Bisbee City Council Meeting Summary June 2, 2026

Below is a summary of the June 2, 2026 Bisbee City Council meeting. Watch the entire meeting here.

Good News The city received a $1.5 million congressional award recommendation (pending Senate appropriations) for wastewater improvements, and a no-match grant for a solar canopy over the city hall parking lot — both welcome developments.

Key Business Actions

• The council approved a liquor license for the Stock Exchange Saloon at 15 Brewery Avenue, welcomed back by the community after a long vacancy. Congrats Mark and Nicole!

• The council approved the FY 2026–27 final budget (~$10M general fund) and voted to move forward on a primary property tax levy for final approval at the June 16 meeting. Note: the actual tax rate is decreasing slightly, but rising assessed values will generate an additional ~$28K in revenue.

• The council approved purchase of a 2027 Spartan pumper fire truck (~$829K total, primarily funded by a congressional USDA grant) to replace a 1990 engine. Delivery is expected February 2027 due to a parts backlog.

• The council approved a new document management software agreement with Revver Inc., replacing a vendor that was raising annual costs to $14–17K.

• The council approved charter amendment ballot measures for the November 2026 election, including: gender-neutral language throughout the charter, a compensation review board for mayor/council salaries (at least every five years), a spending authority increase from $5K to $10K without council approval, and modernized language around electronic publication and broadcasting. Items on newly-elected officials' training and emergency ordinance supermajority language were struck.
  

The Vote You Need to Know About: Bed Tax Funds for Bisbee Bikeways

This was the most contested item of the night. The council voted 4–2 to approve Resolution R-26-17, authorizing the transfer of $100,000 from the capital improvements fund (originally bed tax reserves) for use on the Lavender Pit East shared-use path segment, if necessary.

Context: This $100K had been sitting in capital improvements after being moved from bed tax reserves during the FY 25–26 budget process — a transfer that was controversial in itself (see below). The resolution is framed as a contingency: if construction bids come in July 10 exceed available funding, this money could be tapped.

The bikeways side: Megan with Bisbee Bikeways reported raising $900K in new funds and securing an ADOT agreement absorbing ~$475K in costs — nearly $1.4M in new resources since April. Construction is targeted to start August 3 with a January completion, within the EDA grant closeout deadline of May 2027. She acknowledged the divisiveness and suggested a facilitated work session between Bikeways and Bisbee Forward before July 10 if the vote didn't happen — that offer stands even though the vote did pass.

Our concerns on the record: Council member Schumacher (who voted no) read a detailed statement into the record noting that:

• In May 2025, the city attorney stated on record that bed tax funds could not be used for the bike path as it was a construction project and an ineligible expense under state law

• The original $400K transfer into capital improvements was directed in executive session without a standalone public resolution, limiting public input

• The city charter (Section 6.06) requires a 5/7 supermajority vote by resolution to divert special revenue funds — a threshold that was not met tonight (the 4–2 vote fell short)

• There was no legal clarification from the city attorney before the vote; the mayor acknowledged the legality question remains open and said the resolution would be rescinded if found illegal

  
  

Also on the record from Fred Miller (call to public): Less than 28% of bed tax revenue — $70–80K/year — has been spent on advertising over the past three budget years, well below the 50% floor voters approved in 2020. This year's budget allocates $80K for advertising and $50K for the DMO, for a total of $130K — an improvement, but the underlying compliance question about prior years remains unresolved.

What's next: The legal question of whether this transfer required a supermajority has been referred to the city attorney for an opinion. We'll be watching for that result. The July 10 bid results will determine whether the $100K is actually drawn.

We'll continue to monitor and report back. Questions or concerns can be directed to Nicole or the BF board.