HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-07 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 7, 2017
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on March 7, 2017, 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
Vice Mayor Wilson gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Rizzi 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:
Others Present:
City Manager Bryant Powell
Assistant City Manager Matt Busby
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
City Attorney Joel Stern
Public Safety Director Tom Kelly
Development Services Director Larry
Kirch
Public Information Officer Al Bravo
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
Sponsorship/Partnership Programs
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PAGE 1 OF 30
Administrator Roger Hacker
ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA
)Councilmember Rizzi MOVED
THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED.
Councilmember Evans SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Sponsorship/Partnership Programs Administrator Roger Hacker and
Mayor Serdy recognized individuals and organizations that made
donations of over $23,000 in of support city activities,
programs and projects.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS
Councilmember Evans announced they had the first meeting of the
Community Development Corporation and they are looking for board
members that have knowledge of infrastructure, construction and
anything to do with revitalization.Please contact her or Roger
Hacker.
Mayor Serdy announced he attended the Renaissance Festival this
past weekend to meet with the chairman of the planning and
zoning commission.
Mayor Serdy announced he and City Manager Bryant Powell attended
the Canada Arizona Business Council in Phoenix last Friday.The
Canadians visiting in the winter would like to do other things
here and it is something the city wanted to look into about
joining.
Mayor Serdy announced the East Valley Mayors' Prayer Breakfast
is March 15.It is being hosted by Apache Junction but is
occurring in Chandler at the community college.Anyone can
attend.
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Mayor Serdy announced he has attended several state of the city
and town addresses over the last few weeks in different
communities.Apache Junction never had one.He commented
Apache Junction will have its first state of the city address
next year in 2018.They will also invite the fire district and
school district to participate.
Councilmember Evans announced last weekend they had a Farmers
Market at Earth Heart Park.It is always on the first Saturday
of the month.Next month will be the big ladybug release for
Earth Day.
Mayor Serdy announced he will have his Breakfast with the Mayor
at Cobb's tomorrow at 8 a.m.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Bryant Powell thanked everyone for their donations,
commented on the funeral of Dr. William Wright and the opening
of Flat Iron Park.
Chief Paul Bourgeois of Superstition Fire and Medical District
gave an update on the temporary tax override, the new ambulance
service, a business community self -inspection program, a Canyon
Lake rescue on State Route 88, EMS Awareness Day, Deadly
Distractions, April Pools Day and their volunteer program.
Councilmember Barker commented their emergency medical services
are excellent.Without their help Ed Barker might not have made
it.She thanked him.
Councilmember Rizzi commented he mentioned he had some fliers.
Chief Paul Bourgeois stated they are in the hall and available
for pick up.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
LIQUOR LICENSE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
CLUB OF THE EAST VALLEY-
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN AREA BRANCH
FOR APRIL 22, 2017
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MARCH 7, 2017
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)City Clerk Kathleen
Connelly briefed the council on the item.
applicant address the council.
Mayor Serdy requested the
Ms. Sandie Smith stated the
boys and girls club will be putting on its extravaganza.They
raise from $60,000 to $80,000 each year which goes for programs
in Apache Junction.She invited everyone to attend.
Mayor Serdy asked what the
theme is this year.
Ms. Sandie Smith stated it is
a 1920's theme on the Great Gatsby.They will get a flier over
here.
Mayor Serdy asked if it is
open to the public.
Ms. Sandie Smith stated it
is.The tickets are $75 per person and $750 for a table for
ten.They are going fast.They usually have over 400 people.
They will also have some sponsorships available.
Mayor Serdy asked if they
also look for businesses to donate stuff for auction.
Ms. Sandie Smith stated that
is correct and he is always very generous.The stuff that he
donates goes really well.They have a silent auction as well as
a live auction.The silent auction goes from about $50 up.The
live auction is $500 plus.They have about 430 people that come
to it from all walks of life.They have a good time.
Mayor Serdy opened the public
hearing in 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.
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MARCH 7, 2017
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Councilmember Waldron MOVED
THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE EAST VALLEY - SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN
BRANCH FOR APRIL 22, 2017, SUBMITTED BY RUSSELL ST. JOHN, BE
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR
LICENSES AND CONTROL.
Councilmember Rizzi SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
APPLICATION FOR AN INTERIM PERMIT,
PERSON TRANSFER, LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY, SERIES 7 LIQUOR LICENSE
FOR HP STEAKHOUSE
)City Clerk Kathleen
Connelly briefed the council on the item.
Mayor Serdy requested the
applicant address the council.There was no applicant in
attendance.He 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.
Councilmember Waldron
requested Rudy speak on the item.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
they would like some clarity.
Development Services Director
Larry Kirch stated he helped Rudy put those comments together.
They had put this together in a previous letter and they were
just noting the conversion of the convenience store to the
steakhouse does not comply with the site plan for the economic
development agreement.They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago
with the owner and the city manager.They are trying to work
through those things.Essentially he would need an amendment to
the economic development agreement or some other mechanism that
would allow that.He does not know if they can use the liquor
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MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 5 OF 30
license transfer to hold up an amendment to the development
agreement.They were just noting it.
Mayor Serdy closed the
discussion with no further comments and called for a motion.
Councilmember Evans MOVED
THAT THE APPLICATION FOR AN INTERIM PERMIT, PERSON TRANSFER,
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, SERIES 7 LIQUOR LICENSE FOR HP
STEAKHOUSE, SUBMITTED BY MEHMOOD MOHIUDDIN, BE RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND
CONTROL.
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
ORDINANCE NO. 1444, CASE AM -2-16,
PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTION 1-6-
12 MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO AMEND THE
CITY'S NONPROFIT MEDICAL MARIJUANA
REGULATIONS TO ALLOW FOR MEDICAL
MARIJUANA FACILITIES
)Senior Planner Rudy
Esquivias briefed the council on the item.
Mayor Serdy commented the
planning and zoning commission spent 5 or 6 hours on this in
meetings.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated they had three meetings and spent several hours on this
item.
Vice Mayor Wilson asked if
the current facilities that are not authorized with their
conditional use permit to do these proposed changes with the
supplies and the delivery service would have to come through and
change their current conditional use permit in order to do so.
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Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated they would.
Vice Mayor Wilson asked if
there is a fee for doing that.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated there is.It is $800 for a conditional use permit
amendment and a $500 advertising deposit.An applicant usually
gets some of the advertising fee returned.They already have to
propose a plan for permanent buildings.They are currently
operating out of several temporary buildings, mobile minis and
construction trailers.They are supposed to come back to
propose permanent buildings and a permanent facility.
Councilmember Evans asked
when that would be.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated the cultivators were approved in December 2015.Within
six months prior or within eighteen months they are supposed to
come back and propose their final improvements to their site.
Nature's Wonder amended their conditional use permit in 2015 so
2018 would technically be their timeline to come back and renew
their conditional use permit.
Vice Mayor Wilson asked if it
is possible to waive a portion of this fee because the ordinance
is being changed midway between their period of time.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated what they are changing is really not going to affect
them.They can still operate under the conditional use permit
as they are allowed.If they want to do things that are not
allowed, then it is upon them to make that change.A waiver of
a fee would probably be an illegal gift.
Vice Mayor Wilson asked if it
would start a new three year cycle if they do a new conditional
use permit.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated not necessarily.The three year time frame and the two
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PAGE 7 OF 30
year time frame were something the commission thought necessary.
In the case of Nature's Wonder, they were still discussing the
possibility of a park next door when they went through the
process.He thinks the intent was to look at this in three
years.If it is a compatible use everything is okay.If they
get no complaints then there is no reason why they should not be
able to renew it.If there have been problems and the police
have been called or other problems have emerged then the
commission might not consider renewing at that time.In the
case of the other folks, the two year time frame had to do with
temporary buildings.Typically in our commercial zones we do
not allow temporary buildings.They were allowed to operate
under special conditions on a temporary basis.There is nothing
in our code that says there are three-year intervals or five-
year intervals.If upon the renewal the commission is
comfortable with what they see, the conditional use permit can
be extended indefinitely as long as they do not violate the
conditions of approval.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated if they approve they cannot be closer to the park.It
does not make them stop operating today.It will not do that
when this ordinance becomes effective.They are vested for
their three year period under the conditional use permit.When
they come in for a renewal that issue will come up.However, it
will be up to the planning and zoning commission whether there
have been any problems with the lease or other issues that can
directly relate to the existence of that business next to the
park.He does not believe there have been any issues thus far.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated staff checked with the police chief and he did not cite
any issues with either of the facilities.
Councilmember Evans asked why
the commission was against the drive thru window.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated that provision has always been in the code.It follows
the logic of there really are no more drive thru liquor stores
being allowed in the state except for the ones that are
grandfathered.It was something that was suggested at the time.
He supposes other cities also use that provision.He does not
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recall if it is disallowed by state law.It was incorporated in
the original version.
Councilmember Evans commented
her curiosity was because Walgreen's and CVS all have drive thru
windows and she wanted to know the logic behind that.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
she is curious to know why we are being more restrictive with
this specific type of business than we would any other pharmacy
or legitimate business.It is a legitimate business.There is
a stigma.She gets it.There is a stigma that comes with
medical marijuana but the law says it is a legitimate business.
Pharmacies are a legitimate business.She does not understand
the reasoning behind being more restrictive with the spacing and
with saying it should not be near a park or a church.She is
not understanding the reasoning for that.We have liquor
stores, bars and pharmacies that are all located right across
the street.She does not understand why they would be more
restrictive other than just the stigma that medical marijuana
dispensaries have.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated the spacing requirement, as far as the zoning practice,
is sometimes applied to uses which are determined to perhaps be
detrimental to neighborhoods if too many are clustered in one
spot, such as pawn shops and adult uses.Liquor stores are
supposed to be at least 300' from a school building to building.
When they formulated the code in 2011 they looked at several
other examples in other cities.Most of the cities they looked
at were recommending spacing requirements, some much greater
than our own and some less.State law only has one spacing
requirement and that is a medical marijuana facility must be at
least 500' from any public or private school.Staff was
modeling the ordinance from other ordinances.It went from
planning and zoning to council.The quarter mile between
medical marijuana facilities and the 750' between a facility and
some of these other protected uses talked about were the numbers
that ultimately the planning and zoning commission and council
decided upon.It is a number that could be changed but in no
case should it go less than 500' to a school.Otherwise those
numbers could be changed if they do not see clustering as an
issue.
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Councilmember Rizzi commented
she was on the planning and zoning commission when they came up
with that ordinance.They have had some time to see how this
whole thing goes, see how it works and see what kind of problems
may or may not arise.Based on the information they have from
the time when medical marijuana first became legal to now, she
is more inclined to go with the state's rule that says 500' from
a school.She agrees with that.These other restrictions from
a park and church she does not see the need for.The same thing
with the drive thru.She has to agree with Gail.We have drive
thru pharmacies.She believes these regulations are stemming
from the stigma that some people have that just comes with
medical marijuana.They should get beyond that and treat the
facility as a legitimate business and treat these as a pharmacy
which they are.They can get past it and she does not see the
need to be that restrictive any more.
Councilmember Waldron asked
if the federal government differentiates between recreational
marijuana and medical marijuana and if it is still illegal
federally.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated it is absolutely illegal federally.Enforcement of that
has been an issue for many years.He thinks there is going to
be an attempt to stop states from passing initiatives or
whatever they are called in different states for recreational
marijuana.The states might be penalized for doing that.It is
a congressional thing and a presidential thing.It is difficult
to enforce against medical marijuana.He thinks about 28 states
have done it already.It is difficult for the feds to do it but
they might.Right now it is illegal.
Councilmember Waldron
commented his point is that CVS and the other pharmacies do not
sell something that the federal government says is illegal.
Alcohol is a very highly regulated business.Medical marijuana
is a very highly regulated business.When going into that
business one knows there are regulations that go over and above
an ordinary business.It is just part of being whether liquor
is sold or whatever.It is just highly regulated.He does not
see where the problem is.
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Mayor Serdy commented he
thinks pharmacies do sell things that are illegal without the
prescription.
Councilmember Waldron
commented it is not an illegal product.It is a legal product
that they are selling whereas the federal government sees
marijuana as an illegal product, even though they do not enforce
it.He understands that.The federal government does not see
oxycodone as an illegal product.It has illegal uses but it is
not an illegal product.It is a highly regulated business like
alcohol.It is one of those things that when you go into that
business you know it is highly regulated.
Councilmember Struble
commented the state's regulations did not change.This is
strictly because the applicant is asking for the changes.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated that is correct.Some of the rules under the department
of health services have changed for dispensaries and where they
may be located.The original law said that 126 community health
analysis area zones could each have a dispensary or perhaps more
than one dispensary depending on the size of the community
health analysis area.After three years the dispensaries can
move around within a community health analysis area or move to
another community health analysis area.Some of the discussion
at the planning and zoning commission was on the whole issue of
transfers.State law says the Apache Junction Community Health
Analysis Area could have a dispensary but after three years
another established dispensary might decide to move to Apache
Junction.The only way they can accommodate that is through a
conditional use permit process.When all is said and done,
within the community health analysis area we may have more than
two dispensaries.
Councilmember Struble asked
if they would have to revisit this in three years according to
the changes staff is proposing.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated it is already happening.
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Councilmember Struble
commented he is asking about our ordinance and the recommended
changes.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated staff had recommended some language to the planning and
zoning commission regarding transfers.In discussions with the
city attorney at the staff level and with Nature's Wonder folks,
it was learned there is a concept called ACJIS.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated that is the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System.
In order to do a background check usually, for example, sexually
oriented businesses, fingerprinting is required.Fingerprints
are taken of the owners and employees and they are sent through
the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System.The police
department has that ability under Title 41.In order to use
Arizona Criminal Justice Information System one has to be
specifically authorized and the use has to be very specific.
Sexually oriented businesses, which we do not have inside the
city limits, obviously did, and would impose a fingerprint
requirement.In this case the police department, the local
police department, is authorized under Arizona Criminal Justice
Information System for that purpose.If you misuse the Arizona
Criminal Justice Information System they could take away your
rights.Then if there is an arrest for misdemeanors or felonies
the background cannot be checked.That is a problem.It is not
worth the risk.That is one problem with requiring the police
chief at the conditional use permit level to go and do the
background check.Actually the state does that when the
application comes in.The state is specifically authorized to
do that under the Medical Marijuana Act.It was a provision
under state law. It is under Title 36.It states the department
of health services will take the fingerprints and they will
check the owners and the employees for the proposed dispensary.
Going back to the community health analysis area, there is a
regulation under the Arizona Administrative Code R-1917-303.
This is the one that sets how many dispensaries can be in a
community health analysis area.Back when medical marijuana
first came out one was put in the Apache Junction Community
Health Analysis Area.Starting in 2013, and this has been in
the law, every calendar year beginning in 2013 the department
shall review current filed dispensary registration certificates
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MARCH 7, 2017
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to determine if the department may issue additional dispensary
registration certificates pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes
§ 36-2804C.That means they can go and do whatever process they
use to determine whether that community health analysis area
will support another dispensary.They have done that through a
lottery system and the applicant was the successful winner of
that lottery.The applicant can locate their dispensary
anywhere within the community health analysis area.Our code
says only one can be in the city limits.That is an inherent
conflict with this regulation.He does not think it is a zoning
issue.It would not be a reasonable zoning restriction to say
they can only have one inside the city limits.That would be
ruled illegal.At the very least, if they do not do anything
else tonight, that provision needs to be fixed.They can just
fix it by saying as permitted by state law under the community
health analysis area rules.He believes the city had it more
formally in the presentation.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated they had a similar issue with the concept of transfers.
Department of health services states Apache Junction can have
two.Once again, after three years, other facilities might try
to locate in our community health analysis area based on the
whole idea of transfers which is under different rules in the
Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated after three years any dispensary can transfer to a
different community health analysis area.This was a draft
recently under HB2029.There was language in this bill that
would have limited it to within the same community health
analysis area.A dispensary from Tucson should not come up to
Apache Junction.This bill is essentially dead per the League.
It will not be addressed this legislative session.Transfers
can happen but do not panic.They would still have to meet with
the office and there is already going to be two here.There
could be more but they would still have to go through the
conditional use permit process.Planning and zoning would make
that decision.If someone appealed it then the council gets to
hear it.
Mayor Serdy asked if the
police chief had any concerns about delivery during the planning
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and zoning meetings.He knows that to have an over lift they
have to have a special certified vehicle.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated they have to be a card-carrying agent.They checked with
the police chief and he is not in favor of delivery.He has
some concerns on how it is regulated.The only deliveries that
can be done are between medical marijuana agency people who are
registered and have cards, between the patient, between the
dispensary, between a caregiver and a patient.
Mayor Serdy asked the police
chief to address any potential problems he might have seen.
Public Safety Director Tom
Kelly stated they are asking a 40 -year drug agent questions
about medical marijuana.He has concerns about the delivery but
he has to deal with what the law is today.Right now in this
state it is legal.The state has deemed it is legal.His
concerns as police chief and those of his officers he has
explained to the people where this is coming into play.It is
the safety of the people that will be delivering it.It is not
uncommon to have known drug couriers ripped off.It is a drug
that is a sought after item.There is potential for the driver
of the vehicle to be in harm's way.He also has concerns for
the people that are in the facility.They discussed this at
great length on the original facility on how people would get in
and get out if they had a hostage situation.These are all
things that are being faced in other states and there are some
criminal aspects that have to deal with it no matter how legal
and righteous the medical marijuana folks are.They face a
constant threat because there are some people out there that
will prey on other people to take advantage of the situation,
whether it is a cabby or anything else they may have to face
here in the community.The public safety issue in regards to
the delivery person, how they deliver and how they identify is
their own business.He would be concerned about that as there
is no way he can control it.
Mayor Serdy commented
hopefully the vehicles will be unmarked.
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Public Safety Director Tom
Kelly stated he assumed they are not but it does not take a
rocket scientist to figure out something is going from one spot
to another spot.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
Councilmember Waldron mentioned the federal government does not
recognize medical marijuana as being legal.She asked how
enforcement comes into play.
Public Safety Director Tom
Kelly asked if she meant enforcement here in Arizona.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
that is correct.
Public Safety Director Tom
Kelly stated the state health services is the one who regulates
it.They are supposed to be charged with enforcing it.They
have had a pretty good relationship with the local dispensary
here that allows them to do some things that some other places
may not.It is a caveat they have had here via the resolution
the council had approved.The enforcement side is federal.The
Drug Enforcement Administration is charged by the Department of
Justice.For whatever reasons, higher up than his authority,
they have deemed to turn a blind eye to it.That does not mean
that cannot be changed tomorrow.They will then enforce it and
do what they want to do.It is a federal thing and the federal
government will have to go after it.
Councilmember Struble asked
why they have a restriction as to the number of pharmacies.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated the idea of one dispensary for every ten pharmacies was
something the department of health services came up with when
they tried to allocate how many dispensaries should be allowed
in the state.He does not know what the logic was there.That
is where the code came from at the time they considered the
first medical marijuana use.There are still only eight
pharmacies in the city.The original language stated they would
take one now and after we have experienced growth, after they
have twenty pharmacies in the city, following the state's logic,
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MARCH 7, 2017
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we could accommodate another dispensary.Now that the
dispensaries are allowed to move around and dispensary
certificates have been awarded for a second round, it does not
apply any more.They are following what Arizona Department
Health Services recommends.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated that comes from Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-28040.
That is the requirement for one dispensary for every ten
pharmacies.
Mayor Serdy requested the
applicant address the council.
Ms. Jenifer Corey, Zoning
Strategies and applicant's representative for SVACCHA, commented
the only provisions when medical marijuana was approved by the
voters were a 500' spacing from schools and capping the number
of dispensaries to the number of pharmacies throughout the
state.As pharmacies grew more dispensaries would be allowed.
The first ordinance passed by Apache Junction was conservative
because it was unknown what would happen but it showed a plan
based on what they thought would happen.It was modeled after
the one to ten rule and that is where the ordinance came up with
the one to twenty.They did not know how many dispensaries they
would get.In 2011 the Arizona Department of Health Services
divided the state up into community health analysis areas with
one dispensary for each one.At that time the ordinance worked.
There is a rule where any dispensary can move after three years.
They are finding that many dispensaries in the outlying areas
are wanting to come to the urban areas.In the fall of 2016
Arizona Department of Health Services stated the remaining
dispensary certificates are open but did not know how they were
going to divide them up.They had 31 dispensary certificates to
award so they awarded them to the community health analysis
areas with the most patient demand.Apache Junction is one of
them and SVACCHA was the recipient of it.Medical marijuana is
legal and highly state -regulated.There are community benefits
from it.There is a huge opiod abuse issue going on and this is
part of the solution.They can go anywhere in the Apache
Junction Community Health Analysis Area.It could be in the
county or in the city.They know they will be in the community
and that is why they are here.They wanted to play fair and
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MARCH 7, 2017
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talk to the council to make sure the dispensary and location
makes sense and they reap the benefits and spacing up to their
standards.She presented a chart showing the impact of illegal
drugs in the country.She understands some councilmembers'
concern about whether or not this should be regulated.They are
willing to accept some of the restrictions in the ordinance.
They notified the city they were coming in and gave them a do
over chance to modify the ordinance based on lessons learned.
Before they were able to win their dispensary certificate they
had to go through fingerprint security clearance.These
facilities are not open to the public.She is not a card-
carrying person so she is not allowed to go in.They could have
simply asked for the number to be changed from one to two.They
asked the city what they would like to change.The results
allow for additional security requirements.The city has the
ability to look over an enhanced security plan on a case by
case, property by property basis.If there is any specific
security issue that needs to be addressed in regards to delivery
and it is part of the security plan they have to address the
policing of that.They added spacing to parks and libraries
which were not originally defined in there.They asked for the
ability to sell medical marijuana products used for the
consumption of the product in the store.It is behind closed
doors and not open to the public.It makes sense to get the
equipment needed when filling a prescription instead of taking
that product to the head shop and buying the equipment there.
They would encourage the opening of a head shop if those sales
are not allowed on site.They also agree to restrict where they
can go.Right now the ordinance does not have restrictions and
they could go into the B-3 zoning district.They are fine with
not allowing them to go into the B-3 zoning district.The only
issue they still have is in regards to transfer applications.
She presented a map that showed the community health analysis
areas.They are scattered throughout the state.Three years
have passed and dispensaries in the outlying areas want to move
to urban areas.That is where the demand is.Even though the
city was allowed one dispensary to begin with and they are
upping it to two, there is still the potential for additional
dispensarie.That will be a policy decision but they wanted to
make the council aware of the potential for that.Nature's
Wonder has been successfully operating in the city.They heard
at the planning and zoning commission there was really not a
need for another dispensary.The state has already determined
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 17 OF 30
that need.The staff report states Nature's Wonder has a
patient count of 500.Department of health services indicates
there are 971 cardholders in the area.There is sufficient
demand for a second dispensary.They have an annual 10% growth.
They are not looking at taking their business.They think they
can operate peacefully in a normal business manner with them.
The transfer applications can come from anywhere and they can
have an unlimited amount that can transfer in.They had
proposed to add one sentence in the language, stating transfers
as described shall not be allowed in the city limits.It
essentially allows for state -issued dispensaries to come in and
if they change the cap within each area it allows the
dispensaries to come in, but this will stop the transfer
application from coming in to the city if they are concerned
about it.They have no issue with it but if they have a concern
this is some potential language.This is what staff was
recommending to the planning commission.The city ordinance
does not allow for a delivery service right now.They are in
agreement with the existing recommendation which allows for that
delivery service.Delivery services are happening right now in
Apache Junction.It is from dispensaries from other communities
and it happens through a loophole.A caregiver loophole
essentially says a caregiver within Apache Junction can grow for
patients that are located more than 25 miles from a dispensary.
Caregivers typically have excess product.Since they cannot
sell the product they usually donate the product and charge a
fee for delivery.Whether they like it or not delivery service
is happening in Apache Junction.They think it would be in the
city's best interest to allow it and allow the police chief to
regulate it and put the proper provisions in place.Their
intent is to not accept new patients over the phone to deliver
to.They have to be established patients they have dispensed to
previously.They have a list of provisions to make it safe.
The city should reap the benefit of the delivery service and get
the sales tax from it, regulate it and police it.They agree
with all of staff's recommendations other than they would like
to put a restriction on not allowing transfer applications to
come in.
Councilmember Rizzi asked why
they are not going to Gold Canyon.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 18 OF 30
Ms. Jenifer Corey stated the
application tonight is to amend the text amendment.They have
not identified a location.They would have to come back for a
conditional use permit.They may be in Gold Canyon or not.
Councilmember Rizzi asked why
there is a need for a delivery service.
Ms. Jenifer Corey stated
right now they have a couple of different options.If they are
able to get medical marijuana and they are really sick, right
now they would have to go to a dispensary to get it.That is
probably a patient they do not want driving or on the road.
Another option is that person may need a surrogate to go and get
the product and come back.By allowing direct delivery it goes
directly to the patient from the dispensary owner.If it is an
established patient in the end stages of cancer or if they have
back issues that have flared up and they cannot drive, this
allows the dispensary to get the product to them without having
to go through the intermediary caregiver or putting them on the
road.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
she stated one of the reasons to allow the delivery is so that
it could be regulated.It is interesting she said that because
on planning and zoning when this first became legal the reason
planning and zoning had gone with allowing a dispensary in the
community was so we could regulate it.It is highly regulated
when it is regulated by us.Without having the dispensary we
would have had people potentially growing up to, she thinks,
twelve plants.It would have allowed people to home grow
without the dispensary.It would have been very difficult to
regulate.Having the dispensary allowed local control to have
the dispensaries highly regulated.She can understand why she
is asking for the delivery to be included so that we have the
ability to regulate when in fact it is already happening and is
not being regulated.
Ms. Jenifer Corey stated she
completely agrees with everything Councilmember Rizzi said.If
they turn a blind eye it still happens with unintended
consequences.The best way to insure there are no issues is to
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 19 OF 30
acknowledge it, provide proper mechanisms for security and make
sure that is not a problem.
Mayor Serdy asked if there is
reciprocity with the cards for other states.This is a tourist
area and winter visitor area.
Ms. Jenifer Corey stated
there are no reciprocity provisions in Arizona.If one has a
card in Las Vegas they cannot come to Arizona to buy product.
Mayor Serdy asked if the
cards could be counterfeited or if there have been any cases of
that.
Ms. Jenifer Corey stated the
cards are very high tech and have a lot of security features on
them.She passed a card around for the council to view.They
have to go through a huge process in order to get a card.It is
similar to a driver's license in the scale of how they are
comprised and manufactured.It is not a piece of paper.She
reiterated this is merely for the text amendment in order to
allow for the secondary dispensary.They still have to come
back for the conditional use permit process once they have
identified a site.They will have full purview over the site
and what they are proposing to do, including their security
plan.Apache Junction is more stringent in that respect than
Mesa.In Mesa it is strictly an administrative process.It
does not come before any board or hearing officer.
Mayor Serdy opened the public
hearing on the item.
Mr. Daniel Beugy, 19080 E.
Palm Lane, Black Canyon City, addressed the council to share
some of his experiences with delivery and the applicants at
their facility.
Ms. Stephanie Cronin, 324 W.
Santa Cruz, Tempe, addressed the council.She is the store
manager of their location and spoke in support of owners.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 20 OF 30
Mr. Jareb Mackin, 7726 E.
Portland Street, Scottsdale, filled out a form but declined to
speak.
Mr. Sid Chalasani, 4939 W.
Ray #4145, Chandler, filled out a form but declined to speak.
Ms. Lesli Sorensen, 260 W.
Apache Trail, addressed the council to advise she was appearing
on behalf of Nature's Wonder and requested they continue the
item to the next meeting as they have not have enough time to
review the materials.She passed along an amendment they would
like them to review.She spoke of their concerns against the
item adding they did not have to allow a second dispensary in
city limits, Nature's Wonder complying with the current
ordinance and not asking for any amendments, background checks,
transfer applications, the proximity of the park to Nature's
Wonder and the erection of a buffer wall.She asked if they had
any questions.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated they cannot ask questions at this point.She could ask a
question of staff and they could get the answer to her later.
Mr. Christopher Cannon, 1229
W. 14th Street, Tempe, addressed the council to speak as a
character reference for the owner.
Ms. Kristi Reckard, 16728 E.
Fairview Street, Gilbert, addressed the council to speak as a
character reference for the owner.
Mr. William Cronin, 253 N.
Ocotillo Drive, Apache Junction, addressed the council regarding
his experience as a patient of medical marijuana and spoke in
support of a second facility.
Mr. Andrew Ebling, 4774 E.
Languid Lane, Cave Creek, addressed the council regarding his
experience with medical marijuana and the assistance he received
from the applicant.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 21 OF 30
Mr. Paul Shields, 260 W.
Apache Trail, Apache Junction, part owner in Nature's Wonder,
addressed the council regarding their not having opposition to
another facility but he was concerned with their changing the
original ordinance for a drive thru, delivery services and
additional hours.He would like to see them prove themselves.
He has not had good interaction with the applicant thus far.
They have been disrespectful to his business and his wife.He
asked them to postpone this and figure out a way for them to
prove themselves to the community.
Ms. Kim Shields, 260 W.
Apache Trail, Apache Junction, part owner in Nature's Wonder,
addressed the council regarding delivery being dangerous and not
needed, insurance costs for delivery service, the applicant
suggesting she pay him to keep him out of Apache Junction or
simply switch licenses and requested the applicant should follow
the same rules she has had to.
Councilmember Barker thanked
all of them for sharing their information and stories.They
were very informative.She commented she was looking through
the other information provided and found the letter from the
private investigator was pretty redundant to the system that is
already set in place on the state level.It seems to be more
than what one would need.It seems to her the quarter mile
distance between dispensaries would take care of the addition of
additional transfers.If they have a quarter mile one way and a
quarter mile another way and another way they have pretty well
gone outside the city by that point in time so that settles that
one.The additions that the last two folks were addressing, for
the most part the additions in this ordinance are clean up and
expansion for things such as the security area.It simply
expands on what is expected for security.She would venture to
bet those pieces of information came straight from Nature's
Wonder as we learned together what was needed and how they would
be able to use it.Nature's Wonder was our first child.First
children are always kind of an experiment and they teach us.
They have taught us and they have taught us well.They have
been an excellent neighbor in this city.They have been
wonderful to the city.The three major places that she sees may
need change are the use of the marijuana leaf on the sign, which
is an addition that was not there before, the ability to sell
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 22 OF 30
paraphernalia and the delivery service.Those are the only
things that are actually new.The rest of it is expansion on or
definition of as far as she can see.Having read this multiple
times and she is sure everybody else on this council has read it
multiple times, she is not sure that she is willing to continue
this hearing to another date.She does not know how the rest of
the council feels about that.
Councilmember Waldron
commented there is no argument that Nature's Wonder has
obviously been good business.The state has said we can have a
second dispensary here which creates some competition.
Competition is the basis for free enterprise.He does not see
where that is a problem.Planning and zoning has spent many,
many hours working on this.He believes they have crafted
recommendations going into this ordinance that are very good.
He applauded them for the work they did, the time they spent on
it and it has been going on for quite some time.He is inclined
to take the recommendations of the planning and zoning
commission as far as the deliveries are concerned.The state
allows that.It is not something up to the council.He does
not use medical marijuana and he does not know if it is good,
bad or indifferent.It obviously works for some people which is
great.He does not see any reason to continue it.Planning and
zoning has done a marvelous job.They even continued it to get
to their final draft.
Councilmember Rizzi asked if
the dispensary that is currently here will be permitted to have
the delivery or whatever changes if there were any changes in
the ordinance.She asked if they would also fall under that
ordinance.
Mayor Serdy commented they
could also expand their hours and do everything else.
Councilmember Rizzi asked if
they would be permitted to do the same thing if those changes
are made.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated they could have the same type of options if they change
the ordinance.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 23 OF 30
Councilmember Rizzi asked if
they would need to do anything to apply or fill out any other
applications.She asked if they would need to apply for a
different conditional use permit and if there would be any
expenditures or would they be permitted to do whatever the new
ordinance allows.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated if they make the general changes they would be able to
follow those.They would not have to file for another
conditional use permit.They would have to file for an amended
conditional use permit or renewal at the time the original
conditional use permit says they are supposed to.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
it would be a level playing field.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he believed it would be if they change the hours, for
example.Contrary to what their conditional use permit says, he
thinks the code would govern in this case.
Vice Mayor Wilson commented
that is a different answer from what he had gotten earlier.
Councilmember Barker
commented that is not what Rudy said.
Development Services Director
Larry Kirch stated Rudy is probably the best one to ask but he
thinks, as Joel said, if it is the general changes, if they want
to sell smoking devices, if that is in the code itself and not
specific to the conditional use permit, they can do that without
an amendment to the conditional use permit.If they now want to
do deliveries, he does not know if that is currently excluded in
the conditional use permit.They might have to change that but
it might be a Joel question.Currently deliveries cannot be
done but now the code will say they can do deliveries.That
might be the only one.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated that could be a city -initiated change in the conditional
use permit but generally under operational law that new law
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 24 OF 30
would take precedent for the rest of the conditional use permit
period.
Senior Planner Rudy Esquivias
stated he has Nature's Wonder conditional use permit approval.
Their conditions of approval included they get all the proper
certifications from department of health services, provide the
names of all the agents, get police background checks, update or
obtain their business license, apply for building permits and no
other cultivation unless the conditional use permit is approved.
They shall not offer onsite cultivation or manufacture of
infused product, pick up or drive thru windows, delivery
service, outdoor seating area, onsite consumption of medical
marijuana, loitering around the premises and sale of tobacco
smoking products.There were specific prohibitions in their
conditional use permit based on the older set of rules and what
the commission thought was appropriate at the time.The
question is if they change the ordinance do the provisions
remove their enforceability.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated he would say they would if they change it generally.He
thinks a judge would look at it the same way.
Councilmember Rizzi commented
it is a level playing field.
City Attorney Joel Stern
stated it would become a level playing field for the remainder
of the time their conditional use permit is valid.
Councilmember Evans commented
she appreciated that Nature's Wonder came to them.They have
been a great business partner.She was chair at planning and
zoning when everything was thrown at them.They knew at that
time things would evolve and change as time went by.The state
changes things on us regularly unfortunately and sometimes for
the good.Some of the other issues they have talked about are
legal in the state.The state qualifies the applicant.It is
not our responsibility; it is the responsibility of the
department of health services.If they say the applicant is
okay, it is not for them to judge any business owner that comes
to the city.It is not where they go.As far as the transfers,
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 25 OF 30
to disallow a transfer in here that the department of health
services approved, whether they transfer here from another city,
if department of health services says this community health
analysis area could take them, the question would be why the
council would disqualify a business.It is a business just like
Walgreen's'or anybody else with a different set of regulations.
She knows for a fact through her late husband's previous
business that delivery already exists in town.They just come
from dispensaries outside of town.She does not see the point
of why they should not be able to have our own delivery system.
Whatever complication it creates within the business is
something they have to deal with.As far as the sale of
paraphernalia, she would much rather see it at a dispensary than
in a smoke shop.She thinks that is a travesty.She does not
personally smoke cigarettes but she had a friend that wanted to
run in and buy a pack of cigarettes at one of the local tobacco
stores and she saw that they sold ice cream.She will eat ice
cream all day long every day of the week.She was horrified
knowing that nobody that ever smoked tobacco used those.She
would just as soon see them locked up in a dispensary where
patients that need them could actually buy them.It is not our
position as a city to limit the number of businesses.That is
up to the public and fair trade.
Councilmember Struble
commented he wanted to follow up on what everybody else said.
He was actually out in the audience when this ordinance was
first developed.He got to listen to all the pros and cons and
the whole issue back at that point.It has been interesting to
watch over the years.Nature's Wonder has been a good partner
within the city.They have sponsored some activities and he
commended them for that.To bring another potential dispensary
in just adds to competition, but along with not just price, and
hopefully competition it brings prices down, but it also will
affect quality because any of us that are in business or on the
council or out in the audience knows that price is one factor
but quality is another one.If one does not provide the quality
one will not be providing the product to the constituents.As
it has already been said, the delivery is already in the city.
There are people from other dispensaries providing that.He
does not see a reason to continue it either at this time.He
commended planning and zoning.He thinks they have done a good
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 26 OF 30
job and provided the council with a whole bunch of material to
read.They did a good job for us.
Vice Mayor Wilson commented
he was concerned initially about the changes in the ordinance
and what needed to be done for the current business.That was
why he asked the earlier question on the conditional use permit
on whether they would have to redo it.He is concerned about
the aspect of the police overstepping their bounds and doing
additional background checks that are currently being done by
the state.He does not want to overstep and mandate this be
done.It is a concern on one of the amendments that was
proposed to them.There is a benefit for the patients and he
has seen it.He was one of the voters that did vote yes.
Mayor Serdy commented he
wanted to commend Nature's Wonder for sponsoring the Festival of
the Superstitions.One does not even know they are there, just
like the landfill.They are two things that get criticized but
both of them blend in and are not even seen.It is not related.
He closed the discussion with no further comments and called for
a motion.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1444 BE READ BY TITLE ONLY AND THE READING OF
THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE BE WAIVED.
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
read the ordinance by title only.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT ORDINANCE NO. 1444, AS READ BY THE CITY CLERK, BE APPROVED
AND ADOPTED.
Councilmember Rizzi SECONDED
THE MOTION.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 27 OF 30
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
DIRECTION TO STAFF
None.
SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES
Mayor Serdy called for a
motion.
Councilmember Waldron MOVED
THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. AND A REGULAR MEETING AT
7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017, 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
21, 2017 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
Councilmember Evans SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Mayor Serdy commented they had two people who had filled out
request forms but they have both left.(George Schroeder, 2444
W. Virginia and Debra Collins, 2500 E. Tepee).
ADJOURNMENT )
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 28 OF 30
motion to adjourn the meeting.
MOVED.
THE MOTION.
)Mayor Serdy called for a
Councilmember Barker SO
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
Mayor Serdy adjourned the
meeting at 9:20 p.m. with no vote.
Consent Agenda Items are as follows:
1. Consideration of acceptance of agenda.
2. Consideration of approval of minutes of regular meeting of
February 21, 2017.
ACCEPTED THIS DAY OF , 2017, BY THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA.
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS *2 /6 7-DAY OF / 4 4 4 4 4 , 2017.
ATTEST:
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
JEFFI/H/ERDYVIMayor
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 7th
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 29 OF 30
day of March, 2017.I further certify that the meeting was duly
called and held and that a quorum was present.
Dated this 14th day of March, 2017.
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 7, 2017
PAGE 30 OF 30
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 21, 2017
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on March 21, 2017, 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
Vice Mayor Wilson gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Serdy commented the city hosted the East Valley
Mayors' Prayer Breakfast this past week.One of the most
stirring things from the event was the rendition of the national
anthem.The high school participated in a lot of things there
and one of the tenth graders, Wesley McJunkin, did the national
anthem.Instead of the pledge tonight, Wesley will be doing the
national anthem.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present:Mayor Serdy
Vice Mayor Wilson
Councilmember Barker
Councilmember Struble
Councilmember Waldron
Staff Present:
(Councilmembers Evans and Rizzi were
absent).
City Manager Bryant Powell
Assistant City Manager Matt Busby
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
City Attorney Joel Stern
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 1 OF 11
Public Safety Director Tom Kelly
Parks and Recreation Director Liz
Langenbach
Economic Development Director Janine
Solley
Others Present:Public Information Officer Al Bravo
Grants Administrator Heather Patel
ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA
)Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED; AND
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 17-08, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, AUTHORIZING THE
CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX FOR USE OF THE PHOENIX
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM, BE APPROVED.
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
(During the vote Councilmember Struble commented he wanted to
say something about the agreement they are going to have that
they are voting on with the City of Phoenix.It was all brought
upon because the state legislature in 2013 passed House Bill
2111 which was supposed to simplify the sales tax collection,
but basically what they did was mandate that the city give up
its collection services to the state.They would collect it and
return the money to us in lieu of charging us a pretty sizeable
fee that amounts to about $77,000-$78,000 a year.The reason we
have to have this agreement with the City of Phoenix is because
the state does not have the capability to give us the
information back so that we can know who paid city sales tax.
That in itself is kind of ridiculous when the state mandates
something for us but then they cannot return the service to us.
Another thing that really irks him is that it was supposed to
take effect on January 1, 2016 and it did not take effect until
January 1, 2017 but they charged us for the year that they were
not servicing us - $77,000.Back in 2013 we had two state
representatives and a senator and they voted for this, not
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 2 OF 11
looking out for the city itself for something that is going to
put a hindrance upon us and taking money away from us so that we
can provide services to our citizens.He just thinks that is
wrong.The state senator and state representatives need to
think about that when they make the vote as to how it is going
to affect those constituents they actually serve.With that
being said he voted yes.)
The motion carried.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
None.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS
Mayor Serdy announced they did have the prayer breakfast in
Chandler since there was not a large enough facility here.The
amount of work going into it was amazing.It highlighted the
students and the churches.
Mayor Serdy announced this morning there was a Phoenix Mesa
Gateway meeting he did telephonically where they approved the
budget for the next year.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Bryant Powell commented on the prayer breakfast and
thanked everyone involved.
Mayor Serdy commented it was filmed and asked where the video is
available.
Assistant City Manager Matt Busby stated it is on the city's
YouTube channel.
City Manager Bryant Powell commented on the Pinal County and
Central Arizona Association of Governments open house on the
proposed regional transportation plan and an open house on the
infill plan.
City Manager Bryant Powell gave an overview of the monthly
financial statement.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 3 OF 11
PUBLIC HEARINGS
APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
LIQUOR LICENSE FOR ARIZONA ELK
SOCIETY FOR MARCH 25, 2017
)City Clerk Kathleen
Connelly briefed the council on the item.
Mayor Serdy requested the
applicant address the council.There was no applicant in
attendance.He 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.He commented this is
not the Elks Club, it is the Arizona Elk Foundation.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly
stated it is a nonprofit organization.
Mayor Serdy closed the
discussion with no further comments and called for a motion.
Councilmember Waldron MOVED
THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE FOR
ARIZONA ELK SOCIETY FOR MARCH 25, 2017, SUBMITTED BY STEVE
CLARK, BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF
LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL.
Councilmember Struble
SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 17-06, COMMITTING
LOCAL FUNDS AS LEVERAGE FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR 2016 STATE SPECIAL
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 4 OF 11
PROJECT GRANT APPLICATIONS
)Grant Administrator
Heather Patel briefed the council on the item.
Mayor Serdy opened the item
to discussion.There being no discussion, he called for a
motion.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 17-06, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, COMMITTING
LOCAL FUNDS AS LEVERAGE FOR FY 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT ("CDBG") STATE SPECIAL PROJECT ("SSP") APPLICATIONS, BE
APPROVED.
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 17-05
AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF
APPLICATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FEDERAL
FISCAL YEAR 2018 GRANT PROGRAM
)Grant Administrator
Heather Patel briefed the council on the item.
Councilmember Waldron
commented the applications have already been submitted.
Grant Administrator Heather
Patel stated they have.She could go over the five different
applications to let them know what the police department wishes
to do with those funds.The Governor's Office of Highway Safety
has a focus on driving under the influence enforcement, speed,
aggressive driving enforcement and different activities that
will help the police department combat those issues.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 5 OF 11
Mayor Serdy asked if this
would all be done with our department or is it in cooperation
with the highway patrol.
Grant Administrator Heather
Patel stated the driving under the influence enforcement
activity is in partnership with the Pinal County Task Force and
other area agencies.They do work together on things like that.
The funds here would be for our officers for overtime and the
equipment they would like to purchase such as the software, the
message board and the e -ticket machines.
Vice Mayor Wilson asked her
to explain the e -ticket machine.
Grant Administrator Heather
Patel stated it is basically a little, handheld machine.They
can take the driver's license and swipe it and it automatically
populates a little ticket.They essentially rip it off and give
it to the person.The officer does not have to go back to his
vehicle, sit there and fill out a whole form and take forever.
It speeds up the process of handing out tickets.It is more
accurate and automatically goes to the court system for
recordkeeping and processing.
Mayor Serdy asked if they
would still have to touch their nose and walk a line.
Grant Administrator Heather
Patel stated they would for driving under the influence.The e-
tickets would be used for everyday speeding violations and
things like that, not just for driving under the influence
enforcement.
Mayor Serdy closed the
discussion with no further comments and called for a motion.
Councilmember Waldron MOVED
THAT RESOLUTION NO. 17-05, A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, PERTAINING TO
THE SUBMISSION OF PROJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN ARIZONA'S 2018
HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN, BE APPROVED.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 6 OF 11
Councilmember Barker SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
DIRECTION TO STAFF
PROPOSED PROCESS TO PROCURE
SERVICES FOR THE OPERATION OF A
LOCAL VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER )
)Economic Development
Director Janine Solley briefed the council on the item.
Councilmember Barker asked
what the suggested increases are.
Economic Development Director
Janine Solley stated she had previously suggested either 1% or
2% or whatever they feel comfortable with.She did not think
there had been any increase over the last four or five years.
Everybody has been coming in flat with everything.It would be
a modest increase but it would be something.It is completely
up to the council.
Mayor Serdy closed the
discussion and called for a motion.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT STAFF BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION REGARDING THE
PROCESS TO PROCURE SERVICES FOR THE OPERATION OF THE LOCAL
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER:THAT THEY REFINE THE RFQ SCOPE OF
WORK TO FOCUS ON THE CORE SERVICES AT THE VISITOR CENTER, THAT
THEY SHORTEN THE RFQ TO INCLUDE A SIMPLIFIED QUESTIONNAIRE
REGARDING THE CORE SERVICES, THEY UTILIZE AND STREAMLINE THE
SELECTION PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY MANAGER, THAT WE
LENGTHEN THE TIME OF A CONTRACT TO THREE YEARS, AND THAT WE
INCLUDE A ONE PERCENT INCREASE TO BE AWARDED AT THE BEGINNING OF
EACH NEW FISCAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT TERM.
Vice Mayor Wilson SECONDED
THE MOTION.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 7 OF 11
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
PROCEED WITH STARTING THE REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS FOR MEALS AND
TRANSPORTATION AND TO START THE
PROCESS WITH PINAL GILA COUNCIL FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS TO RECEIVE FUNDING
FOR THE COORDINATION OF THESE
SERVICES
)Parks and Recreation
Director Liz Langenbach briefed the council on the item.
Councilmember Waldron
commented they have done an excellent job putting this all
together in a very short period of time with a lot of detail.
He certainly appreciates it because this came out of nowhere and
it was like now what do we do.They have taken the bull by the
horns and done an excellent job.
Parks and Recreation Director
Liz Lanbenbach stated there are some folks in the back of the
room that have stayed onboard and helped them through the
transition with the meals program and the transportation, along
with J.J. Underwood and his crew, Jamie Sullivan and the
volunteer staff that has stayed and been instrumental.It has
been a group project.
Councilmember Barker
commented she wanted to commend her and her department and all
those folks for taking this on and doing it rapidly and with
very little wait.They got their stuff in, did what they needed
to do and that is wonderful.
Mayor Serdy asked if they
would be getting a ticket writing machine.
Parks and Recreation Director
Liz Langenbach stated they could figure out some purpose for
that.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 8 OF 11
Vice Mayor Wilson commented
he had received a couple of phone calls from people that are on
the receiving end of this.They definitely complimented all of
them and what they have done.He wanted to personally thank
everyone who was involved in this.It was well noted and
appreciated by a lot of people in the community.
Councilmember Struble
commented when it first happened he was not on the council at
the time but he was hearing things from people wondering what
was going to happen and if they would be having services.
Everybody was worried about it.The response from the
constituents that are using it has been very well.Parks and
recreation is getting a lot of praise.He wanted to let them
know that.Good job.
Mayor Serdy closed the
discussion with no further comments and called for a motion.
Councilmember Waldron MOVED
THAT STAFF BE GIVEN THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION REGARDING THE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS FOR MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION AT THE
SENIOR CENTER:THAT STAFF PROCEED WITH STARTING THE REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL PROCESS FOR MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION AND START THE
PROCESS WITH PINAL GILA COUNCIL FOR SENIOR CITIZENS TO RECEIVE
FUNDING FOR THE COORDINATION OF THESE SERVICES.
Councilmember Barker SECONDED
THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES
Mayor Serdy called for a
motion.
Councilmember Barker MOVED
THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. AND A REGULAR MEETING AT
7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017, IN THE CITY COUNCIL
CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY; AND
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 9 OF 11
THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:00 P.M. BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL
4, 2017 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
Councilmember Waldron
SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
The motion carried.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Mr. Chris Coyle, Republic Services, 4050 S. Tomahawk, Apache
Junction, addressed the council to give an update on the past
and next free dump week at the landfill.
City Manager Bryant Powell commented the city is working on the
tonnage and he is excited on the efficiency.
ADJOURNMENT )
motion to adjourn the meeting.
MOVED.
SECONDED THE MOTION.
)Mayor Serdy called for a
Councilmember Barker SO
Councilmember Waldron
Mayor Serdy adjourned the
meeting at 7:40 p.m. with no vote.
Consent Agenda Items are as follows:
1. Consideration of acceptance of agenda.
2. Consideration of approval of minutes of regular meeting of
March 7, 2017.
3. Consideration of Resolution No. 17-08, authorizing the City
of Apache Junction to enter into an intergovernmental
agreement with the City of Phoenix for use of the Phoenix
Business Intelligence System.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 10 OF 11
ACCEPTED THIS 4 114 DAY OF 4 P,.JL , 2017, BY THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA.
SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS
ATTEST:
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
4 -at DAY OF , 2017.
ci44
JEFF 1(aDY
Mayor
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
21st day of March, 2017.I further certify that the meeting was
duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
Dated this 23rd day of March, 2017.
KATHLEEN CONNELLY
City Clerk
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2017
PAGE 11 OF 11