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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-04-18 City Council Regular MinutesRegular Meeting of the City of Apache Junction City Council April 18, 1979 A regular meeting of the City Council of Apache Junction was held on the 18th day of April, 1979 at the Apache Junction City Hall, pursuant to the notice as required by law. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Roy Hudson. Invocation was presented by Marie Shanks. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice -mayor John Granillo. Councilmembers present Mayor Roy Hudson, Vice -mayor John Granillo, Jerry Burgess, Thomas Damiano, Vinton Peck, Virginia Seeman, Marie Shanks. Staff present Isabel C. Ballard, City Clerk; Mike Curtis, City Attorney; Susan Goodwin, City Attorney. Mayor Hudson requested people in the audience to refrain from noise while the council is in session. Approval of Minutes Mayor Hudson asked for any corrections and/or additions to the minutes of the meeting of April 4, 1979 regular meeting.After a discussion of the minutes Vice -mayor John Granillo made a motion to approve the minutes of April 4, 1979 as corrected.Seconded by Thomas Damiano. Motion carried unanimously. Council Action Magistrate Seal Virginia Seeman made a motion for the Clerk to purchase a desk -type Magistrate Seal for $16.00 from Strauch's Stationery.Seconded by Vice -mayor John Granillo.Motion passed unanimously. Opening Date of Court Virginia Seeman called on Mike Curtis to report on the liability insurance prior to opening the court.Mike Curtis advised the opening of Magistrate Court is being delayed by errors and omissions insurance and recommended securing estimates on expense of insurance. Court Phone Virginia Seeman reported a second telephone line is needed for the court and made a motion instructing the Clerk to write a letter to Mr. Karam asking for permission for a second line. Seconded by Marie Shanks. Motion carried unanimously. Public Defender Mike Curtis explained the purpose and need of a Public Defender.Mayor Hudson called on Mark Whitney to give a brief presentation on Public Defender. Mark Whitney gave a brief outline of his experience in prosecution, past record and proposal as Public Defender for Apache Junction @$40.00 per hour. Mike Curtis gave the options, recommendations and procedure of obtaining a Public Defender. The council discussed the matter further and would like resumes from interested attorneys and the Clerk to send letters to local attorneys. Regular Meeting cont'd. April 18, 1979 Page two City Hall Contract for July 1, 1979 Mayor Hudson suggested a committee be formed to work in conjunction with John Granillo and the Pinal County Board of Supervisors on the contract for facilities to keep our present lease here. Vinton Peck said he had spoken to Mr. Bateman and Mr. Karam who suggested the possibility of a mobile home to serve as temporary quarters. Mike Curtis said he would assist in the initial contract to carry on the use of this facility and try to phase in a time table for our own quarters. Insurance Committee Mike Curtis reported on setting up an Advisory Committee to make a study and review the aspects of insurance coverage and areas to analyze our insurance needs. He emphasized this committee would be in an advisory capacity only. Mayor Hudson asked the Clerk to contact Larry Carr's office to send someone from there to serve. Joe Petrick and Deanna Matthews' names were also submitted to serve on the Advisory Committee by members of the council. Mayor Hudson requested that the people be contacted and submit the names of the persons who are willing to serve at the next meeting. Bingo License Request The Clerk read an application from Lost Dutchman Trailer Court Resort to have bingo at their recreation hall. Marie Shanks made a motion to approve the license for the application subject to the attorney's review and concurrence. Virginia Seeman seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Unfinished Business Mike Curtis said it would be necessary to follow up with a letter to Arizona Retirement Systems to confirm the signed contract.Motion was made by John Granillo authorizing the Mayor to communicate to Arizona Retirement Systems the exceptions with the previously executed contract that it is the intent of the Apache Junction City Council to make exceptions to coverages B, C, D, E, F, G. Seconded by Virginia Seeman. Motion carried unanimously. Jerry Burgess asked about Summer Youth Jobs. The schools are working on a proposal and will work with the Clerk to coordinate the program for the city and the schools. Topics for Discussion and Progress Reports Budget and Finance Vice -mayor Granillo reported a scheduled meeting with Cathy Connolly from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns Friday, April 27, 1979 to start preliminary work on the budget.Much information is needed and instructed the Clerk to furnish councilmembers with budget forms and samples of other cities to get an idea on what applies to each department. Parks and Recreation Jerry Burgess discussed grant applications, matching grants and the availability of land mostly through school systems.He suggested possibly going with the schools in applying for grants. Phases of the program were discussed. The first phase being lighted ball parks and lighted tennis courts. Regular Meeting cont'd. April 18, 1979 Page three Parks and Recreation coned. Virginia Seeman made a motion to authorize Jerry Burgess and the Clerk to investigate funding and contract alternatives for recreational facilities including but not limited to ball parks, tennis courts and swimming pooL5 and to report to the council. Seconded by John Granillo. Motion carried unanimously. Streets and Rights -of -Way Vinton Peck reported a meeting with Mr. Bateman, Mr. Karam and Mr. Guinn regarding street maintenance.It was pointed out the obvious advantages the city would have in maintaining its' own streets as opposed to county assistance. Equipment needs were discussed and the possible use of the General Fund for equipment needs and gasoline tax monies used for road maintenance. Vice -mayor John Granillo suggested contacting Superior, Gilbert, Coolidge and other cities to get some idea on what to start with basically and to form a committee with proposals and recommendations referred back to the council. There was a lengthy discussion of the streets and right-of-way topic and the council instructed Mr. Peck to present both alternatives for the budget. A ten minute recess was called at this time. Planning and Zoning Thomas Damiano read a letter from the Planning and Zoning Commission dated April 11, 1979 in reference to PZ-574-79 (Nordby and Rowland) with the results of their recently completed study. Thomas Damiano also read a letter from the Planning and Zoning Commission dated April 12, 1979 in reference to PZ-576-79 (Romey Glover) and PZ-577-79 (Dale Miller) advising of a hearing May 16, 1979 for re -zoning purposes. Thomas Damiano called on Mr. Baljo who reported a meeting with Mr. Nesser regarding documents from Planning and Zoning brought before the council last week, approved by Planning and Zoning as recommended by the council with some of the stipulations regarding easements.County records could not identify existing easements up to adjoining parcels of ground in some cases which did not require the needed prior approval.Mr. Baljo said all Planning and Zoning requests must be thoroughly documented for their approval. All Planning and Zoning requests were approved with the exception of some of the easements and right-of-ways. Mayor Hudson explained the 90 day moratorium, and Susan Goodwin further explained the county attorney is working on an opinion but the city must request formally the 90 day moratorium. Mayor Hudson reported that the committee is working on it. Mike Curtis further explained the legalities and alternatives of the 90 day moratorium. Vinton Peck stated that the council should not approve any re -zoning unless they abide by the stipulations of the rights -of -ways.Thomas Damiano explained the Planning and Zoning process.Vinton Peck felt the city should follow up on the re -zoning. Instruction was given the Clerk to write a letter to Pinal County Planning and Zoning a request to review the plans also. Regular Meeting cont'd. April 18, 1979 Page four Policies and Records Marie Shanks reported she felt the Magistrate Court should have their own stationery, separate from that of the city; reported on the City of Prescott Valley and reported a call with the law firm of Lain and Penrod who offered at no charge to prepare the budget. This firm will be here next Wednesday, April 25, 1979. The need of a City Manager was expressed by Marie Shanks.Mayor Hudson instructed Marie Shanks to look into salaries, etc. Mike Curtis suggested a "Request For Proposal" considering the employment of a City Manager when this office is created and suggest it best be put together by the City Council so it would bring a uniform response. Marie Shanks said she would find out what we would need. Marie Shanks further reported the census is not officially complete. There may be some who were not counted. Forms are available in the Clerk's office for those who may have been missed in the census count. Vinton Peck discussed the City Code and to consider an amendment to the existing process to include in the ordinance in the event that eight get the vote there be a run-off for the seventh seat. Announcements Mayor Hudson called on Isabel Ballard to report.Isabel Ballard reported eight bids were received on employee health, medical and life insurance and the variances of each of them and requested help on reviewing the policy from some of the councilmembers with medical insurance knowledge. Marie Shanks and Virginia Seeman said they would help review the bids. Personnel Policy Proposal Copies of the Proposed Personnel Policy were given to each councilmember for their review. Mayor Hudson instructed the Clerk to place the personnel policy on the work session agenda. State Land Mayor Hudson reported he had a request in for State Land, and he has received a letter from the State Land Department saying they have tentatively set aside 60 acres for the city at University and Idaho Roads. The Mayor asked for input from councilmembers to be discussed at the work session. Mayor Hudson reported that Isabel Ballard informed him that a lot of copies of documents are being requested from City Hall and he felt that the cost of the copy machine, supplies and office help should be charged on each document requested. Mayor Hudson turned the meeting over to Vice -mayor John Granillo and made a motion instructing the City Clerk to charge one dollar ($1.00) for the first copy and twenty-five (.25) for each additional copy for copies requested from the City Hall office, and seconded by Thomas Damiano. Five (5) voted yes - Mayor Hudson, Vice -mayor Granillo, Jerry Burgess, Thomas Damiano and Virginia Seeman. Two (2) voted no - Vinton Peck and Marie Shanks. Motion carried. Regular Meeting coned. April 18, 1979 Page five Announcements coned. Mayor Hudson explained he is in charge of employees and expressed disapproval of Mr. Saggio coming into the City Clerk's office with a tape recorder and asking questions and he has been informed by the attorney that we don't have to allow a tape recorder in the office. Mike Curtis explained the only conversations which are pursuant to State Statutes there is right to reproduce electronically or otherwise, are those statements in public meetings which are defined as public meetings pursuant to the State Statutes.The inquirer,be he or she a citizen to a representative of a municipality, county or state government is an inquiry of a public office and that public official does not have to consent that his or her remarks be tape recorded. It can not be required that a vocal response be given to an inquirer. The public office has the discretion to reply reasonably in a manner he believes is conducive to the carrying out of public business in a reasonable and ordinary fashion. Mayor Hudson, with the support of the rest of the council, instructed the City Clerk that she does not have to answer questions to someone with a tape recorder nor does she have to give information with an immediate response. She may ask for a reasonable time in which to give information to an inquirer. Thomas Damiano read a letter from the Office of the Attorney General and the termination of the Apache Junction Incorporation Election. The City Clerk read an invitation from Superstition Mountain Chapter 30 D.A.V. Charter Dinner Meeting. Input from the Floor Jim Dempsey asked what has been done on the Palm Springs renuest on the zoning code presented by the Palm Springs Homeowners Association. Mike Curtis explained the status of the renuest and their legal opinion to the City Council and the precedence they would be setting on Planning and Zoning. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Marie Shanks and seconded by Virginia Seeman. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned: 10:25 p.m. Approved this day of ( , 1979 City Clerk NOTE: Mayor Roy Hudson declined to sign minutes.Let the record reflect that a Regular Meeting took place and the above subjects were discussed and acted upon and the minutes were approved on said date by the Mayor and Council.