HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-06 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 6,1999
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction,
Arizona,was held on July 6,1999,at the Apache Junction City Council
Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Coleman called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.
INVOCATION
Vice Mayor Surra gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Urich led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present:Mayor Coleman
Vice Mayor Surra
Councilmember Dietz
Councilmember Durbala
Councilmember Eck
Councilmember Urich
Staff Present:
(Councilmember Insalaco was absent.)
City Manager Curtis Shook
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
City Attorney Joel Stern
City Engineer Paul Stears
Development Services Director Glen Van Nimwegen
Others Present:Assistant Planner Paul Michaud
Assistant to the City Manager Michael Munroe
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Long Range Planner Kate Morris
Captain Dan Scott
ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA
)Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT THE
CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED;AND THAT THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES BE
RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY:THE PUBLIC WORKS
STAFF;THE ENGINEERING STAFF;THE PARKS & RECREATION STAFF;PARKS & RECREATION
POOL EMPLOYEE KRAIG CARMICKLE;AND MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR "B" HOYT;AND THAT
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE APACHE JUNCTION PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR
FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED;AND THAT RESOLUTION NO.99-42,A
RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL
COUNTY ARIZONA,AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF EQUIPMENT
LEASE/PURCHASE AGREEMENT,AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS,AND DETERMINING OTHER
MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,BE APPROVED;AND THAT RESOLUTION NO.99-38,A
RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
ARIZONA,AUTHORIZING CITY STAFF TO APPLY FOR A LEASE OF A PORTION OF "SILLY
MOUNTAIN"FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR RECREATIONAL AND
PUBLIC PURPOSES,BE APPROVED;AND THAT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN
APACHE JUNCTION UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.43 AND THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION
FOR VEHICLE USE FOR SPECIAL TRIPS BE APPROVED WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT THE
ENDING DATE AS SHOWN IN SECTION 2.2 BE CHANGED TO JUNE 30,2000,AND THAT
AUTHORIZATION BE GIVEN TO THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
Councilmember Urich SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
AWARDS.PRESENTATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mr.Jim Carey,Senior Vice President of Operations for Mediacom L.L.C.gave a
presentation regarding their cable system.They are the company purchasing
the assets of Triax Cablevision;the transaction should be completed in
October.He had brought with him Lou Gentile,the Western Regional Manager
from Sun City,California and Cheryl Smith,the General Manager of the Sun
City System.He passed out some information on their company,press releases,
recent acquisitions,and numerous testimonial letters from various
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governmental officials around the country.He gave a brief history on the
company.He commented they like to go into the smaller areas and provide the
same level of service that the big companies are providing in the big cities.
Councilmember Urich commented she was glad to hear that their mission is to
provide first class customer care and a consistently superior product with a
level of reliability customers expect.This had not occurred in the past.
She asked if he had any problems with any of the city's requests in the
proposed contract with Triax.
Jim Carey stated they have been kept up to date on the negotiations.They
will honor the contract struck with Triax 100%.
Councilmember Urich asked if they could live with the entire contract.
Jim Carey stated whatever is struck as a deal will become their obligation to
fulfill.
Councilmember Urich asked if she was hearing a commitment.
Jim Carey stated it is a commitment to fulfill the obligations as set forth in
the contract.
Councilmember Urich commented they appeared to be for customer service.
Jim Carey stated absolutely.
Councilmember Dietz asked if that customer service would be at their home
office or local.
Jim Carey stated they have four regions:Sun City,California;Denton,
Kentucky:Gulf Breeze,Florida;and Daxborough,Delaware.
Councilmember Dietz asked if the customer service calls would be directed to
one of those centers.
Jim Carey stated the Sun City office serves the systems in Clear Lake,Ridge
Crest,Kern Valley,and Valley Center,California,plus one in Nogales,
Arizona.Each of them has their own separate facilities locally.They answer
their own telephone calls.They are not far enough along to determine how the
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system will be managed in Apache Junction.His recommendation would be to
establish presence here,including telephone lines.The furthest away it will
be is Sun City,California,which is closer than Minnesota.
Councilmember Eck asked if there would be a local office with a twenty-four
hour telephone number for customers to call after hours with their problems.
Jim Carey stated they run customer service twenty-four hours a day,seven days
a week.
Councilmember Eck asked if a service problem would be handled as soon as
possible.
Jim Carey stated it would be handled as soon as possible.
Councilmember Urich asked if they would be hearing a live voice.
Jim Carey stated they would.
Councilmember Eck commented that there is currently a representative in each
individual area to date.
Jim Carey stated they have representatives available in their call centers
today.
Councilmember Eck asked if that is the way they would run Apache Junction.
Jim Carey stated they would.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if he knew the average turn around time for response to
a service call.
Jim Carey stated they respond to 97% of their calls within a twenty-four hour
period.
Councilmember Durbala asked if they would have a local office in Apache
Junction to be staffed Monday thru Friday or Monday thru Saturday.
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Jim Carey stated it is too early to say how they will manage the system,but
there is an office there now,with service people and customer service
representatives.
Councilmember Durbala commented Triax had promised the city a local office,
but when people call they are answered in Minnesota.
Jim Carey stated the worst case scenario would be the call going to one of
their twenty-four hour call centers which are open seven days a week.The
call would be dispatched immediately locally for someone to respond.
Councilmember Durbala asked if he would be able to walk into a local office at
nine in the morning or two in the afternoon and talk to a human body.
Jim Carey stated he would be able to.
Councilmember Durbala asked if that would be Monday thru Friday or Monday thru
Saturday.
Jim Carey stated it would probably be Monday thru Friday,and possibly
Saturday mornings.
Councilmember Durbala asked if he knew what the rates would be.
Jim Carey stated the rates would be similar to what they are now.They will
not come in and raise the rates.They will rebuild the system,bring it up to
a state of the art facility,do a customer survey to see what programming is
needed and wanted,and they will adjust the rates according to the programming
desired.They will not arbitrarily raise the rates without adding any
services or anything else.He believes the rates are getting to point where
they need to grow their business with ancillary revenue streams,such as
digital tiers,internet access service and telepathy.
Councilmember Durbala commented a survey was done a couple of years ago.The
city would be glad to pass along that information.
Jim Carey stated they do high quality surveys and they would love to see the
city's information.How Triax operated is one thing,Mediacom will operate
the way they have always operated.
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Councilmember Durbala stated that the city is trying to find out how Mediacom
operates.They are aware of how Triax operates and they want to see better.
Jim Carey stated they are welcome to call any of their references.These
people will tell you that Mediacom did exactly what they said they were going
to do.
Councilmember Durbala commented he liked their pledge to twenty-four hour
service by phone and by e-mail and their on -time guarantee.
Jim Carey added they also offer a money back guarantee if the customer is not
satisfied.
Councilmember Durbala commented that is for thirty days.He also liked the
fact that they added that they would make a commitment to the community.
Triax was not involved in many community functions.
Jim Carey stated they are overwhelmed by the growth out here and foresee this
as being one of their primary markets.They will put people in here who know
how to get involved in the community and they will cater to the community's
needs.
Councilmember Durbala asked if they could see a copy of their projected rates
before the transfer hearing,if possible.
Jim Carey stated they have no intention of touching the rates.They should
close in September or October.They will not adjust the rates within a twelve
month period,and they would have to add some services before they increased
the rates.They would not add any services unless the services could be
substantiated.
Councilmember Durbala asked how long it would take them to get the city up to
750 megahertz.
Jim Carey commented it will unofficially be done in less than two years since
this is such a strong market.
Councilmember Durbala asked if the Internet service would be available in a
short period of time.
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Jim Carey stated it would.
Councilmember Durbala asked if they would be able to get the Suns games.
Jim Carey stated he could not answer that at this time.
Councilmember Eck stated they might have to purchase it from another cable
company to get those games.The citizens would like to be able to see those
games.He asked if Mediacom would be willing to purchase that programming.
Jim Carey stated he would be willing to look into it and give them an answer
in the next two to three weeks.
Councilmember Urich asked if he knew the percentage of satisfied customers.
Jim Carey stated they have come into a number of systems that have been
neglected in the past.They were "stepchildren" of larger cable companies
that had larger markets and they did not want the smaller systems.They have
purchased these and are clearing up years of bad image.He believes they have
brought a lot of customers around,which is substantiated by their growth
rates.Customers that had abandoned the service have come back to the
service.They have testimonials from mayors and government officials and were
named business of the year in Gulf Breeze,Florida.They had been very
unhappy with their cable service before Mediacom bought it.They have to
rebuild the system,promote good will,and convince the customer that they are
providing a product that is worth what they are charging for it.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if he would outline the process used to determine when
and if the service will be expanded locally.She wanted to know the
contributing factors used to determine how many local offices there will be
and where they will be located.
Jim Carey stated the current market will not warrant more than one office at
this time.He believes one well -run customer service office here would be
sufficient.
Vice Mayor Surra asked again how they would determine if additional offices
would be needed.
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Jim Carey stated they do customer service surveys every year,and it is
determined from that and the amount of telephone traffic that they have.The
customer service representatives are held to strict standards;95% of their
calls must be answered within 30 seconds.They do not see any more than 3%
hanging up without being answered.The 3% comes into play during an outage
situation as everyone is calling in at once.During normal operations,they
answer 100% of their calls in 30 seconds.They know how many calls a
representative should be able to handle a day;if the calls increase above
that level,they know they need more representatives.They will increase the
personnel as the phone traffic increases.
Vice Mayor Surra stated that answers the staff question,but it does not
answer the question of how many locations within the city limits.She wanted
to know how that is determined.
Jim Carey stated if they were overwhelmed with walk in traffic and the city
was spread out fifty miles they might need an office on each side.
Vice Mayor Surra commented they do not have a set procedure and apparently
look at each one individually.
Jim Carey stated that was correct.
Vice Mayor Surra commented there would be no way of knowing if they would have
a centrally located office that could expand into satellite offices.
Jim Carey stated they will find the most centrally located office that they
can find.They will also look at the demographics,as to who generally pays
their bills with walk in traffic.
Vice Mayor Surra commented that if there are significant changes in any of
those areas they could apply for a second office.
Jim Carey stated that was correct.
Councilmember Durbala asked about the possibility of a government economic
development channel and a station given to the city for low cost advertising
of city businesses.
Jim Carey stated he does not know of a system that gives away advertising.
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Councilmember Durbala stated they would be giving the city the channel:the
businesses would pay the city for the advertising.
Jim Carey stated the free channel would be available for government and
educational access and non-profit organizations.They sell their advertising
for revenue.
Councilmember Durbala stated this channel would be given to the city to use
for local businesses to attract more shoppers to the community.He asked if
they would be giving an educational channel and a grant for the school
district to buy equipment,such as studio,portable production,editing and
playback equipment.
Jim Carey stated they are not in the negotiations on that subject at this
time.That is being negotiated with Triax and the city.
Councilmember Durbala asked if they had that in their other contracts.
Jim Carey stated they provide government access channels in some of the
communities.They have not let businesses advertise on the government access
channel.
Councilmember Durbala asked if the other channels would be available to assist
the school district.
Jim Carey stated they would do whatever the Federal Communications Commission
requires them to do.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if he would agree that they do not get 54 available,
active channels as all the companies advertise.
Jim Carey stated they will tell them the correct number of channels that they
will be able to receive.
Vice Mayor Surra asked how many "real" channels they would be able to receive
once Mediacom takes over.
Jim Carey stated the system is maxed out right now.They will be going to 750
megahertz in order to add more channels.
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Vice Mayor Surra commented that would explain why they lost a channel when
they started receiving the History Channel,even though their price went up.
Jim Carey stated he could not answer for what Triax did.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if that was a common occurrence with Mediacom.
Jim Carey stated it was not.They would rather rebuild the system,create
capacity and add channels as needed and necessary as the customers demand.He
promised the city will not be dissatisfied with their service.
Councilmember Dietz thanked him for coming.He added he liked their
commitment to the community and he hoped it would come true.
Councilmember Eck asked when the area would be provided with pay per view.
Jim Carey stated that is very important to his company.They want to rebuild
the system so that there is the availability of 70 to 80 channels for
everyone.Pay per view is a very strong growth stream for them;it will be a
top priority as soon as the system is rebuilt.They have no where else to go
with the system as it stands,it has to be rebuilt first to add the additional
programming.
Councilmember Urich commented many of the citizens have switched to satellite
dish or they come to her and stand in line to complain about the cable
service.She would be more than happy to recommend them if the service
warrants it.
Jim Carey stated he appreciated that,and he hoped they would be having a
conversation at this time next year wherein he could tell them that all of
their commitments have been fulfilled.
Vice Mayor Surra asked him to repeat the time frame for rebuilding the system.
Jim Carey stated it will be a top priority.The schedule is not nailed down
at this time.
Vice Mayor Surra stated this contract could have a short term until they see
that certain things have happened.They have already had to live with an
impossible 15 year contract.If the time frame is not within that short term,
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JULY 6,1999
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the city would have no way of knowing if they should automatically extend the
contract.
Jim Carey stated if they complete the rebuilding within that period of time,
then extend the contract.
Vice Mayor Surra commented they are now negotiating with Triax.
Jim Carey stated they will have to transfer the franchise after the buy out.
At the time of the transfer,they can then ask for the contract to be extended
additional time,such as ten years,if the system rebuild is completed within
the allotted time determined by the original contract.
Vice Mayor Surra commented they had said earlier they would abide by any
contract negotiated with Triax.
Jim Carey stated they would have to.
Vice Mayor Surra asked how they could ask for a contract extension then.
Jim Carey stated they are faced with having to borrow money to rebuild the
system,and a bank may not loan them the needed funds if the contract is only
for two years,whereas for a ten year contract they will.
Councilmember Dietz stated the city has been burned.They are looking for a
short term to get the new system in.They would like to reward the company
with an extended contract once the system is built.
Jim Carey suggested they put in the contract that if they rebuild the system
they get "x" amount of years;if it is rebuilt sooner,then they get "x" more
years.He thought that would be agreeable.
Mayor Coleman closed the item.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Mr.Elliott Fisher,547 E.Quail,Apache Junction,addressed the council
regarding transportation.He read in the paper where Mr.Simpkins stated
light rail would be considered through Apache Junction to enhance the economic
development.He does not believe it may do so.He would prefer to see i t
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down the Superstition Freeway corridor.If the city does something,they
should consider something of western heritage for tourist value.Buses have
gone through downtown Mesa and they have not really saved the downtown area.
He sees no difference between a bus and light rail.He would like to see
something serve the greater Apache Junction area.He added that his
association is in the process of being formalized and legalized.
Mr.Jerry Dean,825 W.12th Avenue,Apache Junction,had filled out a form but
had already left the meeting.
Ms Catherine Moor,543 E.Mesquite Avenue,Apache Junction,addressed the
council regarding the Department of Motor Vehicles.Acquaintances of hers
that work in the building have told her that whereas the department has
publicly stated they would not be moving,at this time none of the transfers
have been canceled and they are still effective for December.She is
concerned as to how would the city be serviced if everyone has to go into
Maricopa County,and how it would effect the emissions standards.
Pinal County Supervisor Sandie Smith,575 N.Idaho,Apache Junction,addressed
the council.She stated she would be meeting with the assistant director of
the motor vehicle department regarding the redesign of the office to allow for
the big rigs to be able to get in and out.The county is willing to do that
but it still has to go before the board of supervisors.Mr.Pearce has stated
that the citizens are very courteous and complimentary of the service and that
the office did not want to move.She thanked Mayor Coleman for calling the
director and expressing the council's concern for moving the office.The
issues are that people would have to drive too far to be serviced and that
this is the largest city in the county and the people have earned the right to
have a manned office here.Mr.Pearce is working with them to solve the
problem.She also commented on the letter sent by the city regarding support
of the land and water recreation fund.At this time it still looks bleak.
The money comes from off shore drilling,and the money must be put back into
water conservation.The states with the most votes are the ones on the
coastlines,and they have enough support to where Arizona may lose out.Those
states are demanding the funds since the drilling is taking place off their
shores.Arizona disagrees with that mandate,and they are continuing to work
on it.She finished with comments on the growing smarter committee.There
will be three hearings in the Phoenix area,and one of them will be at Arizona
State University East.The Arizona Land Legacy believes that some of the
state land should be built on,but other land should be preserved.The
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JULY 6,1999
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growing smarter hearings have numerous people stating that land should be
preserved in the urban areas.The Arizona Land Legacy believes the rural
counties need to have and should insist on having legislation written that
will also cover them.This legislation will help determine their destiny and
they need to be able to have a part in the planning.The meeting will be on
July 15th between 3 p.m.and 7 p.m.She commented on what the committee is
leaning towards and that she would like to see the Arizona Land Legacy enacted
to conserve certain lands and allow cities and towns to manage them.Senator
John Kyl is sponsoring a bill at the federal level regarding this.She urged
everyone to contact Governor Hull and Senator Kyl,and to attend the meeting
at the ASU East Complex,7001 E.Williams Field Road,the Williams Campus
Union Ballroom,at Williams Gateway.It will be an open house.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-27/DECLARING
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 14 CABLE TELEVISION
A PUBLIC RECORD;PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.
1086/ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 14
CABLE TELEVISION;POSSIBLE RENEWAL/
RENEGOTIATION OF CABLE SYSTEM LICENSE
CURRENTLY HELD BY TRIM( MIDWEST
ASSOCIATES.L.P.
)City Attorney Joel Stern briefed
the council on the item.He commented these three items could be heard
together in one public hearing as the council had already voted at a previous
meeting to continue these to July 20.The changes and new provisions in
Chapter 14 were addressed at the last meeting.The resolution will save the
cost for publication of the ordinance,the ordinance will adopt the amendments
by reference and anyone can go to the city clerk's office to see it,and the
renewal/renegotiation is being addressed through a licensing agreement.Cable
systems can be licensed through the city council in this state.A draft
agreement had been sent to Triax and a response was received on June 30.He
is hoping to have a final acceptable version'to both parties by the end of the
week.There are technical requirements in the agreement,and the city will
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agree to certain things but not to others in order to preserve public health,
safety and welfare in the future.
Mayor Coleman opened the item to
council discussion.There being no discussion,he opened the public hearing
on the three items.
Mr.Nick McVicker,633 W.22nd
Avenue,Apache Junction,addressed the council.He represented the school
district.He read a letter from Dr.Sutter's office.The letter stated that
Triax is now Mediacom and they have been negotiating a contract with them
since March.They have committed to connecting the district completely
through fiber optics.These connections are to be finished by August 7.
Negotiations have been polite and agreeable on both sides.They believe
Triax/Mediacom have done a good job for the school district through this
agreement.They stated Triax has been very progressive from the school
district's perspective and helpful to them and the kids.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if they had
been working diligently since March to provide these services to the school,
what services were provided prior to that.The city had found that during the
last six months they had been very aggressive about giving good service.
Mr.Nick McVicker stated he did not
know the answer to that.He was given this information.He knows that they
have been working with them religiously recently.
Councilmember Eck suggested
renegotiating contracts annually.
Mayor Coleman closed the public
hearing with no one else wishing to speak.He reopened the item to council
discussion.There being no further discussion,he closed the items and called
for a ten minute break.
Mayor Coleman reconvened the
meeting.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.1094/PROPOSED
RESOLUTION NO.99-40/REZONING REQUEST
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JULY 6,1999
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PZ-99-03/PRELIMINARY PLAT SD -99-01,LOST
DUTCHMAN GARDENS
)Long Range Planner Kate Morris
briefed the council on the item.Staff recommends that this item be continued
to the next meeting as the resolution and ordinance are in draft form only at
this time.The public hearing was advertised and must be held;the applicant
is in the audience.This is a ten acre site just south of Lost Dutchman and
on the east side of Meridian.The rezoning is from CR-5/PD,multiple family
by planned development to CR-3,single family residential 7,000 sq.ft.lot
size.It is a request for hard zoning.There are no requirements for open
spaces or play stations.The lots are the minimum width and size,and it has
more than adequate retention.It was originally a 33 lot subdivision;it was
increased to 35 lots when it was learned that there was more than adequate
retention in the original plan.The retention area will have a shallow basin
so that there will be potential use by the residents.There is nothing of
great concern on either the preliminary plat or the drainage report,only
standard comments for verifying measurements and correcting language.
Mayor Coleman opened the item to
council discussion.
Vice Mayor Surra asked who would be
responsible for the maintenance of the retention area.
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
stated she assumed it would be the homeowners association.
Councilmember Eck asked if this was
stick built.
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
stated it is site built.This builder has not been active in the city,i t
will be the first project.He has built in Queen Creek and Mesa.The floor
plans are the type of housing product that the city has been looking for as a
community.
Councilmember Dietz asked if this
property had already been bladed.
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
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stated it has not.The bladed site is a 20 acre parcel on Delaware and is the
location for a future mobile home park.
a lot of growth on that property.
commented they
grown saguaros
that have been
especially the
around them.
Councilmember Urich stated there was
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
have indicated on the plat the locations of salvageable full
and palo verdes.It is pristine desert.
Vice Mayor Surra commented those
salvaged on other projects tend not to make it too well,
saguaros.She asked if there would be the chance to work
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
stated that would be the builder's decision.The person who would do the
salvaging for this applicant has stated he would replace those harvested with
like -sized plants so that they would not be damaged or die from construction.
Some of these plants would demand a larger lot size to prevent damage or
stress.
Vice Mayor Surra commented she is
concerned about the desert being denuded and she does not see anything in the
plans about replacing those desert plants if they die off;as this is not a
planned development they cannot make that a stipulation.
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
stated conditions of approval can be added to the preliminary plat to have
some salvaging detail or growth and maintenance.
Vice Mayor Surra stated since this
one is a draft,she might be able to see that condition in the next one.
Long Range Planner Kate Morris
stated she would talk to Nick Blake to get the appropriate language.
Mayor Coleman called for the
applicant to address the council.
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Mr.LaDell Call,8660 E.Waterford
Circle,Queen Creek,addressed the council.He stated he has walked the site
with a landscaping architect and salvager.There are a lot of trees that they
want to save;some will be used around the perimeter and in Tract A.They
want to restore the perimeter landscaping back to the natural desert look.
They have received the permits to salvage them.They intend on salvaging the
trees,saguaros,and smaller cacti.They intend to box the plants there,load
them on semis and take them to his nursery in Queen Creek for proper care.
These will be maintained at his place instead of being left uncared for at the
site.They will bring back the vegetation that they can and redo it so they
will not be damaged or harmed.
Councilmember Dietz asked if there
would be a homeowners association to maintain the landscaping around the
perimeter and in the retention basin.
Mr.LaDell Call stated in the past
he has done it to other cities'specifics and then he deeds it over to them
where they maintain it like a city park.They do the outside landscaping,
Tract A and the retention area.As Apache Junction does not do that,he will
form a homeowners association for that purpose.To keep it presentable and
cost effective,he will attempt to return it back to its natural habitat so
that it will look good whether it is trimmed or not.The retention area will
probably be grassed in so that people can use it.
Mayor Coleman asked if there was any
chance that they could get him to go to 1.25 acre lots.
Mr.LaDell Call stated he had
thought about that,but the market has been peaked for so long he is afraid it
will start to fall,and those larger lots are the ones that tend to sit during
those times.
Mayor Coleman commented he mentioned
that because there are horse trails straight north of Lost Dutchman and they
try to maintain a lower density in that area.He does appreciate the fact he
is asking for a lower density use than what it is currently zoned for.
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Mr.LaDell Call commented he has had
a number of people contact him about selling the land so they could build
apartments on it.He believes this would be more appealing to the community.
Vice Mayor Surra asked why he chose
Apache Junction.
Mr.LaDell Call stated he knows a
lot of builders and contractors who have already worked here,and they say it
is a good place to be and that they have a good working relationship with
staff.He has also heard that Apache Junction is going to be growing and that
i t is a good place to be,and that good things are happening in the schools.
He has also heard that small builders do not get caught up in the bureaucracy
here as they do in larger cities.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if he had
looked at the possible number of children that would be living in this
subdivision that would impact the schools.
Mr.LaDell Call stated he did a 52
lot subdivision 3-4 years ago in which 27 lots were sold before he sold out to
another builder,and at least half of the sold lots had adult age children and
most of the others were young families.There were only a few high school
kids,most of the kids were elementary school age.He could not really guess
how many children this would generate.
Vice Mayor Surra asked if he had any
adverse feelings about the children impacting the schools and that part of the
development fees would help to reduce that impact.
Mr.LaDell Call stated he believed
the permit fees included things to help to school system.
Mayor Coleman opened the public
hearing on the item.There being no one wishing to speak,he closed the
public hearing and called for a motion of continuance.
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT WE
CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING WHICH WOULD
BE IN TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY,JULY 20.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 18 OF 44
was for Items 11A and 116.
for all of the related items.
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
Councilmember Urich asked if that
Vice Mayor Surra stated it would be
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.1090/REZONING
REQUEST PZ-6-99.CARPENTER/HAINES
)Assistant Planner Paul Michaud
briefed the council on this item.This involves 2 lots in the Palm Springs
Subdivision.They are zoned CR-5 multiple family and the applicants wish to
rezone to CR-3 for single family,which is what the remainder of the
subdivision is zoned.This will allow them to reduce their rear yard setback
from 35 feet to 20 feet.The planning division has found four findings:a
difference already exists between the multiple family dwellings regarding use
and setbacks and there are differences in setbacks between the CR-5 and the
CR-5/PD;single family dwellings are not uncommon in this area;the lot sizes
are 10,000 sq.ft.or less which are more ideal for single family dwellings;
and that the general plan designates CR-5 as high density and the neighboring
CR-3 as medium density.The planning commission recommended rezoning this to
CR-5/PD like the lots north of Hondo.This was to eliminate any general plan
conflict.They can apply the same type of planned development area to these
subject lots as to the planned development area north of Hondo,and the
pattern of single family dwellings in this area is already permissible by the
conditional use permit.The applicants are agreeable to rezoning this to CR-
5/PD.
Councilmember Urich asked the city
attorney if he had the chance to complete his review on this.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated he
had looked at this one.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 19 OF 44
Mayor Coleman requested the
applicant address the council.
Mrs.Taleen Carpenter,531 E.
Mesquite,Apache Junction,suggested that the whole area be rezoned from CR-5
to CR-5/PD.She had received no phone calls regarding this zoning change and
she believes the zoning change would increase everyone's property values.
Mayor Coleman opened the public
hearing on the item.
Ms Catherine Moor,543 E.Mesquite,
Apache Junction,addressed the council.She supported the rezoning of the
Palm Springs Subdivision.
Mayor Coleman closed the public
hearing with no one else wishing to speak.He opened the item to council
discussion.There being no discussion,he called for a motion.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
ORDINANCE NO.1090 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF THE ENTIRE
ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly read
the ordinance by title only.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
ORDINANCE NO.1090,AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK,BE APPROVED AND ADOPTED.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 20 OF 44
The motion carried.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.1093/ZONING
ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 5
DEFINITIONS AND ARTICLE 13 ZONING
ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES
)Long Range Planner Kate Morris
briefed the council on this item.Staff is requesting this item be continued
to July 20,1999.It has been recommended that these article amendments be
split into two separate ordinances,with the Article 5 amendments being
adopted by reference due to their length.A resolution will declare the
Article 5 amendments a public record.In addition they had found some
clerical errors in Article 5 that needed to be addressed.Article 13
amendments will change how the 300'notices are delivered;it will be changed
to delivery by first class mail.
Mayor Coleman opened the item to
council discussion.There being no discussion,he opened the public hearing
on the item.There being no one wishing to speak,he closed the public
hearing and called for a motion.
Councilmember Eck MOVED TO CONTINUE
THIS ITEM 13,WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION ON ORDINANCE NO.1093,TO THE JULY 20''
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
Councilmember Urich SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.1092/ESTABLISHING
STOP SIGNS AT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY
LIMITS
)City Engineer Paul Stears briefed
the council on the item.Due to increased traffic from new subdivisions,
additional stop signs need to be installed at several locations.These
include eastbound Southern at Starr,northbound Lawson at 16th Avenue,
eastbound 36th Avenue at Ironwood,westbound 18th Avenue at Starr,southbound
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 21 OF 44
Vista at Southern,southbound Winchester at Baseline,and several more within
the Baseline Industrial Park subdivision.He requested approval of the
ordinance.
Mayor Coleman opened the item to
council discussion.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she
appreciated how much the department keeps up on the changes in the traffic
patterns.This cuts down on the complaints from the residents.
Mayor Coleman opened the public
hearing on the item.There being no one wishing to speak,he closed the
public hearing and called for a motion.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
ORDINANCE NO.1092 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY WITH THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE AND THE
READING OF THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly read
the ordinance by title only with the emergency clause.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
ORDINANCE NO.1092,AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK,BE APPROVED AND ADOPTED.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.1095/AMENDING
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 22 OF 44
CHAPTER 6 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE,
ARTICLE 6-1,LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING
REQUIREMENTS
)Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen briefed the council on the item.This draft is slightly
different from what was discussed at the work session.This amendment will
apply to new RV and mobile home subdivisions and parks,and new subdivisions
as well.Staff also addressed the standard of metal buildings.The initial
ordinance required masonry across the whole elevation on all elevations of
metal buildings.It now reads similar to the City of Mesa standards which
requires masonry or a similar material across a third of the elevation.He
showed them examples from Kovach Industrial Building in Mesa.The ordinance
would force a variety in materials.Cost -wise,i t is twice as much to do
masonry as i t is to do stucco.The construction costs per square foot would
be smaller for bigger buildings.He believes this will add value and will
help raise the level of buildings in the community.People build to the level
that is already there.Monty Nichols has proposed some changes to the
ordinance which will rephrase the ordinance in a more positive note but he
does not change the requirements.Both he and the city attorney are agreeable
to his changes.
Councilmember Eck asked if this was
on new construction only.
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen stated that was correct.
Vice Mayor Surra commented she
thought the metal building allowance was only for those in the industrial
park.She asked if they would have to address metal buildings on Apache
Trail.
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen stated they would have to at this time.There is nothing in the
current ordinance that addresses metal building at all in any district.
Vice Mayor Surra stated this is not
going far enough.Depending on the location,she could be taller than the
facade on a building.She could see metal on Apache Trail.This would be
contrary to the beautification of Apache Trail and the redevelopment district.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 23 OF 44
She does not believe this is ready for approval if it does not address
problems of locations of these buildings.She is not certain she wants to see
metal buildings in any other commercial area;she would like them in the
industrial park only.
Councilmember Durbala asked if the
Barleen Dinner Theater was a metal building.No one was sure.
Vice Mayor Surra commented Mr.Van
Nimwegen had not been lacking in what they had asked him to do.Her
understanding was lacking in where they were allowed.
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen stated he could type it up for commercial districts and not
reduce it down to one third.He advised them the one third could be any part
of the building,not necessarily the bottom third.
Councilmember Urich agreed with Vice
Mayor Surra.She believes more time should be spent on this.
City Attorney Joel Stern read
Section 6.1-2.He believes this would apply to industrial,commercial,
retail,office and multiple family uses and zones.
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen agreed.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated it
is already written in the law as to which zones it would apply to.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she does not
believe metal buildings should be allowed in all those zones.
City Attorney Joel Stern suggested
altering some of the other sections of Ordinance No.940.
Vice Mayor Surra commented it has
brought to her attention her lack of knowledge regarding what is allowable for
structures.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 24 OF 44
Mayor Coleman commented under
Section 6.1-6,it says corrugated and pre-engineered metal buildings are not
permitted in commercial and industrial zones unless they are not visible from
any adjacent right-of-ways.Exceptions may be made,but generally speaking he
understood they were not allowed.
Councilmember Urich agreed.
City Attorney Joel Stern suggested
reviewing the ordinance again.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she thought
they needed to be more certain about what they were going to do before they
made any more changes.
Councilmember Durbala asked if this
would prevent corrugated buildings from being placed in backyards for storage.
Some of those buildings could show on the frontage of a public street.
Vice Mayor Surra commented it says
commercial and industrial but it does not say residential.
Councilmember Durbala commented it
says so in the front.The visibility question comes in under the landscaping
section.He asked if they would be outlawing these buildings in residential
neighborhoods.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she did not
believe it addresses accessory buildings such as tool or garden sheds.
status of a metal garage.
would be allowed to have that.
Councilmember Eck asked about the
Councilmember Durbala asked if one
Councilmember Eck and Vice Mayor
Suura stated he could,but he would might have to have the facade.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 25 OF 44
Councilmember Durbala commented they
might have to schedule this for legal information in an executive session.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated 6.1-
6 could be quickly fixed by saying "except as otherwise provided in Section
6.1-2,corrugated and metal buildings are not permitted in commercial zones".
That would take care of the conflict,but since there are other concerns it
might be advisable to continue this matter.
Councilmember Durbala requested to
hear from Monty Nichols before this was continued.
Mayor Coleman opened the public
hearing on the item.
Mr.Monty Nichols,11089 E.
Hummingbird,Apache Junction,addressed the council.He owns the Baseline
Industrial Park.He proceeded to give a brief history on the property.
Councilmember Urich asked if this
was part of the agenda.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated he
is as he is getting into zoning issues,and zoning uses are a part of this
ordinance.He will interrupt him if he gets beyond the scope.
Mr.Monty Nichols wished to talk
about grandfather rights.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated that
is not the scope of this ordinance.His comments should be limited to what is
seen in Ordinance No.1095.
Mr.Monty Nichols commented an
industrial park is an accepted location for metal buildings.He stated
Metaltrades is built in metal because of what they fabricate.The building is
not conducive to slump block or stucco due to its openness.He would like to
see the one third stucco or similar material to break up the side lines.He
commented he was directed to go the way he was going with this industrial
park,even though there has been a change in city staff and council.Phase I
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 26 OF 44
is 95% finished,but now there is roadblock.At first he believed metal
buildings were going to be outlawed,but the ordinance has since been
rewritten a number of times to what is now more acceptable.However,he would
like to change some of the wording to make it more positive than negative.He
would like to rewrite it to say that corrugated and pre-engineered metal
buildings are permitted in industrial zones;however,when they are visible
from any adjacent right-of-ways,exterior elevations of the building must
include supplemental building materials,forms and detailing,at least one
third,and the rest of the information could stay the same.This way the
clients can be told that metal buildings are allowed.The other way,he would
have to say they are if...His wording would let them know they can have a
metal building and then they would get the requirements needed for erecting
one.He believes this will encourage the businesses to come out here.After
spending a lot of money on the property,he would not like to see the city
kill the industrial park -it is the only one here.He has one business that
has moved in and he has sold an additional 13 lots.Every customer has asked
if they could put up metal buildings.He would like to see the aesthetics
there and he believes this is a nice substitute.He commented the industrial
park will look better once there are more buildings and the landscaping has
grown up around them.There is also an 18 acre buffer zone that the city owns
between the freeway and the industrial park;it is unknown what will
eventually go in there.He encouraged council to use the positive language.
He is for the look of permanence and quality,and he likes the facade idea.
He asked the city attorney if his language was acceptable.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated it
changes the words but it has the same regulatory effect.
Mr.Monty Nichols suggested they
could put in the ordinance that they would only allow the metal buildings to
be erected in the industrial park.They need to be able to have metal
buildings there or their costs will double.For example,Metaltrades would
have had to be built out of metal due to the huge cranes and other equipment;
if it had not been made of metal,he would have had to construct a metal
building inside of something else.
Vice Mayor Surra commented she
appreciated his input on the positive language.However,most of the council
was here when Metaltrades building was first brought up.They had some
concerns at the time but they were sold on the wonderful landscaping and the
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 27 OF 44
visual impact that would be softened by other things provided for in the
Metaltrades building.It was to set apace and standard for what was going to
come after.Unfortunately,it has not happened.We know other metal
buildings will have to go there,but she has seen industrial parks developed
without one metal building being there.They are not just for the kind of
industry he is thinking of.There needs to be some expansion of thought on
both sides.
Mr.Monty Nichols stated he
originally had a third parcel,and Metaltrades was that third parcel.It was
rezoned industrial under planned development.
Councilmember Urich asked if they
were off the agenda item.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated they
are but he is responding to a direct question of the vice mayor.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she had
commented they were looking into metal buildings because they had been
presented with a different look than what they ended up with.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated his
comments will have to be related to the actual metal structure.
Mr.Monty Nichols stated Metaltrades
went in under planned development,the rest of industrial park is not.His
elevations had to be approved;he agreed they looked nicer on paper.He added
the landscaping was put in after this was written.When the foliage starts
growing and breaking up the long west side,it will help the looks of it.He
asked if they had driven down the street,turned around and looked back at it.
Vice Mayor Surra stated she is
looking at it the way the people who are visiting the city are looking at i t
from afar.The initial impression is what can kill the city.
Councilmember Dietz stated he drove
down on Friday and looked.He was not impressed at all,especially with the
landscaping.It will take at least twenty years for that to grow to a halfway
decent size.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 28 OF 44
the city's landscaping requirements.
did not.
not know about that.
Mr.Monty Nichols commented he met
City Manager Curtis Shook stated he
Councilmember Dietz commented he did
Mr.Monty Nichols stated if he did
not then he has broken the rules and they will get it fixed.
City Attorney Joel Stern commented
they were going off the agenda.
Councilmember Urich stated it
appeared that quite of few of the other municipalities must not be allowing
metal buildings in their communities or these businesses would not be asking
whether or not they can construct a metal building.
Mr.Monty Nichols stated it could
just mean that they need to have a metal building to operate their business.
Councilmember Urich asked why that
would be their first question.
Mr.Monty Nichols stated because
they do need to have a metal building.If one tells them they cannot,they
will go elsewhere.He believes there is only one city in the valley that does
not allow metal buildings.
Vice Mayor Surra commented then they
are not going to go far.
Mr.Monty Nichols commented Superior
is developing an industrial park and they did it all free.
Councilmember Urich suggested having
more information brought back to them on the other municipalities when this is
next heard.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 29 OF 44
Councilmember Eck commented this
ordinance was not intended for the city to do away with metal buildings.He
agreed the wording did sound subjective and some of it should be changed.
They are only trying to make the buildings more attractive.He added they did
give approval on the initial business and they are now doing something that
could be a major change for this industrial park.
Mayor Coleman stated they had
commented that the buildings would appear like the Scottsdale Air Park.Those
are poured,stand up cement.He distinctly remembered that.That was what
was presented during the plat approval.The neighbors originally did not want
it to go in and the planning and zoning commission had recommended denial.He
is not trying to eliminate metal buildings,but the more attractive they can
make them the better.If the rewording will work,that will be fine.
However,he does want them to be held accountable for the things they were
told.He is aware that Mr.Nichols is not the one who said that.
Mr.Monty Nichols commented Stan
Kleban had pointed out that Scottsdale Air Park was the number one tax base
revenue producer for any city in the United States.They had hoped that this
would go towards this direction.The industrial park will not hurt property
values;the land around Scottsdale Industrial Park increased in value at the
same rate as the surrounding property.He recalled how Ms Bachman wanted to
know every business that was going to go in there before it went there,which
they cannot do.
City Attorney Joel Stern advised
they were going off the agenda.
Vice Mayor Surra commented that is
why the council looks so different to him,he is thinking of the planning and
zoning commission.
Mr.Monty Nichols agreed.He stated
he could not tell them what it was going to look like because each client had
to buy his lot and put up his building.
Vice Mayor Surra stated that is why
they felt they needed to impose enough regulations so they would have some
control •over what it would look like.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 30 OF 44
Mr.Monty Nichols commented if they
could permit metal buildings that have the appearance of quality and
permanence,it would really help the industrial park.He believes that will
work.
Councilmember Durbala stated the way
this is written it appears that metal buildings are not permitted in
commercial and industrial zones unless they are not visible from any adjacent
right-of-way.No matter where one goes,you will be able to see a building
from a roadway.This will basically do away with metal buildings.There are
exceptions,but he wondered who would be making the decision for the
exceptions.It needs to be changed to show that they are permitted.An
industrial park is an industrial park.He wondered why three businesses have
located outside the city in the county industrial park,and suggested this may
be a reason why.
Councilmember Urich commented there
may be other extenuating circumstances.
Councilmember Durbala stated this
may be part of the reason.He does not see any problems with metal buildings
if they will bring more permanent jobs and development.He does not want to
see metal buildings outlawed.
Councilmember Eck stated they were
not talking about outlawing metal buildings.He agreed that there needs to be
some language changes.
Mayor Coleman asked if there were
any more questions for Mr.Nichols.There were none.
Mr.Monty Nichols thanked the
council for listening and staff for their cooperation.
Mr.Doug Metzdorf,3636 E.Anne
Street,Phoenix,of Arizona Building Systems,addressed the council.He was
there on behalf of Monty Nichols.He believes the issue seems to be metal
buildings.He showed them examples of metal buildings they had constructed.
One of the buildings was St.George's Catholic Church in Apache Junction.It
is really the design of the building that should be the issue.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 31 OF 44
There was general discussion between
Vice Mayor Surra and Mr.Doug Metzdorf as to whether or not St.George's is a
metal building,as the exterior is block and stucco.The building was
designed by Bark Approved Metal Buildings.
Vice Mayor Surra commented it would
not be considered a metal building.She added if Metaltrades looked like
that,the city would be very happy to have them in the industrial park.
Mr.Doug Metzdorf stated he is
concerned about the way the ordinance is written about pre-engineered
buildings.A lot of things can be done with them.
Vice Mayor Surra commented if
Metaltrades had done something with their building the council would not be
here today.
Mr.Doug Metzdorf stated the issue
is the design,the architect and what he does with it.
Vice Mayor Surra commented the
problem here is a drawing of a building that never came to fulfillment.This
is based on one building that is out there that does not match what the
council was shown.Now they are looking for tighter regulations as to what
can be used in their buildings.No one has talked about outlawing the
buildings.
Mr.Doug Metzdorf left the pictures
with the council to look at later.
Mayor Coleman closed the public
hearing on the item and reopened the item to council discussion.
Councilmember Eck stated there are
some words that need to be changed.They do not intend to outlaw metal
buildings.He suggested sending the ordinance back to staff and allowing them
to go over it again and change the language.He would support something that
is similar to the Mesa industrial park where a portion of the building had to
be of some other material.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 32 OF 44
Vice Mayor Surra commented she would
like to see more than one third of a different material.
Councilmember Durbala commented the
one third could also be in the middle part of it.
Councilmembers Durbala and Eck
thought one third would be fair.
Vice Mayor Surra commented they need
to have some other kind of review prior to them constructing the building if
they only want to have one third of a different material.It needs to be far
more specific than we got last time.They need to be sure that they get what
they approve.
Councilmember Durbala commented he
wished they had the old plans for Metaltrades as he recalled a lot of it was
the landscaping,with the trees being a lot higher.Landscaping does take
time to develop.
There was general discussion on the
landscaping.
Councilmember Eck commented he
believed there were other things going on here.
Mayor Coleman closed the discussion
and called for a motion.
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED TO CONTINUE
THIS TO THE SECOND REGULAR MEETING IN AUGUST.She also wanted to see a work
session on it first.
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen suggested splitting the metal buildings off into a separate
ordinance and adopting the remainder of the ordinance tonight.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated they
could all come under the same ordinance but with different sections.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 33 OF 44
Development Services Director Glen
Van Nimwegen stated he would like to adopt the sections on applying Ordinance
No.940 to new subdivisions,RV parks and mobile home parks.He will bring
the part about metal buildings back as a separate ordinance.
Vice Mayor Surra WITHDREW HER MOTION
FOR CONTINUING THIS ITEM.She then moved THAT ORDINANCE NO.1095 BE READ BY
TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Councilmember Urich SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly read
the ordinance by title only.
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT
ORDINANCE NO.1095,AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK,BE APPROVED AND ADOPTED WITH
THE FOLLOWING DELETION OF SECTION 6.1.6,AND HAVE THAT CONTINUED TO ANOTHER
MEETING.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
Mayor Coleman called for a five
minute break.
Mayor Coleman reconvened the
meeting.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-29/PROPERTY
OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR SUNRISE CANYON STREET
LIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SLID 9707-1;
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 34 OF 44
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-30/PROPERTY
OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR CIMMARRON STREET
LIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SLID 9709-1;
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-31/PROPERTY
OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR RENAISSANCE PARK
STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SLID
9712-2;PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-32/
PROPERTY OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR CORTEZ RANCH
STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SLID
9801-2;PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.99-34/
PROPERTY OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR IRONWOOD
ESTATES STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
SLID 9712-1;PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.
99-35/PROPERTY OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR
IRONWOOD COVE I I STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SLID 9801-1;PROPOSED RESOLUTION
NO.99-36/PROPERTY OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR
ARIZONA GRANDE STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SLID 9804-1;PROPOSED RESOLUTION
NO.99-39/PROPERTY OWNER ASSESSMENT FOR
RENAISSANCE POINT UNIT 2 STREET LIGHT
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SLID 9701-1
)City Engineer Paul Stears briefed
the council on the items.These resolutions will allow the county to collect
the funds to be transferred to the city for repayment of construction work and
energy costs.
Mayor Coleman opened the public
hearing on the items.There being no one wishing to speak,he closed the
public hearing and opened the items to council discussion.There being no
discussion,he called for a motion.
Councilmember Urich MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-29,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY,ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION,AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9707-1,A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 35 OF 44
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Durbala SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried.
had the emergency clause on it.
Councilmember Durbala asked if it
Councilmember Urich stated it did.
Councilmember Durbala asked if it
had passed with the emergency clause since the vote was not unanimous.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
resolutions are effective immediately.She was unsure why the emergency
clause had been added.
City Attorney Joel Stern commented
he added it to this resolution because this type of resolution can have one.
Since there was a no vote,the emergency clause will not pass.
Councilmember Durbala asked if it
would be effective in 30 days.
City Attorney Joel Stern stated that
was correct.It would also be subject to a voter referendum.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
resolutions are not subject to referendums.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-31,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY,ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION,AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 36 OF 44
DISTRICT SL 9712-2, A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE: 5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
Councilmember Eck MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO. 99-30, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA, RELATING TO TAXATION, LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION, AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9709-1, A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Durbala SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE: 5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
Councilmember Urich MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO. 99-32, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION, PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA, RELATING TO TAXATION, LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION, AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9801-2, A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6, 1999
PAGE 37 OF 44
Councilmember Durbala SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-34,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY,ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9712-1,A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Vice Mayor Surra SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-35,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY,ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION,AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9801-1,A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 38 OF 44
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-36,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY,ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION,AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9804-1,A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT
RESOLUTION NO.99-39,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF APACHE JUNCTION,PINAL COUNTY ARIZONA,RELATING TO TAXATION,LEVYING UPON
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,
SUBJECT TO TAXATION,AND WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT SL 9701-1,A CERTAIN SUM UPON EACH ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF VALUATION
SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THE ANNUAL EXPENSE OF THE SAID
MUNICIPAL STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICTS,AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY,
BE APPROVED.
Vice Mayor Surra SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:5-1 (Councilmember Dietz voted in opposition.)
The motion carried without the emergency clause.
OLD BUSINESS.
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION FROM
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION FOR
HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING FOR FY 1999-2000
AND DIRECTION REGARDING PREPARATION OF
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 39 OF 44
CONTRACTS
briefed the council
recommendations due
discussions.These
total funding.
)City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
on the item.The commission had reviewed their previous
to the $5,000 error made during their original
are their final recommendations,staying with the $80.000
Councilmember Eck commented he
thought the Boys & Girls Club showed $30,000 in funding on the main budget.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated
that is what they asked for.
Councilmember Urich complimented the
commission for not taking their job lightly.
Vice Mayor Surra advised that
Chairperson Cranmer's son is home from the hospital.He had been burned the
night of the last council meeting and Chairperson Cranmer had been in the
middle of her briefing at the time she was called away.
Mayor Coleman closed the discussion
and called for a motion.
Councilmember Urich MOVED THAT THE
REVISED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION FOR
HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING FOR FY 1999-2000 AS APPROVED AT THEIR MEETING OF JUNE
18,1999,BE ACCEPTED AND THAT THE SERVICE CONTRACTS REFLECTING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF ORDINANCE NO.659,THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION AS
APPROVED AT THEIR MEETING OF MAY 24,1999,AND OTHER APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS
BE RETURNED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH FINAL BUDGET
ADOPTION.
Councilmember Dietz SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 40 OF 44
NEW BUSINESS,
None.
COUNCIL DIRECTION TO STAFF ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR ACTION
DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING PINAL COUNTY
REQUEST FOR SUPPORT OF REGIONAL LANDFILL )
)City Manager Curtis Shook briefed
the council on this item.The county is looking for the support of the
municipalities in Pinal County in seeking a long term landfill site.County
Supervisor Sandie Smith was in attendance to answer any questions.
Mayor Coleman asked if they were
starting the process to search for a site.
County Supervisor Sandie Smith
stated that was correct.They need to know if they will have a certain waste
stream,and if the waste stream is dedicated somewhere else they need to know
that.She is only waiting on letters from Apache Junction and Florence.
Mayor Coleman closed the discussion
with no more questions and called for a motion.
Vice Mayor Surra MOVED THAT THE
FOLLOWING DIRECTION BE GIVEN TO STAFF REGARDING PINAL COUNTY'S REQUEST FOR
SUPPORT OF THE REGIONAL LANDFILL:THAT A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AS
OUTLINED IN THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM SUPERVISOR OF DISTRICT 2,
SANDIE SMITH,BE SENT IN IN ORDER TO DEFINE THE PARAMETERS WITH WHICH OUR
SUPPORT CAN BE LEANT TO THE PROJECT.
Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
SELECTION OF MEETING DATES.TIMES.LOCATIONS.AND PURPOSES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 41 OF 44
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT THE
TENTATIVE BUDGET ADOPTION BE HELD ON JULY 19 AT 7:00 P.M.PRIOR TO OUR REGULAR
WORK SESSION IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
EXECUTIVE SESSION BE HELD AT 6:00 P.M
P.M.ON MONDAY,JULY 19,1999,IN THE
CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY:AND
Vice Mayor Surra SECONDED THE
Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT AN
.AND A WORK SESSION AT BE HELD AT 7:00
CITY CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL
THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M.
THE CITY CONFERENCE ROOM.
MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
INFORMATION AND REPORTS
BE HELD ON TUESDAY,JULY 20,1999,IN
Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE
Councilmember Urich stated she went to the 4th of July celebration at the high
school and she thought it was better than last year.She received a lot of
compliments from the citizens,and she thought it was a good crowd.
Mayor Coleman stated it was a massive crowd.
Vice Mayor Surra stated the crowd was so massive she and her family stayed
home and watched the fireworks from her roof.
Councilmember Durbala stated his family watched it from the golf course and
the sprinklers went off just as his son got up.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 42 OF 44
ADJOURNMENT
)Mayor Coleman adjourned the
meeting at 11:24 p.m.
Consent Agenda Items are as follows:
1.Acceptance of Agenda.
2.Acceptance of Minutes of Regular Meeting of June 15,1999.
3.Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Community by City Employees.
Employees receiving recognition are:Public Works employees;Parks and
Recreation employees;Kraig Carmickle;and "B" Hoyt.
4.Acceptance of the Annual Report of the Apache Junction Public Library
Board of Trustees for 1998-99 fiscal year.
5.Approval of Resolution No.99-42,Authorizing the execution and delivery
of an equipment lease/purchase agreement for software from Vision
Software,Inc.for the Public Safety Department and from Tidemark
Computer Systems,Inc.for the Development Services and City Clerk's
Departments.
6.Approval of Resolution No.99-38,Authorization for staff to apply for a
lease of a portion of "Silly Mountain" from the United States Department
of Interior for recreational and public purposes.
7.Authorization for City Manager to enter into Intergovernmental Agreement
with Apache Junction Unified School District No.43 for vehicle use for
special trips.
ACCEPTED THIS 3RD DAY OF AUGUST ,1999,BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA.
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 3RD DAY OF AUGUST ,1999.
DOUGLAS CpLEMAN
Mayor
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
PAGE 43 OF 44
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 6th day of July,1999.I further certify that
the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
Dated this 27th day of July,1999.
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 6,1999
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ORIGINAL
CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 6, 1999
8:00 P.M.
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July 6, 1999
MAYOR COLEMAN:Apache Junction City Council.I
appreciate your patience with us.We've had many meetings
where we're already out by the sign rather than just
starting.
Our invocation will be led by Vice Mayor Surra and
the Pledge of Allegiance by Council Member Urich.
(Invocation Led by Mayor Surra)
(Pledge of Allegiance Led by Council Member Urich)
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you.
Roll call.
THE CLERK:Mayor Coleman?
MAYOR COLEMAN:Present.
THE CLERK:Vice Mayor Surra?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Here.
THE CLERK:Council Member Dietz?
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Here.
THE CLERK:Council Member Durbala?
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Here.
THE CLERK:Council Member Urich?
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Here.
THE CLERK:Council Member Insalaco -- Mayor
Council Member Insalaco is on vacation.He will not be here
this evening.
Council Member Eck?
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COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Here.
THE CLERK:Six members present.We have a quorum,
Your Honor.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you.
I'll call for a motion on the consent agenda.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Your Honor?
MAYOR COLEMAN:Vice Mayor?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:I move that the consent agenda
be accepted as presented and that we recognize the
outstanding service to the community by the following City
employees:
The Public Works staff, the Engineering staff, the
Parks and Recreation staff, Parks and Recreation Pool
employee Craig Carmikel (phonetic), and maintenance
supervisor Bea Hoyt (phonetic);
and that the annual report of the Apache Junction
Public Library Board of Trustees for fiscal year 1998/99 be
accepted as presented;
and that resolution number 99-42, a resolution of
the Mayor and City Council of the City of Apache Junction,
Pinal County, Arizona, authorizing the execution and delivery
of equipment lease purchase agreement and related instruments
and determining other matters in connection therewith be
approved;
and that resolution number 99-38, a resolution of
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the Mayor and City Council of the City of Apache Junction,
Arizona, authorizing City staff to apply for a lease of a
portion of Silly Mountain from the United States Department
of Interior, and recreate -- for recreation and public
purposes be approved;
and that the intergovernmental agreement between
Apache Junction Unified School District Number 43 and the
City of Apache Junction for a vehicle use for special trips
be approved with the amendment that the ending date as shown
in section 2.2 be changed to June 30th, the year 2000, and
that authorization be given to the City manager to sign that
agreement.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Second, Your Honor.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Moved and seconded.
Roll call.
THE CLERK:Council Member Dietz?
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Yes.
THE CLERK:Council Member Durbala?
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Yes.
THE CLERK:Council Member Eck?
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Yes.
THE CLERK:Council Member Urich?
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Yes.
THE CLERK:Vice Mayor Surra?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Yes.
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THE CLERK:Mayor Coleman?
MAYOR COLEMAN:Yes.
THE CLERK:Unanimous, Your Honor.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you.
Item number eight, presentation and possible
discussion from Jim Carey, Senior Vice President:of
Operations, for MediaCom (phonetic).And, Mr, Shook, perhaps
I could go to you for an introduction and --
MR. SHOOK:Yeah.Please approach the podium.My
first time meeting him as well, so --
MAYOR COLEMAN:Oh, okay.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Well, may I introduce Mr. Carey,
our City Manager, Curtis Shook.And Curtis, may I introduce
Mr. Carey.
MR. CAREY:Your Honor, members of council, thank
you for having us tonight.
FEMALE VOICE:Could you move the microphone up,
please.Thank you.
MR. CAREY:Oh.Is that better?
FEMALE VOICE:Yes.
MR. CAREY:I'll be brief.I know you're running
late tonight, but we do appreciate this opportunity to come
by.
Again, I'm Jim Carey, I'm Senior Vice President of
Operations for MediaCom, and .we the company that
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purchasing the assets of Triax Cablevision.And we hope to
have that transaction done sometime in October and we'll be
taking over the cable operations that serve Apache Junction
here.
With me tonight I have Lou Gentile (phonetic) who's
our western regional manager.He's in Sun City, California.
And with him is the general manager of our Sun City systems,
Cheryl Smith.
We've got some informational material I'd like to
just pass out for you, and you can look at this at your
leisure, and I'll just go over a few things in it.
We've got information about our company, some
latest press releases, some of the acquisitions that we've
done here in the last year.We've also got numerous
testimonial letters from government officials from around the
country where we do business affirming the fact that when we
purchase cable systems that we come in and live up to our
obligations and do what we say we're going to do.
We started our company in -- just to give you a
little history of it -- in 1995.Roko Kimeso (phonetic) is
the founder and chairman.He's got a strong financial
background.He was with Chase Manhattan Bank, senior vice
president, and several other financial institutions before he
got into the cable business 25 years ago.I've got 20 years
in the business myself, and all of the senior management team
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have been around quite awhile in this industry.And we --
Roko and I actually worked together with CableVision
Industries (phonetic) before he put this company together in
1995.
Started out with the purchase of a system in
Richcrest (phonetic), California, which was the first
acquisition, and then last year at this time, which made us a
real company, we purchased the assets of U.S. Cable, which
was owned by CableVisiion Systems, which was about 250,000
subscribers in eight states throughout the southeast and
midwest.
Their secondary, smaller markets, much similar to
Apache Junction here, growing areas, suburban areas, and
that's what we're focusing on.We like to go in to these
type of areas and provide the same level of service that the
big companies are providing in the big cities.And that's
where we think we've found our niche.And we -- when we
purchased the U.S. Cable properties last year, there were
10,000 miles of cable plant (phonetic) stretched over eight
states, like I said.And we rebuilt half of that last year,
and we're totally rebuilding the rest of that acquisition
this year.And we'll be completely done, it'll be
state-of-the-art, 750 megahertz cable systems, digital
technology, two way plants with Internet access, all the
bells and whistles that all the big city cable systems have.
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That's our focus and we are very excited about
coming into this market and providing the same level of
service that we're providing throughout the rest of the
company -- the country.
So with that, I will take any questions that you
might have and answer any questions or concerns, and -- or my
staff if any of you have any questions for them.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you, Your Honor.
Council Member Urich?
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Looking at your MediaCom
pledge, I'm -- it just my heart good to hear you mention --
provide first class customer care and a consistently superior
product with the level of reliability customers expect,
because that's one thing I would like to see negotiated, is
to put customer back into customer service, because that has
not been occurring.I'm sure you probably have had a chance
to read the contract and I'm sure based on what you're saying
here and you want to become I believe the eighth largest
cable company --
MR. CAREY:Right.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:-- in the country.
MR. CAREY:Correct.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Do you have any problems
with any of the requests that we've asked for in the contract
that we have with Triax?
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MR. CAREY:Well, we've been informed and kept up
to date with the negotiations, and of course those are going
on between yourselves and Triax, and we're a third party to
that right now; however, when this transaction is done,
whatever agreement is struck between you and Triax, we will
live up to 100 percent.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:How about the entire
contract -- if they went with the entire contract, could you
live with the entire contract?
MR. CAREY:Well, I think that you know we're
involved and we're participating in the negotiations with
that, and I believe that whatever -- and surely whatever is
struck as a deal will become our obligation to fulfill.So,
yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:So that's a commitment I'm
hearing from you?
MR. CAREY:It's a commitment to fulfill the
obligations as set forth in the contract.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:And you're certainly for
customer service?
MR. CAREY:Absolutely.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Thank you.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Does that mean back at your
home office or does that mean local?
MR. CAREY:We have four regions.Our company is
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broken up into four regions.We have a regional office in
Sun City, California; we have one in Benton (phonetic),
Kentucky; we've got one in Gulf Breeze (phonetic), Florida;
and we've got one in Dagsburrough (phonetic), Delaware.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:So customer service calls
would be directed to one of those centers?
MR. CAREY:No.The western region, which this
system will be operated out of in Sun City, serves systems in
Clear Lake, California, Ridgecrest, Kern Valley, Valley
Center, and Nogales, Arizona.We have a system in Arizona
now.They all have their own separate facilities in each
system.They answer their own telephone calls and then they
do all of that locally.
Now, how we're going to do -- manage it -- the
system out of here, we're just not that far enough along to
determine and for me to give you an honest answer as to how
we're going to do that.It would be my recommendation I
think to Lou (phonetic) you know that we establish some sort
of presence here where we do have telephone lines; however,
•you know it's just really too early to say.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Now, would the published
phone numbers --
MR. CAREY:But the furtherest (phonetic)(sic)
away it would be would be Sun City, California, which is you
know much closer to the situation than it is now.
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MAYOR COLEMAN:Let me go over to Councilman Eck.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Sir, did I hear you right?
You -- if a customer had a problem and called you after
hours, you will have a local number that they call with a 24
hour person on stand-by to take care of that emergency?
MR. CAREY:We run service -- we run customer
service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If a customer
calls at 3:00 in the morning from anywhere in the country,
they can order HBO, they can get a service call, they can --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Can they get somebody out to
repair their cable?
MR. CAREY:Absolutely.Absolutely.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:ASAP?
MR. CAREY:ASAP.It's the only way we can
operate.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:It's a live voice they're
going to hear?
MR. CAREY:Pardon?
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:A live voice they're going
to hear?
MR. CAREY:Live voice 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.That's the way we operate our systems now and that's
the way -- that's the only way that we can figure we can --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:So all your -- the areas you
mentioned have this local number at each individual area and
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they have a local representative out then.
MR. CAREY:In our call centers today, yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:And that's the way you would
run Apache Junction?
MR. CAREY:Right.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Do you know your average
turnaround for response to a call -- a service call to the
home?
MR. CAREY:To a service call?We respond to 97
percent of our calls within a 24 -hour period.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Council Member Durbala?
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well, I have two questions
that -- one is I think what everybody's eluding to, you
actually have an office in Apache Junction staffed by people
here Monday through Saturday or Monday through Friday; is
that true?
MR. CAREY:Do they have an office now?Does Triax
have an office?Are you asking me what we would do?
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well, I'm asking you will
MediaCom have an office --
MR. CAREY:Oh.Like I said, it's really too early
to -
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:So --
MR. CAREY:-- for me to tell you how we're going
to manage that system, but there's an office there now,
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there's certainly service people there, and there's customer
service representatives --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well, that's debatable, I
can tell you that by many people in the community, so --
MR. CAREY:Oh.Oh, okay.. Well, I -- you know --
okay.We're different --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:What I'm asking though --
what I'm asking you is Triax has promised us a lot of things
such as a local office --
MR. CAREY:Right.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- but when our,people
call and you call up, you get connected in Minnesota.
MR. CAREY:Well, let me tell you worst case as to
how it would be.Worst case, that call would go to one of
our operating call systems that are opened 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Uh-huh.
MR. CAREY:That call would be dispatched
immediately locally here for somebody to go to run.It would
be -- we would provide a 24 hours a day, seven day a week
service.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.I think we're kind
of beating around the bush here.
MR. CAREY:Right.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:What I'm asking is if I go
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to someplace in the City, MediaCom's going to have an office,
I can walk in at 9:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the
afternoon, and I can talk to a human body.Yes or no?
MR. CAREY:Yes.Yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:And that would be like
Monday through Friday or Monday through Saturday?Normal
business hours.
MR. CAREY:Probably Monday -- Monday through
Saturday.Saturday morning at least.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.
MR. CAREY:But --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Then my next question is I
know you're saying you're too -- not too far along yet or
maybe you don't have the information yet.I'd like to get
some kind of idea what your rates are going to look like.
MR- CAREY:Pretty similar to what they are now.I
mean we're not going to come in and raise the rates.We're
going to --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well --
MR. CAREY:-- we're going to do this.We're going
to rebuild the system --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Right.I realize that.
That's --
MR. CAREY:-- we're going to bring it up to a
state-of-the-art facility, we're going to do customer surveys
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to determine what kind of programming is needed, wanted, and
accepted by the community, and we're going to -- of course
programming costs money and we're -- we would certainly have
to adjust the rates accordingly.
Now, we don't -- you know we don't come in and
arbitrarily raise the rates without adding any services or
anything else.And going forward, quite frankly, the rates
are getting to a point to where we know we're going to --
we're having to.-- you know grow our business with ancillary
revenue streams, such as digital (indiscernible), Internet
access service, even telephony as we go forward.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.Well, we've had
a --
VICE-MAYOR SURRA:And telepathy?that sounds
interesting.I might sign up for that.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:We had a survey done a
couple years ago which _actually has been higher than any of
the City elections, so that gives you an idea where people
are more concerned about their cable than some of the other
things that go on in the community.We would be glad to pass
that along to you to give you an idea of what some of the
people said what they were looking for services to help you
in your survey.
MR. CAREY:Well, you know we do very -- you know
we know how to do high quality professional surveys --
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COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well --
MR. CAREY:-- and that we'd love to see your
information.However, you know I can't speak you know I mean
however Triax operated is one thing.We know how we operate.
We know what -- you know --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.Well, we're -- I
think what we're trying to do is to find out how you operate.
We do know how Triax operates and we do want to get something
a lot better.
MR. CAREY:Well, this -- we've got -- we're full
of references right here.You're welcome to call any of
these or -- you know --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well, I've seen that you
had a number of them in here.I don't know how many -- 20 --
25?
MR. CAREY:Yeah.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Thirty -- maybe 40 from
different cities --
MR. CAREY:And --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- and communities.
MR. CAREY:Absolutely.Give any of those people a
call and ask them that -- when we came in and committed just
like I stood up last year and went to a number of these
communities and told them what we were going to do with those
properties after we bought them, and believe me, those people
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will tell you that we did exactly what we said we were going
to do.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:I do like, such as
Councilman Urich, I do like a couple things in your pledge
about the service 24 hours a day by phone and by email which
is pretty nice to have.I do also like the on -time
guarantee.We make a promise to our customers to arrive on
time for all scheduled installation service appointments.If
we fail, the customer is compensated with a free installation
or a $20 service credit.
MR. CAREY:And we offer a money -back guarantee.
If you're not satisfied, we give you your money back.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Right.That says for 30
days.And I do like it where you put in here a commitment to
the community because I don't think I've ever seen too many
people from the Triax --
MR. CAREY:Well, you'll --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- be involved in a lot of
community -- functions.That's why I was wanting to make
sure you had a local office in the sense --
MR. CAREY:Let me just -- yeah.Let me tell you
today is the first time I've been to Apache Junction.I've
been to Phoenix a number of times; I've never been out here.
But I'm telling you we are just completely overwhelmed at the
growth that's out here.And this is going to be one of our
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primary markets.I mean it's going to be one of the best
growth areas that we have in a company that's serving -- that
will be serving 750,000 subscribers.And we are going to --
I mean your -- we're going to be all over this place.I mean
you're going to see us, we're going to be involved in the
community, we're going to put people in here that know how to
get involved in the community, and we're going to -- you know
we're going to cater to your needs.We want to be a part of
this growth.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.I would like to ask
you one question.Before the transfer hearing if that --
when that comes up, if possible if we can't see a copy of
your projected rates at that time, because by that time you
should be able to know what you're going to be doing.Is
that possible?
MR. CAREY:We're not -- we have no -- we have --
I'll tell you right now.We have no intention of touching
the rates you know at the close.I mean we're going to close
in September/October you know.And we certainly wouldn't
adjust any sort of rates you know inside a 12 month period
since they've been adjusted.And we certainly wouldn't do
that without adding some sort of services and we wouldn't add
the services unless you know we could substantiate that
through surveys.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.And then as far as
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putting the -- one of the 750 megahertz --
MR. CAREY:Right.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- how long is that going
to take you?The two years?Less than that?
MR. CAREY:It -- I tell you -- I will tell you
unofficially that it -- we're going to do it less than that
in this market because this is such a strong market.I mean
we want to get this one done.This one -- you --
MAYOR COLEMAN:Like within 12 months?
MR. CAREY:You -- I mean you people -- I tell
you -- yeah.You know I know what you're -- I mean you've
got some serious growth going on here.And I know that it's
taking a lot for you people to keep up with that.I mean
this is phenomenal tome.I just rode around today and I
absolutely could not believe it.And I'm from Atlanta,
Georgia, and every time you wake up in the morning, there's a
new house in front of you --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Right.
MR. CAREY:-- but this is incredible.It really
is.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Then what about like the
Internet system or Internet service, will you also be a
provider with that in a short period of time or --
MR. CAREY:Yes, sir.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.And one thing that
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I guess most people ask about and I'm -- we keep getting the
run around from the present company here, is are you going to
be able to get the Suns games.We get told all kinds of
things and --
MR. CAREY:Can't tell you.I'm sorry.I just
couldn't answer that.I'm not that far along with this thing
yet to understand that issue, but --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Well, with that though there's
possibility that there might have to be a purchase from
another cable company in order to get the Suns games, but
what our situation is is over here they're watching these
games that we're not getting, and there's other companies
purchasing this from that company, and our citizens want
that.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:- A little less than three
miles from the --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:They want to be able to see
that, so --
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- city limits.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:-- are you willing to?
MR. CAREY:I will certainly take a look at it and
I will get focused on the issue and give you an answer back
as soon as I possible can within the next two to three weeks,
if that's acceptable.I've just -- you've just got me
blindsighted.I don't -- I'm not aware of the issue.
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COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Well, yeah, I know they have
the Braves and you know the Hawks and -- in Atlanta, but we
have our Suns.
MR. CAREY:I know who the Suns are and I just --
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Do you have any idea of what
your satisfied customers -- what percentage of satisfied
customers that you have?
MR. CAREY:Well, let --
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:I mean how many times have
you had to give the money back?
MR. CAREY:-- I'll tell you we're dealing with
this.I mean we -- we're coming in to a lot of systems that
have been neglected over the past.And you know I can't
speak this one.I'm saying that the ones we have purchased
in the past were somewhat neglected, they were quote
"stepchildren" of larger cable companies that had
metropolitan markets and they did not want these smaller
market systems.
We came in, purchased those, and we're cleaning up
years of a bad image in these systems.And I think that what
we have done in a couple of years is phenomenal and I think
that we have brought a lot of customers around.It's
substantiated with the growth rates that we had last year
after we rebuild this -- these systems.A lot of customers
that had fallen off, that had abandoned the service, came
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back to us.The mayors, the councils, gave us testimonial
letters.As a matter of fact, we were named Business of the
Year in Gulf Breeze, Florida, which had a bad history of
being very unhappy with their cable service down there before
we bought it.
So these things take time.I mean you don't
just -- I mean you have to spend millions and millions of
dollars to rebuild one of these cable systems and then you
have to you know promote good will.We have to deal with you
people to make you realize that we're serious about what
we're doing.And then we have to convince the customer that
we're providing a product that's worth what we're charging
them for it.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Well, my brother lives in
Athens, not too far from Atlanta.
MR. CAREY:Athens, Georgia?I was born in Athens,
Georgia.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Really.
MR. CAREY:As a matter of fact, I went to the
University of Georgia.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Really.
MR. CAREY:Yeah.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:We -- one would never know
that --
MR. CAREY:So I know all about Athens.
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COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:The humidity is a lot better
out here.
MR. CAREY:Well, it sure is, but it's a lot hotter
here, so --
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:But it's a dry heat.
MR. CAREY:It is -- you know.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Vice Mayor Surra?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Mr. Carey, would you be able to
outline for me please the process that you use in order to
determine when and if you're going to expand the service that
you're going to provide locally here?What will be the
contributing factors that you will use to determine how many
local offices you will have and where you might be locating
them?
MR. CAREY:Well, I don't think that you know a
10,000 subscriber -- more or less this is 8,000 subscribers
and there's a lot of seasonal activity that comes and goes
during the year.I don't think that a market this size would
warrant more than one office here.We have much larger
systems where we can really accommodate the needs of the
customer with one office, and I think if we had one well run
customer service office here, that would be sufficient.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:But to answer my question then,
what would be your process to determine when you would need
additional local offices?What -- how would you come to that
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conclusion?
MR. CAREY:Well, you know we kind of -- we do
customer service surveys every year and we determine it from
that, from the amount of phone traffic we're getting, we do
studies all the time on our incoming phones, you know what --
we hold our customer service people to strict standards on
how many you know -- we answer 95 percent of our calls within
30 seconds.You know our abandonment rate, we will not
tolerate anything more than three percent abandonment rate.
That means a person just --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Right.
MR. CAREY:-- hangs up before we get to them.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Right.
MR. CAREY:And during an outage situation, that's
where that three percent comes in because everybody calling
in at once and you can't accommodate them.There's no human
way you can do it.
So in a normal operating mode, we're answering all
of our calls 100 percent of the time.When we have like a --
when a storm knocks out a town, the phones get overrun for a
while, and we've managed through that process, and then we're
back to even again.
But we -- you know through those -- and you know
when we realize -- I mean that's how we realize -- we know --
you know we've worked it out as to ---we know how many calls
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a customer service representative can actually take in a day.
You know how many they should take, how long they should stay
on the phone, and all these sort of things.And we monitor
all those processes.And if we're getting 1,000 calls, we
know how many customer service reps it's going to take to
handle that 1,000 calls.If that level goes up to 1100, we
know we're going to need more reps, so we put them on.I
mean as the phone activity increases, we increase our
personnel.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Right.And that answers the
question about how much staff you have.You haven't answered
my question regarding the number of locations within the City
limits.Will it depend on the size of the City; will it
depend on the amount of foot traffic that comes in and out of
an office?I understand your staffing .levels --
MR. CAREY:Right.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:-- you know versus the workload
for phones.
MR. CAREY:Well, all of the above.All of the
above of what you're saying.I mean if we were overwhelmed
with walk-in traffic, if it was geographically you know -- if
you were spread out 50 miles, we might need an office on each
side of the location, or what have you.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:But you don't really have a
prescribed .process; you look at it individually, is that what
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you're saying?
MR. CAREY:We do.We do.We do.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So we would have no way of
knowing ahead of time whether we will get a local office that
is centrally located within our community to what the
boundaries are now and whether that would expand into
satellite offices in the future; is that what you're telling
me?
MR. CAREY:Well, I take it that you're not
satisfied with the location of the office now; is that --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Well, I would not like to say
that.
MR. CAREY:Right.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:I'm just interested in what you
would be doing about locating an office.
MR. CAREY:Okay.Well, that -- if we -- you know
if we're coming in in a situation fresh to where we can build
the system from scratch, you know we're going to find the
most central location we can.And also the demographics;
there's -- you know you have to look at --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Yeah.
MR. CAREY:-- look at the demographics of the
community.There's a lot of areas in a community where
there's a lot of walk-in traffic because people like to pay
cash for their bills; other areas, people send all their
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bills in by check.So we try to -- we look at it like that,
and also the geography of the whole thing, and the densities
of the population, and the -- you know all of those --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So when there are significant
changes in any of those areas, we could certainly apply to
you to look at that in order to supply another location if
necessary?
MR. CAREY:Sure.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Thanks.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Councilman Durbala?
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:I have a couple things.I
guess we're getting more into areas that I would appreciate
some answers on.
How about on the governmental and economic
development channels which I've noticed in other cities, of
course the cities -- has their own station or their channel.
And I've noticed where a lot of cities have a station that is
basically given to the city, in other words, for the
different businesses, no matter what kind of business -- it
doesn't have to be affiliated with anybody, either the
chamber, or the city, or anything like that, as long as it's
in the city -- that they can use that for their low cost
advertising.
Do you have something like that in mind that you
plan on giving the city?
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MR. CAREY:Well, I tell you I really don't know of
a system that gives away advertising.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Well, no, the
advertising -- you're giving us the channel is all --
available for that channel to have that.
MR. CAREY:But that's -- it's not available for
that; it's available for government and educational access
and non-profit organizations.It's -- we sell our
advertising.That's a revenue stream for us.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.Well, a channel
that I'm talking about is basically given to the City --
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Excuse me. Joe.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:-- to promote local
businesses --
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Your mic apparently is off.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:To give to the City to --
for local businesses to use to attract more shoppers into our
community through the cable system.And that was what I was
pointing at.
The second thing is I was wondering if you are also
going to be giving a -- the educational channel as well as a
grant for that -- for the different -- for the school
districts to buy equipment as well as with the city -- pay
grants such as include without limited to studio and portable
production equipment, editing equipment and program playback
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equipment.I was wondering what your feelings is -- is on
that.
MR. CAREY:We're not -- we are not -- we're not in
the midst of these negotiations.Triax -- this is being
negotiated with Triax and the City.So we're out of that
process right now, sir, just to be honest with you.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:I'm just asking do you
have that in your other contracts with other cities?
MR. CAREY:We provide government access channels
in some of our communities.Some use them; some don't.
We -- I don't -- I can't tell you of a situation to where we
allow businesses to advertise on the government access
channel if that's your question.We do not allow that.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:No, that was --that was a
lot earlier, but we'll -- I'm talking about the other
channels would be available as well as the PEG grant
(phonetic) or something similar to that to assist the school
districts in buying --
MR. CAREY:Whatever is -- whatever the FCC
requires us to do, we do.
COUNCIL MEMBER DURBALA:Okay.That all the
questions I have, Your Honor.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Any other questions, comments?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Well, I have a _very general one
if -I might.
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Everyone always advertises that there are 54
channels and you know I count better than that because it
doesn't even start at one.Okay?So I -- you know -- and it
only goes to 53.So I just wonder you know where we get
these -- because there's big gaps in between some of the
channel numbers.So there are not 54 channels available to
us that are active and able to be accessed.
Would you agree to that statement?
MR. CAREY:I will say that we know how to count
and we'll tell you the right number of channels.We don't
think that we can fool the public like that from our
standpoint.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Okay.
MR. CAREY:I -- you know if there's 53 channels,
we're going to say 53.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So how many channels are we
going to have when you take over in October?
MR. CAREY:Whatever --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Real channels.I mean real that
I could actually tune to one you know like with my little
remote?
MR. CAREY:Well, right now -- let me see.And I
can't -- -I'm going to take a stab at this, but I don't know .
if I'M correct or not, so don't hold me to this.But I think
right now that this system is maxed out channel -wise, okay?
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So we're going to have to rebuild this system, we're going to
have to upgrade it to 750 megahertz to have channel capacity
to add channels.Right now, I think -- Steve, are we -- am I
correct?
MALE VOICE:Yes.
MR. CAREY:I'm correct.Okay.Good.I'm right
for once.But we -- there's no available space to put
another channel on right now.Until we come in, rebuild the
system, it's channel locked.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So that's why when we got the
History Channel we lost a different channel, even though our
price went up; is that what you're saying?
MR. CAREY:I don't know.That's them; that's not
us.But --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Oh, okay.I just wonder if that
was a common occurrence in your company.
MR. CAREY:No.We -- we're not going to do that.
We would rather come in and rebuild the system, create
capacity, add channels as needed and necessary, as you
know -- as demands by the community are directed to us, and
do our business like that.
I'm telling you -- I will make this statement.You
will not be dissatisfied with our service.You will not have
a problem with MediaCom.We are good cable operators.We
come in -- we don't -- we can't understand how you know you
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could run a business and spend millions of dollars for it --
this thing's costing us millions and millions of dollars.
And we're not just going to walk off and forget
about it.We're going to be here making sure that every
penny of that money is well spent, and we're going to rebuild
the system, to make sure that we can grow this business, so
we can attract more money to go out and buy more cable
systems and grow our business just like any other business.
That's just the way it has to operate.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Council Member Dietz?
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:I just had a comment.
I wanted to thank you for coming out and it's
pretty brave of you after what we've been through --
MR. CAREY:Thank you, sir.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:And it sounds like that your
company has got the right focus.Too bad we can't say that
for the prior.And I really like your commitment to the
community and I hope that comes true.
MR. CAREY:It will.I promise you.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:I had one other, Your Honor.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Council Member Eck?
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:I missed one.How long will
it be before, if you know, you can provide this area with Pay
Per View?
MR. CAREY:Well, that's another reason that --
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COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:How important is it to your
company because it's --
MR. CAREY:Extremely important.Pay Per View
is --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:It's very important to us and
we're still trying to get Pay Per View.
MR. CAREY:Well, that's one of the upsides we see
here.
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:Can you drop one National
Geographic Channel to put on Pay Per View?Is that -- I
don't know how it works.
MR. CAREY:Well, we'd rather let you know the
person who wants to watch National Geographic have that --we
add the Pay Per Views, but you know cable is a very narrow
casted type of a media.You know you -- there's people that
want to watch one channel -- I mean that's the purpose of it
all.You can have 70 or 80 channels and there'll be
something for everybody.And that's what -- that's why we
want to rebuild the system where we can add these sort of
channels.Pay Per View is a very -- is very strong growth
stream for us and we you know -- especially the events you
know.People like to --
COUNCIL MEMBER ECK:So you would definitely say
it'd be a top priority?
MR. CAREY:Top priority.Just as soon as we get
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the system rebuild and if you can read you know between what
I'm saying here, I mean you're channel locked, okay?I mean
we've got nowhere to go with this system until we rebuild it.
So we have to rebuild it right now you know.
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:Your Honor?
MAYOR COLEMAN:Council Member Urich?
COUNCIL MEMBER URICH:I just have one other thing.
I've talked to so many of our constituents that
have been so frustrated with customer service, they have
switched to satellite dish.And either that or they stand in
line almost to give complaints to me about the present system
that we have.And I would be more than happy to have us add
our letter to your stack of recommendations if it comes out
that way.
MR. CAREY:Well, I appreciate that.And this time
next year or -- yeah, this time next year, I would imagine
that that we can have that conversation and I could be proud
to stand up here and tell you that I have fulfilled all of
our commitments.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Well, can you give me again that
time frame that you would have for the rebuild of this
system?
MR. CAREY:I will tell you that this will be a top
priority, and we don't have the schedule nailed down yet.
This is going to be a very -- this is going to be at the top
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of the list out of -- you know there's 300 systems in this
acquisition -- 300 little head -ins as we call them.And this
is the absolute cream of the crop of the whole acquisition is
Apache Junction.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Well, there is a possibility
here that this franchise agreement that we would be coming to
with Triax will have you know a short term until we see
certain things that would be happening before it could be
extended because we're -- you know we've been burned once
already with a 15 year contract that was impossible to live
with and we had to live with it.
So if your time frame is not within that short
contract time, we would have no way of being able to know
whether or not we can automatically extend a franchise
agreement.That's why I would need something that would --
MR. CAREY:Well, you know let's be --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:-- lead me to believe it would
be worth giving a contract at all.
MR. CAREY:I don't think that we want to get into
a negotiating session tonight, but I would think that if we
agree to a period to rebuild this system then I think it
would be you know feasible for you to agree to a longer term
period.Right?If we do it within that period, then give us
the additional time.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:But you say you're not in these
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negotiations; it's Triax we're negotiating with.
MR. CAREY:Well, you are.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So --
MR. CAREY:But if we come to you after they do
this, and we want the franchise transferred, okay, we're
going to have to transfer the franchise after this process.
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Right.
MR. CAREY:And you've got in there this window.
And I say, okay, if I do it in that window, will you give me
10 more years; what will you say?
VICE MAYOR SURRA:Right.And yet you made a
statement earlier that says whatever we come up with in an
agreement with Triax you would live with and abide by --
MR. CAREY:Well, we have to.I mean it's going to
be the agreement and --
VICE MAYOR SURRA:So then you can't come to us and
say can you expand that window, because you're going to agree
to that.
MR. CAREY:Well, you're probably right, but I
think it would just be -- you know I think it would be -- you
know a good thing if we showed the good will that we're going
to abide by all of that that we can extend a time.Let's say
we go out and borrow the money to do these rebuilds.Now, if
we go to a bank and say, "Okay, we've got a guarantee that we
can be in business there for two years, will you loan us $20
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million to rebuild that system?:And they say, "No.But if
you go out and get 10 -- 15 years, we will."
So that's what we're faced with as an operator.We
have to go out and convince the banks and the investment
banking firms to give us the money that we've got a license
to do business where we're going to spend that money, and we
got to -- which will give us an opportunity to make a payback
on it.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:But on the other hand, since
we've been burned you know and we're looking at a short time
to get this system in since we haven't had a very good system
for all this time, how can --
MR. CAREY:Well, why don't you put in the
agreement --
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:-- how can we approve double
that short amount of time to rebuild the system and then
reward the extended contract?
MR. CAREY:Well, that's -- I mean why don't you
put that in the agreement?
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:It seems to me that we would
stick with a --
MR. CAREY:Say, look, if you rebuild the system,
we'll give you X amount of years.And if you rebuild it this
quick, then you get X more years.That -- I think that would
be you know agreeable.
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COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Ah, we'll see what happens
when that --
MAYOR COLEMAN Other questions?
Thank you very much.Certainly appreciate you
coming out and --
MR. CAREY:Thanks.Enjoyed being here
MAYOR COLEMAN:-- spending the time with us
MR. CAREY:You got a great looking community and I
know you're faced with all kind of challenges a s this place
grow, so good luck.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you.
MR. CAREY:And we look forward to being here with
you.
MAYOR COLEMAN:Thank you.
,MR. CAREY:You .bet.
COUNCIL MEMBER DIETZ:Great.
(Group Applauds)
MAYOR COLEMAN:We'll move on to item now to call
to the public.This is the time set aside at each of our
council meetings for the public to address the council.
If you wish to speak you must fill out a request to
speak form.You may fill one out now and hand it to the City
Clerk, and those are located in the rack by the door as you
come in.
When called upon to speak, please come forward to
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