Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Show Low public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Guest house at 1060 N. Fairway Circle
A family wants to turn their existing house into a guest house while building a bigger main home on S. 11th Ave. It's the kind of request that tests whether infill housing fits the neighborhood, which is surrounded by mobile home parks and apartments.
Downtown revitalization and 10-year strategic plan
The Chamber reported strong growth — 400+ members, a healthy margin, and a 44% jump in relocation inquiries — though walk-in visitor traffic is down as people go online instead.
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.
Financing the Show Low Sports and Event Center
The city's biggest capital project now carries a $56.4 million programming-stage estimate, up roughly $5 million, largely because the six-court gym grew to fit 12 volleyball courts for tournament play. Designers will look at trimming the oversized kitchen and squeezing the building in schematic design, and the Council indicated it wants to build it right the first time rather than cut corners.
Additional Apartment Units at 700/760 North 4th Avenue
The Paradise Acres apartment project got approval to add eight more units (58 to 66) by merging two planned buildings into one 16-unit building. Councilmembers welcomed the extra one-bedroom housing stock.
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.
Mountain bike trail easement with U.S. Forest Service
The city is working with the Forest Service on a bike-loop easement; once secured, grants will fund design and environmental study for a mountain bike trail.
75th City Celebration Planning
The committee was scheduled to discuss how Show Low will celebrate its 75th anniversary. This could shape community events residents can take part in.
Show Low Sports and Event Center Design
Architects trimmed about 3,200 square feet from the event center — mostly kitchen, lobby, and meeting rooms — for an estimated $500,000 savings, without cutting capacity. The council approved the revised layout and got its first look at interior concepts, with a full cost estimate due in March.
Committee Member Vacancy
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has a seat open through March 2029, and nobody has applied yet. Applications stay open a few more weeks — members are asked to recruit.
Timothy McKay Memorial Park completion
Paving and concrete are done at Tim McKay Park, with landscaping, sod, ramadas, and parking lot lighting coming this fall. Future phases add a water feature, a play mound, expanded parking, and an ADA-accessible trail connection.
Parks and Facilities Maintenance City-Wide
The city's aging heating and cooling systems at 22 buildings have caused repeated emergency repairs. A new three-year maintenance deal with Elevate Mechanical is meant to catch problems before they become breakdowns.
Jarmco Concrete crushing operation on Penrod Road
Jarmco Concrete wants to add concrete crushing at its Light Industrial site on N. Penrod Rd. Industrial operations like this can mean noise and dust for nearby properties, but it's in a zone built for light industrial use.
80-foot Public Right-of-way Through the Gravel Pit
Public Works wants an 80-foot public road easement carried through the new CUP, connecting from the existing pavement down to the south property line — mining has made southern access tricky. The commission added this as a condition to the permit.
WW Clyde rock processing operations under new ownership
The new owner of the gravel pit says it wants the racetrack to keep operating alongside mining, but couldn't promise the track's long-term future — phase four of mining could come in 10 to 20 years. Residents asked the city to actively support the racetrack and pressed for answers on parking access.
Role and future of IDA financing
The IDA lets large projects borrow at lower interest rates through a federal program, but the benefit only really shows up on big projects like the past Summit Healthcare expansions. The City wants to keep the Authority alive even though nothing is pending.
Snow management plan presentation
Public Works laid out how the city will handle snow: 13 routes, 28 plow operators, and four response levels. Elderly and disabled residents can sign up for free snow berm removal, and plow-damaged mailboxes may qualify for up to $125 reimbursement.
The Cottages at Torreon 11-lot subdivision
The former Golf Casitas at Torreon site gets new life as 11 single-family lots instead of 56 condo units. The council approved it unanimously, but the name must change before final plat to avoid confusion with an existing subdivision.
Municipal Property Corporation has no pending projects
The city's land-dealing corporation is idle right now — no property purchases or sales in the pipeline. It's been used before for the Forest Service land exchange and acquiring land behind the library.
Muder reappointment to go before City Council
Ed Muder's board term expires January 2027 and he wants to stay on. The City Council will have to approve his reappointment.
PFAS rules force fire truck replacement
New legislation banning PFAS foam means the airport's 2004 fire truck has to go, since its old foam can't legally be used. A PFAS-free rig requires a whole new vehicle.
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.
Show Low Car Show and Rodeo Season Events
Doug Roberts invited everyone to the Cruising the Rim car show June 5–6 — a cruise to a free Hatch Toyota burger burn and a 200-plus-car show at Frontier Fields expected to draw 4,000–5,000 visitors, with no conflict with the Show Low Rodeo.
Hangar-area drainage and ice hazards
Members reported standing water near the hangars that freezes in winter, creating near-miss sliding incidents. Staff will patch low spots and explore donated material since asphalt millings are scarce citywide.
Unused helicopter pads
The new helicopter pads sit empty because pilots won't drag their buckets over the sharp surrounding rocks, and wheeled helicopters can't roll on without more apron. Fixes are in the works.
Construction cost and regulatory burden concerns
Applicant Troy Lunt warned that Show Low's rules — like requiring an expensive sewer line reroute instead of a nearby tap — are pushing contractors to steer families to Snowflake and other towns. He asked the city to review these policies.
15-foot accessory building height threshold triggers CUP requests
Crossing 15 feet in height forces RV garages into a huge one-to-one setback rule, generating repeat CUP requests. A commissioner asked staff to consider raising it to 18 or 20 feet; staff says a code amendment takes about three months.
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.
Show Low Regional Airport Projects
The airport gets a taxiway overlay, a weather system replacement grant, an environmental assessment grant for the crosswind runway, and a new hangar ground lease with Tallus Sol L.L.C.
Buena Vista Trail system completion
A rebuilt, roughly 20-mile sustainable single-track trail system south of town is nearly finished, including new beginner trails Show Low lacked. A second trailhead and a future Los Caballos rebuild could eventually create a 45-55 mile destination network drawing tourism.
Formal performance evaluations for appointed officials
The council's yearly performance evaluations of the city manager and city attorney were on the agenda but were put off because one member was absent.
Woolford Road multi-use pathway IGA
The city locked in a state agreement to build a 1.25-mile paved path along Woolford Road from Whipple Road to SR 260, the final piece of that corridor's upgrades. Federal grant money covers most of the $2.3 million cost, with the city chipping in about $160,000.
Liquor License Delegation Resolution
The council recommended approval of a Series 6 bar liquor license for Misfits Bar at 480 West Deuce of Clubs; the state liquor board makes the final decision.
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.
Pineglen Park Village Roadway Improvements
A long-overlooked subdivision is finally getting paved roads — a roughly $1.08 million mill-and-overlay contract awarded below the engineer's estimate.
Show Low Meadow path completion
Phase 3 of the multi-use path at the city's prized meadow is done, under budget at $83,175, strengthening what leaders call a crown jewel gathering place.
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.
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.
Airport hangar ground lease changes at 3652 Corporate Way
New buyers of a hangar at 3671 Corporate Way get a noncommercial ground lease, replacing Aceland LLC's lease — a routine airport property transfer.
Maranatha Bible Church construction
A long-empty lot at 900 S. Central will soon host a 6,318-square-foot church with 71 parking spaces. Commissioners were supportive, and the church hopes to start building within two months.
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.
New police officers enrolled in pension system
Three new Show Low police officers were enrolled into the PSPRS retirement system, an administrative step that secures their pension benefits. It reflects the department adding staff.
Member retiring from DROP program
Longtime member Rodney Hall exited the DROP program and retired effective June 25, 2026 — information only, no action needed.
Future aquatic center funding plan
A replacement aquatic center is planned near the future Sports and Events Center, with about $1.5 million for design in fiscal year 2029 and about $15 million for construction in fiscal year 2030. Current facility attendance is climbing, so demand is clearly there.
Reidhead house rehabilitation challenges
The historic Reidhead house's rear addition is separating from the main structure, and fixing it with piers will use most of this year's rehab budget. Full completion is years away due to the cost of needed repairs.
ADOT State Route 260 Paving and Traffic Safety
ADOT begins paving eight miles of SR-260 west of town on August 17, with overnight delays expected. The Mayor also celebrated a new turn signal at Central and the Deuce.
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.
Show Low Police Department Promotion
Hometown officer Garrison Fawcett was promoted to sergeant, recognized for nine years with the county sheriff's office, SWAT service, and major drug trafficking investigations.
Nikolaus Park Soccer Field Lighting
The soccer field built with a mid-2000s heritage grant never got lights; the council is spending up to $300,000 to fix that. Councilmember Clark wants lights standard on all future park fields so kids can play after dark.
City Hall Elevator Modernization
The original 40-year-old City Hall elevator is broken and parts are nearly impossible to find. The council replaced it for about $265,732 rather than continuing piecemeal repairs.