Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-15 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING JULY 15, 2008 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on July 15, 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 7:01 p.m. INVOCATION Councilmember Wilson gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Dietz 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 Others Present:Captain Tom Kelly Grants Specialist Roger Hacker ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA )Vice Mayor Eck MOVED THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED; AND REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 1 OF 9 THAT KATHLEEN WALDRON AND CONRAD PISINSKI BE REAPPOINTED TO THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE JULY 7, 2014; AND THAT APPROVAL BE GIVEN FOR THE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION AND THE EAST VALLEY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SUPERSTITION VISTAS AREA STUDY TO BE PERFORMED BY ROBERT GROW CONSULTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 RETROACTIVELY FOR FY 2007-08 AND AN ADDITIONAL $40,000 FOR FY 08-09; AND THAT AUTHORIZATION BE GIVEN FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT PENDING FINAL APPROVAL AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-19, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT FOR SUPERSTITION BIG BOYS TOYS, A 123 LOT CONDOMINIUM UNIT STORAGE SUBDIVISION, IN CASE SD -3-07 BY SUPERSTITION BIG BOYS TOYS LLC, BE APPROVED; AND THAT THE REQUEST FOR A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FOR PRELIMINARY PLAT SD -1-07 FOR CORNERSTONE HOMES, THE FOOTHILLS SUBDIVISION, BE APPROVED; AND THAT RESOLUTION NO. 08-23, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN AMENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LANDFORM GRAPHICS ON U.S. 60 AT IRONWOOD DRIVE, TOMAHAWK ROAD AND GOLDFIELD ROAD, BE APPROVED. Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS None. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 2 OF 9 Mr. Jimmy Eidson, 1309 W. 15th Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding his waiting for action on his grandson and spoke out against the recall. Mr. Ernest Imbeault, 2835 W. Cody, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding Option X. Mr. Jim Stephens, 3700 S. Ironwood, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding remarks made at the last meeting by the council. Mr. Mike Lewis, 4681 N. San Marcos, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding Option X. Mr. Elliott Fisher, 547 E. Quail Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding recall petitions and elections. Mr. Ted Mueller, 3700 S. Ironwood, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the extensive amount of time it is taking to complete the downtown project studies. Mr. Charles Duffy, 768 S. Warner, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding his cargo container. Mrs. Shannon Flynn, 305 N. Acacia, Apache Junction, addressed the council in support of Glenn Walp. Mr. Jayme Valenzuela, 204 Harrington Place, Superior, addressed the council to announce he is a candidate for Pinal County sheriff. Mr. Noel Benoist, 900 N. San Marcos #35, Apache Junction, addressed the council in support of Glenn Walp and advised he would be filing a bar complaint against the city attorney. Mr. David Forester, 1030 N. Valley Drive, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the mudslinging currently going on detracting from the business of moving forward. Ms. Pam Mosher, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding her cargo container and selective harassment. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 3 OF 9 Mr. Glenn Walp, 4798 S. Las Mananitas Trail, Gold Canyon, addressed the council regarding remarks made from Councilmember Serdy at the last meeting regarding the non -renewal of his contract. Mr. John Kantowski, 835 W. Windsong, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding hospital plans and to apologize for his remarks at the last meeting. Ms. Glenda Serdy, 1425 S. Coconino, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the Apache Junction schools, assistance received by councilmembers, and that statements on her son and advice by the city attorney have been inaccurate. Mrs. Pamela Kantowski, 835 W. Windsong, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the community pulling together to work together. Mr. Emory Caudell, 39216 W. Kelley Circle, Queen Creek, addressed the council regarding defining protected speech. Ms. Tracy Starling, Guardian Angels, 300 W. Apache Trail #110, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the Guardian Angels doing things in the community to make positive changes. Mr. Wayne Standage, 1920 E. 20th Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the recall and Glenn Walp. Councilmember Serdy commended the speakers on their civility, as it was more like a town hall.If they could communicate more like this, everything would be more positive.He advised Mr. Stephens that they would be doing more than just putting a sign up; the brush would need to be cut, a second lane is needed, but he is right that it is ugly coming into town that way.They need to work on that to get people to come to what attractions they have and their future attractions.He added it would be a wonderful world if everyone had an attitude like Mr. Forester; if he were running against him in a recall, he would vote for him. Councilmember Severs commented there is no definite answer on the downtown economic development.He knows Mr. Mueller would like one but so would he.He would like to sit down and explain REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 4 OF 9 to him what happened with the downtown agreement and give him some of the reasons why it did not work.He will take as much time as necessary to explain it to him.With his help, they might be able to come up with something that would entice developers to come here and start the project.It is a huge project that he has been pushing for a long time.He cannot do it alone, nor can city staff or the council.It is a group effort and it must be done with the landowner.Unfortunately it did not work the first time.Maybe they can come up with something good this time. Councilmember Wilson commented he would like to respond on why the city council does not look at the speaker directly.He gets to see what he and his fellow councilmembers do.He writes notes on everyone that comes up to speak.So do Councilmembers Barker and Serdy.He cannot write and look at the speaker at the same time, he has to look down.The council is paying attention and writing notes.They are listening and attempting to do what they can for them.He added that the city does not own the downtown section of property.It is privately owned. It is up to them on how it is developed, and the city would like to have it developed and work with them on it.There needs to be cooperation between the city and the property owners. Vice Mayor Eck commented he had asked staff how things were going with the cargo containers and was told there were about 70 residential lots that have cargo containers and 67 of those have been resolved as far as getting the permit process through and they are final.He would like staff to supply council the information on what the actual numbers are.On the downtown, the expectations were that the property purchaser was the developer.Unfortunately, that did not happen.The city has created 3 different business districts in the downtown area.We are one of two cities in the state, the other being Casa Grande, that have tax incremental financing available.This is where the taxes from a business that goes into that area can go back into that designated area, rather than go to the fire district and county.There are incentives, the property was purchased and rezoned.The city opened its hands to what was thought to be the developer with the belief that buildings would be going up within a couple of years of the purchase, which would have been about now.Unfortunately, it did not happen.They are marketing that property to the public and business community as REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 5 OF 9 much as they can.The land is not just sitting there and will be forever vacant.The city is trying to find purchasers to develop that property. Mayor Insalaco commented it takes a big person to apologize; he then apologized to Mr. Kantowski.He added they are both hotheaded and it just happened.As far as the downtown, the property owners wanted the city to inflict eminent domain on some of those businesses that are still there.If that would have happened, the city would have lost 12 businesses that are flourishing and have been there a long time.They would still be in the same position they are in now only with those businesses gone.They were not developers, they were investors. All the city was able to do for them was get all of the property under one zoning which made it worth more money so they could sell it off.The city cannot force them to build anything.He asked if they could tell him of any major building projects going on and gave as an example the 12 story hotel in Chandler that is sitting there as a big pile of steel because the developer walked away from it.No one is building right now other than a one by one basis.They have numerous subdivisions where the plans have been turned in and are waiting.They had Cornerstone Homes tonight ask to hold off a year as there are no buyers so they are not putting up anything.The economy is bad. It is not true that the city is not looking out to develop Apache Junction. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager George Hoffman commented on the statutory requirement of the city having to deposit an estimated $130,000 into the state general fund during FY 2008-09, the 11th Citizen Leadership Institute, Finance Manager John White receiving two national awards from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, Police Officer Bill Virtue being named D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year for the State of Arizona, and a thank you email from Tempe Police Department for the assistance of Corporal Eric Reimann with a lost hearing -impaired child in Tempe. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS None. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 6 OF 9 PUBLIC HEARINGS None. 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, AUGUST 4, 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, AUGUST 5, 2008, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. Councilmember Severs SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT ) )Mayor Insalaco adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m. Consent Agenda Items are as follows: 1. Acceptance of Agenda. 2. Acceptance of Minutes of Regular Meeting of July 1, 2008. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 7 OF 9 3. Reappointment of Board Members to the Superstition Mountains Community Facilities District (SMCFD). 4. Approval of Superstition Vistas Area Study Financial Participation Agreement with East Valley Partnership. 5. Approval of Resolution No. 08-19, a Final Plat Approval Request by Superstition Big Boys Toys LLC, for a 123 -Lot Commercial Subdivision for Condominium Storage Units. 6. Approval of Request for a One -Year Time Extension for Preliminary Plat SD -1-07 for Cornerstone Homes, the Foothills Subdivision. 7. Approval of Resolution No. 08-23, authorizing the City to enter into an amended intergovernmental agreement for the design, construction and maintenance of landform graphics on U.S. 60 at Ironwood Drive, Tomahawk Road and Goldfield Road. ACCEPTED THIS 5TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2008, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 5TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2008. N S. INSALACO ayor ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 8 OF 9 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 15th day of July, 2008.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 28th day of July, 2008. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 15, 2008 PAGE 9 OF 9