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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-07 City Council Regular MinutesCITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING June 7, 2016 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona, was held on June 7, 2016, at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Insalaco called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. INVOCATION Councilmember Waldron gave the Invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present:Mayor Insalaco Vice Mayor Barker Councilmember Evans Councilmember Rizzi Councilmember Serdy Councilmember Waldron Councilmember Wilson 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 Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach Public Information Officer Al Bravo Economic Development Administrator Janine Solley REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 1 OF 25 ACCEPTANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA )Vice Mayor Barker MOVED THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA BE ACCEPTED AS PRESENTED. Councilmember Waldron SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS Public Safety Director Tom Kelly and Rob Carr, Leading Knight of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Apache Junction Lodge 2349, presented the 2015-2016 Enrique S. Camarena Award to Detective Seth Blount.Public Safety Director Tom Kelly gave a brief description of Detective Blount's responsibilities and leadership that earned him the award. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CURRENT EVENTS Vice Mayor Barker congratulated the students who graduated from the D.A.R.E. Program at Peralta, Four Peaks and Desert Vista. They worked very hard and wrote wonderful essays.She was unable to attend this year and it has always been an honor to attend.The mayor and other council members attended and they need to know the city supports those efforts. Councilmember Serdy commented several of them attended the Apache Junction Chamber awards.There were a bunch of individual awards.Central Arizona College got large business of the year, AJ News small business of the year and Superstition Mountain Museum nonprofit of the year. Mayor Insalaco commented this year was the first year Apache Junction High School and Junior High had the mayor on the podium with the students.Their graduation was phenomenal this year. He interviewed a lot of the students on senior interview day and this class was amazing compared to the previous 9 years he had done it.Somebody is doing something right at the school district. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 2 OF 25 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager Bryant Powell read a letter thanking the police department and code compliance, read a letter on the vice mayor receiving Desert Peaks Award For Regional Excellence and commented on Liz Langenbach being inducted into the Apache Junction High School Hall of Fame. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach gave a presentation on the city receiving the Kaboom Playful City USA designation for 2016. Councilmember Rizzi commented this program represents how important it is to have the partnership with the school district.They really stepped up to the plate to pick up the slack and the council really appreciates the work that parks and recreation has done. Councilmember Waldron asked if the TGIF program is school district -wide, not just the city. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated that is correct.Anybody can participate in that.A lot of home- schooled kids participated in the program.They might be getting a wonderful education at home but they do not always have the same opportunities as others for socialization and learning.They are now able to participate in that program on Fridays.It is a big success. PUBLIC HEARINGS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE LOCAL VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER )Economic Development Administrator Janine Solley briefed the council on the item. Mr. Larry Johnson, Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce, 567 W. Apache Trail, gave a short presentation on their activities. Councilmember Rizzi asked how they update their website and how often it is updated. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 3 OF 25 Mr. Larry Johnson stated they will be updating it over the summer months.They have been very busy.As everyone knows, they are quite seasonal.They just finished their awards banquet.He just gave the staff instructions today to update the website over the summer.They also produce their visitors' guide publication over the summer. They will be making 18,500 copies of that.They will also have flipbook online.Their summertime is wrap up, preparation and completion of all their publications. Councilmember Rizzi asked if he has someone that updates it or does he update it. Mr. Larry Johnson stated his communications person updates it. Councilmember Rizzi commented she was looking at the website a couple of days ago and she thinks it has been changed since then.There was something on there that had caught her eye.It had to do with only members being referred. Mr. Larry Johnson stated it is funny she mentioned it as he had done a search as he was curious about it.He pulled it up today and asked himself why that was on there.He believes they took information from the membership page when they were revamping the website.Part of the problem with that is they are a bit unique.Many chambers do not run visitor centers as well.A lot of them do in the rural communities.It is a wonderful partnership.They are chamber publishers so they are always focused on chamber influence.They also have a few other strategies.They are going to create a visitor center portion to their website so it will be for visitors exclusively.The idea for that is to promote tourism, the events and activities.They will also be working on that this summer. Councilmember Rizzi commented she wanted to at least comment on that.It is the reason she asked how often and how it was updated.It has been a point of contention.It has been a concern for businesses in the community that are not members, feeling like they were not being represented through the visitor center.When people saw that REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 4 OF 25 they said, hey, wait a minute, it says right here this.She was glad to see it was corrected.She noticed that they do not have Saturday hours during the summer.She asked why. Mr. Larry Johnson stated it is cost prohibitive to keep lights and air conditioning on for six people coming through the door.They analyzed and had all their volunteers analyze the people coming through the doors, the time at which they were coming, how many people in the party and so forth so they could really identify what made sense to them.That is how they established the hours they have.He believes they started in as early as November 2014 through April 2016 and they started seeing those numbers going up.He wanted to make sure they had accurate data.They could still have a dip for something like Easter.They might be coming back but who knows.They just wanted to continue to collect data and they are confident they are not remiss.As an Arizona Office of Tourism destination center they provide information on the outside of the building.Even if people were to show up and the doors are not open, they still have access to a lot of the most popular items and publications. Councilmember Rizzi commented that brings her to her next question.She asked if they would be open on Saturdays from October through March. Mr. Larry Johnson stated it is January, February, March and it might include April.He cannot remember right now, but it is in the proposal he submitted.Whatever is written in the proposal is what they do. Councilmember Rizzi commented they have determined that those are the busy months of the year. Mr. Larry Johnson stated absolutely.They even have the Festival of the Superstitions. That is the only exception as they are open that weekend which is November 11-12 this year.They will be open Friday and Saturday.As they have activity that time, they thought they would start right then but they did not have much traffic. Councilmember Rizzi commented that again brings her to her next question, which has been REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 5 OF 25 another area of contention.She wants to get it out and figure out how to solve this problem.One of the other issues or concerns has been the door swings or counts and if they are accurate or inaccurate.According to what has been listed there have been 35,000 visitors coming through the center a year. That is the equivalent of 29,016 people a month.Obviously in the summer months that is not the case. Mr. Larry Johnson asked if she meant 2,916. Councilmember Rizzi commented it is not 29,000.She apologized.So there is 2,900 a month and they know the busy months are going to between October and March.The problem she has with the door swings is she does not think they are accurate.It is not an accurate count.She thinks they need to do a better job.She does not know what that is.She is not a person who runs the visitor center.The concerns are with the numbers looking high it gives us, as leaders of the community, a false sense of security that our economy is doing very well.When you talk to the business owners, especially the little guys, the last three years, they will tell you that business has been declining.The winter visitors have been declining.For her, she wants to make sure they have a way of calculating accurate numbers.It is important.In her opinion it gives a false sense of security that they are doing better than what she thinks they may be. She would really like to find a way.She does not know what that way is, to get those numbers more accurate. Mr. Larry Johnson stated he has mentioned staff and the council are welcome to come down and screen the facility and give them feedback and input.He would even like the council to provide their input and brainstorm with them.He has told his staff they will never hear him say that they have nailed it.That applies to the chamber, the visitor center and every facet of his life.There will always be room for improvement and they will always strive for that improvement.Some of these challenges are certainly questionable.Installing face recognition technology for a $40,000 contract is not feasible.Those are the things that they can do.They are trying to work within their limitations and boundaries.He could certainly factor in staff head counts REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 6 OF 25 and start scrutinizing the number of visitors they have coming through for meetings, but he cannot tell them how many times they have meetings where they end up straying off to the wall and picking up information.They are still functioning at capacity and they are putting Apache Junction's best foot forward.He struggles with that himself.He would love to provide them precise and accurate numbers.Historically, that is how they have done this so if he starts changing it up, they will now say that everything has gone to pot because they have changed their methodology.They do not want to change mid- stream here and appear that they are going backwards when they actually are not.He is happy and encourages anyone to provide input to help them improve their data collection methodology. They are working on it. Councilmember Rizzi commented there is one more area she feels needs to be worked on as far as improvement and that is to create some kind of distinction between the chamber and the visitor center.It has been a mish mash.It is beautiful inside and out.The center is impeccably maintained.But there is no clear distinction between the visitor center and the chamber.These are things she hears from people in the community that she is relaying back to him.These are areas they probably need to work on for improvement.She does not know how to fix it.She is just pointing these things out to him. Mr. Larry Johnson asked her to please be mindful the reason why the chamber is beautiful is because chamber members sustain the facility and all those things.The idea is for it to be a symbiotic relationship.It is mutually beneficial.That is why they have such a high quality visitor center.Forty thousand dollars does not get them that facility.This is how they have to trade a little bit of balance.He thinks it is very important the community members know it is certainly, partially, because of the chamber members and their support that they are able to put Apache Junction's best foot forward.Again, he would like to brainstorm with all of them on how they can do some things. Councilmember Serdy commented the Arizona Winter Visitors Association plays a vital role out here, especially where the city is geographically in the valley. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 7 OF 25 As of right now there does not seem to be any cooperation with the visitor center and the chamber.He asked what they can do to reach out to bring them back into the mix if they are fortunate enough to receive this bid.He thinks it is natural that they need to be there. Mr. Larry Johnson stated they did provide the facility for the Winter Visitors Association. As a matter of fact, they had ten years of free room and board. They did all they could.The reality is as the organization grew, the staff grows.They needed the space for another staff person.They just needed access to the space.Because it is actually so seasonal, they pretty much go dormant in the summer months and they are much more active in the winter months.They are happy to work with them in trying to develop maybe a kiosk- type situation.They actually have an area.They are trying to close off one more of their offices.Based on the growth of the organization it is difficult to accommodate their needs.They did do free room and board for, he wants to say, ten years. Councilmember Serdy asked if they would try again. Mr. Larry Johnson stated they can reach out to them.He is thinking more of a kiosk.They have a telephone and volunteers could come in.He is not sure how they are operating currently by that is what it used to be. The volunteers would come in somewhat intermittently and during the peak of the season they were there much more regularly than at other times.That is something they will have to discuss and find out what they truly need as far as office space. Councilmember Rizzi asked what is in their future plans to promote businesses that are nonmembers.She wanted to know what the visitor center is going to do.She asked if there will be a place for businesses that are non -chamber members to put their cards. Mr. Larry Johnson stated they had discussed that as well.Based on sheer wall space alone he is not certain that is reasonable.Again, they have developed a kiosk with a sign installed on the wall that says please visit or locate your local Apache Junction business here.He cannot REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 8 OF 25 remember the exact terminology.They have the sign installed on the wall and they will have a work desk there.They will be able to pull up to a computer and they will be able to use that reference USA website which is the best data base he is aware of to accommodate those things.They can search that information there. Mr. Mike Lamb, marketing and media manager and managing member of Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance and the owner of Sky 7 Radio, gave a presentation on the operations and goals of the organization. Vice Mayor Barker called for a point of order.She advised Mr. Lamb that his ten minutes are long past. Councilmember Waldron asked where his visitor center is located. Mr. Mike Lamb stated it is at Idaho in the same area with the AJ News at the end in Suite 108. Councilmember Waldron asked which end. Mr. Mike Lamb stated right next to where the old Mirage used to be. Councilmember Waldron asked if they had talked to the Office of Tourism. Mr. Mike Lamb stated they had. Councilmember Waldron asked what they had said about the designation as a visitor center. Mr. Mike Lamb stated according to their rules, they have to be a nonprofit.This time out they obviously would not be able to have the Arizona Office of Tourism designation.But they have talked with and considered either turning their organization into a nonprofit, which they can easily do according to the Internal Revenue REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 9 OF 25 Service rules, or they can partner up with an existing nonprofit such as the Arizona Winter Visitors Association, and come back and do the bid next year under the nonprofit. Councilmember Waldron commented with -the Arizona Office of Tourism. Mr. Mike Lamb stated for the purposes of seeing if they can get an Arizona Office of Tourism designation. Councilmember Waldron commented the Arizona Office of Tourism designation is a major issue for them.That puts the visitor center with that designation into all of the state's information. Vice Mayor Barker commented it is a national program. Mr. Mike Lamb stated it does not state in the request for qualifications that the city contract has to be with a nonprofit organization. Councilmember Waldron commented it does not, but it is a decision they have to make which they have to make for the city.It is an elephant in the room, that Arizona Office of Tourism designation. Vice Mayor Barker commented he had made mention of the fact that when revenues become high enough they would be able to hire a manager.She asked where these revenues would come from:dues; gift shop sales or something else. Mr. Mike Lamb stated they would be a combination of both online and instore gift shop sales and other things he thinks they can do to promote the city and help other businesses that are possibly tied to advertising. Councilmember Rizzi asked how they came to choose the location on Idaho. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 10 OF 25 Mr. Mike Lamb stated they were looking for some place that would be obviously accessible. Following the Arizona Office of Tourism rules and following what is in the request for qualifications, they looked at a lot of locations.The location they looked at and thought they would be using first was the real estate corner over in the Fry's shopping area.When they found out the building was in receivership, two weeks before they were going to get a commitment from them, they decided to start looking for another location. Vice Mayor Barker asked if they have already leased the office on Idaho. Mr. Mike Lamb stated they have not leased it but they have a letter of intent from the landlord. Mayor Insalaco opened the public hearing on the item. Ms. Judy Lutes, 4381 N. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She is the president of the Arizona Winter Visitors Association, a nonprofit that has been in business for 25 years.They were with the chamber at one time but they were put in a back room where they were not allowed to come out and speak to anyone. They do two expos a year, two newsletters a year and a cookbook. She had it at the chamber and was asked to have it taken out. She would have to pay $20 for every hundred dollars sold. Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance has backed them totally, being at every expo and helping them out.The chamber is saying visitors have increased every year and that is not true.It has been going down the last three years with the last year the worst.The museum is down 60%.Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance stated they will help her get videos done to send nationally and to Canada.Winter visitors have sold their homes and moved here permanently so it will help the community grow.She asked them to consider giving the contract to Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 11 OF 25 Mr. Bob Bogart, 333 E. 12th Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council.He commented on the history of the complex and various local residents who helped to build the history of the city.He spoke in favor of the Chamber of Commerce and gave the chamber credit for getting the Superstition Freeway built. Vice Mayor Barker commented she just heard names she has not heard in 25 years.She commented Joy is probably in the same position. Ms. Joy McNulty, year round volunteer at the chamber since 1999, addressed the council.She stated people view the chamber and visitor center as one in the same and come there seeking information.She gave a short presentation on the hours, information available and kinds of people that come to the chamber and visitor center.The chambers are known for having a visitor center. Ms. Pam White, 9546 E. Empress, addressed the council.She is a member of Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance.She and her husband have volunteered to work in the visitor center if the contract is awarded there.She worked for Arizona Highways in customer service.Her husband has a wealth of knowledge of the state and an awful lot about this area specifically.He is a former public information officer. Ms. Carol Kauscher, 348 S. Gold, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She volunteers at the chamber.She wanted to work there after the experiences she received when she went in for information.She has noticed a number of seniors coming in for help. Ms. Tess Nesser, 1511 S. Cactus, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She stated when she has visitors wanting to get information they go to the chamber of commerce.She is not sure if it should be separated with visitors having to possibly go to both locations. Mr. Ken Stosel, 3301 S. Goldfield, Apache Junction, addressed the council.He stated he has listened to both sides.Slow growth and no growth will kill REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 12 OF 25 the city.The business people are claiming things are hurting. If the numbers are what are being claimed, he asked why these businesses are hurting.They need to address the problems to help the city grow. Ms. Lisa Newell, 902 W. 17th Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She was there on behalf of Al and Elise Otero, being Elise's daughter.They own the Otero Realty Group and they are a sponsoring partner of Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance.They feel there is a dire need for new and fresh concepts available for local business owners.They offer businesses the opportunity to engage their business with technology and the social media age. They are excited about the partnership with the Arizona Winter Visitors Association. Mr. Fred Obermeyer, 2114 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction, addressed the council.He stated he is a business owner and some days you get a lot of money and some days you get zero.They need to look at more referrals in the city.Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance is getting them all together to see what their problems are and seeing if they can help them develop and build their business. He asked why they had to keep paying the chamber for a referral. They should all work together. Ms. Judy Daniels, 5465 E. Greasewood, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She stated she and her husband own an auto paint business, she is a real estate broker and she has been a parade chair.She is not a member of the chamber.She does not expect winter visitors to make her living.Those business people need to develop a plan for better leadership.A new winter visitor center will not make them all rich.Restaurants and attractions will get them, not others.Fry's would not be building a new supercenter if the numbers were not there. Mr. Mike Becker, 951 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction, addressed the council.He owns a printing business for more than 20 years in the community.He recognizes that winter visitors do not direct his business directly.They are second in the food chain, being fed by other businesses in the town that are busy due to the winter visitors. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 13 OF 25 He still feels the effects.An issue was door swings; his group meets at the chamber religiously.They go off campus now and then.When they come back they are encouraged by the chamber to swing the door.The numbers are a little skewed.One thing mentioned the chamber puts out is the directory, but the people in the directory have to be chamber members.The city's licensed businesses are missing that bus. Ms. Kathleen Hill, 5674 E. 3rd Avenue, Apache Junction, addressed the council.She stated she was there on behalf of her husband, Gordon Hill, who had volunteered at the chamber for seventeen years.She asked the council to read a letter she left with them involving a tourist's interaction with her husband at the chamber. Mayor Insalaco closed the public hearing with no one else wishing to speak.He reopened the item to council discussion. Vice Mayor Barker commented she feels like King Solomon who had a baby and decided to cut it in half because of the wrangling between the two mothers.What she has heard tonight is we have an organization in this community that is dedicated to the promotion of business in this community, dedicated to helping their fellow business people, and dedicated to helping them find newer and better ways to be good business people.She thinks that is amazing and wonderful. One of the problems she personally had with the chamber for a multitude of years, which Larry and she have discussed on so many occasions she cannot count it, is the fact local businesses who choose not to belong to the chamber were not being promoted by the visitor center.There is your distinction between the two entities.However, what the request for qualifications is looking for is a visitor center first and a promotion of local business second.She sees Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance as a kick butt business promotion organization.She owns a business and she is a member.She is also a member of the chamber.But she thinks there are two different goals here.She thinks the goal she is hearing from Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance is business promotion.They are looking to promote the local businesses in this community and teach them how to get better.She applauds their efforts and she wants to be a part of those efforts.This REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 14 OF 25 request for qualifications was for a winter visitor center.She would really prefer the chamber develop a better relationship with the Arizona Winter Visitors Association.It seems absolutely absurd that the chamber would not have a very close affiliation with that group.That seems absurd and she is sure there is something behind it she knows nothing about and does not want to know it.That is all she has to say except to tell Mike he is one heck of a salesperson.He is slick.He could sell a fly off a tree if he wanted to.He is so good. Councilmember Waldron commented as this progressed this evening it became pretty obvious to him that the visitor center got lost in this argument. Vice Mayor Barker commented it did. Councilmember Waldron commented it was more of an argument between the chamber and Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance.He believes it was the gentleman that owns the train shop that said the businesses need to come together and promote each other.That is exactly what these two groups want to do and he does not understand why we have two groups.The visitor center got lost in all this argument, and the visitor center is what they deal with. Mayor Insalaco commented he sees that Bob just left.There is one fellow he forgot.That was Don Donnelly.Don Donnelly was president of the chamber after he was, which was when the chamber was still in a little building.The chamber has come a long way, but they need to get things together and get them done the right way.He applauded both groups. Councilmember Serdy commented he wanted to add a few things to what the vice mayor said.He is a member of both groups, also.If this does go to the chamber, he wants to see communication with the Arizona Winter Visitors Association.He just signed up as a corporate sponsor with them to help them as well.A lot of visitors hike and ask how to get to the arboretum, the ruins in Globe; it is not REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 15 OF 25 always going to be about sending them to a business.If they are coming up from Tucson they may ask how to get to the Grand Canyon or how to get on the freeway.They will have to have a lot of information like that.They have to know where the hospitals are. Councilmember Evans commented she thinks it is really important that they need as many diverse business groups as can be sustained within the city, simply because not everybody fits well in every group.She usually says it a different way but not tonight.She has it toned down a bit.Not every bum fits every saddle.We need this.That is a fact.Not everybody fits well in every group.As many business groups as we can have to help everybody is fabulous. Because this is about a business center and Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance currently does not have anything open as a visitor center, in the past when we have been asked for grants and other contracts for businesses that are not open yet, we really cannot do that.Without the Arizona Office of Tourism, not only their criteria being met by both groups, it makes it very difficult for her to be able to say yes, let us try someone different.Across the country there is a commonality of people knowing to go to a chamber as the visitor center.She thinks that also makes it harder for Superstition Mountains Regional Business Alliance.She has been spending a lot of time recently up north and there are many businesses that are open that also have visitor centers or visitor information available.That is a way to start.But to award a contract from the city for something that is not currently operating as such would be extremely difficult. Councilmember Wilson commented he was listening very intently and looking at the aspects of the visitor center.One of the difficulties has been promoting nonmembers' businesses for both entities.He heard from the chamber what they were trying to do to help promote nonmembers' businesses but he did not necessarily hear that from the second group.He heard about having electronic ads and the cost for the members.He repeatedly heard members on what they would do for their membership which did not address the nonmember promotion or how they were going to find out how they were to promote them. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 16 OF 25 Councilmember Rizzi commented there were a couple of comments that were made that if it is not broke, do not fix it.That is part of what brought us to this point.Part of what started the second group is that people in the community have, for the past several years, come forward and said that there are issues, concerns and problems with the visitor center and the chamber.In the last year alone the city council has been presented with some very concerning information that as leaders she does not feel they were able to turn a blind eye to.She thinks the questions needed to be asked and answered.What bothered here was there was not one representative from the chambers that has tried to dispel any of these concerning things that have come to them.Some of them are financial.As city leaders we have an obligation to make sure the public's money is spent the way it was intended to be spent.If there are questions that come into play, it is their obligation to question, get some answers and find out what is going on.It is not her money.It is not the council's money. It is the public's money and they have an obligation to make sure the public's money is being spent the way it was intended to be spent.They have been presented with some very serious accusations, rumors or call them what you like that come into play and come into question.They have not been dispelled in her opinion appropriately be any representative or member of the chamber as it should have been.She has a problem with that. It has been a struggle for her.They have two great groups. They have all said it, with amazing ideas if they could both work together for the betterment of the community is what it really should be this ego or who for. is Not right or community to come together. groups are for whatever reason has some very serious concerns. this group or that group or my ego wrong.For the betterment of the It is unfortunate that the two not able to do that.She just For her it boils down to how the public money is being spent and as a leader she has an obligation to make sure it is being spent the way it was intended to be. or Councilmember Waldron commented there is a reporting requirement that the chamber makes.Our concern is not with the chamber but the $41,000 that goes to the visitor center.That is reported to Janine's office quarterly. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 17 OF 25 Vice Mayor Barker commented they get a copy of the complete report. Councilmember Waldron commented their concern is with that $41,000 to the visitor center only.If there are issues with the chamber, that is up to their board to deal with. Councilmember Rizzi commented right. Mayor Insalaco closed the discussion with no further comments and called for a motion. Vice Mayor Barker MOVED THAT THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION BE GIVEN TO STAFF REGARDING THE PREPARATION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR VISITOR CENTER SERVICES:THAT WE AWARD SAID CONTRACT TO THE AJ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CONTRACT BE TENDERED. Councilmember Waldron SECONDED THE MOTION. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if the contract was for one year per the request for qualifications. Vice Mayor Barker commented one year per the request for qualifications. VOTE:Unanimous. (During the vote Councilmember Rizzi commented she was really reluctant to vote this way last year and she will vote this way this year because of the Arizona Office of Tourism criteria. That was the deciding factor for her.) (During the vote Councilmember Serdy commented because of the Arizona Office of Tourism.) The motion carried. OLD BUSINESS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 18 OF 25 None. NEW BUSINESS None. DIRECTION TO STAFF NAMING OF THE DOWNTOWN PARK )Mayor Insalaco commented he wished the public here tonight could have seen the way the group of young kids came together last night to present them with the group of names.They are the junior council.It is the first year that the city has gone to the schools to have a junior school council.It was amazing to see what they did. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach briefed the council on the item. Mayor Insalaco commented he hopes there is one thing they do not forget.The property belongs to somebody else for every other park in this city. This is the first park that we have in the city that will be on city property.He hopes that somehow the name Apache Junction gets in there and that it be a community park because none of the other parks are named Apache Junction.It would bother him for the first park in our city on city property to not have the name of Apache Junction a little bit.He has thought about that.One has to stop and think. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated she definitely wanted them to have a look at the names last night so they could think about them a little bit.She wanted to come back today and let her know some of their thoughts.That was also brought up yesterday, that of having Apache Junction in the name.They also need to keep in mind something Vice Mayor Barker brought up.Whatever we name it, it will take on its own name at some point in time.The Apache Junction Multi -Generational Center is called the MGC. Nobody calls it the Apache Junction Multi -Generational Center which is what she thinks they called it in their wonderful wisdom at the parks and recreation department.It is a mouthful.It is now the MGC.That is definitely a great point. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 19 OF 25 She thinks they can take that into some of their feedback.The top three names up there were some of the ones discussed with the parks and recreation commission.The kids had brought those ones up.Apache Junction Legends Park was actually kind of a combination name they talked about.They had merged a couple of the names with the parks and recreation commission when they discussed that with them.That is still in there.They can go about this a couple of ways.They can hear some of their feedback again tonight.They can pick a few and they can bring those back for their final decision.Pick two or three of them they really like and they can be directed to bring those back in two weeks. Mayor Insalaco asked if there was any way they could pick three and then let the kids pick from those. Vice Mayor Barker commented let the kids make the final decision. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated absolutely. Vice Mayor Barker commented she thinks if they are the future users of this park she thinks that should be their consideration.They have gone to the trouble of coming up with a variety of names with all kinds of interesting history to them.It seems like if the council would just pull out about three of them and say those are the ones they really liked they could then tell the council which one they think would be the best. Councilmember Wilson agreed. The council consensus was to pick out three and let the kids pick the name. Councilmember Serdy commented they have never done this before.He asked if they could all name three without doing a motion.They could each name three and go down the row and then make a motion. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 20 OF 25 Vice Mayor Barker commented they could see where it melds together. Councilmember Serdy commented he has three if they want to hear them. Vice Mayor Barker commented she has two. Councilmember Serdy commented Flat Iron Community, Jacob Waltz Park and AJ Legends would be his three to submit. Vice Mayor Barker commented she wants the wordcommunity in anything.She thinks it is really important the word community be in any one of these. Councilmember Serdy commented it is kind of when you put the dot.It is kind of what we are doing. Councilmember Rizzi commented whatever combination they come up with as she likes them all. She was just stuck on the word community.Other than that, she thinks they are all great names and in whatever combination. Councilmember Evans commented she agrees with Jeff totally.She likes those three. Vice Mayor Barker commented she would go with it.It works for her. Councilmember Wilson commented he was single.He likes Flat Iron. Vice Mayor Barker commented there is her list. Mayor Insalaco commented he agrees with what everyone else has said. Parks and Recreation -Director Liz Langenbach:stated she thinks they talked -about Jacob Waltz REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7,_2016' PAGE 21 OF 25 Community Park last night as another suggestion they agreed upon. The consensus of the council was that one was also okay. Vice Mayor Barker commented that one was last on her list.Everything is Jacob Waltz. Mayor Insalaco asked her to go back and remind them that this is the first city park. Councilmember Rizzi commented they could say Apache Junction Community Park. Vice Mayor Barker commented they certainly could.We do not even have to have anything else. City Manager Bryant Powell asked if he heard, for the purposes of Liz when she goes back to the group, the exact ones they want. Vice Mayor Barker commented there are four.And they can pick from those. City Manager Bryant Powell stated he just wanted to make sure she knows. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated she will need a motion for her direction to come back or to take them to the youth council. Mayor Insalaco commented they all agree on these three and add the one Apache Junction Community Park. Vice Mayor Barker MOVED THAT THEY HAVE A MOTION FOR APACHE JUNCTION COMMUNITY PARK, APACHE JUNCTION LEGENDS PARK, JACOB WALTZ COMMUNITY PARK AND FLAT IRON COMMUNITY PARK TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE YOUTH COUNCIL AND THEY MAY PICK THE ONE THEY FEEL IS THE VERY BEST FOR THIS COMMUNITY'S FIRST PARK. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 22 OF 25 Councilmember Waldron SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated in two weeks they will be bringing this back with the one choice and they will present that at that meeting. City Manager Bryant Powell stated they will get that set up so it can be voted on that night. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Langenbach stated that will be a vote in two weeks. Vice Mayor Barker commented maybe Matt can put that in nice, beautiful script. SELECTION OF MEETING DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS, AND PURPOSES Vice Mayor Barker MOVED THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:45 P.M. AND A WORK SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. BE HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM AND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS RESPECTIVELY; AND THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:45 P.M. BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016, IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. Councilmember Evans SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. CALL TO THE PUBLIC None. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 23 OF 25 ADJOURNMENT )Mayor Insalaco adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Consent Agenda Items are as follows: 1. Consideration of acceptance of agenda. 2. Consideration of approval of minutes of special meeting of May 16, 2016. 3. Consideration of approval of minutes of regular meeting of May 17, 2016. ACCEPTED THIS cavr-r DAY OF jijAbg , 2016, BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 6 -1-DAY OF ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION Jimzc , 2016. 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 day of June, 2016.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 24 OF 25 Dated this 13th day of June, 2016. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 7, 2016 PAGE 25 OF 25