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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/2005 Study Session Minutes TOWN OF MARANA STUDY SESSION 13251 N. LON ADAMS ROAD FEBRUARY 22,2005,5:30 P.M. PLACE AND DATE Marana Town Hall, February 22, 2005 I. CALL TO ORDER By Vice Mayor Kai at 5:35 p.m. The study session was held informally and no official roll call was given. Mayor Sutton was excused from the study session. All Council Members were present and seated at the dais. II. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Presentation: Aquifer-Storage and Land-Subsidence Monitoring in the Tucson Active Management Area Report (Continued from the meeting of February 15, 2005) (Brad DeSpain) Brad DeSpain addressed the Council and introduced David Schmerge of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mr. Schmerge noted that Marana had joined the monitoring program in 2003 and his presentation focused on the results since then. Mr. Schmerge stated that the practical reasons for monitoring were resource management and scientific evaluation. Groundwater depletion causes land subsidence. Gravity measurements are used to measure aquifer storage. Elevation is also a major factor. He gave a brief explanation of the equipment that was used to gather the data. He showed the Council where the tests were completed from Spring 2003 to Spring 2004 and explained the map to the Council. He stated that overall, the rate of loss was about the same - half a foot, and that loss over the entire area and the average loss was half a foot. The loss for the past couple of years had remained about the same, but steadily decreasing. In central and northern A vra Valley there was a storage gain; in southern Avra Valley, where Tucson Water was pumping, there was a storage loss. Overall, it was a gain of about 70,000 acre feet. Mr. Schmerge indicated to Council where the subsidence was occurring. Tucson Water had greatly reduced the pumping of the central well-field so that it was possible that in time there would be an increase in that area. If groundwater depletion was stopped, the subsidence would be reduced. He explained that there was room for more coverage in Avra Valley and that in the future they would look at the area more closely. He indicated that there was a surge in the area of the Pima Mine Recharge facility. Discussion was held about the Cortaro area and the level there. Mr. Schmerge did not have an answer as to why there was so much depletion in that area. 2. Presentation: Vanderbilt Farms Community Facilities District (Roy Cuaron) Mr. Cuaron addressed the Council and gave a brief introduction. He said that this item was intended come before the Council on March 15,2005. He noted that the applicants had experience in developing master planned communities. The area is approximately 491 acres, and the infrastructure was expected to be phased in over 15 years. The cost of 1 TOWN OF MARANA STUDY SESSION 13251 N. LON ADAMS ROAD FEBRUARY 22,2005,5:30 P.M. the public infrastructure is estimated to be about $10.5 million. Staff would seek a bond authorization for about three times that amount. The Council could expect to see a development agreement similar to Gladden Farms. Mr. Reuwsaat asked Mr. Barr to address the public good regarding this project. Mr. Barr noted that the Council had indicated to staff that it was important to get the infrastructure and public roadwork in a timely fashion, in order to avoid situations somewhat like Cortaro Road. The idea of the Community Facilities District was to accelerate the work. The application was tentatively scheduled for 2006. Discussion was held about the costs that a homeowner would have to pay and how they would be paid - rather than in a mortgage it would be paid in the property tax. It would take the value of the infrastructure out of the house price and into the bond price. There could be a question of tangible benefit and what the residents would actually get for what they were paying for. 3. Presentation of Cortaro-Silverbell District Park and Gladden Farms Neighborhood Park Master Plan (Ron Smith) Mr. Smith addressed the Council and gave a brief introduction, indicating that staff was at the master planning stage for both of the parks. The first was Cortaro and Silverbell, which was very similar to what they had in the past, with the exception that due to archaeological reasons, one side would be left alone. There would be four ball fields, two soccer fields, a group ramada area, open turf, a dog park, a splash park, and open area for if they decided to build a multigenerational recreation center there. Mr. Smith responded to questions and explained what a splash park was. It would be built on a non-slip surface. The kids could play there rather than a swimming pool. Mr. Reuwsaat said that there would be about 450 parking spots; he also pointed out the library site. Mr. Smith said that the construction drawings would take six to nine months to complete; with funding they would be able to start moving the last quarter of fiscal year 2005-2006. Mr. Reuwsaat explained that they still do not have the Corps of Engineers permit. They were presently working on the archeological verification, and staff was looking at other avenues to finance the park. Mr. Smith explained that the Master Plan for Gladden Farms was before the Council also. He said that the park was very simple but also useful. There were a couple of multi-use parks, tot lots, playgrounds, several groves of trees, and restrooms. They were meeting the Town's needs that were part of the Master Planned Santa Cruz Linear Park. Eventually, the Santa Cruz Trail would go all the way through the park. He clarified that the ball fields were not lighted. If they chose to have the fields lighted it would be at the Town's expense and would have to go in before the houses were built. Mr. Smith responded to questions from the Council and said that there were not basketball courts but that there would be ramadas. Mr. Barr pointed out that Gladden Farms had pocket parks in the subdivisions where there were things like basketball courts. Mr. Reuwsaat pointed out that there would be additional transportation infrastructure at the west end. Council Member Honea pointed out that the number one activity he had noticed was basketball. He did not want to have to go back later and upgrade the park. Council 2 TOWN OF MARANA STUDY SESSION 13251 N. LON ADAMS ROAD FEBRUARY 22, 2005, 5:30 P.M. Member Comerford suggested that they really scrutinize the park. There was nothing wrong with the Town of Marana going back and saying that they also wanted other things. Council Member Honea expressed concerns that this park did not offer enough amenities. Mr. Smith responded to questions and said that Little League ran exclusively at Ora Mae Harn Park. In the future they would have to go to other parks. Council Member Escobedo pointed out that this was preliminary and Gladden Farms had been willing to work with the Town. He said that they could always add amenities. Council Member Blake asked if this was a 40-acre park; Mr. Smith estimated that this was 20-25 acres. Mr. Reuwsaat informed the Council that 6 acres of park were required for every 1,000 residents by the current standards. He said that they would have other opportunities in the immediate area to provide for the other activities. Mr. Reuwsaat explained that staff was looking at increased impact fees for parks and roads for future development of parks. The sooner the impact fee ordinance was approved the sooner the funding would be available. Mr. Smith explained that Gladden Farms' commitment to the Town was as seen. Planning and Parks staff would be working together to look at parcels where they could build the 40 acre parks. 4. Presentation: DeGrood) Regional Transportation Project Priorities for Marana (Jim Mr. DeGrood addressed the Council and presented a slide show that he had previously given at the Regional Transportation Authority's Technical and Management Subcommittee. The committee had requested that every jurisdiction do this. He said that he presented to the committee that the Council had already identified the regional routes. He identified specifically the Twin Peaks Corridor, Tangerine Road, Thornydale Road, Ina Road, Avra Valley Road and Marana Road. These were shown on PAG's five-year program. He briefly explained each of the priorities to the Council. He wanted to make sure that they knew that the Town expected to contribute over $170 million to the projects. Mr. Reuwsaat stated that most of the other jurisdictions were looking at roadway improvements for existing deficiencies. The Town's needs were significantly different. He felt reasonably confident that these were the high priorities that would meet most of the future needs. What they would need to present to the electorate was a sense of the projects that would have an immediate benefit if it went to the voters in May 2006. They were going to focus on the first four projects and then later would look at the other projects. They would bring back before Council a list of final projects. This was the first attempt to show what was on the Town's plate. Staff would update the Council once or twice more during the process. Additional discussion was held on the funding and growth of the Town of Marana. 5. Discussion of options for a non-smoking ordinance (Mike Reuwsaat) Mr. Reuwsaat addressed the Council and said that work had previously been done on smoking ordinances and staff had looked at what was done in the community. He said that the example Council had before them was Pima County's smoking ordinance. 3 TOWN OF MARANA STUDY SESSION 13251 N. LON ADAMS ROAD FEBRUARY 22, 2005, 5:30 P.M. Staff had gone through and reformatted the ordinance to bullet the separate sections. He explained Pima County's ordinance and listed some exemptions. He discussed the ordinance as it related to restaurants. One issue was that they did not want the Police to have to enforce the smoking ordinance. He said that they could do an IGA and have the County's health department enforce the ordinance, subject to approval. Discussion was held about the hardship phase. Less than 30% of the restaurants in the Town of Marana were allowing smoking. Discussion was held about Cracker Barrel Restaurant and the smoking area. Mr. Barr said that staff would want to go back to the beginning and get a feel from the business community once direction was received from the Council. Council Member Honea suggested that the first step, since they would be looking into an IGA with Pima County for enforcement it would be a good idea to keep the IGA similar to the County's to facilitate enforcement. Mr. Reuwsaat said staff would move forward at this point and go forward to the Chamber of Commerce and businesses for input. I. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, the motion to adjourn was approved unanimously, and Vice Mayor Kai adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the study session held on February 22, 2005. I further certify that a quorum was present. ..""nilj'i'll ~'_,OF ü.; ~ §- ~'~\\"m;í,'t1~~ ~S'~~ ~ ~ ::: ~ I tORPORArf \. ~ - =: QC:'ac) . - - - - - - ~SEALS - .... s:: i;t ~ ~ ~ S; ~ L\\~ ~ ~-f~/Z 1911 ~ ~111'iU\\\\~ 4