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Home My WebLink About2024-02-20 City Council Regular Minutes Meeting location: City of Apache Junction; Arizona Q City Council Chambers Si .. Meeting :Minutes at:City Hall 300 E.Superstition Blvd BgC . City-Council Meeting„ -Apache Junction,AZ85119 apachejuncti onaz.gov Ph:-(480)982-8002 Tuesday,February.20;2024 7:OO:PM . City Council Chambers - A. CALL TO.ORDER Mayor.Wilson called the meeting to,order at 7:03 p,m., B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Heck gave.the invocation and Cou.ncilmem.ber Cross led:the.meeting attendees - in the Pledge of Allegiance. C: ROLL CALL Present: 67Mayor Wilson Councilmember Nesser Councilmember Heck Councilmember Johnson ::. Councilmember Cross Councilmember Soller Excused:; 1 - Vice Mayor Schroeder Staff in Attendance: Bryant Powell, City Manager- Matt Busby,Assistant City Manager - - ---: Jennifer Pena,:City Clerk Joel Stern, City Attorney Patrick Ainsworth, Economic-Development Director Evie.McKinney, Deputy City Clerk.: .Michael Pooley, Police Chief Rudy Esquivias, Development.Services Director - -- D CONSENT AGENDA•_ _... ..- . ..... Councilmember Nesser moved,seconded,by Councilmember Cross to.approve the Consent-.- Agenda. Yes: . : ,;- - Mayor Wilson, Couna mem er Nesser, Councilmember Heck, ounce mem er::: Johnson, Councilmember Cross and Councilmember Soller No: 0. Excused:: ... 1 _ Vice_Mayor Schroeder . City of Apache.Junction,Arizona Page.1.-. ... City council Meeting Meeting Minutes February 20,2024 1. 24-056 Consideration of acceptance of agenda. 2. : .24-057 . . . .. . .. .. ... Consideration of minutes:of the:regular meeting of.February E. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS .. - _. .. ... .. . ..... .. . ... 3. 24-039 Presentation.of 25-year Service�Award to Officer Eric:Reimann, of the -:Apache Junction Police Department. ... Police Chief Michael Pooley recognized-Eric Reimann's 25.years of:service as an.Apache: Junction Police Officer with words of appreciation;and highlighted his:dedication to being in: . . . uniform on patrol all of his time served.City Manager Bryant Powell.also addressed.Mr. ... Reimann with.a certificate and service award,:and commended hirh:on his stabilizing:influence and credibility with fellow.officers..- F: -- -: .REGIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL UPDATES : 4. 24-058 : Brief:summary of intergovernmental updates from mayor and counci.Members. Councilmember Cross stated the television show, "Best of America by Horseback":recognized Apache Junction and the City;Administration for years of-dedicated service to;the Equine Industry and:encouraging:guests from around the:country to enjoy the beauty of Arizona by: horseback. They proclaimed the City as"Choice Best of America by Horseback Premier Tourism Destination." Councilmember Cross also highlighted the Annual Pony Express event on March 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM'. The route will start at City Hall and Mayor:Wilson will be the first rider.:The route will be posted on the City's facebook page. . . .... ... .. . ..... ... Councilmember Heck attended a Greater Phoenix Economic:Council Meeting,where discussion of Arizona's water position was the main topic. He stated Arizona is still using the same:amount.of water as-it did in the 1 950's,.andspoke about.-the.importance of water .., conservation.: Councilmember Heck also-reminded everyone of:the Lost Dutchman Days event on February.23-25, 2024. . ... . Mayor Wilson shared.statistics on the Lost Dutchman marathon that took place on February 17' 2024. There were 2,.710 participants, hundreds of volunteers and.spectators for:a:total.of 7,000 people involved in the event. He attended a ribbon cutting-for a new concourse'at the Phoenix - . . Mesa:Gateway Airport,which.added 5 new gates and 30,000 feet of floor space. Mayor Wilson also attended the groundbreaking for the:new:development in the City"Residences at Apache .Trail." G. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. . 5. 24-059 ,. City Manager's Report.: . City Manager Bryant Powell.:thanked everyone for their help and participation in the Lost Dutchman Marathon and the upcoming Lost Dutchman Days events. city of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 2.. City Council Meeting Meeting Minutes : February 20,2024 6. 24-078 Presentation and discussion'with:Police Chief Michael Pooley regarding - :an-update on the AJPD Flock program, Police-Chief Michael Pooley gave an update on.the Flock camera system.that the Police Department uses. He shared statistics regarding the:amount of license plates the 25 cameras. .. . . have picked up and the-camera benefits. He shared the cameras helped solve several crimes; including a suspect in a:hit and run fatalit Councilmember Heck asked how.quickly the Police department receives the license plate information after it is captured. Chief Pooley stated it is within a:minute and a half: Councilmember Soller commented about his experience:with the Flock Camera Systems and. the benefits. 7. ::. :24-060 :Announcement of Current Events. - Assistant City Manager Matt Busby spoke about the upcoming Lost Dutchman:Days on February 23-25;2024..:More'information.can be obtained on the event website at _ lostdutchmandays.o,r He also reminded:everyone to visit apachejunctionaz.gov to.sign up for . . ..... ... _. t e ityWeekly newsletter.-- _. H.- PUBLIC HEARINGS o 8. 24-062 - Presentation; discussion; public hearing, and consideration on Purchase and Sale Agreement with Golden Triangle.QOZB, LLC, for approximately 1:064 gross acres of land located in downtown Apache Junction north of the previous-site of the Grand-Hotel. Councilmember Soller moved,'seconded by Councilmember Johnson that the Purchase.and.Sale Agreement with Golden Triangle QOZB,LLC for approximately 10-.64 acres located in the downtown area north of the previous site of the Grand Hotel and authorize the city.manager or . . ... . ... his designee to execute on behalf of the city any further documents necessary or appropriate to effectuate the City's purposes'in entering into.this agreement be approved . . . . . . Yes: 6; Mayor Wilson, Councilmember Nesser, Councilmember Heck;: Councilmember ... Johnson, Councilmember.Cross and Councilmerriber Soller No:.. . . . Excused: 1 = Vice Mayor.Schroeder Economic Development Director Patrick Ainsworth.presented the property where the Grand Hotel was formerly,located at the northeast corner of W.Apache Trail and N.Apache.Trail has been vacant for over20,years. The.City of Apache Junction has taken a proactive:cole to spur .. . ..... ... investment in the downtown area with the addition of:Flatiron Park and the streetscape im roverhents along N.Apache Trail and the Focal:Point. To further promote development and investment in the downtown area,.the Apache Junction . ...., ... Economic Strategic Plan:consists of a strategyto identify land sites to purchase and help prepare for desired-development.-The subject site recently became available for,purchase and the current propertyowners and the City have negotiated the following terms: City of Apache-Junction,Arizona Page 3.. City Council Meeting q Meeting Minutes February 20,2024 -Purchase price of the 10.64-acre property is$2,940,300 -Any septic system improvements on the property will be removed by the current:owner_and a reimbursement not to.exceed$100,000 will be paid for by the City of Apache Junction:.:. The City of Apache Junction will have 90 days from the approval date of the.agreement to review all documents and.reports associated with this_property to ensure:there:are no outstanding issues_with:the property. -The current property owner will transfer.any and all existing proportionate rights, easements, and agreements conveyed on this property to the.City of.Apache Junctibh:as part of the sale. Once the City takes:ownership, City.representatives will embark:on a process to actively bring Various businesses to the site which may include restaurants, retail,.hospitality and: entertainment uses. Councilmembers.had concerns including the proposed usage.of the land, blocking views for current homeowners and if this will fall into the strategic.plan fora downtown area. Mr.Ainsworth responded to Councilmembers concerns. Mayor Wilson opened the public.hearing. George Schroeder commented he is:opposed to any tall buildings for this property. Donna Carr.stated she would.not.like anything more than two stories for this property and would like:t6-see the store fronts_designed like a mining town:.; Mehmood Mohiuddin supported the.purchase of the land.. No further discussion was held and the public hearing was.closed.. . _.. I. OLD.BUSINESS J. : . NEW BUSINESS:-:. : . . : _. 9. 24-063 Presentation; discussion:,;and:possible consideration.of awarding . contract for Concentrated Downtown Master Plan Update.RFP #ED20237002 to SWABACK.in an amount not.to..exceed $99,000.00.... Councilmember Nesser moved,seconded by Councilmember Soller that;the.contract for the Concentrated Downtown Master Plan Update RFP#ED2023-602 to SWABACK in an amount not to exceed$99,000100 be approved. Yes: :. 6- Mayor Wilson, Councilmember Nesser, Councilmember Heck, Councilmember Johnson; CouncilmemberCross and Councilmember Soller. No: 0 :... Excused::.:. : 1 - Vice'Mayor Schroeder . Economic Development Director Patrick Ainsworth presented.the Economic Development Strategic:Plan,(adopted in 2022), and the Apache-Junction General Plan, (adopted in 2020), have both called for an update to.the Downtown Redevelopment and Implementation Strategy, (DRIS) (adopted.in.201.0).With recent attention to the downtown,the City finds it.prudent:to City of Apache.Junction,Arizona Page 4.. City Council Meeting Meeting Minutes February 20,2024 advance the:implementation of these two plans and"move forward with updating the DRIS document, but:with a concentration on the:Downtown Core area: . To rneet the needs of the economic development division, the city issued a:Request for Proposals on December 117.2023, with a reply deadline_of January 10, 2024:Three proposals.. were received,:and one was deemed nonresponsive.The two proposals evaluated were: SWABACK$901:000.00 Upfront Planning&Entitlements$88,932.14 City staff has reviewed the proposals for proven technical ablity .qualifications/experience, proposed solution/method of approach-and pricing: SWABACK was deemed.the most responsive and responsible:bidder: City staff requests council award the contract to SWABACK,including a 10% contingency-fee p. fora total amount not to exceed$99,000.00. Councilmember Cross inquired about the purpose of the 1:0%contingency fee. Mr.Ainsworth and Purchasing Administrator Kimberly.Heldt responded 10%.is:a typical contingency fee for contract. 10. 24-054 Presentation' discussion;arid possible consideration:of approval of extension through June 30 2024; of the individual towing contracts:: currently in place.with Apache Sands Towin9� King,Towing,Kin ,Towin p : . g,an Phoenix.Metro Towing which are due to expire on April 5;2024. Councilmember Cross moved,seconded by Councilmember Johnson that an extension of the :. individual towing contracts with Apache Sands Towing,CL King Towing,and Phoenix MetroTowing through June 30,2024 be.approved. Yes: 6- Mayor Wilson, Councilmember:Nesser, Councilmember Heck, Councilmember. : . . : Johnson, Councilmember Cross and Councilmember Soller: No: 0 Excused::. 1 - Vice Mayor Schroeder . Management Analyst Robert Wisler presented the current_police towing contracts with Apache Sands Towing, CL King Towing,.and Phoenix Metro Towing will expire April 5, 2024.The City will. . be competitively bidding for services for the next ten years and would:like to.have the new contracts align with the fiscal year. The staff`recommendation is to extend the existing contracts through June 30;;2024. Councilmembers questioned.if there will be changes to the contracts:: Mr.Wisler stated.it is an extension of the current contracts:and no'other changes will be made. .. ..... ... .. . ..... ._ _. K. COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF L. SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES,.LOCATIONS,.AND:PURPOSES. City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 5.. City Council Meeting Meeting Minutes February 20,2024 M. CALL TO PUBLIC Donna Carr, 2178 W.Virginia Street,Apache Junction, would like to see more shops for younger people and for marijuana smoking to be banned at City events. She also stated there should be petition forms for the public on the City's website. George Schroeder, 2444 W. Virginia Street,Apache Junction, spoke on the squatter issue, residents in his neighborhood dying, and an illegal gate around the house that burned down near his.home. He also stated nuisance laws need to be enforced. Kelly Paolisso, 737 Teaberry Street, Encinitas,California,(representative for a group with the same concern), addressed the killing of hundreds of small pets by an unregistered business in the City. She stated Chief Pooley spoke to her and they are investigating this so she thanked the Police for their help. Council commented on the house that burned down not having an illegal gate per the Fire Chiefs confirmation and that smoking and vaping is not legal in City parks. They also asked if the City Manager could look into having a petition form added to the City website. N. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Wilson adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 6 City Council Meeting Meeting Minutes February 20,2024 ACCEPTED THIS DAY OF 12024, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS DAY OF 12024. WALTER"CHIP"WILSON Mayor ATTEST: CAM- C.O/ 1 JENN14E& PEN City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona, held on the _ 0 day of 2024. 1 further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum as present. Dated this , >r day of t i9jrGA6 12024. L�� L JEN IF R PEN City Clerk City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 7