Bisbee City Council Special Session Summary, June 16, 2026

1. Home Rule / Alternative Expenditure Limitation The council held a public hearing and unanimously approved Resolution R-26-19, which places the city's "home rule" spending option on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This is a required renewal every four years that allows the city to spend beyond state-imposed caps. Without it, Bisbee would be limited to expenditure levels set decades ago. The state's population projections show Bisbee declining, which factors into the spending formulas — the mayor noted Bisbee has received nearly $25 million in grants over the past five years, which inflates the current numbers significantly. Voters will see this on the November ballot.

2. Legislative Update on Council Vacancies The city attorney briefed the council on a 2024 change to state law affecting appointed council seats. Two scenarios apply to Bisbee right now:

• Pete Skinner's seat (unexpired midterm): Whoever wins the primary must be seated immediately after the primary vote is canvassed — likely August. This is mandatory under the new statute.

• Lori Reynolds' seat (new four-year term): The council may seat the primary winner early, but only if they pass a specific ordinance first — requiring two readings plus a 30-day referendum period. No decision has been made yet on whether to pursue that ordinance.

  
  

3. Ward One Council Appointment The council interviewed two applicants for the vacant Ward One seat left by Lori Reynolds:

• Cooper Raphael (11-year Ward One resident): Serves on Planning & Zoning and Design Review; coordinates Bisbee Firewise. Emphasized data-driven, analytical approach. Has been attending budget sessions. Acknowledged limited knowledge of some council specifics but demonstrated thoughtful civic engagement.

• Cesilia Garcia (lifelong Bisbee resident, ~1.5 years in Ward One): Previously ran for mayor. Identified job creation for young residents and housing costs as top priorities. Focused on constituent communication and transparency.
  

The council voted unanimously to appoint Cesilia Garcia to the Ward One seat. Councilmembers noted the appointment is expected to be short-term, as the primary will determine who fills the seat going forward.