: Council Member Mosley moved to adopt Resolution Number 3406, adopting the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 final budget as presented and establishing the City’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 expenditure limitation at $151,414,495. SECOND: Council Member DeWillis Cottonwood City Council Special Meeting July 21, 2026 Page 3 A roll call vote on the motion was taken as follows: COUNCIL MEMBER YES NO ABSENT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER DEWILLIS X COUNCIL MEMBER DOWELL X COUNCIL MEMBER MARKS X COUNCIL MEMBER MOSLEY X COUNCIL MEMBER WILDEN X VICE MAYOR COATES X MAYOR SHAW X The motion unanimously carried. Mayor Shaw read the following by title only: RESOLUTION NUMBER 3406 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTTONWOOD, YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA, ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 AND ESTABLISHING AN EXPENDITURE LIMITATION. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Council Member Wilden moved to adjourn. SECOND: Mayor Shaw The motion unanimously carried. The special meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.