Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Show Low public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues with high priority
Paradise Acres apartment expansion
The council signed off on eight more apartments at the Paradise Acres project on North 4th Avenue, bringing the total to 66. Phase one (32 units) is already built; the mayor noted one-bedroom units are badly needed in town.
Flores and North Drive Waterline Replacement
Aging water mains on Flores and North Drive will be replaced — about 7,800 feet of new eight-inch pipe plus hydrants and valves — under a contract that came in well under budget.
Airport Terminal Restroom Remodel
The airport is getting busier with the new airline, so its 330-square-foot restroom gets an ADA-compliant remodel for $87,840. Council members flagged that seating and expansion may be needed as traffic grows.
Maverik fueling station expansion on Penrod Road
A new 16-pump fuel station is coming to the gateway corner at the Deuce of Clubs, likely operating 24 hours. Existing tenants on the parcel say they'll be displaced, while a neighboring business owner sees it as a boost for the east end of town.
City Safety Action Plan Award
A federally funded safety study is underway to cut fatal and serious crashes, focused on the Highway 60 and 260 corridors. The final plan, due mid-2027, unlocks federal implementation grants — though projects on state highways will need ADOT partnership.
Police Department Vehicle Purchases
Six new 2027 Ford Explorer interceptors are on the way, and for the first time they'll have ballistic panels in the front doors so officers have cover during high-risk stops. Councilmember Clark wants the panels extended to the whole fleet.
Shipping container at 1231 E. Deuce of Clubs
Eight shipping containers, abandoned trailers, a bus, and other salvage on a family property next to city-owned land in the downtown commercial zone triggered enforcement. The commission approved a CUP 5-1 with strict conditions, but the debate over whether the code's minimum standards are good enough for a revitalizing downtown is clearly not over — the code itself may get revisited.
School resource officer at Linden Elementary
Retired officer Jason Scott Nikolaus is returning to work as a school resource officer. The board found this complies with state pension rules and requires no special extra contribution rate.
Navajo County Family Advocacy Center
April proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month. The county family advocacy center's sobering stat: within their service area, a child crime is committed every 36 hours.
Primary election canvass and council turnover
The council was scheduled to formally adopt the results of the July 21 primary election — the step that makes the outcome official. This affects who will hold city office going forward.
FY 2026-27 Tentative Budget
The district's budget pays debt service on the infrastructure bonds that financed the Show Low Bluff development. The general obligation bond was retired in 2018; the remaining special assessment bond should be paid off around 2031 if the schedule holds.
Scott Ranch Road Funding
The council approved applying for a 2026 BILDE grant to help fund the Scott Ranch Road project.
Human-bear conflicts and bear-resistant trash containers
With 350 bear complaints in 2025 and Game and Fish predicting more bears this year, the council declined to spend $350,000 in contingency on 1,000 more bear-proof carts. The $130,000 grant will still fund about 400 carts in hot-spot neighborhoods, and staff will explore Waste Management contract options. Councilmembers also flagged park restroom repairs as an alternative use of the money.
Wildfire Mitigation
All APS feeders serving Show Low are now designated PSPS lines, meaning power could be proactively shut off for 20–24 hours during extreme wind and low humidity fire weather. Because of dense vegetation near the substation, few customers can be kept energized — most of the city could be affected. Residents can check their address at aps.com/PSPS.
Waterline replacements and Well 6D upgrades
The city spent another $59,232 fixing Well 10 in Torreon after finding 80 feet of silica sand inside and an acid treatment that failed against iron bacteria. It's the first money spent on the well in twelve years, and staff called it a very good well worth saving.
Water's Edge subdivision preliminary plat
Council rezoned 6.5 acres of the Water's Edge subdivision on Show Low Lake to Planned Unit Development, clearing the way for site-built homes on lots averaging about half an acre, with gated private roads, a public access trail, and a 50-foot open space buffer.
Public Health Emergency Medication MOU
A memorandum of understanding with Navajo County Public Health would let the city dispense medications to its emergency responders during a public health emergency — a preparedness measure for first responders.
Woolford Subdivision Roadway Improvements
Woolford Subdivision streets get milled and repaved for $390,256, plus fresh pavement on Ninth Street back to Frontier Fields. A sidewalk was pulled out of the project so the city can chase a grant for it instead.
36th Drive Curb Project
36th Drive and Fairway Drive get widened to city code width with new ribbon curb for $415,950 — under estimate. Residents there will see construction soon and a seal coat in a couple of years.
Outdoor Camping Regulation Ordinance
The council adopted a new ordinance restricting camping on public and private property within city limits. It requires written permission or permits, limits stays, and lets the city clear abandoned property after notice. First offenses are civil; repeat offenses are misdemeanors.
2026 primary election moved to July 21; three council seats on ballot
A new state law moved Arizona's primary from August to July, so Show Low's election for three council seats is now July 21. Voters must register by June 22, and candidates have until March 23 to file.
Well 3A water system upgrade acceptance
The city accepted completed upgrades to Well 6D and awarded contracts to replace aging water lines near the college and in the Ellsworth/Sylvester and Fools Hollow areas — keeping water service reliable across town.
Wastewater Master Plan and 20-Year Sewer Upgrades
The finished wastewater master plan maps sewer capacity through 2046. The existing system is in good shape; upgrades needed soon include line improvements near the treatment plant and along US 60, with most other projects tied to future growth.