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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-02 City Council Regular MinutesRegular Meeting of the City of Apache Junction City Council May 2, 1979' A regular meeting of the City Council of Apache Junction was held on the 2nd day of May, 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 Vinton Peck. 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 and Marie Shanks Staff present: Isabel C. Ballard, City Clerk and Michael Curtis, City Attorney Approval of Minutes: April 25, 1979 Vice -mayor John Granillo made a motion to approve the minutes of April 25, 1979 as corrected, seconded by Virginia Seeman. Motion carried unanimously. April 18, 1979 Marie Shanks made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 18, 1979, seconded by Vice -mayor John Granillo. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Hudson called on Mr. James Karam to speak to the council on the CAHSA press conference regarding the location of the hospital and to also report on some of the problems which had been referred to him by the people of Apache Junction. Mr. Karam said the voices of the people of Apache Junction were certainly heard in the press conference and it was one of the many continued efforts of cooperation between city and county governments and the members of the press conference had an impact on the decision of CAHSA to restudy the application to change the facility location. Mr. Karam reported on the request of the people of Apache Junction regarding Broadway Road. He apologized for the incompletion which was to have been done in March, but due to various breakdowns of equipment etc. as being responsible he has instructed the highway crews to have this work done sometime in May. Mr. Karam then responded to the requests of a group of citizens of Apache Junction who offered to pay for the paving of their streets.The county attorney has given approval,to proceed and the county will furnish the equipment and the labor, for completion by June 30, 1979. Mr. Karam replied, to the criticisms of Pinal County not doing any work in Apache Junction and the county highway department is keeping time sheets and work records for verification of work done in Apache Junction by the county. Mr. Karam further reported alleys in Apache Junction which had previously been neglected for years have now been cleaned as well as over -laying of roads by the Greyhound Dog Track have now been completed and Pinal County will try to provide all the services possible before June 30, 1979. Regular Meeting May 2, 1979 Page two Mr. Karam spoke about the press conference involving citizens of Pinal County regarding the prison site. Governor Babbitt has vetoed the bill allowing the prison to be located in Florence. Mr. Karam asked the people of the council and Apache Junction to appeal to our senators, legislators and representatives the need for a special session to reconvene to enact new legislation for the prison location to be in Florence. Thomas Damiano asked about chuckholes on Apache Trail and if correct materials were used in repairing them. Mr. Karam responded that the county has no control since this is a state highway and the state highway department should take care of them. Vinton Peck asked about the possibility of a maintenance contract and muncipality change. Mr. Karam said he believed it would be very difficult to enter into a road maintenance contract. Attorney Curtis said he had discussed this matter with the county attorney and an inter -governmental agreement could be worked out but the problem with the county would be the problems of demand and equipment, the cost of allocations and equipment, what kind of allocation do we have on the equipment, and whether the city in effect should buy or lease equipment and perhaps hire county operators. Some type of draft will be outlined and presented to the council for review on this matter. Vinton Peck asked if equipment can be financed through a bank.The City Clerk responded if purchased on a lease -purchase agreement the company will sell the contract to the bank. Payments invariably will be made to the company and later notices will be sent to start making payments to a bank or commercial credit corporation; whoever holds the contract. Attorney Curtis said this is called Factoring of Accounts Receivable but is not sure how this type of debt would affect the municipal operation. If it was a direct purchase then it would have to be a budget item - capital as opposed to operating budget.A lease -purchase in a sense can be treated as an operating expense because there is the option to convert a lease into a capital acquisition and has a different type of impact on the total budget. Liquor License: The City Clerk reported a liquor license has been posted for 20 days at Kovacs Korner and there have been no petitions, claims or notices filed against it and is ready for council approval. Thomas Damiano made a motion to approve the liquor license for Kovacs Korner, seconded by Vice -mayor John Granillo. Motion carried unanimously. Planning and Zoning: PZ-576-79 Romey Glover Thomas Damiano made a motion to recommend to Pinal County Planning and Zoning to table this and PZ-577-79 Dale Miller request until city plans are finalized in about two months, seconded by Virginia Seeman.Motion carried unanimously. Regular Meeting May 2,1979 Page three Planning and Zoning,coned. Home Realty - PZ Thomas Damian() read a letter from Home Realty dated April 17 to the City Council, owners of parcels A, B, C, of attached survey located at the southeast corner of East University and North Meridian in Pinal County are asking for an extension of CB -2 zoning for the full depth of the property. This was discussed about a month ago by the council. Thomas Damiano then read a letter from Frank Rowland, who has no objection to the Happy Days Trailer Park extending parcels A, B, C, directly adjoining the south boundary of the above mentioned property to recommend to Pinal County Planning and Zoning for approval. Thomas Damiano said this request cannot be approved without a documented form for council approval. Action on this request is deferred until the form is submitted. Pinal County Health Department: Attorney Curtis read a letter of request on behalf of the city to the Pinal County Health Department. A motion was made that the city requests the Pinal County Health Department take jurisdiction over the health services of the city in accordance with ARS-36-190 by Marie Shanks, seconded by Virginia Seeman. Motion carried unanimously. Fire Board on Continuing Services: Attorney Curtis reported the responsibility for fire protection does not terminate on July 1, 1979 and it is the opinion the District is organized under ARS Section 9-1001 pursuant to its' duties does continue until such time as the city wishes to provide its' own fire protection.A motion was made that the city request of the District that it continue providing services to the area by Virginia Seeman, seconded by Marie Shanks. Motion carried unanimously. Employee Medical Insurance: The City Clerk reported some companies refused to bid on less than 10 employees even though the city will have more employees in the future. Proposals are very high and suggested further research in this area. There was a lengthy discussion of employee insurance and fringe benefits. Attorney Curtis stated insurance and fringe benefits for employees was a topic with a real economic basis and could not be acted on in ignorance and advised forming a salary review committee to work on this problem. Arizona State Retirement: After discussion on the Arizona State Retirement System a motion was made that the City of Apache Junction participate in the Arizona Retirement System and the Mayor be authorized and directed by Resolution to execute the application and agreement by Vice -mayor John Granillo, seconded by Virginia Seeman.Six (6) voted yes - Mayor Hudson, Vice -mayor Granillo, Jerry Burgess, Thomas Damiano, Virginia Seeman, Marie Shanks. One (1) voted no - Vinton Peck. Motion carried. Regular Meeting May 2, 1979 Page four Unfinished Business: The City Clerk reported two billings have been received from the City Attorney and Attorney Curtis explained the agreement on the deferred payment. Topics for Discussion and Progress Reports: Mayor Hudson reported applications have been finished regarding inter- sections of streets that needed signs and has applied to the Arizona Department of Safety with a cost estimate of $53,650 plus for the city to install. Mayor Hudson discussed government land which had been discussed in the Executive Session earlier in the evening for the option to purchase the land, that it is the consensus of the council there should be further inquiry as to what terms might be available, but no action has been taken yet. Budget and Finance: Unpaid Bills Vice -mayor Granillo read the April Treasurer's Report and unpaid bills and made a motion authorizing the City Clerk to pay the unpaid bills totalling $415.40, seconded by Thomas Damiano. Motion carried unanimously. Vice -mayor Granillo made a motion authorizing the City Clerk to pay the membership dues to Arizona State Clerk's Association $10.00 and International Institute of Municipal Clerks $35.00, in the total amount of $45.00, seconded by Virginia Seeman. Motion carried unanimously. Vice -mayor Granillo announced an inter -governmental agreement has been drafted and submitted to the Board of Supervisors for the lease of this building. The county attorney will review it for agreement or make changes and submit it back to us. Mr. Joe Saggio asked Vice -mayor John Granillo if in his financial report were the expenses of the City Attorney taken into consideration and if a contingency was made in the report for expenses incurred. Vice -mayor John Granillo said the expenses of the City Attorney will be reflected in the 1979-80 budget. Attorney Curtis explained the City Attorney's agreement was that there is a maximum amount that would be charged under this agreement and would be the lesser of an hourly fee or the maximum amount, whichever is lesser and that no claim would be made nor would any compensation be given to the attorney until the subsequent budget year and no liability would in any way be created until the advent of the new budget year. For this interim period, it was agreed there would be no liability created and if technically a liability had been created, then it would be a part of the monthly report even though payment was deferred so there would be complete disclosure. Vinton Peck asked the City Clerk if city sales taxes were reflected in the budget.The City Clerk explained all monies had not yet been received, but were gradually coming in. There was a discussion regarding the monitoring of business and sales tax licenses and what control there will be over them. Vice -mayor John Granillo moved for a 10 minute recess, seconded by Thomas Damiano. Regular Meeting May 2, 1979 Page five Streets and Rights -of -Way: Vinton Peck reported he had contacted the State Bureau of Purchasing again but has not yet received the applications for purchasing equipment and cannot put anything together yet until some type of contract is received for the purchasing of equipment. Vinton Peck was asked if he ever considered contracting with a private contractor and what is needed to maintain the streets right now as to number of employees, purchase plan etc. The matter was discussed and different possibilities. Police, Fire and Magistrate: Virginia Seeman reported a court phone has been installed with the number of 982-6889. Planning and Zoning: Thomas Damiano reported on the Planning and Zoning Advisory Meeting held Tuesday evening and another meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 1979 and one of the first things to be accomplished is the land use inventory of the 12 square miles and surrounding areas to determine what they should be zoned for. Mayor Hudson reported he had attended the meeting and thought it to be very productive with some of the committee members, city planners and former city planners. The City Clerk reported the Committee made a recommendation to the city council to employ a Planner and to take this into consideration, establish a salary and begin advertising to work with the Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee. Attorney Curtis said it was his understanding that the proposed motion would be that we adopt as a budget item for planning purposes the position of a City Planning -Zoning Administrator and subsequently proceed to solicit applications which is simply a procedure of placing it on the budget but not involving any commitment. Thomas Damiano made the motion to identify in the budget a City Planning -Zoning Administrator position and further solicit interested applicants for such a position, seconded by Vice -mayor Granillo. Motion carried unanimously. Vinton Peck asked about the Public Defender, what the proposed salary would be, and if Mr. Haus would be making an oral presentation.A written presentation has been submitted by Mr. Haus. Attorney Curtis said the record is still open for any interested attorneys to file letters of proposal.May 9 is the last date and after that date recommendations will be made to the council as to proposals on file. Policies and Records: Motion was made by Marie Shanks to budget for a City Manager and to make allowances on the budget, seconded by Virginia Seeman.Motion carried unanimously. Make Shanks asked if the personnel policies had been reviewed by the councilmembers and suggested the council come up with either a personnel board plus one person to be over it, such as the City Clerk, City Manager or a Councilmember and to pass an ordinance and resolution to go into the Code Book as well as a personnel policy ordinance from the personnel board, and turned it over to the City Attorney. Regular Meeting May 2, 1979 Page six Announcements: Mayor Hudson announced Jimmy Eidson has tentatively agreed to take on the business license project and asked the council if there were any areas the two newly elected councilmembers could be involved in to assist them. The City Clerk announced the Insurance Advisory Board Committee Meeting would be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 7, 1979 to discuss liability insurance for the city. Attorney Curtis said they have issued some clarifying instructions to the Advisory Board indicating the tasks they have before them. Vice -mayor Granillo requested an executive session meeeting Monday, May 7, 1979 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of consultation with the attorney for personnel discussion. The council agreed to this meeting. Mr. Sam Gardom mentioned road department contractors are available and when their equipment is sidelined the city should check into renting this equipment. Adlournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Thomas Damiano, seconded by Marie Shanks. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned: 9:35 P.m. Approved this and City Council. day o -4CityClerk NOTE: 1979 bythe Mayor 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.