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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-04 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2008 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on November 4, 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 7:00 p.m. INVOCATION Councilmember Serdy 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 Wilson Staff Present: (There is one vacancy on the council.) City Manager George Hoffman Assistant City Manager Bryant Powell City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Joel Stern Public Safety Director Jerald Monahan Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Bell Development Svcs. Director Brad Steinke Others Present:Grants Specialist Roger Hacker Asst. to the City Manager Ruth Giese REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 1 OF 8 Rec. Superintendent Liz Langenbach Recreation Coordinator II Larry Binion Recreation Assistant Heather Wright ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA ) )Vice Mayor Eck MOVED THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED; AND THAT ITEMS 7 AND 8, RESOLUTION NO. 08-34 AND ORDINANCE NO. 1330, RELATING TO AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION PERSONNEL RULES, BE DELETED FROM THE AGENDA; AND THAT ITEMS NO. 9 AND 10, RESOLUTION NO. 08-35 AND RESOLUTION NO. 08-36, RELATING TO A RETAIL DEVELOPMENT TAX INCENTIVE AGREEMENT WITH EMPIRE SOUTHWEST, L.L.C. AND ITEM NO. 11, SELECTION OF CITY MAGISTRATE, BE CONTINUED TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 18, 2008. Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Charity Russell, Executive Director for the Pinal County United Way, gave a presentation on the organization and its new program called "Live United". Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Bell gave a presentation on the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association 2008 Outstanding Sports Program Award received by the parks and recreation department for its annual skate park competition. Mayor Insalaco introduced Troop 970 from Gold Canyon and their leader, Brian Milkey, a former Apache Junction councilman. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 2 OF 8 Mrs. Shannon Flynn, 305 N. Acacia, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding police department promotions and donating funds to nonprofit agencies. Mr. Elliott Fisher, 547 E. Quail, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding an ethics ordinance, the need for a city charter, and the petition process. Mr. John Kantowski, 835 W. Windsong, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding the United Way, donations to the food bank, and the turnout for past elections. Councilmember Wilson stated he went to the food bank with John Kantowski to give them the donated money and encouraged others to donate food and money.The food bank had advised him they are very short on supplies and are wondering where the supplies will be coming in the near future. Vice Mayor Eck commented people are trying to determine whether to buy food or medicine, and there should not have to be a decision there.He had heard there is a major shortage of food at all the food banks, and he commends anyone who donates to the food bank.Food is obviously a priority and they need to help in any way possible.As far as bringing professionalism into the police department in the future, he is unaware of what is going on with the promotion of these officers, or if it is public information.A lot of this information just seems to get out, but he thinks that having Chief Monahan here for the last 4 months has made it more professional than anything he has seen in the last 11 years in the police department.If this has anything to do with Chief Monahan, he is in control of his department.If he feels those sergeants are to be promoted, then more power to him as he is very professional.He has earned his trust in the past four months. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS None. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT None. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 3 OF 8 PUBLIC HEARINGS APPLICATION FOR A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR APACHE CREEK GOLF CLUB )City Clerk Kathleen Connelly briefed the council on the item. Mayor Insalaco requested the applicant address the council. Mr. Stephen Dallas, Apache Creek Golf Club, addressed the council. Vice Mayor Eck commented he is glad to see him back in the community.He does not believe most people are aware at how successful he is at turning businesses around, especially golf courses.He has been successful here and in other communities. Mayor Insalaco opened the public hearing on the item.There being no one else wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing and reopened the item to council discussion.There being no discussion, he called for a motion. Vice Mayor Eck MOVED THAT THE APPLICATION FOR AN INTERIM PERMIT, PERSON TRANSFER, PARTNERSHIP, SERIES 7 LIQUOR LICENSE FOR APACHE CREEK GOLF CLUB, SUBMITTED BY STEPHEN DALLAS, BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL. Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 4 OF 8 None. COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT )Development Services Director Brad Steinke briefed the council on the item. Mayor Insalaco opened the item to council discussion.There being no discussion, he called for a motion. Councilmember Barker MOVED THAT STAFF BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION REGARDING A PLANNED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT:THAT THEY WORK THIS OUT INTO ENOUGH OF A PRESENTATION TO TAKE TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND LET THEM HELP WORK THE KINKS OUT OF IT. Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. CITY COMMUNITY GARDEN )Assistant to the City Manager Ruth Giese briefed the council on the item. Councilmember Dietz stated they had been talking to the school district to try to work some partnerships out.Casa Grande has a successful, kind of private, community garden project going. Assistant to the City Manager Ruth Giese stated they do.She researched it a little more. The community gardens that are in place in Arizona and elsewhere have public/private partnerships or multiple partnerships with regard to who provides the essentials needed for the community garden.In Casa Grande, one organization provided the land, a non-profit organization pays the water bill, they have private donations and there are social clubs like 4-H that work the REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 5 OF 8 garden.It is a multiple organizational effort. In communities where the city provided the land, they have community volunteers that run the garden.It is a joint effort.Locally, she talked to the school district.At this time they are looking for ways to minimize their water use and are looking for ways to decrease it.She has been playing phone tag with the person she needs to talk to, but there are ways the school district can be included should they have a garden. Councilmember Dietz suggested they get with the senior center and the garden clubs in Gold Canyon.He believes they could get Lowe's and Home Depot to donate tools and stuff.There may be some avenues to look at and take further that would be at no cost or low cost to the city. Assistant to the City Manager Ruth Giese stated they are just looking for direction to staff at this time. Vice Mayor Eck commented the school had said they were concerned about their water usage to that specific garden.They already have this garden and we are talking about increasing the size.We could voluntarily submeter that to see how much water does go to the garden and prepare it separately.The city could voluntarily put the meter in; he could do it himself. Mayor Insalaco closed the discussion with no further comments and called for a motion. Councilmember Dietz MOVED THAT STAFF BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION REGARDING A CITY COMMUNITY GARDEN:THAT WE CONTINUE TO RESEARCH IDEAS TO DISCUSS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH. Councilmember Barker SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 6 OF 8 Councilmember Wilson stated he would provide the manure. SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES Councilmember Dietz MOVED THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:30 P.M. AND A WORK SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 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, NOVEMBER 18, 2008, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Barker SECONDED )Mayor Insalaco adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Consent Agenda Items are as follows: 1. Acceptance of Agenda. 2. Acceptance of Minutes of Regular Meeting of October 21, 2008. ACCEPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2008, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2008. N S. INSALACO Mayor REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 7 OF 8 ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, held on the 4th day of November, 2008.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 10th of November, 2008. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 4, 2008 PAGE 8 OF 8