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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-18 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on September 18, 2012, at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Insalaco called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. INVOCATION Councilmember Wilson gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Serdy led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present:Mayor Insalaco Vice Mayor Dietz Councilmember Barker Councilmember Evans Councilmember Serdy Councilmember Waldron Councilmember Wilson Staff Present:City Manager George Hoffman Assistant City Manager Bryant Powell City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Joel Stern Public Safety Director Jerald Monahan Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Giao Pham Others Present:Public Works Manager Shane Kiesow REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 1 OF 11 ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA )Vice Mayor Dietz MOVED THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. Councilmember Waldron SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS Councilmember Wilson commented on Saturday, September 8, he was in Queen Creek to observe their 9/11 event.He was impressed by what they did and they approached him about having another joint meeting between the two councils in the future. Councilmember Serdy requested all those who lost in the August election or were not being challenged in the November election to please take down their political signs. Councilmember Waldron commented Mayor Insalaco and he attended the blessing of another Habitat for Humanity house on September 8.They helped to put up some walls. Councilmember Waldron announced the mayor, police chief and he attended a dinner to honor World War II veterans on Saturday night.The chief presented an Apache Junction man with a challenge coin; he received a purple heart 67 years late. Councilmember Evans commented last Saturday she had 24 youth and adult volunteers built 24 garden beds for Earth Heart Park in three hours.They hope to have the soil delivered next week. The shed is installed and they are now installing the solar sprinkler timer system.By October the landscaping should be in place.More time will be needed for the stage, the grass area and the kitchen for cooking demonstrations. Mayor Insalaco commented Pinal County Supervisor Clark Smithson was also at the Habitat for Humanity event helping with a hammer. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 2 OF 11 AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS Ms. Amy Kempton gave a presentation on the First Things First Initiative, commenting on a site tour given to council members at Little Prospectors Child Care tenter, the Pinal Regional Partnership Council investing in Apache Junction with the Quality First program, the renewal of the contract for the Family Fun Van, the Family Resource Guide, and the local means and access report.She plans to have the latter sent to everyone once they have more available. Mayor Insalaco commented while Councilmembers Evans, Serdy and he were there they found out these are not daycare centers, they are learning centers with people who have done this for up to 18 years. Councilmember Evans stated it is a fabulous program, not only helping the children out but the workers have the potential to go to school and earn credits.Both sides learn. Councilmember Serdy stated he was amazed to learn that there are ten in the city participating in the program. Assistant City Manager Bryant Powell stated the system is set up to allow for local boards.They are lucky to have Amy who has been with it the entire time and really helps those on the regional board. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager George Hoffman commented on Janine and he participating in the Chamber of Commerce's strategic planning session, unused and expired prescription medication being a public safety issue and the police department having a drop off day on September 29, the Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods event on October 20, a domestic violence candlelight vigil on October 24, a successful monitoring visit from the Arizona Department of Housing staff yesterday, and thanked the police department, the fire district, the public works department, the parks and recreation department and others in the public sector for their work in the recent rainstorms. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 3 OF 11 Councilmember Serdy asked if there is somewhere people can go to see where the stops will be for the Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods event. Public Safety Director Jerald Monahan stated they would put something together this weekend. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Giao Pham gave an overview on the floodwater damage caused by recent storms and an update on road conditions.There was council discussion on the naming of washes, a pothole problem in the general vicinity of the Moose Lodge, the large dam by Prospector Park, and leaking underground storage tanks shown on the map. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS None. COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF FILLING A VACANCY ON THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT )Councilmember Waldron declared a conflict of interest and left the council chamber. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly briefed the council on the item. Councilmember Barker commented she thought that when they talked about this earlier they were going to defer filling this one until there was another vacancy. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 4 OF 11 Vice Mayor Dietz commented he did not remember that.He did not see why they would wait until there were two vacancies. Councilmember Barker commented she must have been mistaken. Vice Mayor Dietz commented he thought they were going to wait until they had their discussion and looked into the different things that were brought up. Mayor Insalaco commented he thought the last two positions that were filled would be right in line.He has not been happy with the service they have given. City Attorney Joel Stern stated he believed there was a discussion about the council wanting to assess some type of criteria for this board.They also directed the city manager and him to meet with the sewer board.There were some other issues that are not on the agenda tonight. Councilmember Serdy commented they have the leadership institute that trains people on how the city is run.He suggested having a mini -institute on board training and what is expected out of each board or commission. They could have it once a year if someone is interested in being on a board and how it would be good if they had these qualifications.It would give them a chance to study and prepare themselves better.They might not want to be on that board if they have to do certain things. City Attorney Joel Stern commented after they select individuals he typically meets with them on open meeting law, public records acts and other case law involving municipalities.Usually it is within one or two months after they are on the board.He has done it with planning and zoning members, board of adjustment, library and he was invited to the parks and recreation commission to do a little session. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 5 OF 11 Councilmember Barker commented he has not done the sewer board. City Attorney Joel Stern stated he has not because that is a different entity and they have a separate attorney. Councilmember Barker commented therein lies the whole rub.That is the problem. Councilmember Serdy commented the city has to do it before they turn them over to the sewer district. Mayor Insalaco commented the council has the duty of presenting somebody to the board and nominating somebody to the board and that is as far as it goes. They hope to get somebody that will do the job but when they get there it seems they are being managed instead of managing. Vice Mayor Dietz asked if they have an orientation for the new board members. City Manager George Hoffman stated he does not know. Vice Mayor Dietz asked if Ed said anything about having an orientation for them during their discussion.He agreed with the mayor that the council appoints but they are directed by their director. • Councilmember Wilson commented he thought they were supposed to give us some information on their procedures and what they are doing. City Attorney Joel Stern stated they are.He talked to Mr. Gregor the other day and he has received some information that he is going through.He hopes to have responses on those other issues soon.He did not say when, but knowing him it should be fairly soon.He acts pretty quickly. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 6 OF 11 Vice Mayor Dietz commented they had discussed possibly having their board members or chair building up some criteria on what they are looking for so that the council would have more of an idea on who they would be interested in.If they are in the process of doing that, he would much rather wait and have that information before they appoint anyone.The council will at least have something in mind of what they are looking for. Councilmember Wilson asked if they would be putting out a request for people to come forward before they appoint someone. Mayor Insalaco commented they have not done that yet. Councilmember Wilson commented the council needs to find out their desires. Vice Mayor Dietz commented if the council has that information from them on what kind of characteristics and what they are looking for the city can put that in with the advertising for the position. Mayor Insalaco commented if the council leaves it up to them, they will be putting someone on that they want.The council is trying to get somebody to control the situation and not be run by the district. City Attorney Joel Stern commented they had some brief conversations in the meeting with Mr. Grabek regarding qualifications.They did not get to the type of qualifications.He does not believe that was one of the questions on the list. Mayor Insalaco commented he thinks they need to do that. City Attorney Joel Stern stated they can send that to him and ask for that information if you would like their input on the type of qualifications they would like. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 7 OF 11 Vice Mayor Dietz commented he thinks they should have that information before they go any further. Councilmember Barker commented one of the things that Mr. Stern referenced in his notes from their last meeting was that Mr. Grabek felt that the council did not have an appropriate understanding of what the sewer district does.The council needs that in order to appoint an appropriate board member.The council needs to have the understanding he feels we lack. City Attorney Joel Stern stated he believed when he said that he added he would like to make a presentation to the council with himself, the attorney or even the chair person.He believes that is where he was going with that information.He also wants to give the council the reports from each month. Councilmember Barker commented she would like to see that presentation before the council determines any criteria.She does not feel like she is in a position to know their needs as well as she should in order to appoint someone for that board. Vice Mayor Dietz commented they would be a lot more informed after receiving that information. City Attorney Joel Stern stated he can communicate that to Mr. Gregor. Mayor Insalaco closed the discussion with no further comments and called for a motion. Councilmember Barker asked if the direction to staff needs to be the city attorney communicating that information to the district manager and await his answer. Vice Mayor Dietz added and ask him to set up a presentation. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 8 OF 11 Councilmember Barker MOVED THAT THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION BE GIVEN TO STAFF REGARDING FILLING A VACANCY ON THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT:THAT STAFF CONTACT THE DISTRICT AND RELAY THE THOUGHTS THAT WE HAD TONIGHT, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEIR PRESENTATION BEFORE WE DESIGN ANY KIND OF CRITERIA, IN ORDER TO PUT A NEW MEMBER ON BOARD. Councilmember Evans SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. Vice Mayor Dietz called Councilmember Waldron back into the council chambers. SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES Vice Mayor Dietz MOVED THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:45 P.M. AND A WORK SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, RESPECTIVELY; AND THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:45 P.M. BE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. Councilmember Barker SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: Mr. Ray Blevins, 730 W. Southern, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding stormwater flooding problems in his area. Mr. Hoke Holyoak, 1268 S. Lawson, Apache Junction addressed the council to thank the city for its quick response during the REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 9 OF 11 flooding last week and suggested a solution to the flooding problem in his house. Councilmember Waldron directed public works to get together with Mr. Holyoak. Councilmember Barker directed staff to get with both gentlemen. Mayor Insalaco commented it is time he got some relief. ADJOURNMENT )Mayor Insalaco adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Consent Agenda Items are as follows: 1. Acceptance of Agenda. 2. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of September 4, 2012. ACCEPTED THIS 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2012, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2012. ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk '---'JOHN S. INSALACO Mayor CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 10 OF 11 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 18th day of September, 2012.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 20th day of September, 2012. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 PAGE 11 OF 11