HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-01 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 1, 2008
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on July 1, 2008, 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 7:15 p.m.
INVOCATION
Councilmember Wilson gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Barker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present:Mayor Insalaco
Vice Mayor Eck
Councilmember Barker
Councilmember Dietz
Councilmember Serdy
Councilmember Severs
Councilmember Wilson
Staff Present:City Manager George Hoffman
Assistant City Manager Bryant Powell
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
City Attorney Joel Stern
Public Safety Director Jerry Monahan
Library Director Pam Loui
Finance Director Donna Meinerts
Development Svcs. Director Brad Steinke
Others Present:None.
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JULY 1, 2008
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ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA
)Vice Mayor Eck MOVED THAT
THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED; AND
THAT THE RECEIPT OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE APACHE JUNCTION
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 BE
ACKNOWLEDGED; AND
THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS BY EARNHARDT PROPERTIES LIMITED TO HORNS 3400
L.L.C.; AND THAT AUTHORIZATION BE GIVEN TO THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE
AGREEMENT; AND
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-20, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA,
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENT TO: 1) PLAN, DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND
FINANCE A REGIONAL WIRELESS COOPERATIVE NETWORK; AND 2) PROVIDE
FOR RELATED TWO-WAY RADIO EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY
DISPATCH SERVICES, BE APPROVED; AND
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-21, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE
CITY TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE PINAL COUNTY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE, BE
APPROVED.
Councilmember Severs SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Presentation and discussion with attorney Dan Barr regarding
artists' rights and Option X.
Vice Mayor Eck commented he wants to do right by the artists in
the community.He has heard a lot about 1st Amendment rights
and the 9th Circuit Court.He is aware of the city policies.
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He asked if the city has broken any 1st Amendment rights or any
decisions by the 9th Circuit Court.
Mr. Dan Barr stated he has been involved with the city for
almost 3 years.From what he has seen, they have not.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if the city policies are perfectly legal.
Mr. Dan Barr stated there is nothing in the policies where
anyone is making any content decisions.They are treating the
sale of works of art the same way they treat the sale of
anything else in the community.It is a tax of general
applicability.According to the 3 or'4 United States Supreme
Court cases cited that is perfectly okay.They would get into
problems if they treated things differently, such as certain
pieces of art that convey serious messages or religious messages
are not going to be taxed but other pieces of art that they do
not determine to be so serious will be taxed.Once they do
something like that, they will have problems with the 1st
Amendment.
Councilmember Serdy asked if he had received the 15 questions
handed to him yesterday, not tonight.
Mr. Dan Barr stated he got an email yesterday but he has not had
time to read them.
Councilmember Serdy commented he had not read them.
Mr. Dan Barr stated he had not.
Councilmember Severs commented he is saying that if they have a
rule, ordinance or law that states everybody that sells anything
has to pay taxes or has to have a business license, it is fair
across the board.Once they start excepting something like in
Option X, it would be basically selective taxation which would
be illegal.
Mr. Dan Barr stated that obviously there are people who have
drawn up Option X who disagree.He will not tell them that if
they adopt Option X it will be held unconstitutional.It does
make a distinction between fine art and art creation, and it
does put that decision in the government's hands.That is
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something the courts have held to be problematical.There is no
way around that.He could not tell them if there would be a
high probability of it being found unconstitutional, but it does
put the power in the government's hands to make that
determination, which is what makes it problematical.
Vice Mayor Eck commented that for the record, he had stated
there were several towns or cities that have chosen Option X.
He believes it is only 7 out of the 80 -some cities and towns.
Mr. Dan Barr stated that is correct.He believes Tucson is one,
and so is Bisbee.
Vice Mayor Eck commented in comparison it is really only 6%.
Mr. Dan Barr commented as with all tax questions, it becomes a
matter of public policy.He will not tell them whether Option X
is a good idea or a bad idea.People make policy on what to tax
and what not to tax based on all sorts of policy considerations
that are not legal considerations.His only problem with Option
X is the government has the distinction of deciding what falls
into what.For example, if one buys a piece of Indian pottery,
he questioned whether it would be a piece of art or is it a dual
purpose because it has water and a flower in it, and would
therefore not be subject to taxation.
Councilmember Serdy commented many of the questions that the
artists wanted addressed refer to licensing.He asked if the
licensing has no matter in this, it is after the sale takes
place.
Mr. Dan Barr stated he would be glad to address these questions,
but he would like to look at them carefully instead of giving
off the cuff advice on them.It comes down to the general
principle of treating everyone the same.If so, they do not
have a 1st Amendment problem.If they make a content -based
decision on whether to tax someone or whether to license someone
or anything else, that runs into 1st Amendment problems.
Councilmember Severs commented the basic question is if they are
violating anybody's constitutional rights by doing things the
way that they do them today.
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Mr. Dan Barr stated from his understanding of talking with
people, seeing the ordinances and the letters they do not.
Mayor Insalaco closed the item with no further discussion and
called for a short break.
Mayor Insalaco reconvened the meeting.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC:
Mr. Todd Olear, 2898 S. Arizona, Apache Junction, addressed the
council regarding economic sustainability.
Ms. Christa Rizzi filled out a form and but had already left.
Mr. Steve Fuller, 29842 N. Little Leaf Drive, addressed the
council to introduce himself as a candidate for superior court
judge.
Mr. Ernest Imbeault, 2835 W. Cody, Apache Junction, addressed
the council regarding artists' rights.
Mr. Ted Mueller, 3700 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding the grant to study downtown
development and investment in the downtown area.
Ms. Tess Nesser, 1511 S. Cactus Road, Apache Junction, addressed
the council regarding the conduct of Mike Weller.
Mr. Emory Caudill, 39216 N. Kelley Circle, Queen Creek,
addressed the council regarding artists' rights.
Mr. Steve Flynn, 305 N. Acacia, Apache Junction, addressed the
council regarding alleged remarks by the vice mayor.
Mr. John Kantowski, 835 W. Windsong, addressed the council
regarding his initiative.
Mr. Glenn Walp, 4798 S. Las Mananitas Trail, Gold Canyon,
addressed the council regarding the Gwaltney tape and the ethics
of administration.
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JULY 1, 2008
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Ms. Rita Ulsheimer, 2293 W. Windsong, Apache Junction, addressed
the council regarding her carport outcome with the assistance of
Councilmember Severs and volunteers.
Mr. Nelson Kaesberg, 3700 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding defining leadership.
Mr. Bob Matsch, 1755 S. Sombrero, Apache Junction, addressed the
council regarding his volunteering at Rita Ulsheimer's house
last Saturday.
Mr. Mike Lewis, 4681 N. San Marcos Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding artists' rights.
Mrs. Shannon Flynn, 305 N. Acacia, Apache Junction, addressed
the council regarding remarks from the council in the paper and
the recall petitions.
Mr. Jim Stephens, 3700 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding the recall petitions.
Mrs. Kathleen Duffy, 768 S. Warner Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding alleged remarks made by the vice
mayor on June 7 after the meeting.
Mr. Charles Duffy, 768 S. Warner Drive, Apache Junction,
addressed the council regarding the professionalism of Animal
Control Officer Laura Voelk and alleged remarks made by Mike
Weller after the June 7 meeting.
Ms. Glenda Serdy addressed the council regarding staff action.
Councilmember Dietz commented on sustainability in that the city
complex is the first LEED certified municipal building in
Arizona and shortly the multi-gen will be following.They
passed an ordinance that all future municipal buildings and
remodels will be built green.The city is taking the right step
and is trying to be a good example for developers.
Councilmember Barker commented there have been a lot of
accusations tonight about the police department.She had a
conversation with the new chief wherein he stated he is taking
the issues seriously in animal control and is seriously going
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about affecting change and trying to get forward motion in that
specific area.He is asking the staff to come up with best
practices for that department.She feels the new chief has
jumped in and started from the get go.She thanked everyone who
came up to speak; it is a democracy and they have a right to
speak.She wondered if the name calling from the council or the
speakers is not a bad idea.She congratulated them on
completing the recall petitions, a piece of the democratic
process.However, she was surprised at the venues being used to
gather these signatures because at least one member of the self-
proclaimed Team stated they do not shop in the community as the
sales tax is too high.The very buildings being used to collect
some of those signatures were buildings built with a portion of
the sales tax dollars.The people who do shop in this town are
the ones who built those areas for them to do this.It is a
good thing.She wondered if they were informed that it is
public record that some of the members of the Team, what they
have named themselves according to Mr. Stephens, she wondered if
the patrons of the library and multi-gen center were told that
some members of that Team in public meetings and in print in the
Tribune have said that public money should not go to health and
human services; it should not help those less fortunate than we,
and that the library and the multi-gen are not a good place to
put public money.She asked if they told these people that that
facility might not even be there.They can always change their
minds; she realized that might have been said in the heat of the
moment last year.She commented they are asking the council for
courtesy and respect; she has heard it at least 5 times from
different people tonight.Yet, people have come up here and
called councilmembers names, they have threatened, harassed them
and bullied them.This is not common courtesy.What they have
to say is important and she wants to hear what they have to say.
She asked that they just say it.Not all of them are doing it,
it is just a couple, but it is very disturbing.She stated
someone pointed out that all of the councilmembers were looking
down all the time.They have people who come up to Call to the
Public that will not look at the council at all.Their eyes are
fixed in a certain area.They do not give the council any eye
contact.It goes both ways.We all need to be courteous and
respectful.She thanked them all for coming up there.
Councilmember Wilson commented that concerning Rita Ulsheimer's
carport, the councilmembers have to watch out for the number of
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them that are at any location at any given time.It limits the
number that they could have there, if everyone could have
attended.He was involved because he believes in neighbors
helping neighbors.He was grateful to be part of it.There
were a lot of people there working on their Saturday to
alleviate the problem with the city code.
Councilmember Serdy commented he was not on the council when the
downtown agreement failed, but he thinks the reason it failed is
that it was going to use eminent domain to take the personal
property of Los Vaqueros, the hardware store and that whole
strip.He does not think anyone would have voted for that; he
is very much for personal property rights.He asked if that was
the best Mr. Flynn could come up with.As always, they give a
long interview and then shrink it down into one thing.He
definitely loves the city.The reason why it appears his group
hates the city is that he has never heard anything positive,
only negative.He has not heard even one idea on developing
anything.Mr. Flynn states that the people up here do not
listen, that they are just going through the motions.Mr. Dietz
was very sick; he got sick when his wife got sick.He was still
working from his hospital bed.He wanted all of his documents
every week so that he could keep up with it.A lot of people
would have just quit.He has things that he is strong with,
such as the green issues.He is very effective.He has heard
Mr. Eck be accused of being drunk up here when he is medicated.
He cannot drink.He is too sick to drink.He is in constant
pain from fibromyalgia; a lot of people would not go through
that, they would just stay home.The mayor puts in countless
hours; he believes he only has the best interest of the city at
heart.Mrs. Barker agonizes over decisions; she does not just
flippantly vote.A lot of times she is torn right up until the
last second and she votes with her heart.The council has been
criticized for not responding for 3 months while they have
withstood the 3 minute barrages against them.He could go on
forever.As he said earlier, he does not hear anything positive
from them.He asked what their idea is.He asked if it is
tyranny.It sounds more like bullying in that if they do not do
what they want, they will crush the council.That is what they
are doing.He asked if that is tyranny or bullying.The
council is trying to listen to everyone and do something
positive.He himself is not strong on every issue.He is a
business owner and he has tried to develop our part of the
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center of the city.They cannot develop the part that the city
does not own.It is owned by an LLC; there is not one person to
talk to.He wants to do the city's part to get it ready for
when something does happen there, so that it can be an art
center.He'is also working on the eastern entrance to the city.
You cannot tell where Apache Junction starts.There are 400,000
people a year visiting the Renaissance Festival and almost none
of them come here.He is working on that.He does not blow his
own horn on that; they are things he works on behind the scenes
while he runs his business, which is very time-consuming.He is
also working on acquiring Prospector Park and the rodeo grounds.
Everyone assumes we own it but the Bureau of Land Management
owns it.The city cannot do anything with it until we own it.
He is working on that along with Mayor Insalaco and Mr. Wilson.
The reasons that they stated the council was not listening were
obviously about their not rehiring Mr. Walp.He was not
terminated.His contract was not renewed.He may have been the
right man at the right time when he was hired and he did some
good things, but the department was becoming dysfunctional.We
were about to have a mass exodus of officers.Talk to the
officers, not just to him.He personally would like to see
homegrown officers.He does not want to see officers shipped in
from out of town.He thinks the homegrown officer is less
likely to resort to violence to solve a problem because they
care.They are here every day.They live here and their kids
go to school here.In the least, Mr. Walp's handling of
personnel was not that good.Even his own captains left.We
cannot go into everything that is discussed in executive
session, even though they try to pull it out of them for some
reason, but there are many, many reasons George made the
decision on.He thinks all of them did not respond for so long
because they do not want to muddy the city.They hoped that
they would not bring it to this, but now that they have the
signatures, they will have an election and they will see what
the true majority thinks.If they win they will have their
crack at it.If not, he hopes they will abide by it and we do
not have to go through this again and again and take the abuse.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they had a young man viciously murdered
in our community on June 20.His name was Randall Clayton
Mercier.He was born in 1990 and was only 17 years old.The
Independent did an article today, the Tribune will be doing an
article and the AJ News will be doing a follow up article.
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Basically, his 19 -year -old brother had to bury him today, and he
had to put up with his parents living out of state.He needs
financial help.There is an account open at Washington Mutual,
account number 4941464028.It is under the name of Randall
Clayton Mercier and they could use the community's help.It is
a sad situation.As far as tonight's speakers, he will admit he
lost his cool, and if he owes Shannon an apology, he apologized.
However, he did not call her the word her husband said he called
her.Ms. Duffy had commented that he attacked Mrs. Flynn.
Actually, he walked out the side door and he was on the phone
with his son.She hollered at him from 50' away.He had to
hang up his call in order to speak with Mrs. Flynn.It was
after 5 times that she told him he voted wrong and her husband,
in the other ear, told him he broke the 9th Circuit Court and
also said something about his being for gun control.He has not
said anything up until that point, and maybe that is why he lost
it.He should have said something earlier.Mr. Mueller
commented about the city not backing up the downtown agreement
earlier.The city would not back it up because there was no
real agreement.The only agreement would have been their tax
dollars defending that development.If that development failed,
they wanted city money to back it.That is why nothing ever
happened there.They did not even want to create and support
their own businesses.It is a land baron that is downtown, not
a developer.Mr. Kaesberg talked about cronyism, favoritism and
dysfunction; he also mentioned getting rid of Chief Walp.Jim
Stephens then talked about his comments in the paper.Vice
Mayor Eck commented he stated in the paper that he was employed
with this city when he said you either vote one way or else we
are going to recall you.Ironically, five of them are getting
recalled.And they all live at 3700 S. Ironwood.He can tell
they are all together in a group.They have not spoken one
positive word, as Mr. Serdy said.There has not been one
positive word from the recall group, it has all been negative
and there has never been one real idea.Christa Rizzi is the
only one that has come up with ideas.Bob Matsch stated it is
important for the community to work together and have neighbors
helping neighbors, and that it is good the two councilmembers
did it.He agreed, but he twice had a licensed welder from the
city lined up to do Rita's job.He also had heavy equipment.
Mr. Severs was called out.He did not get a call this time.He
is glad it is done for her.He knows it was a problem, but when
he does not know about it, he cannot help.Mr. Severs and, no
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offense, Mr. Wilson, were the ones that took care of Mrs.
Flynn's code violation and they are not the ones getting
recalled, so he does think the code violation had something to
do with it.It is pretty obvious.Addressing Mr. Walp, he
stated that especially after the Buracker report, former
employees of the police department have said they were not happy
with their outcome, either being released or finally resigning,
and one year to 2 years later an article would come out on these
employees.They would like to be left alone so that they can
get on with their lives.He agrees with that.He understands
what they mean by that as they are no longer employees and they
should no longer be a target.He told the Tribune, simply, that
he thought that it is ironic that they are still discussing this
tape.He did not say anything about people following Mr. Walp
or anything negative about him.
Mayor Insalaco commented it appears that some people think that
he was using the hospital when he was running for election last
year.Mr. Kantowski only has to check with the building
department and he would have found out that the plans are there.
The sewer is being dug right now.The hospital is being built.
There was a disruption with loud comments coming from the
audience.Councilmember Dietz called for a point of order.
City Attorney Joel Stern commented they need to have it so that
no one is communicating from the audience.The audience should
not fight back. They have had their chance and it is now the
mayor's turn.
Mayor Insalaco commented Mr. Stephens and Mr. Walp are saying
that he has made jokes and slanderous remarks about Hispanics.
When Habitat for Humanity came about, they started with a
builders' blitz.Councilmember Severs, himself, and all the
other councilmembers were there at the start.Since the
beginning, he has been to every groundbreaking and every home
dedication.He has spent 9 of his Saturdays helping these
people build their homes; the Jose Cobain, Chicara and the Black
families.When people think that he just sits up here 4 nights
of the month, it is not all he does.He was nominated to be on
the League of Cities Executive Committee by his peers, the other
mayors.He is also vice chair of Central Arizona Association of
Governments.The public does not know what this position means.
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It is not just 4 nights a week that they are here.Also, he
asked Mrs. Flynn how she dares to go around to restaurants
asking if he causes trouble there.He has witnesses, the
waitresses, saying she was asking if he was causing any trouble
in these restaurants.At least he does his business in this
city.He eats in these restaurants.He has been told by these
waitresses that she had gone there to check on him to find out
what he does when he goes in there and where he sits.He does
not care what she has on tape.If there is any more of this
harassment, he will file charges.He then called for a break.
Mayor Insalaco reconvened the meeting.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager George Hoffman commented about a local television
station requesting an on air interview to discuss personnel
issues within the police department, the upcoming police
department audit, and encouraged the council to work on their
core goals during the recall process.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS
Councilmember Serdy commented he attended the art show put on by
a business on Delaware, how good it would be to have it behind
the focal point once a month, and encouraged everyone to go down
there next time to see what the city could look like.
Mayor Insalaco commented he attended a Wounded Warriors of
America Association event last Saturday put on by the Legion
Riders of Apache Junction, Tempe and Queen Creek, spoke of Chris
Erickson, a nephew of Matt McNulty, who was wounded in
Afghanistan, and of the problems veterans have finding
employment.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
RESOLUTION NO. 08-15, DECLARING AS
A PUBLIC RECORD SECTION 6-1-6(D)
UNDERGROUNDING OF OVERHEAD LINES
AND EQUIPMENT/ADOPTION BY REFERENCE
OF ORDINANCE NO. 1318, ADDING
REQUIREMENTS THAT OVERHEAD WIRES BE
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PLACED UNDERGROUND WHERE IT WILL
MAKE THE MOST VISIBLE IMPACT/
ORDINANCE NO. 1323, ADDING NEW
SUBSECTION "M" ALLOWING BOARD OF
ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS TO HEAR
APPEALS OF UNDERGROUNDING UTILITY
REQUIREMENTS
)Development Services
Director Brad Steinke briefed the council on the items.
Councilmember Severs
commented he does not remember ever directing staff to implement
this on all major arterial streets.They were trying to get rid
of some of this that was a problem.He thought they were going
to look at certain, specific areas such as the "y" and the land
to the south of the freeway.He missed the last work session on
this and when he read that all major arterials would be on this,
the first one that came to mind was Broadway.Twice now the
issue has come up on Broadway and they have decided both times
that it does not work.He watched the meeting the other day and
his exact words on this were to please simplify.He does not
see any simplification at all.This calls for all major
arterials but it does not work on Broadway.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated back in March there was a copy of the
ordinance and it included the major arterials but excluded the
redevelopment areas, Old West Highway and Apache Trail.Those
are not all major arterials.They are taking their lead from
the council and at the time the consensus was that this is a
refined area that is not as large or expansive than the current
ordinance is; it goes down to those very visible corridors.The
city manager had challenged them to find the areas where it
truly geographically would have a great impact.Defining over
30 square mile was more difficult than to include exemptions
that would allow those areas that do not qualify to be exempt.
It is their ordinance.They can keep the existing one, get rid
of the ordinance altogether, or do something in between.He
will take his lead from them.If they do not want the major
arterials in there, it can easily be deleted.However, there
are some areas on the north side of the city and outside the "y"
that are vacant and could be developed in the future that have
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overhead wires that we probably would want to have down as part
of the development.
Councilmember Severs
commented the question is at what cost.He heard the "y" and
that is the area he thought they were going to be concentrating
on; the "y" and south of the freeway.South of the freeway does
not need to be discussed as it is all undeveloped.Any new
power lines must be underground.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated that is correct.
Councilmember Severs
commented to him that is simple.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated he takes his lead from them.If they do not
want major arterials, they can take them out.But, there are
parts of the city that would not be affected.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if most
of the north side is low density.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated he is talking about the undeveloped area to
the north.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if most
of that is 1.25 acre low density lots.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated whatever it is, it is vacant.If it were to
be developed someday, he asked if they would want the developer
to take those lines along Lost Dutchman down.
Councilmember Severs
commented if they are going to be 1.25 acre lots with homes,
they could probably not afford to take down a power line to
build a home.
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Vice Mayor Eck agreed.They
would only be building a lot at a time.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke urged them to be careful.He suspects there may be
1.25 acre lots south of US 60 and they do expect they will never
be able to put those lines up.
Councilmember Severs
commented there is a huge difference between never putting them
up and taking them down.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated if that huge difference is disproportionate
to the public benefit, then the exemption would apply.
Assistant City Manager Bryant
Powell asked him to explain the exemptions a little bit more.
He believes that is where the confusion is regarding the area he
is referring to as San Marcos and Broadway.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke showed the exemptions on the screen.It has to do
with the character of the neighborhood, the character of
adjacent properties, if there is a dominant pattern of wires in
the neighborhood, or if adjacent properties have wires, they
qualify for an exemption.A minor subdivision would qualify for
an exemption if the developer can demonstrate a disproportionate
economic hardship.He believes that gets to the core of the
problem Councilmember Severs was always talking about.If the
cost to the developer to bury the wires is disproportionate to
the benefit, they get the exemption.That is the safety net for
those issues.However, if that does not convince him there is
enough of a safety net, than he can take any part of the
criteria off.
Councilmember Severs
commented the exemptions listed probably exempt 90% of the city.
All of Broadway and Southern are exempt.He asked why they even
have them there.Instead of making the exceptions to make it
more complicated and ruling by exemption, he would like to see
it simplified and say all new construction and new power lines
must be underground.
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Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated this does that.They are talking more about
existing wires.He asked if the council wants a regulation that
requires, under certain conditions, that overhead wires be
buried as a condition of development.If they do, that is what
they are trying to do here.If they do not, they can remove the
ordinance altogether and have no regulation.
Mayor Insalaco commented he
does not like removing it altogether.
Councilmember Severs
commented their major concern months ago was new downtown
development in the "y" area.They wanted to build a big,
beautiful, new live/work/play 21st century downtown.They do
not want to have power lines in the middle of that, and that
makes sense.He thought that was when they directed staff to
look at certain areas, specifically the "y".He would have no
problem with saying that if someone wants to develop in the "y"
in this new downtown they are talking about, that the power
lines be undergrounded.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he thought they had discussed Apache Trail also.There are some
areas there.
Councilmember Severs
commented they have not had much luck with that.
Councilmember Dietz commented
they have had one assign funds to underground some time ago.
Vice Mayor Eck commented the
arterial streets concern him.He asked when somebody does have
to pay for undergrounding the wires, where are we in development
fees and how much money do we feel we need for the impact on the
community.He asked if the electric coming in would make it
that much more.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated that is hard to say.QuikTrip, for example,
the cost to bury the wires was roughly $120,000.He asked if
that would be a problem to a corporation like QuikTrip.To a
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 16 OF 40
mom and pop business, maybe, the Quiktrip, maybe not, but are
they not glad that they buried them at that corner.
Vice Mayor Eck and
Councilmember Severs agreed.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated he will take direction from them if they
want to fine tune the area specifically geographically.If they
say the "y", he needs direction as to where that is.Is it both
sides or just .one side or the other because the power lines are
on the south side.
Councilmember Severs
commented every contractor he knows is out of work, every
plumber, every electrician, every flooring guy, everybody out of
work.People are not building bars, restaurants, or apartment
complexes; they are not building.He believes if they throw in
any additional fee right now, they will lose businesses.They
will lose tax dollars.He does not see the benefit.He does
not see where it is worth it to the city to lose another
business over a power line that has been here for years.
Chances are the "y" will get torn up anyway when they go to
develop it.Power lines will get torn up because roads will get
moved.Sidewalks will get moved.Chances are they will all go
away in that particular area.Anybody that is going to build on
any of our arterial streets, even if it is Apache Trail, will
not be tearing up the power lines.It will be a huge burden for
them.And every day that burden will get higher.What cost
them $125,000 this time, because Salt River Project paid for
half of it, was $250,000 to QuikTrip, and that was over a year
ago.He doubts they could afford to do that today.We would
probably lose their business.They do not know how long before
it gets worse or better.They are not saying please come and
build in Apache Junction if they are putting another burden on
the developers.It worries him.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he still sees the need in certain areas where they want to keep
that view of the mountains in the downtown area and down
Broadway and other areas.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 17 OF 40
Councilmember Barker
commented it appears that most of the areas that are buildable
or will be remodeled have overhead power lines on both sides of
them so they will not be impacted.It seems to her they have
that on most of the major arterials.She sees Mr. Severs'
point, but she would like to see something that forces new
development in wide open areas to not even start with overhead
wires; they should begin with underground.She asked how this
could be worded to do that.
Councilmember Severs
commented it would be with all new construction.
Councilmember Barker stated
that will not do it because the new construction could be on a
lot that has a house.
Councilmember Severs repeated
that all new power lines must be underground.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated the only place in all the city ordinances
that we speak about power lines for new development is in this
landscaping section.It is not in the engineering guidelines,
only here.This ordinance is basically like the last in that we
say any new extensions to new development has to go underground.
He thinks they are covered there.They should not have to worry
about that.The council always has a tool in their hip pocket
for.most major developments.Most major developments require
either a rezoning or a planned amendment.They always have the
opportunity to use the planned development amendment to require
something above and beyond that is not covered in the code.
They intend for all the state land just approved of to have no
overhead wires.It is easy enough to do.But he believes they
need something in this section of the code which speaks of this
specific matter.Right now Apache Trail is virtuously wireless.
There are a few spots that have wires but they are developed and
are not likely to be redeveloped.He believes they are safe on
Apache Trail.State Route 88, as it goes northeast and Old West
Highway as it goes southeast, have a lot of wires along them on
vacant land.It has the potential to develop in the future.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 18 OF 40
Councilmember Dietz stated
there is a portion of State Route 88,n South Idaho, that is
down.He believes it is down to about Broadway.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated most of Idaho is wireless.
Councilmember Severs
commented he keeps going back to what Sandie Smith says that if
they rule by exception, there is something wrong with your
rules.If they have to keep writing them so that everyone gets
an exception, then they should just take it out and implement it
where it needs to be implemented, which is all the new
development to the south.All new power lines must be
undergrounded.With a development agreement, and the planned
development they will be doing for the downtown redevelopment,
they will go underground.Someone will come in and build 5-
story buildings or multi -use buildings, and streets and
sidewalks may not even go where they are at.If they get a
whole new downtown, they will all go away.
Councilmember Dietz commented
they may; they do not know.
Councilmember Severs stated
they will with the planned development, if they choose to push
that far and hopefully not lose the business.
Councilmember Dietz asked him
if he wanted to delete the whole ordinance completely.
Councilmember Severs stated
he would like it to be all new power lines must be underground.
That leaves the door open to encourage more people to come here.
They are talking about a $250,000 expense.They take down one
pole, it is $250,000.He asked where there is a business that
can do that.
Councilmember Dietz commented
it was a total of 5 poles with QuikTrip for $250,000.
Vice Mayor Eck commented it
was $120,000.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 19 OF 40
Councilmember Severs asked
how much it was for the one on Broadway.He added it was
$150,000.
Councilmember Dietz commented
they had to relocate four poles on both sides.He still thinks
they should cover the downtown area.They have already started
that and he would like to keep that enforced.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if he
meant the "y".
Councilmember Dietz stated
that is correct and on Phelps, continuing it all the way up.
They have already done it on Idaho.
Vice Mayor Eck commented that
the city did it on Phelps.
Councilmember Dietz stated
the point is that it is done.They want to continue to have it
done in this area.He wants to make sure that area of the
downtown is done.
Mayor Insalaco commented he
believes the problem that Councilmember Severs is talking about
is the subdivision on Broadway next to San Marcos.There was
one pole in the middle of the property.They wanted him to go
underground and then go back up again.That is basically what
they do not want to do.It shows in the other slide that that
would be okay.He agrees that something should be in there at
their discretion.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
need to do it now.
Mayor Insalaco stated it is
there.If someone wants to come in and put in a large
development along Old West Highway, they will have to take the
power lines down.Most of the arterial streets are filled up
anyway; Broadway is mostly, the Trail and Superstition.
Whatever goes on between Gold and the other, they will not be
taking those poles down because they are right there anyway.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 20 OF 40
Councilmember Severs stated
those are his thoughts exactly.They should not rule by
exception.They should fix the rules so they work.This has
already been proven that it does not work.
Mayor Insalaco stated he
still thinks they need something.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he is trying to come up with a solution.
Councilmember Severs stated
it would be a planned development.They are there for that
reason.
Councilmember Barker asked
which parts of the major arterial roads would he want to see
taken out of there.
Councilmember Severs stated
he would like to see all of them taken out.
Councilmember Dietz commented
Mr. Severs just wants it all gone.
Councilmember Severs stated
just the part that really has a possibility of hurting the city.
Anything that is going to come in that will be extravagant or a
major project will probably have a planned development agreement
or a development agreement.They can ask for it to happen in
those agreements.
Councilmember Barker asked
what would happen if there is no planned development.
Councilmember Severs asked
what happens if they cannot afford it and they push for it and
we lose them.Or if they come before the council and the
council has to give them another exception.
Councilmember Barker stated
he has to look at exceptions like the ones he has listed.In
reality, it appears that what is here is pretty much what he
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 21 OF 40
wanted.It does have the exceptions for the very things he was
saying they would have to come in and ask for.They are written
down.She asked if he did not want any exceptions.
Councilmember Severs stated
that was not what he was saying.If there are exceptions for
those people, then why are they even putting it in here.He
would like to just get rid of it.If everyone who has to
qualify for an exception gets an exception, or the other people
who do not qualify for the exception come before the council to
get an exception, then they should just get rid of it.
Councilmember Dietz commented
they would be in areas where we wanted that to take place.
Councilmember Severs stated
they could do those through a planned development or development
agreement.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
are not all going to be planned developments.They are talking
about the appeals going to the board of adjustment so the
council would not even see it in a planned development.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated the original ordinance they saw in March had
appeals going to a hearing officer.If they did not like the
hearing officer's opinion, it would go to the board of
adjustment.They got rid of the hearing officer, so the appeals
go to the board of adjustment.The issue was raised at the last
meeting.That is still up in the air and they can talk about it
and debate the question.
Vice Mayor Eck commented
Councilmember Severs is saying they can do a planned development
and take care of it under the planned development, but we are
changing that part of the planned development and council will
no longer be discussing that part of the planned development.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated if there is a property that asks for a
planned development, it has to be approved by the council.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 22 OF 40
Planned developments oftentimes have conditions of approval on
which the council must pass judgment.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated it is correct that the planned development can include
the undergrounding.
Vice Mayor Eck commented he
was saying that at the work session but he was getting the
impression that the council would not be seeing them anymore,
even on planned developments.He thought it would be
politically correct to go with board of adjustment.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he is talking about the appeal process.
Vice Mayor Eck stated that is
correct.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated that in the past 11 years he has seen the city council go
through 5 or 6 of these.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
have not had this for 11 years.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated they have not, but the council would be the ones that say
yes, and that is the current law.The change would be to go to
the board of adjustment.In the past 11 years the council has
decided the issue, and it has been very political and difficult
for most of the council.If they do not want to change it, they
can retain control.It was a suggestion, and he recommends that
it go to the board of adjustment as it takes the political
activity out of it.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke commented that if there were a situation where the
Downtown LLC comes in and wants to have a planned development
zoning, they actually may not need one.
Councilmember Dietz commented
that is because everything is zoned properly.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 23 OF 40
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated chances are they may still ask for one.If
the planned development comes to the council and the applicant
is asking for planned development approval and one of the
conditions is they want the council to exempt them from the
overheads, he still thinks they can get that.He believes it
can still end up as part of the discussion with the planned
development.He does not think the process takes that away from
them.It is still fair game as part of that discussion.But
not every property may need a planned development.Most seem to
seek it because they are looking for other things in addition.
City Manager George Hoffman
commented that exceptions, as proposed here, can be granted by
staff.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated that is correct.
Councilmember Dietz commented
that is what Councilmember Severs wants.
Councilmember Serdy asked how
it worked that Salt River Project threw in some money at the
QuikTrip, and how often it happens.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
give the city money annually.
Councilmember Barker
commented that is part of an annual payment that the city gets
from Salt River Project.We put it in a fund that is set aside
for use for things like that.We had enough at that point to
use it for QuikTrip.
Assistant City Manager Bryant
Powell stated it is called the Salt River Project Mitigation
Fund.It depends on the development.They actually capitalize
it on their books.We never see it.The amount varies, some
years it is $100,000, some $300,000.In this case, they
reimbursed us.City Engineer Giao Pham and Development Services
Director Brad Steinke assisted him on this as there are certain
requirements.If they go back to that fund, they need to
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 24 OF 40
understand what they can and cannot do.As he understands it,
Salt River Project may not have been able to do it for a
commercial development.They would prefer to do Phelps Drive
and the downtown mitigation.They have done the school district
ones.They did it for this one.It was half of it; they worked
with the city on it.
Councilmember Severs
commented it would not be happening again.
Vice Mayor Eck commented it
was hard for him to talk to the Salt River Project
representative about the original underground ordinance; he got
laughed at.They thought it superceded what we need to do.
They did not think it was that big of an issue.So they had to
have people come in front of them and waive the ordinance.
Citizens were thinking the council is just giving away things.
He thinks that if this is done that much earlier in this process
by staff, then do it there.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he thinks it is the answer.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
will get the undergrounding where they want it.
Councilmember Barker asked
him to clarify what he just said.
Vice Mayor Eck commented he
is happy with the ordinance.Originally the part about the
major arterial streets really bothered him, but it is a pretty
soft ordinance.
Councilmember Dietz commented
what is nice about it is that staff can give the exceptions.It
is not going to hang up a developer or cost them any more funds
or another month to get to the council by the time it goes
through a work session.If they fall within those exceptions,
staff does it and it is done.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 25 OF 40
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated if they do not like it, he suspects that
they will be back again here some day.
Councilmember Severs
commented the ones that do not automatically qualify for the
exemptions will be coming before the council again, or they are
passed off to the board of adjustment and here we are making an
exception again.
Vice Mayor Eck commented that
is what Councilmember Severs wants.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he wants the ordinance completely gone.
Councilmember Severs stated
he does not want everybody that has a problem with this have to
come before somebody to get an exception.
Vice Mayor Eck commented
there are only going before staff on a permit.
Councilmember Severs
commented that if that does not work, such as their property
being 140' wide, now they have to apply.Hopefully it comes to
the council so that we can see the effect this is having.That
person would have to come before them to ask for an exception.
They would have to give that person an exception because they
cannot afford it or for some other reason, just like they have
done for almost every other one in the past.
Vice Mayor Eck commented this
should eliminate a lot of these.
Councilmember Severs
commented he would like to get rid of all of it.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if he
was saying they should not underground wires anywhere in the
city.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 26 OF 40
Councilmember Dietz commented
he likes what development services has done on this; they have
done a good job.It gets the undergrounding where they want it.
Councilmember Wilson
commented this would not add to the developer's costs.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated he would expect that when they first stop in
to see them, they would go over all the criteria required for
plan review and development.That would be one of the number
one things on the list as it is near and dear to the
development. They want to know up front what their costs are so
they would want to have that settled right away.
There was general discussion
on the item numbers.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated number 10 is the technical requirement to
allow the council to bypass the publication costs.Number 11 is
the ordinance they just talked about.Number 12 is the change
to the zoning code that allows it to go to the board of
adjustment.
Councilmember Severs
commented he does not remember them saying they wanted it to go
to the board of adjustment.He thought that it was staying with
the council.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke commented he said that he wanted it to go to the
hearing officer.They have dumped that now and injected board
of adjustment in its place.It is a policy matter.It can go
to someone else.
Mayor Insalaco opened the
public hearing on the items.
Mr. Wayne Standage, 1920 E.
20th Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council.He
commented he liked what had been done by the development
services director.The main arterial roads are all designated
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 27 OF 40
commercial and it would be nice having the lines underground at
that point.He commented the developers are waiting for the
next boom, the costs associated with undergrounding, and trying
to keep the vistas.
Mayor Insalaco closed the
public hearing with no one else wishing to speak.He reopened
the items for council discussion.
Councilmember Severs asked
why the power lines were not undergrounded in front of city
hall.The city spent millions on this project and yet did not
do it because it could not afford to.Now we will tell
businesses that they have to do it.
Vice Mayor Eck commented they
have an exception here.
Assistant City Manager Bryant
Powell stated they are 69KV lines.
Councilmember Severs
commented not all of them are.They are discouraging businesses
and they need to start putting out the welcome mat and inviting
businesses, doing anything we can to get them here.We are
being accused in the paper every week of not caring about
growth, improvement, and progress.That we have no vision.We
do care, but it does not look like it when they tell people they
will have to spend $100,000 extra to underground power lines
that have been there for 18 years because we want a better view
of the mountain.It is not inviting.The growth of the city
will be hurting with this ordinance, just like we have seen many
times in the past when they have had to give exceptions.They
are not fixing the ordinance; they are making it a little bit
better and hopefully they can get something out of it.
Councilmember Dietz stated
they are making it quite a bit better.
Mayor Insalaco stated he
thinks it is a lot better.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 28 OF 40
Councilmember Severs
commented when this comes back to us again because people are
standing in front of us looking for an exception, he will be the
first one to say he told them they should have fixed it.
Councilmember Dietz commented
he would do that anyway.
Vice Mayor Eck commented he
shares some of Councilmember Severs' concerns, but he thinks if
they keep talking about how bad our business community is, then
we are trying to label ourselves as a bad business community.
He does not think that is healthy.
Mayor Insalaco commented no
one is building anything anywhere.
Vice Mayor Eck asked if they
wanted anything of any quality.He thinks they do.He stated
if Councilmember Severs would read through this, he would see
that it covers the areas appropriately.He did not think it did
at the work session.
Mayor Insalaco closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Councilmember Severs asked if
it is still going to the council or is it going to the board of
adjustment.
Councilmember Dietz commented
that is two items later.He then MOVED THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-
15, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, DECLARING AS A PUBLIC RECORD THAT
CERTAIN DOCUMENT FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK ENTITLED "AMENDMENT
TO THE APACHE JUNCTION CITY CODE,VOLUME II LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE,CHAPTER 6 LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS,ARTICLE
6-1, SECTION 6-1-6(D)UNDERGROUNDING OF OVERHEAD LINES AND
EQUIPMENT,BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Barker SECONDED
THE MOTION.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 29 OF 40
VOTE:5-2 (Councilmembers Serdy and Severs voted in
opposition.)
The motion carried.
Mayor Insalaco called for a
motion on item number 11.
Councilmember Dietz MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1318 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF
THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Vice Mayor Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
read the ordinance by title only.
Councilmember Dietz MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1318, AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK, BE APPROVED
AND ADOPTED.
Vice Mayor Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-2 (Councilmembers Serdy and Severs voted in
opposition.)
(Councilmember Serdy explained he is voting no because they are
competing for business and this may stop some growth.)
The motion carried.
motion on item number 12.
requested more discussion.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 30 OF 40
Mayor Insalaco called for a
Councilmember Severs
The, consensus of the council
was they needed more discussion on this item.
Councilmember Severs asked
why these are going to the board of adjustment instead of the
council.
Councilmember Barker stated
the reason behind it was politics.To have the council making
these kinds of decisions opened them to the possibility of being
politicked to death, rather than having a legal body who follows
legal laws do it without emotion.
Councilmember Dietz commented
when this was originally brought up, it was to go to the hearing
officer which was nixed.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated the original one had it going to the hearing
officer, and if they were not satisfied with the hearing
officer's opinion, it would then go to the board of adjustment.
The hearing officer is gone now so they just put in that it goes
to the board of adjustment.
Councilmember Severs asked if
the city attorney had in front of him the rules and regulations
the board of adjustment follows in making an exception.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he did not have those with him but he could go get them
if he would like.
Councilmember Severs
commented he wondered how many of those that had come to them in
the past would have been denied if they had gone to the board of
adjustment.Their rules and regulations are very strict, very
black and white.He feels most of those cases would have been
denied if they had gone to the board of adjustment.Or it would
have taken 2 to 3 months to get on the board of adjustment
agenda plus have to pay additional fees.It would have delayed
the projects even longer.Coming before the council would not
delay them as long or cost them more funds.The council makes
the decisions about the growth of the community.He would like
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 31 OF 40
to be able to continue making those decisions and not pass them
off to someone else.
Councilmember Barker stated
she sees his point.Her question is they have passed the other
ordinance and it contains those exceptions.It seems to her
that those would dwindle the number of cases going before the
board of adjustment by a large number.If they do not meet any
of those criteria, they should probably be undergrounded.
Councilmember Severs stated
they cannot say that because they do not know every single case
that could come up.If it is one person that we lose because of
this, it is one too many.He would like for the council to make
the decision.There is nothing political about it.It is about
the council doing what is best for this community.Right now,
tax dollars and businesses are what are best for this community.
It is not about whether a power line is visible or not.You can
go to every city in the country and you will see power lines.
It is not a major catastrophe.Losing business now is.
Mayor Insalaco asked the city
attorney if he would call this political.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated for his almost eleven years here, every situation has
been very political.Councilmembers have been called
beforehand, especially those that have been here a long time.
Vice Mayor Eck commented he
has never been called.
Councilmember Severs stated
he has never been called on a power line.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he recalled where some councilmembers were called before
the meeting and there was some lobbying.
Councilmember Barker
commented she sees Councilmember Severs' point and agreed with
him.These decisions do rest on their shoulders and she agrees
with that.Her problem with it is before she came on the
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 32 OF 40
council, when she was watching the meetings, she saw some
developers do some heavy duty lobbying.She saw some people on
the council get to the point where enough was enough and they
went with the developers.That is the kind of thing she is
talking about.He may be a stronger person, but she is
concerned that the next council people up here may not be that
strong and may need this.She is looking for some answers and
to the future, rather than right now.Next year at this time
there may be none of them up here.She wondered if they would
be giving them a break or would they be pushing them right back
into it.
Councilmember Severs asked if
they were giving them the control to make the decisions on the
finances of the city.
Councilmember Barker asked
him if this was control.
Councilmember Severs
commented the council needs to be able to make those decisions.
They are very important.
Vice Mayor Eck commented it
is part of the planned development process now so that is why he
agrees.He questioned why they would be sending it to the board
of adjustment if they are going to be seeing it anyway.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated they may not be seeing every one.He did
not believe QuikTrip was a planned development.
Mayor Insalaco closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1312 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF
THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Vice Mayor Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 33 OF 40
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
read the ordinance by title only.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1323, AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK, BE DENIED.
Councilmember Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
There was general discussion
on how to vote.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated if that is the motion, then the other ordinance just
voted on has to be changed.
Councilmember Barker stated
because it has the board of adjustment in it.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated that is correct.It would have to be either a motion for
reconsideration or a new motion to change it.That would be in
effect saying no to this ordinance.
Councilmember Barker
apologized but stated she would still like to get rid of the
board of adjustment on this particular item.
There was general discussion
on what needed to be done to get the council to hear these
decisions.It was determined they would have to complete this
motion and then the councilmembers who made the motion and
second on the previous one can opt to withdraw them and they can
then revisit the item tonight.
There was general discussion
on what would have to be taken out in Ordinance No. 1318.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 34 OF 40
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
stated now they can go back to Ordinance No. 1318.If she
understood the city attorney correctly, they would be removing
the words "Board of Adjustment and Appeals" from that section.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated the last sentence from that section would also have to
go.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
stated the first step would be for the motion maker and seconder
to withdraw what was previously done.
There was general discussion
on how to withdraw the motion on Ordinance No. 1318.
Councilmember Dietz MOVED TO
WITHDRAW HIS MOTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 1318.
Vice Mayor Eck WITHDREW HIS
SECOND.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
Councilmember Dietz MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1318, AS PREVIOUSLY READ BY THE CITY CLERK,
BE APPROVED AND ADOPTED WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:THAT
ITEM NUMBER 4 ON PAGE TWO, REMOVE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND
APPEALS AND THE LAST SENTENCE, AND INSERT CITY COUNCIL FOR THE
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS.
Vice Mayor Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 08-16, DECLARING AS
A PUBLIC RECORD THE "APACHE
JUNCTION CITY CODE, VOLUME II LAND
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 35 OF 40
DEVELOPMENT CODE,CHAPTER 1 ZONING
ORDINANCE,ARTICLE 12 PROCEDURE FOR
VARIANCE,SECTION 12.0107
ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF EXCEPTION/
ORDINANCE NO. 1320, ADOPTING BY
REFERENCE THE "APACHE JUNCTION CITY
CODE, VOLUME II LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE,CHAPTER 1 ZONING ORDINANCE,
ARTICLE 12 PROCEDURE FOR VARIANCE,
SECTION 12.0107 ADMINISTRATIVE
RELIEF EXCEPTION )
)Development Services
Director Brad Steinke briefed the council on the item.
Councilmember Dietz commented
this is to amend the zoning code to allow staff to give a minor
10% deviation on zoning standards.
Councilmember Severs asked
the development services director to give some examples of where
it would apply other than parking regulations.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated there could be a property owner that wants
to put an accessory building to the side of their property and
there is a nice, big saguaro cactus that prevents them from
getting the full 10' setback.If they go 10', they destroy the
saguaro.Staff can give them a 10% reduction and take it to 9'
and save the cactus.
Councilmember Severs asked
what about situations where it was already done in the past and
it has been discovered.
Development Services Director
Brad Steinke stated that has been discussed for the last 4 or 5
months.This cannot be applied retroactively.
Councilmember Severs asked
why it could not.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated because of A.R.S. § 9-462.It is state law.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 36 OF 40
Councilmember Severs asked if
he had it there so he could hear it.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he did not have it with him.
Mayor Insalaco opened the
public hearing on the item.There being no one wishing to
speak, he closed the public hearing and reopened the item to
council discussion.There being no further discussion, he
called for a motion.
Councilmember Severs MOVED
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-16, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, DECLARING AS A
PUBLIC RECORD THAT CERTAIN DOCUMENT FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK
ENTITLED "APACHE JUNCTION CITY CODE,VOLUME II LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE,CHAPTER 1 ZONING ORDINANCE,ARTICLE 12 PROCEDURE FOR
VARIANCE,SECTION 12.0107 ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF EXCEPTION,BE
APPROVED.
Councilmember Barker SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
Councilmember Severs MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1320 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF
THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Councilmember Barker SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
read the ordinance by title only.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 37 OF 40
Councilmember Severs MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1320, AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK, BE APPROVED
AND ADOPTED.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF
None.
SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES
Councilmember Dietz MOVED
THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. AND A WORK SESSION AT
7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, JULY 14, 2008, IN THE CITY COUNCIL
CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, RESPECTIVELY;
AND THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. BE HELD ON TUESDAY,
JULY 15, 2008, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
the meeting at 10:22 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 38 OF 40
Councilmember Severs SECONDED
Mayor Insalaco adjourned
Consent Agenda Items are as follows:
1. Acceptance of Agenda.
2. Acceptance of Minutes of Regular Meeting of June 17, 2008.
3. Acceptance of the Minutes of Special Meeting of June 17,
2008.
4. Acknowledge receipt of the Annual Report of the Apache
Junction Public Library Board of Trustees for Fiscal Year
2007-2008.
5. Approval of assignment and transfer of development rights by
Earnhardt Properties Limited to Horne 3400, L.L.C.
6. Approval of Resolution No. 08-20, authorizing the City to
enter into an intergovernmental agreement to: 1) plan,
design, construct, operate, maintain and finance a regional
wireless cooperative network; and 2) provide for related two-
way radio equipment maintenance and emergency dispatch
services.
7. Approval of Resolution No. 08-21, authorizing the City to
enter into an intergovernmental agreement for participation
in the Pinal County Narcotics Task Force.
ACCEPTED THIS 15TH DAY OF JULY, 2008, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA.
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 15TH DAY OF JULY, 2008.
N S. INSALACO
yor
ATTEST:
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 39 OF 40
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 1st
day of July, 2008.I further certify that the meeting was duly
called and held and that a quorum was present.
Dated this 8th day of July, 2008.
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 1, 2008
PAGE 40 OF 40