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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-20 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 2018 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on February 20, 2018, at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Serdy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. INVOCATION Councilmember Struble gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Waldron led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present:Mayor Serdy Vice Mayor Wilson Councilmember Barker Councilmember Evans Councilmember Rizzi Councilmember Struble Councilmember Waldron Staff Present:City Manager Bryant Powell Assistant City Manager Matt Busby City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Joel Stern Public Safety Director Tom Kelly Public Works Director Michael Weyer Development Services Director Larry Kirch Others Present:Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim City Magistrate James Hazel REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 1 OF 14 ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA )Councilmember Barker MOVED THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. Councilmember Evans SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS None. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager Bryant Powell commented on the power of volunteers, the police bike patrol, the retirement of Rick Sensibaugh and community service workers. Rick Sensibaugh gave a brief description of what his group did and commented on a kidney donation he made. Mayor Serdy commented he had been prouder of that organization than anything while he has been on the council and Rick Sensibaugh has made everyone up here look good.Complaints were turned over to him and his group made them and the city look good.He thanked him. City Manager Bryant Powell introduced the new executive director for Central Arizona Governments, Rob MacDonald.He will also support the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority. Councilmember Waldron commented the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority was passed by the voters in 416 and 417.Elected members of Central Arizona Governments from Pinal County sit on the board of directors.The board makes sure that the authority runs as presented to the taxpayers.They have a citizens' advisory committee to make sure the dollars are used exactly as taxpayers said they were to be used.Central Arizona Governments is the host agency for the authority. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 2 OF 14 Mr. Rob MacDonald gave a brief description of his work history and stated he has already started working with Copper Corridor mayors and is looking forward to working with them closely. Councilmember Waldron commented Central Arizona Governments involves Final and Gila Counties.That is why he was meeting in the Copper Corridor area with elected officials. Assistant City Manager Matt Busby briefed the council on the monthly financial update. Councilmember Struble commented if they look at the general funds overall, we have a huge accrued amount there.That is because the state is not giving us all the money they supposedly collect.It is also very interesting that last week the department of revenue director put out this glowing statement. Well, they sent it to tax preparers because he is one of those. He is not sure who is going to pay for it but it made it look like the state was really, really doing an amazing job.They might be collecting the money but they are not reimbursing the cities, at least not us, and he knows not so for some other cities.Just be aware of that.Matt had to be diplomatic in what he said but he does not have to be.It is really quite frustrating that they say they are doing us a favor by taking over a job that we were doing very well before and charging us extra money to do it but then not reimbursing us the money that they supposedly collect.We will be continuing to talk to our state legislators, both state senators and representatives, about this issue and hopefully get it more in line with the actual collections they make and the reimbursement they give us. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS Councilmember Barker commented the Lost Dutchman Marathon was wonderful this year, registering almost 4,000 runners.She congratulated the committee, runners and all the volunteers. Councilmember Waldron announced Lost Dutchman Days is this weekend. Vice Mayor Wilson announced he and the mayor attended United Way services for clothing and hair care for the homeless in our community.They were also given phones to contact people. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 3 OF 14 Councilmember Evans announced the weekend of March 3 the Community Development Corporation is holding its first neighborhood cleanup in the Sierra neighborhood and they are looking for volunteers. Councilmember Evans announced March 3 is also our hazardous waste cleanup at the public works yard, open to the city and Pinal County residents.Identification of residency will be required. Councilmember Evans announced the weekend of March 3 will be the farmers market at Earth Heart Park. Councilmember Struble commented on the city survey that will be posted on Facebook and the website regarding the services provided and the future of the city. Councilmember Struble announced the girls' soccer team members from the high school that were named to the all -region team with one being the most valuable player. Councilmember Struble announced Imagine Prep's basketball team will be playing in the state championship Thursday night at Talking Stick Arena. Councilmember Struble announced four boys from the high school made the state wrestling tournament with one taking third and another fifth. Mayor Serdy announced they were joined tonight by Boy Scouts Pack 253 from East Mesa. Mayor Serdy announced he started the half marathon at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.He commented they had 750 volunteers there.Last year they donated $50,000 to the community and it should be something bigger this year. Mayor Serdy announced they had the State of the City event since they last met.The video created for that event was shown to the audience.He had asked Matt McNulty to come out and take a bow but he refused.He added they are looking for more information as they will try to make this a yearly event. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 4 OF 14 PUBLIC HEARINGS RECONSIDERATION OF CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL FOR AN APPLICATION FOR ACQUISITION OF CONTROL FOR PIZZA HUT )City Clerk Kathleen Connelly briefed the council on the item. Mayor Serdy requested the applicant address the council.The applicant declined to speak. Mayor Serdy opened the public hearing on the item.There being no one wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing and reopened the item to council discussion.There being no further discussion, he called for a motion. Councilmember Rizzi MOVED THAT THE APPLICATION FOR AN ACQUISITION OF CONTROL FOR THE LIQUOR LICENSE OF PIZZA HUT, SUBMITTED BY THERESA MORSE, BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL. Councilmember Waldron SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS RESOLUTION NO. 18-02, AUTHORIZING CITY TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 5 OF 14 GOVERNMENTS FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLANS AND FIRST TIME UPDATES GRANT MONEY TO CREATE CITY'S FIRST EVER ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN )Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim briefed the council on the item. Councilmember Struble commented all this will cost $200,000 to draw up a plan as to what kind of pedestrian, bicycle and equine and other kinds of transportation besides motor vehicles and stuff we are going to implement within our master plan that will be coming in.He asked why they are spending $200,000 and what it would accomplish that has not already been put into place through other surveys and other plans. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated the city is not paying $200,000.The city is matching 20% of the cost which would be $39,560.The master plan he is referring to might be the general plan update in 2020.Right now the city does not have any master plan for the future of any type of bicycle path or pedestrian sidewalk. There are some policies but they are not really set in ground that there should be a bicycle lane on this road that gets developed or there needs to be sidewalks at this width.This plan will look at all of those as well as equestrian and any trails that are off of streets that should be looked into in the future.By completing this plan it will also allow a prioritization of what should happen first.It will also help with future Maricopa Association of Governments funding for their funds that the city will apply for.We will get approved for a few projects to improve the roads.We are doing one on Idaho that they threw out because there was a need.They do not really have a prioritization level of that being first.This plan will help get the city into that. Councilmember Struble commented this is going to lead us to a place in the future to spend money in the next 10 to 15 years.He asked if that is what the idea is. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 6 OF 14 Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated it will give some short term and long term suggestions of what areas should be improved first.It will have some phasing ideas and it will also have some recommendations for any policy changes and if any codes need to be updated as well. Councilmember Struble commented it is $200,000 but 80% is coming from a federal grant, which is our money anyway. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated that is correct. Councilmember Struble commented this is not going to be any infrastructure or anything.It is just planning for it. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated this portion is just the plan. Councilmember Struble asked if they would have any idea on what those things are going to cost if this is something that is 10 to 15 years down the road. He asked if there will be some idea on how to fund some of these projects in this plan. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated the consultant is going to look over the implementation strategies which will include different funding sources. City Manager Bryant Powell commented on his thoughts for the big picture.He has watched Maricopa Association of Governments and the cities and towns year after year.Central Arizona Governments has limited resources.Maricopa Association of Governments has a significant amount of resources.As a city and thinking long term, there are two ways to be able to implement this plan.Not having a plan costs this city more than if we had it.When the development community comes to us and asks for improvements to the city, when they talk about state land, connectivity, bringing trails and bike lanes and all these kinds of things, REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 7 OF 14 there has to be a plan or engineering standards or even the ability to have four or five lanes that is all based on a plan. The one major avenue for being able to get these is actually not going to be the public sector.It will be the private sector. We want public input on how to implement it.This is the same kind of thing we would see, for example, in the stormwater master plan.If we develop it as a master plan we would have that information in place and we would say here is how it works and they would need to work within this system.The private money is also going to be a big part of this.The other part will be with Maricopa Association of Governments who will now have a plan to rely on that this mayor and council have adopted. The plan can be followed for a long time.He is excited about this and the ability to have it in place.It is $200,000 of taxpayer money. Councilmember Barker commented Maricopa Association of Governments puts out the ability for cities to ask for funding that the association gets from the feds, state, etc.That money is going to go somewhere. We have been very fortunate that Maricopa Association of Governments has given us some money for some bike stuff in the area of Idaho and Southern, the whole corridor there.This all comes because we have it set up. then we cannot ask for the funds. we are going to do.They need to Other cities have gotten a little will get us back in the ball game very excited about this plan.It for a very long time. If we do not have it set up, They want to see what it is have it in front of them. ahead of us on this.This to be able to do that.She is is something she has wanted Councilmember Evans commented our last general plan included parks and recreation and how we would develop our trails.She talked to someone in the Junction bicycle shop who stated they do not like to go up a road and come back down another road.They would like to be able to do a route.She asked if this study would be able to create a map to be passed out to tourists that will show the horse paths, bike paths and walking trails.She asked if that is a part of this study. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated that is one of the goals for the project.In REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 8 OF 14 order to get funding from Maricopa Association of Governments, during their scoring process for applications that are submitted for funding, and they have about 35 applications for one program, a committee does the scoring for that.There are questions that are ranked in numbers.One of the questions is if this request is based on a plan.They want there to be a plan for it.It gives you easy points which help get the application funded.For public outreach, they do want to know what roads are used heavily and what needs to be improved.They have a website that is inactive right now and is still being worked on since this agreement has not been pushed through yet. The website will be ajcity.net/active.There will be a survey for anyone that has ever used any road or path, biking, riding, horse or walking to take.There is also an interactive map they can go onto and place their own option of where they would like to have a bike path or horse trail.They can put any comment on there and then staff and the consultant will compile and use that in the planning process.Staff talked to Apache Junction Bicycle to see if they would donate a bicycle for the plan. Anyone that enters their information into the survey will get a chance to enter a raffle.They will raffle it off at the first community meeting. Vice Mayor Wilson asked for the website again. Assistant Planner Stephanie Bubenheim stated it is ajcity.net/active.They will be sending out more email blasts and putting it on the website soon. Councilmember Waldron commented earlier they talked about Central Arizona Governments which is Pinal County and Gila County.Here we are talking about Maricopa Association of Governments which is the council governments from Maricopa County.Apache Junction comes under the Maricopa Association of Governments planning area for transportation which he believes is a result of the PM10 standards.In case one is wondering why we are dealing with Maricopa Association of Governments and with Central Arizona Governments, the former is for transportation and the latter is for all of the other studies.These council of governments were instituted by executive order many years ago and they are all throughout the state.The reason we are working with Maricopa REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 9 OF 14 Association of Governments is because this is a transportation issue. Mayor Serdy commented Central Arizona Governments is getting ready to step it up a notch. Councilmember Barker commented she took the survey at the marathon registration.It is fun and they will enjoy it.You can note a trail that you walk or ride your horse on.One of the areas that she walks has debris all over it every time the wind blows.It will have trees down and she marked that.There are a couple of other places where the water has corroded the trail terribly and she marked those. Mayor Serdy closed the discussion and called for a motion. Councilmember Barker MOVED THAT RESOLUTION NO. 18-02, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH MARICOPA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLANS AND FIRST TIME UPDATES GRANT MONEY TO CREATE THE CITY'S FIRST -EVER ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN ENCOMPASSING BIKING, PEDESTRIAN, EQUESTRIAN AND OTHER NON -VEHICULAR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BE APPROVED. Councilmember Rizzi SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous, (During the vote Councilmember Struble commented he asked questions just because they are going to get out of here so early and it is a very important issue in front of the city.He just wanted to make sure that the information got out to the people so that they could understand what it was all about.He probably asked some questions that made it seem he was against it but he is not.He thinks it will be very beneficial and it will be good for our city to go forward, look forward and help the citizens move forward in life.It will bring in the developers and help them understand what we have in the future.) REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 10 OF 14 The motion carried. Mayor Serdy commented on a sad note this is Stephanie's last meeting with us.She got a promotion to a bigger city to the southwest of us. Councilmember Barker commented so we train you and you leave. Mayor Serdy commented they wish her well and thank her for everything she has done for us. Councilmember Serdy commented if he had known that he would have asked a lot more questions. City Manager Bryant Powell stated they are so glad to have had Stephanie.He thanked her for her service and added the city will miss her very much. Development Services Director Larry Kirch stated Rudy has been training planners since 1996. We get a lot of good folks that come through the doors and, unfortunately, we lose them.Maybe she will come back and take his or Rudy's job some day.She has been an outstanding employee to have and a joy to be with.He wished her all the best. PINAL COUNTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE AUGUST 2018 PRIMARY ELECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, THE NOVEMBER 2018 GENERAL ELECTION )City Clerk Kathleen Connelly briefed the council on the item. Councilmember Struble asked if we will have another agreement like this for the November election. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated this covers both. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 11 OF 14 Councilmember Struble commented although it would cost us more money it would be great for a high percentage of voters to turn out. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the percentage will affect the number of early ballots that get mailed out.That particular election board is a separate election board to separate and tabulate the ballots. The higher the turnout the better it is because that impacts our numbers for initiative, referendum and the infamous recall elections. Mayor Serdy closed the discussion with no further comments and called for a motion. Councilmember Waldron MOVED THAT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN PINAL COUNTY AND THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION FOR ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE AUGUST 2018 PRIMARY ELECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, THE NOVEMBER 2018 GENERAL ELECTION; AND THAT AUTHORIZATION BE GIVEN FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT, BE APPROVED. Councilmember Barker SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. DIRECTION TO STAFF None. SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES Councilmember Barker MOVED THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. AND A WORK SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY; AND. THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 12 OF 14 Councilmember Struble SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Mr. George Schroeder, 2444 W. Virginia, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding Ironwood being the corridor, his concerns about the school district, his bogus accusations and charges and people forcing other cities programs on this city. Councilmember Waldron announced a point of order and commented he needed to remain civil.He did not need to yell. Mr. George Schroeder stated they were getting bad information from the city manager. ADJOURNMENT )Mayor Serdy adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Consent Agenda Items are as follows: 1. Consideration of acceptance of agenda. 2. Consideration of approval of minutes of regular meeting of February 6, 2018. ACCEPTED THIS 6„---N‘DAY OF /444!.41 , 2018, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS DAY OF MAZ041 , 2018. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 13 OF 14 JEFFfiyERDY Mayor 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 20th day of February, 2018.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 22nd day of February, 2018. KATHLEEN CONNELLy City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 20, 2018 PAGE 14 OF 14