Prescott Valley approves $156,053 monument sign amid mayor conduct complaints, revenue concerns

Prescott Valley Mayor Faces Public Criticism Over Conduct as Council Approves Monument Signs Amid State Revenue Concerns

At its January 26 meeting, Prescott Valley Town Council heard pointed public criticism of Mayor Paul Gouda's professionalism, approved a $156,053 monument sign project, and confronted the looming fiscal impact of state-level tax legislation. The council took no action on the conduct complaints and approved all three major votes unanimously, though budgetary pressures and community development concerns dominated public comment.

Key Speeches

"For the second time in a month the official Prescott Valley public agency posting on next door neighbor has had its discussion closed by next door neighbor. This happened because mayor pal gouda violated the rules again specifically name calling and public shaming." — Steve Carros, resident

"I am retiring earlier and I'm going to move away from this beautiful tale because I can't stand to see it I'm just being mowed down every day." — Deanne Griffith, Quailwood resident

"About two and a half years ago I was at a planning zoning commission when the LLC guy from Mandalay homes did his presentation for Jasper now one of his selling points was there going to extend Stone Ridge drive all the way to the loop there Santa Fe Loop and call it Jasper Parkway... so I assume you're all aware of this and I haven't seen anybody doing anything on Stone Ridge." — Joe Hammy, resident

"The house legislature passed two bills this week bill number 2061 and Bill number 1063. and these bills eliminate the taxes on groceries the city stands to lose 3.8 million dollars in revenues... we're going to build this Monument for 156 thousand dollars I think we should take a second look at this." — Joe Coitus, resident

Timeline

• Invocation and pledge: Pastor De La Riva offered prayer and led pledge of allegiance.
• Public comment opening: Four speakers registered; council clerk called speakers in order.
• Steve Carros presentation: Documented two Nextdoor discussion closures triggered by Mayor Gouda's alleged rule violations; cited specific example of vulgar euphemism posted by mayor on platform; called for mayor to step down and be replaced by Vice Mayor Lori Hunt.
• Deanne Griffith presentation: Expressed anguish over Quailwood area development; recounted alleged personal confrontation with Mayor Gouda at Colts Grill pre-election in which she said he called her "a six-year-old" after she walked away from conversation; referenced Gouda's police department overtime history and called his leadership untrustworthy.
• Joe Hammy presentation: Requested follow-up on Stone Ridge Drive extension/Jasper Parkway connection promised by Mandalay Homes approximately 2.5 years ago; noted no visible progress and expressed concern about traffic impacts from Glassford Hill construction.
• Casey van Heren (Community Services Director) response: Confirmed meeting scheduled for Monday with Mandalay Homes developer to establish exact timeline for Jasper Parkway/Stone Ridge Drive extension.
• Joe Coitus presentation: Raised concern about HB 2061 and HB 1063 passed by Arizona House, eliminating grocery taxes and costing town an estimated $3.8 million in revenues; questioned timing of monument sign project approval given pending fiscal impact.
• Staff presentation (Monument signs): Osborne introduced Gary from Floresco; explained initial bid came in too high, project re-bid as design-build to reduce costs; detailed value-engineered design featuring RGB lighting capability and placement at two locations (west of Highway 69/Interstate 69 intersection and east of Baker near Victorian Estates); noted glassford hill art sign deferred to later phase.
• Council discussion: Councilman Lever and Councilman Hepperly discussed tourism benefits and economic development signaling; clarified front-facing tagline "Cooler Side of Arizona" and RGB lighting changeable by season; confirmed backside will light up as well; addressed letter-size dimensions for potential tagline placement.
• Vote: Monument sign design-build services for Floresco approved unanimously; previous consent agenda items and liquor license also approved unanimously.
• Adjournment: Council moved to adjourn without further discussion.

Opposition

• Number of speakers against: Implicit opposition in three of four public commenters (Carros, Griffith, Hammy critiqued council/mayor decisions or inaction; Coitus specifically opposed monument sign approval timing).

• Main concerns:

  1. Mayor's unprofessional conduct on Nextdoor platform, including name-calling, public shaming, and vulgar language directed at residents and Planning and Zoning commissioners.
  2. Alleged pattern of hostile and bullying behavior by Mayor Gouda toward residents expressing concerns.
  3. Environmental and quality-of-life impact of Quailwood area development destroying natural habitat, views, and wildlife corridors.
  4. Alleged personal rudeness and disrespect by Mayor Gouda toward individual residents seeking dialogue (Deanne Griffith's account).
  5. Questionable professional history: reference to Mayor Gouda's police department overtime irregularities and potential disciplinary failure.
  6. Monument sign project proceeding despite imminent $3.8 million revenue loss from state-mandated elimination of grocery taxes (HB 2061 and HB 1063).
  7. Delayed infrastructure promise: Stone Ridge Drive/Jasper Parkway connection promised 2.5 years ago by Mandalay Homes with no visible progress.

• Most compelling arguments:

  • Steve Carros framed the mayor's conduct as a systemic governance failure, drawing parallels to harassment policies that would discipline any other town employee, and questioning how millions of dollars in expenditures can be considered when resident opinion is "constantly attacked and maligned."
  • Joe Coitus presented concrete fiscal data ($3.8 million revenue loss) and questioned the town's capital spending priorities in light of imminent state-imposed tax eliminations.

• Organized groups: None identified; all speakers appeared to be individual residents.

Support

• Monument Sign Project Support:
  • Councilman Lever endorsed the project as necessary for tourism attraction and reinforcing the "Cooler Side of Arizona" brand identity; referenced memorable signage (e.g., "Welcome to Hope / You're Beyond Hope") as effective marketing; praised the tagline's memorability.
  • Councilman Hepperly supported the project from an economic development standpoint, arguing it signals town pride and attracts commercial/industrial investment; noted continuity with parks branding initiative.
  • Staff (Osborne and Gary/Floresco) emphasized value-engineering process, RGB lighting capability, and alignment with town's strategic planning and tourism focus.

Project Details

• Case number: CE22-01 (Monument Signs project)

• Applicant / Designer: Floresco (design-build contractor); town staff (Osborne) managing project

• Location: Two monument sign locations: (1) west of Highway 69 intersection; (2) east of Baker near Victorian Estates

• Monument specifications:

  • RGB lighting capability (changeable by color/season)
  • Front-facing: "Cooler Side of Arizona" tagline
  • Back-facing: undetermined design (value-engineered to reduce costs)
  • Backside lighting: confirmed to illuminate
  • Glassford Hill art sign deferred to Phase 2

• Budget: $156,053.56 (reduced from initial bid through design-build re-procurement)

• Changes from initial design: Tagline placement reduced/debated; backside design simplified for cost reduction; art sign over Glassford Hill Road removed from Phase 1 scope

• Related infrastructure: Glassford Hill Viewpoint roads scheduled to bid next month, construction estimated April–May timeframe (before school year to minimize traffic impact); multi-use path improvements completed (powers to Laredo, pipeline Central core Navajo to Serpentine, Stonewood Ridge) with steel railing replacement.

Vote Breakdown

• Monument Sign Design-Build Services (Floresco, $156,053.56):

  • Final: Unanimous approval
  • Yes: Vice Mayor Hunt, Councilman Lever (implied), Councilman Hepperly (implied), all council members
  • No: None
  • Abstentions / absences: Not stated in transcript

• Series 10 Liquor License (Dave's Fast Stop, 3933 North Robert Road):

  • Final: Unanimous approval
  • Yes: Vice Mayor Hunt, all council members (electronic vote)
  • No: None

• Consent Agenda:

  • Final: Unanimous approval
  • Yes: All council members present
  • No: None

Note: Individual council member votes were called via electronic vote; names announced as "yes" but transcript did not explicitly list all councilmember names for each item.

Outcome & Next Steps

The Prescott Valley Town Council unanimously approved Floresco's design-build services for the two-phase monument sign project at $156,053.56. Phase 1 proceeds immediately with two monument signs at the identified locations (Highway 69 intersection and Baker near Victorian Estates), featuring RGB lighting and the town's "Cooler Side of Arizona" tagline on the front. The glassford Hill art sign is deferred to Phase 2.

Regarding the Jasper Parkway/Stone Ridge Drive extension, Community Services Director Casey van Heren confirmed a meeting is scheduled for Monday with Mandalay Homes developer to establish an exact construction timeline. This infrastructure promise dates back 2.5 years and addresses long-standing resident concerns about traffic congestion, particularly with ongoing Glassford Hill construction.

The council took no action in response to Steve Carros's allegations of Mayor Gouda's unprofessional conduct on Nextdoor, nor did Mayor Gouda respond or address the claims during the meeting. Similarly, no formal response was recorded to Deanne Griffith's personal account of discourteous treatment or her decision to relocate.

Regarding the fiscal impact of state legislation, no deferral of monument sign approval or reassessment was undertaken despite Joe Coitus's request. The council has committed to monitoring HB 2061 and HB 1063 and providing updates as legislative items move through the process, but the monument project proceeded to approval.

Controversies & Context

Mayor Conduct Allegations

Steve Carros presented a detailed complaint documenting alleged violations of Nextdoor community platform rules by Mayor Paul Gouda. According to Carros, Nextdoor moderators closed the official Prescott Valley town agency discussion forum twice in a single month due to the mayor's postings. Carros cited a specific example in which Mayor Gouda publicly posted a comment to a Planning and Zoning commissioner containing name-calling and a vulgar euphemism (characterized as "a very vulgar euphemism" without explicit reproduction in the record). Carros characterized the pattern as "hostility and bullying" and invoked standards applicable to other town employees, arguing that ethics codes and harassment policies would result in discipline for any other municipal staffer engaging in such conduct. He appealed to the council, calling for the mayor to "pass that gavel over to vice mayor hunt and step down for the sake of Prescott Valley."

Deanne Griffith corroborated a pattern of discourteous behavior. She recounted a personal encounter with Mayor Gouda at Colts Grill prior to his election in which she attempted to engage him on community issues. When she walked away from the conversation, she alleged the mayor called her "a six-year-old." Griffith also referenced Mayor Gouda's police department employment history, specifically mentioning "shenanigans" related to overtime fraud ("cheating on your overtime"), and stated that "any other person would have been fired from a normal job" for such conduct, yet the town continues to pay his retirement benefits. She expressed her loss of confidence in his leadership and announced her early retirement and relocation from Prescott Valley as a direct consequence of the mayor's behavior and the town's environmental trajectory.

No council member responded to these allegations, and Mayor Gouda did not address or refute Carros's or Griffith's claims during the meeting.

Development Impact and Quality of Life

Deanne Griffith articulated a broader tension between the town's environmental messaging and its approval of large-scale residential development. She noted the irony of the town's "green" commitments while "mowing down" natural habitat in the Quailwood area. Her testimony highlighted the personal cost of development: she specifically purchased her property for its views of the adjacent natural area, and the prospect of a "huge development right behind" her led to her decision to retire early and relocate—a significant quality-of-life and economic impact for a long-term resident.

Infrastructure Promises and Developer Accountability

Joe Hammy's testimony underscored a recurring theme in municipal development: promised infrastructure that has not materialized on schedule. The Jasper Parkway/Stone Ridge Drive extension was presented as a key amenity 2.5 years ago by a Mandalay Homes representative during a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, with an estimated two-year delivery timeline. Hammy reported no visible progress and expressed concern that ongoing Glassford Hill construction will exacerbate traffic congestion if the promised connector road does not materialize. The town's commitment to a Monday meeting with the developer suggests awareness of the issue but raises questions about enforcement mechanisms and timeline credibility.

State Legislative Fiscal Crisis

Joe Coitus introduced an immediate and material fiscal threat to the town. Two bills passed by the Arizona House—HB 2061 and HB 1063—eliminate state grocery taxes, a move that Coitus calculated would cost Prescott Valley $3.8 million in annual revenues. Coitus questioned whether the monument sign project, budgeted at $156,053, should be deferred pending reassessment of the town's capital spending priorities. The council did not defer the project but committed to monitoring and updating council on legislative impacts as bills move through the process. This suggests a calculated judgment that the signage project is sufficiently important to proceed despite the pending revenue loss, but the decision was made without extended deliberation or explicit fiscal rationale for the council record.

Tacit Council Dynamics

The council's failure to address the mayor conduct allegations—either formally or through expressed concern—may reflect internal norms around not engaging public criticism of fellow members during open session, or it may signal tacit dismissal of the complaints. Vice Mayor Lori Hunt, to whom Carros explicitly appealed as a potential successor, did not acknowledge or respond to the suggestion. The absence of a formal response suggests either confidence in the mayor's position or a preference to avoid amplifying the controversy in the public record.

Duration

• Public comment period: Approximately 15–20 minutes (4 speakers, 3-minute limit per speaker unless extended)
• Monument sign presentation and discussion: Approximately 25–30 minutes
• Total meeting duration: Approximately 60–75 minutes (estimated; full meeting duration not explicitly stated in transcript)

Other Notable Items

Liquor License Renewal: Prescott Valley approved a Series 10 liquor license for Dave's Fast Stop at 3933 North Robert Road in a routine consent item with no public comment or opposition. The town posted notice for 20 days and received no pro or con comments; staff recommended approval.

Community Facility Updates: Michael Greer and another council member attended a strategic planning session for the Prescott Valley Performing Arts Theater, a small theater venue near Findlay Toyota. Councilwoman Michael Greer endorsed the facility as more professional and organized than many Los Angeles-area community theaters and praised its volunteer opportunities and diverse programming beyond children's theater.

State Legislative Advocacy: Michael Greer highlighted SB 1029 (Felony Murder Fentanyl Sentencing), which passed the Senate Judicial Committee on a 4–3 vote, and advocated for resident support of HB 2167 (Drug Offenses Homicide Sentencing), sponsored by Representative Huang Wen and scheduled for hearing before the House Judicial Committee on Wednesday. She urged residents to write the committee urging mandatory prison sentences for fentanyl-related homicides.

Infrastructure Progress: Community Services Director Casey van Heren reported completion of multi-use path improvements and steel railing replacements on several trails (powers to Laredo, pipeline Central core Navajo to Serpentine, Stonewood Ridge), describing positive resident feedback comparing the quality to Scottsdale trails. Glassford Hill Viewpoint roads scheduled to bid next month with construction targeted for April–May to minimize school-year traffic impact. The town is continuing coordination with Prescott and Yavapai County on the Glassford Hill project and pursuing potential state legislative funding.