[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6688335,"mediaKeyId","2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2","parentId",2140617,"title","Council holds first hearing on updated urban-camping ordinance after U.S. Supreme Court decision; Prop 312 cited","audioSeconds",614,"startMs",4552000,"endMs",5166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2&start=4552&end=5166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2/thumbnail_4552000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6688335/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Council-holds-first-hearing-on-updated-urban-camping-ordinance-after-US-Supreme-Court-decision-Prop-312-cited","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688335-ae04accc9047cc0428f7b0d657f03c34/orig.mp4?Expires=1770423483&Signature=DgCK-GFgrfx1TNG6tkhUaj3LR2tQ1cJwq~FkuwCc~49mELiRakjT3rzozJvufX5S0ncs92kPM1pW8lXb8wZG0Q-IwWRzlXv76QAAmFcDF2HLJvuEhSYX~NTYOgqs9Q3jB4xlEqBlaEGwkLvtHU0JfWjgC2LL6RYsVNFCSYm6mVFg5J81GuMiQ8hOxU2DUXXG2wG4QwUAV5Ezql4iEgwZ2~ZX~EubLNH1R~QZax4qwyLyYtVBPaSK~IhyoVUCmTcnpenpbkVNtG8GK6Q~uX-DejsZn~MyiX1S4Ny5fP9eEV1oDsx-un6F1-Em9d0ObDFVu5TpbIeGzOBvTnkUWQoqeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Payson","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","Town Attorney Christina presented draft updates to Payson's urban-camping ordinance at the Jan. 22 council meeting, telling councilors the changes respond to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that reversed Ninth Circuit precedent on anti-camping enforcement.

\"In 2018, Martin v. Boise's Ninth Circuit decision constrained enforcement of anti-camping ordinances when shelter beds were unavailable,\" Christina told the council. \"Last year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Ninth Circuit's Martin decision, which reinstates local authority to prohibit sleeping or camping in public places in certain circumstances.\" She said the revised ordinance would make the town's code consistent with that decision and provide the police department with clearer enforcement tools.

Key provisions in the draft ordinance and accompanying prosecutorial guidance include:
- A prohibition on sleeping or camping on public streets, rights of way and parks outside permitted events.
- Authority for temporary park exclusions (a 30-day ban) after an individual has received two citations for camping in town-controlled parks; the ban is structured as a short-term measure rather than an indefinite bar.
- A criminal penalty for violating the updated camping provisions, with documented mitigating factors (for example, a person's willingness to accept services or quick compliance) to guide charging decisions.

Christina said the town must also consider other constitutional protections during enforcement, including First Amendment free-speech rights in public spaces and potential Fourth Amendment issues when dealing with personal property. She said the town attorney's office would prepare a homelessness policy and prosecutorial guidelines to accompany any ordinance change.

The attorney also cited Proposition 312, a state ballot measure that passed in November 2024. She said Prop 312 allows certain property-tax payers to seek refunds if they can show a town's failure to enforce nuisance ordinances caused specific harm to their property; the town has 30 days to respond to such claims once forwarded by the Department of Revenue. \"Prop 312 is a principal reason we need to shore up code now,\" she said.

Speakers during public comment urged caution and services. Pat Lockwood, a resident, told councilors Payson lacks beds and supportive services and urged a coordinated response: \"You can't arrest away homeless,\" she said. Councilors asked staff to return with more detailed enforcement guidelines and options for coordinated social services and outreach.

This was the first public hearing on the draft ordinance; no final action was taken. Staff said training for police and final prosecutorial guidance would follow any ordinance revision.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Payson - Payson Town Council - Regular - Jan 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town Attorney Christina told councilors Jan. 22 the town's camping ordinance needs updating after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling restored broader local authority to prohibit camping in public places, and she proposed a draft that would authorize temporary park exclusions and criminal penalties with mitigating factors.","taxTitle","Payson, Gila County, Arizona","taxId",60910,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6688343,"Auditor gives Payson clean opinion; report flags one year-end accounting deficiency",1426,3556000,4982000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2&start=3556&end=4982","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2/thumbnail_3556000.jpg","/articles/6688343/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Auditor-gives-Payson-clean-opinion-report-flags-one-year-end-accounting-deficiency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688343-bb15ff1ea6f5bda5f8f710faa7227a8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770423483&Signature=fBmXhWPnkNh9MUpBkGVmuASA1vynJnnKX16UiNZVdeQWrC4LFPYSGAZzpUGcz8E30M5Y3KnaN3W7ajec0ZDS3xDnnO4TW7nYhhDK73w45GRUw~SjyqWdQTh-lqNlyviiMXH7aYGroF7y1POCnvqgIUJRqlUsXlDj5ELHtGOVB5P4vXJbAmHrq5-ShuA63YR6jpT0vAzABp2BfoAUxosoQnd9kvWiwzF19zZbizvuv3ijJJPi8cjpBBJiJjsPfdVohhP-NZFFvL0zhHs2d~v6x1zqiIGQ26QtJLvT4ies0Yd2QgK201olyItdF7jeW16NUG9tPLE4NbAEN-XmJ46O0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hinton Burdick LLP, the town's independent auditors, issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the Town of Payson's fiscal 2024 financial statements and on its single audit of federal program spending, the firm told the town council at a Jan. 22 presentation.

The audit partner, McKay Hall of Hinton Burdick, said the firm found no material misstatements that would require a qualified opinion. \"We are issuing an unmodified, the clean opinion,\" Hall said during the presentation. The audit also included a single-audit review because the town spent more than $750,000 in federal funds in fiscal 2024, Hall said.

The audit highlighted several fiscal indicators for council review. Government-wide net position was reported at about $158 million as of June 30, 2024, Hall said. The town's general fund reported an unassigned fund balance of roughly $20,151,300, which the auditor said represented about eight months (69%) of general-fund expenditures at 2024 spending levels.

Hall noted significant capital additions in fiscal 2024: roughly $5 million of construction-in-progress, about $1.2 million in land acquisitions and roughly $1 million in vehicles, machinery and equipment added to governmental activities. Depreciation expense for governmental activities was about $2.3 million.

The audit found no material weaknesses in internal controls, but it did record one significant deficiency related to year-end accounting. Hall said several year-end items had not been entered or completed when audit fieldwork began, creating a timing risk that could allow errors to pass through normal controls. The firm characterized the finding as a significant deficiency (not a material weakness) because staff understood outstanding tasks but had not completed them at the time of testing. Hall said changes to the town's accounting software and another year of operating experience should reduce the risk.

Council members asked for clarifications on the composition of the fund balance and the town's reserve policy. Hall told the council that, in Arizona, many municipalities target reserves equal to roughly 12 to 18 months of operations, and that Payson's roughly eight-month cushion is healthy but below what some other Arizona municipalities hold.

The presentation included five-year trend charts showing growing sales-tax revenues and steady increases in utility fund cash. Hall encouraged council members to contact the audit firm with follow-up questions.

The town manager said the audit report would be posted to the town website and distributed in the usual channels.

","Hinton Burdick LLP issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on Payson's fiscal 2024 financial statements and single audit at a Jan. 22 council meeting, while reporting one significant deficiency related to year-end accounting timing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6688329,"Residents press council on transparency, contract processes and conflicts of interest; council retreats to executive session",5232,343000,5575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2&start=343&end=5575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2/thumbnail_343000.jpg","/articles/6688329/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Residents-press-council-on-transparency-contract-processes-and-conflicts-of-interest-council-retreats-to-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688329-7fe93353ecc7ea20bd6fac77940c6403/orig.mp4?Expires=1770423483&Signature=iAm2Cj0cmpkv4ivNEaixbNGVFlAS3plu6Osy~l4WdV2ltchStadBqIfwizbHU5gmK-u6RycGmKzPsdNa356WZ2KWteUPnseMduqS9kH2Vh6iAXCCFsRb8w5K8cmvxOQRHYq0TfcgQcuNg82UWpp0WZAV2C3rFNslfpXF3sSOAnLOaNNOulTuyyRhNZAkE1xoJIvb5-vDL0hUO3d7scG5pRH6v6Q4EtnVS4d~acw9YwG4sxmYX4w-lm2C0jpK8XFSBLZcIN~f1bUj1fdbYxt04LsgM6Q1085dE4RMQwA90vCbIj4JCwjaNUdN3D48T0PG0qlHcdxjEbsuX4aFNE9xwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A broad set of residents used the Jan. 22 public-comment period at the Payson Town Council to raise concerns about transparency, contract approvals, alleged inconsistent permitting and personnel practices, a 2021 engagement letter with bond underwriter Stifel, and the town's purchase of land for a proposed pool.

Tom Dunning, a 21-year resident, opened public comment with a general plea on conflicts of interest: \"Avoiding conflict of interest in government is important not just because government is responsible to the people, but also because even the appearance of conflict of interest is corrosive to the public trust,\" he said.

Several speakers asked the council to review the town's processes. Charlie Sarafin produced a 2021 engagement letter between the town and Stifel and asked why a second-in-command in finance signed the engagement rather than the town manager and why public discussion of a $70 million bond did not take place until 2024. \"Why was this agreement signed by the second in command in the finance department?\" Sarafin asked.

Judith Hanson and others questioned the justification for buying land for a proposed Malibu pool before conducting a geotechnical study and asked who approved spending $3 million of town funds for the parcel. Residents also raised concerns about inconsistent permitting and a lack of timely responses to information requests.

Several speakers criticized political disputes and what they described as harassment and \"cancel culture\" in the community; Isaac Blake urged council members to involve law enforcement when threats or intimidation cross a line, saying, \"there is a clear red line when it comes to physical actions, threats, intimidation, harassment, doxy, and other behaviors. These are criminal matters.\"

During the meeting the council voted on routine business. The consent agenda passed by voice vote, recorded in the meeting as \"Motion passes 7 0.\" The council also opened and closed a public hearing on a Series 7 beer-and-wine liquor-license application; the clerk noted the applicant paid the fee and posted the notice and the council later recorded the outcome as \"measure passes 7 to 0.\" (The liquor-application details presented at the meeting did not identify the applicant by name.)

Later in the meeting several commenters asked that a later agenda item (H1) be deferred until conflicts, recusals or disclosures could be sorted out. The council then recessed into executive session to discuss legal matters. Mayor Steven Otto said he would not participate in the executive session and read a statement about his oath: \"I swore to defend the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Arizona... I will not be going into the executive session. I will not be making the motion to go into executive session.\" The motion to recess to executive session was made and seconded and recorded in the minutes as passing (recorded vote text: \"motion passes 626 vote\"). The transcript did not name every vote by member in the public record.

Council members and staff did not take further public action on the legal items before returning from executive session. Staff said any formal actions arising from closed session would be disclosed to the extent permitted by law.

","Residents used the Jan. 22 public-comment period to press the Payson Town Council for more transparency about contracts, a 2021 engagement letter with Stifel tied to a proposed $70 million bond, a $3 million land purchase for a proposed pool, and perceived inconsistency in permitting and information access.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6688339,"Housing study: Payson needs roughly 392 new homes over five years, study finds",329,3231000,3560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2&start=3231&end=3560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140617-1fdb5de33445403c69c7d17a16df75f2/thumbnail_3231000.jpg","/articles/6688339/Payson/Gila-County/Arizona/Housing-study-Payson-needs-roughly-392-new-homes-over-five-years-study-finds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688339-0c3eae9439e0f23c670e2d5567cc9617/orig.mp4?Expires=1770423483&Signature=HJyEnVOCpa~0dqR7kQCKQKK7-C4UMfyhNmYFukg30kJ0~bRJQuDr~nmIPiYAtd7SrZjGq67CDgTQB~JrHgmbBDiYNMjMVQdccalZEpRrpkGM4wjM7UU3iV2bJAzlmo-RK1vGqn6yQ~MBWy7210Rba-3~sX~DSqO2JuuXUFz7EeJpys4V1WUoD5UIQU8b3w6bBVGHeE0Liz46AgGR0nH5chwLE88vINnWmkZMdjKUOqY76qIxa9y4uLXUH2ho7K68t9cjVX375MZp828610MeQVh0j13FS9CLMA-SFjJbaOLJHlWf9Cg4ZL7KA5XcR0YKy-wISEdr1raVnQ00lXbY9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A housing-demand study completed for the Town of Payson projects roughly 392 new housing units will be needed over the next five years to meet demand under current demographic and economic projections, a consultant told the town council on Jan. 22.

Chad (Next Move Group), the consultant who led the analysis, told the council the study breaks need into price and income bands. \"Altogether, you need roughly 392 homes by 2029: about 285 for sale and 107 for rent,\" Chad said. The analysis estimates strong demand among middle- and upper-income households and a decline in households below $75,000 median income over the projection window.

The study used ESRI demographic projections and current market listings to estimate household income and housing preferences. Chad said Payson's projected household income growth (median household income rising from roughly $59,000 to $68,000 in the projection) produces demand for a wider mix of housing than commonly assumed.

Highlights the consultant described:
- Demand by price band: entry-level and middle-priced ownership product is in short supply; the town has many listings at higher price points but fewer in the $250,000\u001312,000 range.
- Over the five-year period, the study estimates about 46 owner-occupied units needed in the $250,000\u0013325,000 range and larger numbers in middle tiers (exact numbers appear in the study).
- The town has several development proposals in various stages that, if all built, would add roughly 1,000 units; not all those projects are expected to proceed to completion.

Julie (town staff) said the report also fills a recurring need among developers and low-income-tax-credit applicants for up-to-date local housing data. She said the town previously relied on a 2009 study and that up-to-date analysis helped a recent Arizona Department of Housing award for a project called Green Valley Apartments 2.

Councilors and staff discussed using the study to guide wastewater and utility planning, to provide market data to prospective developers and to inform updates to zoning and permitting. Chad said the study is intentionally low-cost and can be refreshed annually to account for rapid changes in interest rates and market conditions.

The housing study will be distributed to the council and posted with the agenda materials; councilors asked staff to follow up with a crosswalk showing which active development proposals align to the study's price bands.

","A December 2024 housing-demand study presented Jan. 22 projects the Town of Payson will need approximately 392 new housing units through 2029 to meet household demand, roughly 285 for purchase and 107 for rent, with growing demand at middle and higher price points.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council holds first hearing on updated urban-camping ordinance after U.S. Supreme Court decision; Prop 312 cited

Auditor gives Payson clean opinion; report flags one year-end accounting deficiency

Residents press council on transparency, contract processes and conflicts of interest; council retreats to executive session

Housing study: Payson needs roughly 392 new homes over five years, study finds