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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/02/1999 Regular Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA TOWN' COUNCI'L NOVEMBER 2, 1999 PLACE AND DATE Marana Town Hall, November 2, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Bobby Sutton, Jr. at 7:05 p.m. II. III. IV. Ye PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Sutton INVOCATION Led by Mayor Sutton ROLL CALL COUNCIL Bobby Sutton, Jr. Mike Reuwsaat Ed Honea Herb Kai Ora Mae Harn Roxanne Ziegler Jim Blake Mayor Vice-Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Excused Present Present Excused Present Present STAFF Michael Hein Dan Hochuli Jocelyn Entz Jim DeGrood Jane Johnson Joel Shapiro Town Manager Town Attorney Town Clerk Acting Development Services Administrator Human Resources Director Planning Director The list of public attendees is attached. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Upon motion by Council Member Honea, seconded by Council Member Ziegler, the agenda was approved as written 5/0. VI. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES A. Minutes of Regular Council Meeting - October 19, 1999 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCI'L MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Upon motion by Council Member Blake, seconded by Council Member Kai, the minutes of the October 19, 1999 regular Council meeting were approved 5/0. VII. VIII. IX. 1. o CALL TO THE PUBLIC/ANNOUNCEMENTS Daniel Sullivan inquired if a meeting date had been set with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) regarding the Linda Vista issues. Mr. Hein stated that Friday, November 19, 1999 had been chosen and that the Town would like to get public input prior to the meeting. He added that a letter from Mayor Sutton was being prepared for the State Board of Transportation and its Director and that the letter would express the community's concerns. Bill Schisler thanked the Council and staff for their foresight in hiring a consultant to study the development of northern Marana. Council Member Honea commented that a local family had lost their home to a fire in late October. He stated that town staff along with employees of the U.S. Post Office in Marana had been focusing their efforts on helping the Sigala family. Through the efforts of these individuals, a community aid drive had been organized, and collections of furniture, household items and clothing had been extremely successful. STAFF REPORTS There were no questions regarding the staff reports. CONSENT Resolution No. 9%93 - Proposed Licensing Agreement with Attention Benches, Inc. (Jim DeGrood). Resolution No. 99-105 - Consideration of recommendation to State Liquor Board for a No. 09 Liquor License (liquor store) transfer from Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Inc., to premises designated as Fry's Food & Drug #57 at 7870 N. Silverbell Road, Marana, Arizona (Jocelyn Entz) Upon motion by Council Member Ziegler, seconded by Council Member Honea, the consent agenda was approved as written 5/0. MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 ge GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Public Hearing Ordinance No. 99.26 - Consideration of approval of a request to rezone approximately 140 acres located north of Ina on either side of Silverbell Road from "C - Large Lot Zone" and "A - Small Lot Zone" to "R-6' (Single Family Residential, minimum lot size 7,000 sq.ft.), "R-8" (Single Family Residential, minimum lot size 8,000 sq.ft.), "R-36' (Single Family Residential, minimum lot size 36,000 sq.ft.) and "NC (Neighborhood Commercial), Assessor's Parcel Numbers 226-27-009F, 226-33-009B, and 226-33-009C, located in a portion of Section 35, Township 12 South, Range 12 East. The applicant is Jersey Properties Co., LLC, P.O. Box 31748, Tucson, AZ 85751 (Joel Shapiro) Mayor Sutton stated that, due to the opposition to this project, Item X.A. required a super majority vote for approval. With two Council members absent from the meeting, this was not possible and a vote would not be taken. Upon motion by Council Member Blake, seconded by Council Member Kai, approval to go into a public hearing was passed 5/0. Mike Grassinger, representing Jersey Properties, Inc., briefly summarized the rezoning request and design plans. He stated that the property owner and The Planning Center were in agreement with the conditions of the rezoning as presented by town staff. Stan Murray stated his opposition to this rezoning and implored the Council to deny the request. He stated that the area in question was overdeveloped and that the present infrastructure was inadequate. He called for a moratorium on future development until transportation and other infrastructure issues were met. Patricia Hirsch stated her concerns with over-development of the Ina and $ilverbell area. She urged the Council to preserve the desert beauty by retaining zoning requirements of 3.3acre parcels. Patrick Fahey stated his concerns regarding the density zoning of the southeast corner of the Ina and Silverbell Roads. He recommended that the Council vote against this rezoning request. Louis Hirsch spoke about his concerns with land valuations and quality of life if this rezone request was granted. He said that densities were too high and he recommended staying with the 3.3acre parcel requirement. Larry Goldman stated his concerns with the over-development of this area. He asked if Marana took into consideration the zoning designations of Pima County property that is adjacent to the Town's property. M IN UTES OF REG U.LAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Mayor Sutton responded that Marana does not ignore the requests of its neighbors and that their concerns were taken into account before Council's approval on issues relating to the County. He stated that the majority of the opposition on this issue was from county residents. Mr. Goldman continued by urging the Mayor and Council to abide by the existing residents' desires to keep the area west of Silverbell Road zoned for 3.3acre parcels Council Member Ziegler asked for a show of hands from Marana residents in the audience. She pointed out that 75% of the gallery were county residents. She stated that this illustrated the fact that the Council was concerned with the desires of its county neighbors especially when making land use decisions involving their properties. Ric Canfield summarized his involvement since June 30, 1999 with this issue and urged the Council to vote against the rezone request. He warned against believing in statistical techniques that were used to average the open space between properties. He spoke briefly about the area's traffic problems, overcrowded schools, and the flooding problems on Silverbell Road. He stated that he saw no differences in the applicant's presentation in spite of the numerous community meetings opposing this plan over the last six weeks. Mayor Sutton asked Mr. Canfield what type of development he would like to see in this area. Mr. Canfield replied that he would prefer provisions for more buffer zones, natural desert landscaping requirements, and 3.3acre parcel zoning densities. Council Member Ziegler asked that the applicant address the Council again in order to ensure the public's understanding of the design changes that had been made to the rezone request application. She said that significant changes had been made but were not indicated on the presentation materials. Mike Grassinger pointed out the design changes on the presentation map and explained the zoning designations of R144 and R36. Howard Frederick stated his objections to the rezoning request. He spoke about the expectation of low-density designations and in-kind buffering along this area's border with Pima County land. He asked that the Council vote against the request. Art Johnson said that he saw this rezone request as another threat to turn Marana into a high- density zone. He commented that county residents were not being supported by their elected supervisors and suggested that they join Marana where they would at least have the opportunity to vote for their representatives. Vic Caputo described his reasons for selecting the Ina/Silverbell area in which to purchase his 4.7 acre parcel. He voiced his concerns regarding the direction Marana was taking in terms of development. He added that the infrastructure could not support the influx of new residents that this rezone would bring and urged the Council to postpone an approval of this request. 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCI'L MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Mike Lee commented that he was representing tCvo points of view at the meeting. As a member of the Concerned Homeowners group, he supported the R144 zoning designation. Speaking as an individual homeowner, he favored a compromise plan that provided for gradual decreasing densities. This plan would also allow Marana the opportunity to set an example on how density changes could be properly made within communities. He explained that the proposal began with higher densities at the northeast end of the property, decreasing density to 1/2 acre parcels in the center, and ending with 3.3acre parcels on the west and south borders. Additionally, a requirement for the preservation of the native landscape would apply throughout the region. Mr. Lee said that this proposal represented the spirit of the Marana General Plan. He thanked the town staff and Council for their efforts regarding this project. He concluded by offering his assistance in negotiations with the property owner, developer, Council and county residents to reach a viable conclusion to this rezoning issue. Billy Schisler stated his concerns regarding the high density rezoning plans for the Ina and Silverbell region. He commented that he had spoken against this rezone request during the Planning and Zoning Commission hearings and hoped that more transitional areas and buffer zones had been added to the final zoning designations. Pat Celentano stated that, as an equestrian, he favored more designated trails and wildlife corridors than the present zoning plan allowed. Shirley Brown commended the county residents for their active participation in working with the Marana community toward a solution to this rezoning issue. She stated her objections to the high density zoning designations and listed increased crime, traffic congestion and desert destruction as her main concerns. Tim Gordon stated that the proposed zoning designations were incompatible with the area and that in-kind zoning designations would be the proper solution. There were no further comments from the public regarding this item. Upon motion by Council Member Blake, seconded by Council Member Honea, approval to end the public hearing was passed 5/0. Council Member Ziegler thanked Mike Lee for his participation and efforts in the negotiation process. She stated her disappointment with the applicant for not having the zoning changes clearly indicated on the map for this meeting. She recommended that the county residents organize their demands and present a unified request to the Council before the next meeting. Council Member Ziegler concluded by stating that she hoped to be able to continue negotiations with the applicant and homeowners in order to reach a cohesive decision. Mayor Sutton stated that the 15 conditions recommended by staff for each plat or development plan, staff reports, and illustrated maps would be available for review purposes before the next meeting. He commended Mike Lee and Ric Canfield for their neighborhood 5 M'INUTES OF REG UI,A R COUNCIL MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 leadership roles. He stated that complete unification would never be reached as the varied desires of all concerned were too incompatible. However, he vowed to do his utmost to bring the best solution to the Council for a vote. There was no further discussion regarding this item. Mayor Sutton called for a brief recess at 8:15 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:32 p.m. Update of transportation issues at Continental Ranch and 1-10 - cost estimates, scope and timelines regarding traffic stacking problems (Jim DeGrood) Jim DeGrood spoke before the Council regarding northbound off-ramp improvements for the Cortaro Road/I-10 interchange. He stated that ADOT had engaged the services of Johnson Brittain Engineers to design these improvements and that these plans were ready to be implemented according to ADOT's District II Engineer, Dennis Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez has requested the Town participate by providing the necessary signage materials for traffic directions during construction. The timeline for the start of construction is pending on the clarification of environmental clearances for this project. Mr. DeGrood reported that Catalina Engineers, Inc. had been hired by the Town to evaluate and make recommendations for modifications to the function of the existing Cortaro Road underpass. This operational analysis would be an independent study from ADOT's work and would provide Marana with options for better utilization of the existing underpass. Mr. DeGrood continued that CLA Consultants had been hired to assist the Town in preparing a Transportation Impact Fee ordinance for the Continental Ranch area. The consulting team, consisting of Curt Lueke, Transporation Planner, and Frank Cassidy, Legal Counsel, had been instrumental in the majority of impact fee language in southern Arizona legislation. Mr. DeGrood concluded by stating that an aggressive timeline had been accepted for this project. He anticipated the majority of the technical analysis to be completed by the first of the year, with the ordinance ready for adoption at the end of the first quarter of 2000, and the impact fee collections possible by the summer of 2000. Council Member Ziegler inquired about the cost of the Town's obligations for the improvements to the off-ramp. Mr. DeGrood responded that the costs would be approximately $100,000. Mr. Hein added that the Council and interested parties would be sent notices for a November 18, 1999 meeting with ADOT regarding these issues. MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIl., NOVEMBER 2, 1999 C. Authorization for staff to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Pima County for the design and construction of turn lane and traffic signal improvements to the intersection of Ina and Silverbell Roads (Jim DeGrood) Mr. DeGrood briefly explained the desire of Pima County and the Town to cooperate in the improvement of the intersection of Ina and Silverbell Roads. The improvements would include adding turn lanes, bike lanes, and a traffic signal that will benefit Marana and County residents alike. The terms of this agreement have been set forth in an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the two entities for the design and construction of these improvements. He concluded by requesting the Council's support and authorization for the Town to enter into this IGA with Pima County. Upon motion by Council Member Kai, seconded by Council Member Blake, the authorization for staff to enter into an IGA with Pima County for intersection improvements at Ina and Silverbell Roads was approved 5/0. D. Discussion/Direction: Request for Funding from Peggy Korte, Marana Unified School District Teacher/Coordinator, for the Teenage Parent Program (T.A.P.P.) (Mayor Sutton) Peggy Korte, Teacher/Coordinator for the Marana Unified School District's Teenage Parent Program (T.A.P.P.) addressed the Council and gave a brief history of the T.A.P.P. program including recent funding deficiencies. She stated that a grant application had been submitted to a Phoenix foundation and would be for approximately $15,000 if approved. Ms. Korte expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to be considered by the Town Council for funding assistance to complete this fiscal year's budget needs. She briefly explained the Parents as Teachers program and stated that this was an early childhood educational program that had been nationally implemented. Parents as Teachers offered invaluable life skills training to teen parents through parent educators. Council Member Honea inquired about the ratio of Marana teen residents in this program and about the residence locations of the remaining participants. Ms. Korte replied that 51% of the teen parents/students participating in T.A.P.P. lived within the Town's boundary and the majority of the remaining 49% of enrollees were residents of Pima County or lived within the Mountain View school district. She added that only three students had transferred from other school districts in order to become eligible for T.A.P.P. Council Member Honea asked why the program had lost its funding and where the funding had been obtained from previously. Ms. Korte answered that funding had come from various foundations and corporations including the Arizona Community Foundation, the Wallace Foundation, and the Honeywell MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL bIE.ETING MA.RANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Eo Corporation. She added that grants were usually written on an annual basis and the funding timeframe ended in July 1999. Council Member Blake inquired when Ms. Korte expected to receive a response to her recent grant application. Ms. Korte replied that she anticipated an answer by November 22, 1999 and that the grant's source foundation would be making a site visit sometime between November 3 - 5, 1999. Upon motion by Council Member Ziegler, seconded by Council Member Kai, authorization to fund $19,650.01 to the Parents as Teachers Program with the stipulation that a refund would be made to the Town matching any additional funds received during the fiscal year from November 5, 1999 through June 30, 2000 was approved 5/0. Council Member Honea stated that he was in favor of the T.A.P.P. program and the commendable work it does with the teenage parents. However, he added that the Town was not prepared to add this program as an annual budget item. Council Member Blake advised Ms. Korte to apply for funding well in advance in order to ensure coverage throughout the fiscal year. He said that this would alleviate the necessity of having to stop program benefits before the year's end in order to attain funding. Council Member Honea suggested that Ms. Korte contact the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for a grant application. He stated that the CDBG program allots funding for various social programs within the Marana community and would be an excellent funding source for T.A.P.P. Mike Lee of Lee and Lee Construction spoke before the Council about the positive benefits a friend of his daughter was receiving through the T.A.P.P. program. He pledged an additional $500 toward the program funding. Mayor Sutton commented that the excellent merits of the program were visible within the community and he offered the Council's support in filling out grant applications if Ms. Korte required assistance. Council Member Honea agreed with the Mayor and offered his support as well. Executive Session - Pursuant to A.R.S. Section 38-431.03 (A) (1), discussion or consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, dismissal, salaries, disciplining or resignation of a public officer, appointee or employee of Marana. Upon motion by Council Member Honea, seconded by Council Member Blake, authorization to go into Executive Session was approved 5/0. The time was 8:58 p.m. MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCI.L MEETING MARANA TOWN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 2, 1999 Fe Ge XI. XII. At 9:16 p.m., the Council meeting was reconvened. Mayor and Council's Report There were no reports from the Mayor and Council. Manager's Report Mr. Hein gave a brief report regarding the position of Acting Development Services Administrator/Town Engineer presently held by Jim DeGrood. He stated that Mr. DeGrood's appointment was contingent upon the successful completion of a 90-day probationary period. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Kai requested that the status of an historic structure within the Town's boundary be put on the next Council agenda. The building to be discussed is the adobe structure near the Marana/I-10 exit that was formerly a cotton gin. Although abandoned for years, it is the oldest standing structure within Marana's boundary. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Ziegler, seconded by Council Member Honea, the approval to adjourn was passed 5/0. The time was 9:25 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on November 2, 1999. I further certify that a quorum was present.