December 28, 2010
Dear Fellow Citizens of Lake Havasu City,
An enormous amount of activity has taken place since my last letter.
First, the collecting of signatures on the referendum petitions was a huge success. In a matter of two short weeks the volunteers and organizers gathered in excess of 1,800 signatures, submitting 1,696 pre-validated signatures to the Lake Havasu City Clerk. This was especially significant considering we submitted nearly double the number required (858) one day ahead of our deadline date and in such an incredibly short time span.
The Lake Havasu City Clerk has finished her review of the referendum signatures, validating an impressive 96%, and results have been forwarded to the Mohave County Elections Office. By the middle of January we will have the final results. LHC Council will then make the decision on the next step (i.e. repeal of the ordinance, special election, general election, etc.). They, the City Council, can and will determine how much or how little the cost will be to satisfy this referendum initiative.
Of course, a great deal of gratitude goes to the signature gatherers. But beyond that there are also the Lake Havasu
Second, the referendum website (http://www.citizensagainstrefugeannexation.blogspot.com/) was launched only two weeks ago and has already had well over 1800 viewers. The site is providing information updates on a weekly basis and additional features are being added regularly. There are so many topics and issues to be explored, weekly visits will be informative and are encouraged.
In addition to the referendum petition completion and the website development, a lawsuit was filed by the Rescue the Refuge, LLC against the City of Lake Havasu in late November challenging the zoning incorporated into the proposed ordinance. We will provide updates on the website as additional information is available.
And finally regarding the question of why am I involved in this opposition to this annexation. My opposition has always been relative to the City of Lake Havasu getting involved with and agreeing to the annexation when unresolved litigation exists between the property owners and the developer. The Council’s vote to approve the annexation just complicates a situation that should be resolved before any consideration to move forward is made by the City.
With the referendum petition now complete and awaiting final determination and possible ballot election, I believe it is time for all of the interested parties to consider an alternative. And that alternative would be that those parties come together and work towards a compromise. What that would look like is just a guess, but the time, effort and costs to go through a lengthy litigation process surely may not be the best approach.
Dennis Schilling, Chairman, Refuge Political Committee against Ordinance 10-1017
November 7, 2010Dear Fellow Citizens of Lake Havasu City,
On October 26, 2010, our Lake Havasu City Council voted to approve an ordinance to annex a portion of the golf course inside the master-planned, gated community of The Refuge. This annexation was requested by the current Refuge Golf Course owners, Jerry and Cindy Aldridge of City Center Executive Plaza, LLC. They have requested this annexation for the purpose of creating an RV park inside The Refuge community, a plan which did not receive approval from the County.
This annexation will impact the City in many ways not yet fully explored, including requirements for water, water delivery infrastructure and fire and police services. You as a citizen of Lake Havasu City, have the right to request more information and to vote on this through the referendum process.
A referendum on this decision has been initiated and signatures are being gathered on petitions to take this decision, one that ultimately affects all tax-paying residents of Lake Havasu City, to a vote of the people. If the required signatures are submitted by November 24, 2010, LHC City Council will decide whether to repeal the annexation ordinance, place the issue on the ballot during the next general election or conduct a special election, as their choice.
Jerry and Cindy Aldridge have begun a campaign of misinformation about the referendum process to discourage Lake Havasu residents from signing this petition and exercising their constitutional rights. To clarify these falsehoods, please be aware of the following:
1. Jerry and Cindy Aldridge claim that the initiators of this referendum are requiring the City to hold a special election that would be costly to the Lake Havasu City residents.
This is incorrect. The initiators of the referendum prefer this vote be included in the next general election. This would not cost the city any additional money. The City Council may CHOOSE to conduct a special election. Any urgency for a special election would be driven by the Aldridges or by City Council – NOT by the initiators of the referendum.
2. Jerry and Cindy Aldridge claim that “a small group of people who neither vote in Lake Havasu City or pay taxes here” are responsible for initiating this referendum.
That is incorrect. Every person who is involved in this referendum pays taxes in Lake Havasu City.
Many of the individuals who are part of this process own full-time residences within the city limits of Lake Havasu and are registered voters in Lake Havasu City. All initiators of this referendum own property in Lake Havasu City, The Refuge (Mohave County) or both.
Additionally, every property owner in The Refuge pays property tax. Of these tax dollars, approximately $450,000/year (based on the homes currently built in the Refuge) specifically and directly funds the Lake Havasu Unified School District. If the RV plan is allowed to proceed, as result of the approved annexation, Refuge home values will drop dramatically reducing property tax dollars which will cost the Lake Havasu Unified schools much needed revenue.
3. Jerry and Cindy Aldridge have asserted that there will be a positive revenue stream and jobs added to the City of Lake Havasu.
The Aldridge’s current business model has yet to be objectively reviewed by an independent, in-depth study to determine feasibility and economic viability. Further investigation of the proposed plan, and consideration of reduced property tax revenues and other costs to the City is prudent.
As an added note, most residents of Lake Havasu don't realize The Refuge Golf Course is no longer semi-public. Memberships for full golf privileges are only available to selected individuals who own property (home-sites or motor-coach sites) in The Refuge. Even if the annexation is approved and you are willing to pay the membership price, you will not be eligible, as a resident of Lake Havasu, to join the Club as a full golf member.
The decision to annex and further sub-divide 49 acres inside an existing master-planned, gated community, splitting the jurisdiction between City and County, is unprecedented. It becomes more complicated due to several factors:
- There is current litigation against City Center and their RV plan by a group of Refuge property owners and thus potential litigation against the City if the annexation proceeds.
- The portion of The Refuge to be annexed is in a Federal flood plain and is also adjacent to the National Wildlife Refuge, exposing the City to potential liability on multiple issues.
- The roads within The Refuge that surround the annexation area are owned by the Homeowners Association and approved for golf course easement only; no approval has been granted to the RV plan. Potentially, the City is annexing land with no access if the RV Park proceeds.
We, the initiators of the referendum, believe that the County, the Courts and The Refuge property owners, including the Golf Course owners, should work these issues out before the City of Lake Havasu subjects itself to the unintended consequences of this annexation.
Petitions will be circulated over the next couple of weeks. Signing the petition simply means that you agree the decision for annexation should go to a vote of the taxpayers of Lake Havasu City who will be responsible for footing the bill if this becomes another "failed business" endeavor.
Thank you for your support. Please pass this along to everyone you know in Lake Havasu.
Dennis Schilling, Chairman, Refuge Political Committee against Ordinance 10-1017
