Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/06/2005 Regular Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 PLACE AND DATE Marana Municipal Complex, September 6, 2005 A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Called to order by Mayor Honea at 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL Ed Honea Herb Kai Bob Allen Jim Blake Patti Comerford Tim Escobedo Carol McGorray Mayor Vice Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Excused Present Present Present Arrived at 7: 15 p.m. Present STAFF Mike Reuwsaat Gilbert Davidson Frank Cassidy Jocelyn Bronson Town Manager Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Town Clerk Present Present Present Present B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCA TION/MOMENT OF SILENCE Cub Scout Pack 219 presented the colors. C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Upon motion by Council Member Comerford, seconded by Council Member Allen, the agenda was unanimously approved with item 6 from the consent agenda moved to Council action. D. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Mayor Honea called Charlie Mangum, Airport Director, forward. He announced that Mr. Mangum had received the President's Award from the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. E. PRESENTATIONS There were none. F. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS There were none. G. MANAGER'S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS There were none. H. STAFF REPORTS There were no questions. 1 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS I. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Resolution No. 2005-113: Relating to the Police Department; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a law enforcement grant agreement with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) (Richard Vidaurri) 2. Resolution No. 2005-114: Relating to Off-Track Betting; approving and authorizing the application of Old Father Inn and Tucson Greyhound Park for an off-track horse and dog wagering facility to be located at 4080 W. Ina Road (Jocelyn Bronson) 3. Resolution No. 2005-115: Relating to Development; approving and authorizing a final block plat for Willow Ridge (Barbara Berlin) 4. Resolution No. 2005-116: Relating to Operations and Maintenance; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a renewal of the intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Marana and Pima County for the purchase of fuel and fleet services (Jim DeGrood) 5. Resolution No. 2005-117: Relating to Town Facilities; approving and authorizing the Town Manager to administer and modify the Town Meeting Facilities Usage Policy (Frank Cassidy) 6. This item was moved to Council action. 7. Resolution No. 2005-119: Relating to Personnel; approving and adopting amendments to the Town's Personnel Policies Manual, revising Policy 5-5 "Discipline System," Policy 5-6 "Personnel Action Review Procedures," and Section 8-1-6 "Layoff and Recall" of Policy 8-1 "Employment End" (Frank Cassidy) 8. Approval of Minutes for the regular meeting of the Mayor and Council held on August 16, 2005 and the study sessions held on August 23, 2005, and August 30, 2005. Upon motion by Council Member Comerford, seconded by Council Member McGorray, the consent agenda was unanimously approved. J. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ACTION 1. This item was moved from the Consent Ae:enda to the Action Ae:enda. Resolution No. 2005-118: Relating to Town Facilities; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement allowing the Marana Unified School District Governing Board to use the Council Chambers at the Marana Municipal Complex (Frank Cassidy) Frank Cassidy, Town Attorney, addressed the Council and said the agreement with Marana Unified School District had been pulled because a change had been made. Mr. Cassidy said that initially the agreement had been written with the Marana Unified School District held liable for anything that happened during the meeting. The agreement 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 had been modified to say that MUSD would hold the town harmless for anything that the school district was responsible for. Mike Reuwsaat, Town Manager, said that this was an example of the cooperation with the School District. Mayor Honea announced that the School District will hold meetings the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the Council Chambers. Upon motion by Council Member Comerford, seconded by Council Member Blake, Resolution No. 2005-118 was unanimously approved. 2. PUBLIC HEARING. Ordinance No. 2005.17: Relating to Water; amending Section 14- 7-1 of the Town Code by revising the water rates and adopting code language establishing tiered water rates based on consumption and use; and providing for an effective date (Brad DeSpain) Mayor Honea declared the public hearing open. Brad DeSpain, Utilities Director, addressed the Council and gave an introduction to the rate and impact fee increase. The one addendum to the rate increase, as presented in July, was to the rates for commercial, industrial and organizations separate from the family resident unit price. Staff had talked with several commercial and residential customers about concerns. Most of the issues were fairly simple; about 98% of the residents will have a rate reduction in the cooler months. Ann Meaders, Utilities Administrator, addressed the Council and gave a slide presentation. The base rate will stay the same. The rate will go down between 1,001 to 10,000 gallons of water used. The rate will increase for single family residences that use more than 40,000 gallons. The multi-family, commercial, industrial, government, irrigation meters will all increase, with the base rate remaining the same. The intent is for the higher water users to pay the higher rates for additional consumption. Ms. Meaders said that 98% of the customers use under 20,000 gallons of water each month. In June, the highest-water consumption month, 88% of the customers will not be impacted. She compared water usage in December and June and explained the differences in water usages and rates, and also explained the percentages of customers whose water bills would be reduced. Mr. Reuwsaat addressed the Council and said that water is one of the most valuable resources that Marana has. He reinforced that the net increase in revenue will be 3%. For II months, more than 90% of the residents will see a rate reduction with the change. The rate structure presented is less than the City of Tucson conservation structure. Mr. Reuwsaat explained that the town is held to 123 gallons-per-day-per-resident limit. When that is exceeded, the town is forced in water conservation. He demonstrated that the average use per residence will keep people in the lower two tiers of the new rate structure. David Morales addressed the Council and said that he already had to cut back on his grass because he couldn't afford the water bill. His bill last month was $196.14; it will probably be in the neighborhood of $500-$600, which he couldn't afford. His only alternative is to let the trees die. In January 2006, if the ordinance passed, he will try everything in his power to do a blanket recall against the Council, and explained why. 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 George Learning addressed the Council and said that he had been a Marana resident for 32 years. During most of the year, he is well under 10,000 gallons a month. In April, May and June, his water usage jumps up to 60,000 gallons each month. His main objection is to the punitive water rates that punish customers in April, May and June. He conserves water in every way possible, and would hate see Marana become like Tucson. Phyllis Farenga, 11470 W. Tortolita Street, addressed the Council and said she owns a business in Marana. All of her other bills had increased. If the Town changed the contract compliance philosophy, the small local businesses would be able to pay the increases. She asked the Council if AAA landscaping would receive all the contracts if not for one ofthe Council Members working for them. She said not to ask her for money until the bidding philosophies were changed. Robert Gauthier addressed the Council and said that the notice he had received in the mail did not explain the whole rate situation. He felt that he fell into the multi-family category, and the rate was not a big change. He was glad that he came because he hadn't understood the process from the notice. He asked for clarification on whether his property was considered multi-family. Mayor Honea directed Mr. DeSpain to explain the process to Mr. Gauthier after the meeting. Tim Polito, 9988 N. Clayton Road, addressed the Council and said that he is a high-water user. He is afraid that people who can't afford it will let their trees and plants die. He expressed concern that the town wants to increase landscaping and trees in new developments. He suggested different rates for the different zoning areas. Mayor Honea declared the public hearing closed. Mr. DeSpain gave the amount of the water bills for the varying levels of usage. He explained that drip systems could be installed to improve the efficiency by 50%. His staff would be happy to meet with anyone who had concerns. He explained that the Arizona Department of Water Resources gives the definition of multi-family, and their definition was units that are joined together. The town has to comply with the state's definition. Upon motion by Council Member Blake, seconded by Council Member Comerford, Ordinance No. 2005.17 was unanimously approved. 3. PUBLIC HEARING. Relating to Water; presentation of proposed water impact fees (Brad DeSpain) Mayor Honea declared the public hearing open. Mr. DeSpain addressed the Council and said that the impact fee will allow development to pay for the water that it needs. He explained that for every gallon of water pumped out of the ground the town had to pump one gallon back in. The town did not have adequate CAP allocation for this. The town has to face the cost ofthe renewable resources, which is why the impact fee was brought forward. If the renewable resource is purchased at an opportune time the excess funds would be used for new development water infrastructure. Staff had taken the cost of CAP allocation purchase and averaged it over a 25 year period of time to determine the average pnce. 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 One inch meters that are determined to be needed for fire protection in homes larger than 3,400 square feet will be billed at the 5/8-3/4 meter minimum, unless the monthly use exceeds 15,000 gallons. The first pool-filling will be exempt, as is done now. Thorn Martinez, Westland Resources, addressed the Council and gave a presentation on the proposed water impact fees. He explained that three slides had changed since it was initially presented to the Council. He quickly explained the impact fee schedule, which he had introduced to the Council June 21, 2005. The fee schedule had been changed to reflect the $1,468 fee, which was multiplied by the equivalent dwelling unit ratio. The last change reflects the $1,468 fee in comparisons with other providers. He mentioned that they had compared, as best they could, with other providers such as Tucson Water and Metro. There is about a 6% difference between the town and the average ofthe other two providers. Mr. Reuwsaat addressed the Council and said he wanted to be clear that this does not apply to existing homeowners - it applies to new developments. He explained gravity storage, which would allow water to still flow in the event of power outages. Mr. DeSpain showed the Council a depiction of where the gravity storage tanks would be: Pinal Air Park, near Sandario and Twin Peaks, and Camino de Manana and Lambert. He reiterated that it would allow fire protection without electrical flow. Mr. Reuwsaat explained that this was a public hearing only. The item will be brought back for approval on October 4,2005. Mayor Honea declared the public hearing closed, seeing no one who wished to speak. 4. Resolution No. 2005-120: Relating to Hurricane Katrina; approving and authorizing the Town Manager to direct staff to establish a relief effort consisting of financial donations to a special account for victims of Hurricane Katrina and authorizing a general fund contribution of $10,000 (Gilbert Davidson) Mayor Honea said he had asked for this item to be added to the agenda. He hoped the town would receive assistance if a catastrophic event hit Marana. He further explained that how to distribute the funds had not been worked out, but he thought it would be nice to begin the process. Ora Mae Ham addressed the Council and said that her family had been devastated in 1983 with a flood. She understood the devastation that comes with a flood. With this community and the history of devastation, she felt Marana should assist their neighbors. She applauded the Council and staff for working on this. Council Member Escobedo announced that the area would be receiving approximately 800 refugees, and suggested that the donation could go to assisting them. Gilbert Davidson, Assistant Town Manager, announced that the donation could also include an in-kind gift as well. Select personnel could be involved locally, and certain police personnel could assist in the affected region. Mayor Honea hoped that a portion of the money could go into the bank as a seed fund. He pointed out that the President will be asking for $40 billion. He said it would far exceed September 11 costs, and there could be more deaths. 5 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, Resolution No. 2005-120 was unanimously approved. K. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION L. BOARDS. COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES M. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. 1. Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. ~ 38-431.03(A)(3), Council may ask for discussion or consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney concerning any matter listed on this agenda. N. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS There were none. O. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn. The time was 8:08 p.m. CERTIFICA TION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on September 6, 2005. I further certify that a quorum was present. ~~a;~ fuC Jocelyn C. onson, Town Clerk """""""," ~' OF~ ~ ~. ~~\\''''''''I'" ~~, ~ s ~~ ~..,~~ S EI CORPORATE\ "? ~ _ = cx:::x::> := .. - -SEAL- - - 'i S - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~;: ~ "!I ~"'IIIl"\\!.-t. ~ ~ 19/2 '\ C!I '~ ~lllljn\\\~ 6