Lake Havasu City, AZ

The Lake Havasu City leadership program will be seeking funds at this weekend's Balloon Festival for the "Heart of Havasu Park". The Havasu Leadership Development Class proposed a park project that can save the city as much as $15,000 a year on water costs. The plan will replace 21,000 square feet of sod with a Xeriscape landscape.

A Chamber of Commerce spokesperson says the park will be funded through donations, with the largest fundraiser being the Balloon Festival and Fair at the Beachfront Resort. A co-project leader said that they will be selling t-shirts and taking orders for stepping stones. You can get yours from the Chamber of Commerce booth this weekend.

The entire project must be completed by May 31^st. The purpose of the project is to reduce the cost of watering in the city. It currently costs between $800 and $1500 per acre-foot to water. Therefore, by removing the sod, it would reduce water usage by at least 70%.

Having Xeriscape as landscaping will allow for minimal water usage and utilizes the use of native plants. By living in the desert, we don't get to conserve water that much and this project will allow us to improve the look of the city and save money on water costs.

The Chamber of Commerce is set to take bids from contractors for the project in the up and coming weeks. They are also working with area artists and contractors for other designs. We are all set to begin fundraising for the t-shirts and pathway stones and other donations. To become a sponsor or to make a donation, you can contact the Chamber of Commerce at 855-4115.

There is only a little bit of time left to take advantage of the Lake Havasu City Water Conservation Rebate Program.  Since the program began, almost $54,000 has been rewarded to participants in the form of rebate checks.  However, that means that only around $6000 is left in the fund.  This is expected to be used up within the next couple of weeks. 

The Lake Havasu City Water Conservation Rebate Program is funding set aside to help Havasu homeowners pay for purchasing low water flow toilets, energy saving swimming pool covers and hot water recirculation pumps for all purchases made between September 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 or until funds are depleted.  As I said before, there is only about 2 or 3 weeks left in funding and that doesn't include those people who are currently installing these devices in their homes who have not made their claims yet.

With the significant participation of this year's program, the city has already submitted a request for more funds from the Bureau of Reclamation for another water conservation program next year.  If approved, it will be available beginning July 2011.  So, if you miss out on this year's rebate program, Lake Havasu City homeowners may have another opportunity next year.  However, purchases made before July 2011 cannot be used for next year's program.

Homeowners of Lake Havasu real estate wishing to participate in this year's Lake Havasu City Water Conservation Rebate Program may want to contact the Public Works Department first (928-453-6660) to make sure funds are still available before making any of these water-saving changes.  If you're interested in purchasing a Lake Havasu home or wish to sell your Lake Havasu City property, please contact me today.  Happy New Year!

Liz Miller, your Lake Havasu City real estate specialist

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There are three Santa Clauses in Lake Havasu City, each with a different protocol of the legendary Christmas icon.  One insists on not overshadowing the true meaning of Christmas.  One wears the red and white suit to help needy animal shelter pets get veterinarian services to make them more adoptable.  And, yet another says he IS Santa. 

As a modern day Santa, you have to be up on the times.  You have to be careful with the requests in this day and age.  Children want to bring home a parent from military service for Christmas or bring back a deceased family member or other similar requests.  You have to be proactive to request and handle them accordingly. 

These Santas receive visits from individuals of all ages.  Older children want to know why there are so many Santas.  Many people tell them that Santa is magical and can be in more than one place at one time.  Others will say, "Santa is a spirit, not a person, who lives in your heart and not at the North Pole".  And some will tell the children the special feeling in their hearts is Santa celebrating the birth of Christ.

Santa will be available for visits from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. December 17-24 in Unit 412 at the Shops at Lake Havasu.  Also, look for the local Vet who dresses up as Santa as a fundraiser for local shelters to help make their animals more adoptable. 

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The City of Lake Havasu City recently launched the test market phase of a large scale "Carry a Designated Operator" sober boat operator campaign to help promote safe boating in Lake Havasu. What they're doing is turning it into a positive. They're test marketing to see what gets boaters' interest. The program will kick off in March.

At the Turtle Grill in the Nautical Beachfront Resort and Pirate Cove, located north on the Colorado River, they will be giving out beads and medallions to sober boat operators. There are a number of the association's safe and sober boating billboards being hung or in the process of being hung in the high traffic areas of Lake Havasu State Park. These areas include: Campbell Cove One-Stop, Site Six, Cattail Cove and Havasu Landing. More billboards will be hung in upcoming weeks at Havasu Springs, Park Moabi, Black Meadow Landing and Pirate Cove despite the seasonal closing from November through March. The goal of the association is for all launch ramps to have a billboard installed that will remind people of the safe boating campaign before the 2011 season.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department records show that 10 years ago one out of every ten boat operators stopped on the Colorado River was arrested for OUI. Now one out of 40 to 60 boats have a drunken boat operator.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department wants the ratio so low that safety is significantly increased on the lake. Boat operators should have no alcohol. Others on the boat might drink but they don't want the operator drinking and that is what they are working toward. The marine association has captured the attention of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and they have a few details to be ironed out before the project will gain the support of the state entity.

Collaborative partners, including the Mohave County Sheriff's Office, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Arizona State Parks, Lake Havasu City Police Department, the marine association and AZGFD met on Nov. 19 to further discuss avenues of reaching boaters. We look forward to more details from this meeting.

Eliminating the number of drunken boat operators is a pillar issue that AZGFD is focused on. It's not the only issue. They are looking at raising adult life jacket awareness as well. The current billboard depicts a watercraft with five adult boaters on the lake without lifejackets. This is a direct contradiction to other grassroots campaigns AZGFD is already involved with.

AZGFD also has an ongoing education-based boater safety campaign called "Boat Safe, Boat Smart, Boat Sober". The state's participation in the nationwide lifejacket campaign "Wear It! Arizona," which AZGFD supports, is set for National Boating Safety Week May 21-27, 2011, according to resources at the safe boating campaign website: www.safeboatingcampaign.com.

The annual Festival of Lights in Lake Havasu City begins tonight, November 26, 2010 and continues through January 1, 2011. Each night, over a million lights will light up the English Village under London Bridge from 6pm to 10pm. The Festival of Lights is absolutely free to view. It's also a spectacular place to view the lights that twinkle along the London Bridge above. This is a fun, free way to welcome in the Christmas season. Bring the family down to the English Village to view the twinkling display at the Festival of Lights in Lake Havasu City tonight. Happy Holidays!

Liz Miller, your Lake Havasu City real estate specialist