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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-07-06 City Council Special MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JULY 6,1992 The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona,was held on July 6,1992 at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Damiano called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmen Present: Staff Present: PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Damiano Vice Mayor Eidson Councilwoman Barker Councilman Perkins Councilwoman Alger Councilman Coleman Councilman Cox City Manager Michael R.Lee City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Glenn Gimbut Director of Public Works Rich Broman Interim Dir.of Development Serv./ Planning Division Manager Jim Nakagawa SECOND CDBG PUBLIC HEARING )Housing Rehabilitation Technician John Flumerfelt briefed the Council on this item.He stated that information on projects is available through the CDBG Application Handbook by the Arizona Department of Commerce.He further explained the competing process that the City is going through for these funds. CITY COMPLEX MASTERPLANNING )Public Works Rich Broman briefed the Council on the City Complex masterplanning design. Mr.Ab Hameed (AIA)stated they needed some direction on the planning base that sets the scale of the building;how many buildings,how many square feet,etc.He further explained these needs. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 1 OF 7 Mayor Damiano commented that the Council Chamber building is 8,000 square feet and the Magistrate Court is 9,000 square feet and asked if the difference is because of the offices in the Court building. Mr.Hameed replied that the Court gave them a list of their requirements and that it was more than the 9,000 s.f.,but they met and broke it down like this. Mayor Damiano explained that the Council building should be larger than the Court's. Mr.Hameed described the Court's space. Mr.Mike Munninger stated that the issue at end is to evaluate some alternative concepts;that each plan sets different priorities and they are looking to basically externalize those items and priorities and then get some feedback from the Council.He explained the various concepts. Vice Mayor Eidson asked what will happen with the Chamber of Commerce building as the police facilities are built. Mr.Munninger replied he did not have enough information to give a definite answer. Mr.Hameed stated that once the design starts the Chamber of Commerce building would probably have to go; because of the logistics and the site use it would be very difficult to work around. Vice Mayor Eidson said he is not convinced that it is necessary that the building has to go at this point. City Manager Mike Lee stated that another option was to relocate the building;that there are potential uses for it. Vice Mayor commented that the Veterans Park should not be removed and it should be left there for the community. Councilman Perkins asked if with the single story building the City was going to need more water retention area for the roofs and where are they planning to put it. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 2 OF 7 Mr.Munninger replied that instead of dry wells,open space areas would need to be considered. Councilman Perkins commented he did not think that moving the park would represent a problem with the people who helped in creating it and that it should be the main theme of the plaza area. Mr.Munninger explained the concept of the plaza and stated it was up to the Council to decide on that. Councilwoman Alger asked if it's common for the City Council Chambers to be used by the general public for functions. Mr.Munninger replied that they envision the Council Chambers not only to be used specifically for council meetings but also for other municipal functions for large gatherings. Mr.Hameed commented on other cities that have their council chambers available for other functions. Councilwoman Alger stated it's not a common practice to use the council chambers as a public meeting room;that she is not sure that a park -like atmosphere around the city council chambers is something she would like to see;that she likes where Gazebo park is and she does not agree with the idea of moving it. Mr.Munninger stated the intent is not necessarily to restrict the council chambers to a certain activity; whichever solution is selected from the different options,he would still encourage the development of that type of outdoors space. Mr.Hameed stated if the City Council want that park to remain,then they can work on that and come back With some opportunities. Mayor Damiano stated he believes that the Gazebo and the park should stay considering all the work that has been done there. Mr.Munninger stated the information is there as far as what the options are;one is to retain it as is and the other one showing that it could work in another capacity. Mayor Damiano commented that when the Library was built,the architect designed it in such a way that it could be added on to the northwest. SPECIAL MEETING OFJHE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 TAGE13 OF 7 Mr.Munninger replied that could be doable,but that the most important item is the expanded parking,because if the building expanded in .a different direction,there is not enough property to expand parking over there and he pointed an area where it could be expanded. Councilwoman Alger commented there is the question of whether they want to keep the Senior Center there or relocate it to another site;that there has been consideration that maybe the area where Parks and Recreation is located now could be used by moving either the Handicapped Center or the Chamber building down there,and utilize that area for the Senior Center and then move Parks and Recreation to the City complex or give them an office there for a branch and their main facility at Prospector Park. Mr.Broman commented that discussion has been taken from the Planning Committee to City staff for input about the building removals and relocations and that some discussion at staff level was that perhaps both the Senior Center and Parks and Recreation could be worked - into Prospector Park;that the Senior Center seems to fit at least the concept with Lost Dutchman Park also because of the recreational opportunities out there.He also commented there seems to be some interest in expanding the Library into the Senior Center and if that happens the center would have to be relocated. Councilwoman Alger pointed out that if the Senior Center moves out to the park,it would be the beginning of the community center that the master plan calls for in the parks system. Mr.Broman commented that the multipurpose building might better be relocated at Lost Dutchman Parks rather than on the City complex. Mayor Damiano asked if the Senior Center would not be better closer to the heart of the city. Mr.Broman replied it would only be about a mile from where it is now. Councilman Coleman suggested to look at the most efficient and productive use of the land;look at all the options and use the entire site to its maximum efficiency. Mr.Munninger stated that primarily the difference is either open space or space provided for parking lot and the comparison between the one-story and two-story buildings.He reviewed the three two-story concepts. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 4 OF 7 perspective of the two-story buildings. Mr.Broman asked Mike to explain the Mr.Munninger explained that. Mr.Broman asked how would that design relate to the Library and Police Department buildings. Mr.Hameed explained that. Mr.Lee pointed out that the planning committee came to a consensus of a two-story building. Mr.Munninger replied that the consensus was to modify that and explained this. number two would be more feasible. Mr.Broman explained that concept Vice Mayor Eidson suggested to consider leaving the Chamber of Commerce building there so it can be used; that when the architect draft the plan for the Police Department,if the building is on the path,then it would have to go;but if it's not,then wait until the Court is built there to decide on the building. Mr.Broman replied they are getting closer to the point of hiring the architect for the Police Department and that one of the first things the architect will be doing is the concept sketches and that will take consideration of the Chamber building. Mr.Hameed commented that at this time they have to decide if they want to show the Magistrate Court or not;if they ask that it be shown then they have to make sure that it fits on the site.He explained that to him the site is tight and with the parking and everything else when they do the design they cannot delete the fitting of the masterplanning;but they cannot complete the masterplan by not showing the Magistrate Court. Councilwoman Alger commented that what Vice Mayor Eidson is saying is to leave the Chamber building as long as possible so that the City can use it,and not that it not be shown. Councilwoman Alger MOVED THAT DIRECTION BE GIVEN TO STAFF,THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER,TO USE CONCEPT NO.2, THE TWO-STORY PLAN,AS A BASIC CONCEPT FOR THE COMPLEX;THAT THEY TRY TO RELOCATE THE SENIOR CENTER AND THE HANDICAPPED CENTER OFF SITE,THE SENIOR CENTER POSSIBLY AT PROSPECTOR PARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT; THAT THEY MOVE THE LIBRARY PARK OVER TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE LIBRARY TO PRESERVE THE VIEW;THAT THEY LEAVE VETERANS PARK ALONE;THAT CONCEPT NO.2 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 5 OF 7 PRETTY MUCH TAKES CARE OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CONSIDERATION -- THE VIEWS,THE ELEVATED PARKING,THE SQUARE FOOTAGE,ETC.;AND THAT THEY DO NOT MOVE ANY BUILDINGS UNTIL THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO AND THAT THE CITY USE THEM AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. Vice Mayor Eidson SECONDED THE MOTION. Mayor Damiano asked if they could incorporate Concept No.1,the Police Department and the Court,into Concept No.2. certainly they could do that. Mr.Mike Munninger replied that Councilwoman Alger stated that the Masterplanning Committee has talked about the Police Department and the Court should not be touching,so Mr.Munninger was told to draw something different; that there will just be a walkway between the two. Councilwoman Barker clarified to the public that this is a plan for the future;that Council is not giving direction to staff to go ahead and build a building;all they are saying is that this is the masterplan that the Council would like to see occur in the future. VOTE:In favor:Vice Mayor Eidson,Councilwoman Alger,Councilman Cox, Councilwoman Barker,Mayor Damiano. Opposed:Councilman Coleman,Councilman Perkins. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT p.m. )The meeting adjourned at 8:15 ACCEPTED THIS 4TH DAY OF AUGUST ,1992,BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 5TH DAY OF AUGUST ,1992. THOMAS DAMIANO Mayor SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 6 OF 7 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,1992.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 20th day of July,1992. •// KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 6,1992 PAGE 7 OF 7