Council directs staff to prioritize Warrior Healing Center repairs as part of CDBG plan
March 27, 2026 | Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona
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Sierra Vista — The City Council on March 26 heard presentations from eight applicants seeking Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and gave staff direction to prioritize completing the Warrior Healing Center’s roof and HVAC repairs as part of the draft annual action plan. Staff said total requests totaled $480,644 against a planning estimate of $250,000.
City staff opened the public hearing and summarized applications that included emergency crisis assistance (United Way, $37,000), Echoing Hope Ranch’s Growing Independence program ($10,000), Boys & Girls Club youth scholarships ($30,000) and digital inclusion work from IDEA ($32,434). Infrastructure and facility requests included a proposed installation of four fire hydrants on North Tacoma (city request $50,000, Neighborhood Commission recommendation reduced to $40,000), enhancements for Henry Jones Legacy Park (city request $150,000), a Catholic Community Services playground and fence (originally $41,861; later withdrawn), and a Warrior Healing Center request of $138,849 for roof and HVAC repairs.
Tim, representing the Warrior Healing Center, described a volunteer‑run nonprofit serving hundreds of veterans: “Since January 2022, we’ve had over 59,000 sign‑ins at our front desk, and we’ve fielded over 6,300 formal requests from veteran families for assistance,” he said, asking the council to help complete repairs that would make a 16,000‑square‑foot facility usable year‑round. Staff said the center had secured $161,000 toward an estimated $300,000 need and requested the CDBG balance to finish phase 2 of the project.
Neighborhood Commission chair Wendy Grinde explained the commission’s allocation logic: with only $37,500 allowable for public services (15% of the planning estimate), the commission focused on applicants available to answer questions at its meeting and on demonstrable local service. She told council that some requests were reduced — for example, Catholic Community Services’ scope was narrowed to a fence — freeing funds that could be redistributed.
Councilmembers debated tradeoffs between funding smaller, scalable projects (hydrants, park phases) and fully funding the Warrior Healing Center’s complete repairs. “We have a lot we tend to slice in half on a lot of stuff. We don’t have that many opportunities to actually complete a project,” Councilman Ken Kilmery said, urging the council to concentrate the available funds where they would finish a project.
City Manager McLaughlin said staff would incorporate the council’s feedback into the draft annual action plan and publish it for a 30‑day public review period; a second public hearing will follow the comment period and the council will consider final approval after the federal allocation is confirmed.
What’s next: Staff will prepare a draft annual action plan reflecting the council’s direction; the city will publish it for public review and, after the comment period, return to council for final consideration.
City staff opened the public hearing and summarized applications that included emergency crisis assistance (United Way, $37,000), Echoing Hope Ranch’s Growing Independence program ($10,000), Boys & Girls Club youth scholarships ($30,000) and digital inclusion work from IDEA ($32,434). Infrastructure and facility requests included a proposed installation of four fire hydrants on North Tacoma (city request $50,000, Neighborhood Commission recommendation reduced to $40,000), enhancements for Henry Jones Legacy Park (city request $150,000), a Catholic Community Services playground and fence (originally $41,861; later withdrawn), and a Warrior Healing Center request of $138,849 for roof and HVAC repairs.
Tim, representing the Warrior Healing Center, described a volunteer‑run nonprofit serving hundreds of veterans: “Since January 2022, we’ve had over 59,000 sign‑ins at our front desk, and we’ve fielded over 6,300 formal requests from veteran families for assistance,” he said, asking the council to help complete repairs that would make a 16,000‑square‑foot facility usable year‑round. Staff said the center had secured $161,000 toward an estimated $300,000 need and requested the CDBG balance to finish phase 2 of the project.
Neighborhood Commission chair Wendy Grinde explained the commission’s allocation logic: with only $37,500 allowable for public services (15% of the planning estimate), the commission focused on applicants available to answer questions at its meeting and on demonstrable local service. She told council that some requests were reduced — for example, Catholic Community Services’ scope was narrowed to a fence — freeing funds that could be redistributed.
Councilmembers debated tradeoffs between funding smaller, scalable projects (hydrants, park phases) and fully funding the Warrior Healing Center’s complete repairs. “We have a lot we tend to slice in half on a lot of stuff. We don’t have that many opportunities to actually complete a project,” Councilman Ken Kilmery said, urging the council to concentrate the available funds where they would finish a project.
City Manager McLaughlin said staff would incorporate the council’s feedback into the draft annual action plan and publish it for a 30‑day public review period; a second public hearing will follow the comment period and the council will consider final approval after the federal allocation is confirmed.
What’s next: Staff will prepare a draft annual action plan reflecting the council’s direction; the city will publish it for public review and, after the comment period, return to council for final consideration.
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