HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/05/1998 Regular Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL ME~I~.TING
MAI~,NA TOWN COUNCIL
May 5, 1998
Marana Town Hall May 5, 1998
I. ~ALL~OJ)EDEE
By Mayor Ora at 7:07 p.m.
II.
pLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Ora
III.
Led by Paul Ruehl, Sr. Of the Salvation Army
Bobby Sutton, Jr.
Ed Honea
Herb Kal
Sherry Millner
Roxanne Ziegler
Michael Reuwsaat
Mayor
Vice-Mayor, excused
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
STAFF
Hurvie Davis
Michael Hein
Jocelyn Entz
Dan Hochuli
Sandy Groseciose
Brad DeSpain
Jerry Flannery
Dave Atler
David R, Smith
Town Manager
Assistant Town Manager
Asst. to Town Manager
Town Attorney
Town Clerk
Utilities Director
Planning Director/Annexing
Town Engineer
Police Chief
14 Members of the Public
V, APPROVAL OFAGENDA
A motion was made by Mike Reuwswaat, seconded by Herb Kal and carried
unanimously to approve the Agenda, as written. The motion carried 610.
VI. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mike Reuwsaat, seconded by Ed Honea, to approve the
minutes ofthe Regular Council Meeting of April 21, 1998. The motion carried 610.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC/ANNOUNCEMENTS
!
Leslie Calavan, 12421 W. Moore Road, Marena: He wanted to talk to the Council
about (1) building permits: he applied for a permit for a little shelter for his car (a
breezeway). That was 10 days ago and he still doesn't have it. He thinks its awful that
it takes so long for someone to approve a permit for 4 posts and a roof. (2) leash laws:
do we have a leash law in Marana? If so, who enforces it and what is done about it. He
had to get rid of a beautiful German Shepherd that he really wanted because of all the
dogs running around loose. His dog kept getting out to play with the loose dogs. Tried
everything to confine his dog but finally gave up and got rid of the dog. He doesn't think
anyone is enforcing the leash laws (if we have one) and something should be done
about it. (3) ATV vehicles: he has had ATV vehicles speeding up and down stirring up
dust and dirt in front of his house (Moore Road) and also in the alley behind,. His wife
has a very, very severe asthma problem. She just got released from the hospital 3
months ago because of the dust and dirt. He can't afford to be calling an ambulance
and taking his wife to the hospital every time he tums around. His wife takes medication
and has to be on breathing machine twice a day. Something should be done about this.
Mayor Ora: I would like to call forward Kristie McFafland. She is preparing to go on a
missionary trip to the Ukraine. The town has a small fund that we use to help young
people like Kristie do special things that will enrich their lives and their community.
Kristie, we want to present to you $100 that will help you in your efforts to go with the
Christian Outreach International group to the Ukraine, I think you were one of the
contestants in the Citizen of the Year contest. It is my great pleasure on behalf of the
Council and myself to award you this $100 and hope that you will have a lot of success
on your trip, We are very proud of young people like you. The town likes to encourage
you and help in some small way,
VIII.
IX.
No action taken.
GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. ~ - Request for Approval for a Liquor License Transfer for
the Practice Tee, 4050 W. Price Club Drive, in Marana, AZ
2. J~zt[o~:~,~2 - Request by Marana Police Department for Renewal of
Undercover Vehicle Registrations
3. ~1 Request by Marana Police Department for
Submission of Projects for Consideration in Arizona's 1999 Highway Safety
Plan
4. Resolution No. 98-39; Continental Ranch Parcels 36-38 & 40, Phase II
EJ]lZaLP_lat - Request for approval of a tlt-lot Single Family Detached
Home Subdivtsion Final Plat on 21.65 Acres Located in a Portion of the
South % of section 16 and the North l/, of section 21, Township 12 South,
Range 12 East. Property Owner/Applicant is Del Webb's Coventry Homes
Construction of Tucson, 1565 E. Rancho Vistoso boulevard, Oro Valley,
Arizona 85737
MARANA TOWN COUNCIL
May 5, 1998
5. ~ - Re-Appointment to the Town of Marana Business
Advisory Committee
6. Q~li~a~e~k)~ - Amendments to Article 12-7 of the Marana Town Code
Relating to Penalties for Article 12-4 Off-Road Recreational Motor Vehicles
7, ~s~Ju~l~)~9~ - "Ina Loop Road" Acceptance of Public Right of Way
and Improvements for Dedication and Maintenance
A motion was made by Ed Honaa, seconded by Roxanne Zlegler, to approve the
Consent Agenda, as written. Motion carried 6/0.
SIIverbell Road; Coyote Trail Elementary_ School Bicycle Access -
Hurvle Davis: Thank you Madam Mayor, Members of the Council. As you know,
when the Coyote Trail Elementary School opened in the fall of '96 we started
getting concerns and so forth from parents of the kids going to and from the school
regarding the safety of those children using bicycles and walking, etc. As a result
of that, staff worked with the school district and made a number of improvements
that we thought would help the situation. More importantly, Mr. Atler has worked
with the Pima Association of Governments Transportation Planning Division to do
a study of the area relating to this issue and has prepared a report that is being
presented to you this evening. I believe that Mr. Schaffer and Mr. Corbett were the
major architects of this study. They did the investigation and the analysis. I don't
know Mr. Schaffer but I do know Mr. Corbett. I've known him for many, many
years. He's an avid bicyclist and participates in all kinds of bicycling activities, etc.
I do know his number one concern and objective has always been safety for
bicyclists. I feel pretty confident that we have an excellent report here. So with
that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Atler and he can introduce our guest this evening.
Dave After: As Mr. Davis pointed out, Coyote Trails School opened in the fall of
'96. Shortly pdor to the opening of the school and for a couple months afterward,
staff was getting calls and the school distdct was getting cells. I was talking to the
Police Department about how the children would be getting from one end down to
the school in a safe manner. As this is an elementary school with young children,
they haven't really developed the motor skills they need yet to be riding in that
area. The staff and the school district had a number of meetings with the parents
at Coyote Trails. Again as Mr. Davis pointed out, we did some improvements by
putting in cross walks and additional signage all along Silverbell Road. As most of
you may remember, in November of last year you got a letter from another parent.
That was the first time for over a year that I heard any complaints. I thought at that
point, as people continued to move into Continental Ranch and their children go to
Coyote Trails, they're going to have the same questions that were asked years
earlier. I felt it was necessary to have the analysis done to have a document that
can be shared with the public anytime this comes up. We can say we have looked
at it and hera are some of the items that were identified, the recemmendations that
were made and that it was discussed before Council. We can make the report
available to them. Again, Mr. Corbett is not here this evening but Richard
Schaffer, who is the primary architect of this document, is here. His and Mr.
Corbett's resumes are included in the document to show you, as well as the public,
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how much experience they have in this area. I'd like to tum it over to him now.
Larry just told me the school district was notified by way of a memo that this was
on this evening. Again, he's participated in the study and so has the Principle of
Coyote Trail. I think that Mr. Schaffer's done a good job in trying to contact as
many individuals who've been connected with this as possible. With that, Mr.
Schaffer.
Mr. Dick Schaffer: Mr. Atler, thank you very much for giving the background as to
why we did the study. I'm Senior Transportation Planner with the Transportation
Planning Division of the Pima Association of Governments in Tucson and we were
given a written request by the Town of Marana. Your Public Works Director
directed that letter to us. I just came on staff in late November of last year, I am
fortunate in (1) that I work for Rich Corbett, (2) that I live in Tucson, Southern
Arizona, and (3) that I'm a cyclist, I'm fortunate in other things as well. But
nevertheless, I have been cycling for many, many years and I have a lot of
professional background in bicycle planning as well as pedestrian planning. I was
very happy to work with Rich in preparing this report, There were 5 issues that we
were asked to look into in considering this particular problem of safety. It is really
safety that has been addressed to the town by the parents and then by the school.
As a point of reference I would like to start out by showing you basically what you
have in your packet. This is part of the report and it is the study area for the
school. Basically you're talking about Cortaro Road and 1-10 right here, the whole
Continental Ranch area including the Fry's subdivision, all the commercial right up
to the intersection, the interchange and, of course later, Pima Farms (farther
south). The issue we wanted to look at was bicycle access to the Silverbell
bicycle lanes, There are bicycle lanes on Silverbell going all the way up because it
has been improved to a 4-lane arterial through the developed area. Also we
looked at the pedestrian crossings. We looked at bicycle usage of the Silverbell
sidewalk. This sidewalk, as I've noted in the report, is located only on the north
part of Silverbell. We also looked at how the Bicycle Safety Education Program
through Coyote Trail works and if there's anything that can be improved there. We
looked into the bicycle access via the Santa Cruz River channel, which is behind
the school but serves all of Continental Ranch, Now, in our analysis, first looking
at the bicycle lanes because there was a real concern about using them with the
safety issues there. These bicycle lanes have been developed using National
Standards, The bicycle lanes alone are quite safe. But, of course, getting to them
is another issue and, as you know, all the development has occurred to the north
of the actual school and to the east of the southbound lanes, where they would
have to travel to go to school. Basically, they would have to cross over from each
one of these roads that enter Silverbell, to get over there. Now that is a problem,
these are uncontrolled. When I say uncontrolled, yes there is a stop sign there but
they don't have full control like they would have with a full signal such as they do at
Cortaro Road. I understand you have a full signal planned for the future at
Coachline and Silverbell - right now it's a 4-way stop. But the only full control stop
you have currently is the school guards that participate every morning, noon, and
in the afternoon to help kids cross over. There are bicyclist walking their bicycles,
roller bladers walking and, of course, pedestrians, So that is one issue because
there are simply no other controlled ways to get across the roadway. That's why
we observed all of the children using the sidewalk. And that's fine, except for the
4
MINUTES O1~ REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MAItANA TOWN COUNCI~
May $, 1998
fact that if it comes around to additional treffic on that sidewalk, which is your
typical 5 feet wide sidewalk, you're going to have conflicts between the bicyclists
and pedestrians and with the fact that they're crossing these streets that come into
Silverbell and there're going to be dealing with traffic at those streets. That is the
biggest hazard on sidewalks, using them as a thoroughfare. In other words if
you're a driver the first thing you're looking for when you're going onto an arterial is
other treffic, you're not looking nearly as much for bicyclists and pedestrians. So
we looked at that and we wanted to make sure that that was something that was
considered. Of course, you're dealing with a roadway that has a 45-mile per hour
speed limit. In a speed study that was done after the roadway was developed and
by Curt Lueck and Associates for Continental Ranch and the Town of Marana,
they found that 85% of the drivers were driving at 54 miles per hour. It is a
wonderful road, it's well engineered, it's well planned but it has wide lanes, it is an
arterial. That's why people go those speeds. Of course, the new intersection that
you've put up, the 4-way stops and the light in the future, is going to help bring
those speeds down. That is just one of the measures that would be in traffic
control, as far as operetions, to bring the speed down. So those are issues that
we looked at, as far as not only the roadway but also the sidewalk. Coming
around to the actual safety education we feel that's one of the best safety
education progrems there is. It's done through Carl Wycht and the City of Tucson
goes around the region doing bicycle education and wa feel it's more than
satisfactory. Considering they use the sidewalk a lot he really teaches courtesy,
he really drives it home about understanding that if you're a bicycle passing a
pedestrian you announce yourself as you're passing so they know you're there and
you pass on the left so you don't hit them. That is one hazard of puffing bicycles
and pedestrians on the same path and it's often the pedestrian that loses. That's
why, for instance, we have bicycle lanes on Silverbell so they don't have to mix
with traffic, except at intersections when they cross, they can be in their own lane.
And that functions quite well. The other thing we looked at, and we feel it's a great
opportunity here, was getting what we call a default trail system, which exists all
around Continental Ranch. Basically, these developments have been put up on
berms and developed on soils and they have been soil cemented so, back here
going a short distance away, you have real nice soils that they can dde their bikes
on. Yes, wide-tire bicycles are going to do a lot better than any skinny tires but
mostly that's what kids are tiding in this age and they function quite well. We
strongly recommend that one thing you do look at is working with Pima County to
develop a trail system for this entire area that in the future would feed into the
County's and Tucson's trail system. This would serve all the residents, not just the
children, quite well. When I was out here doing my study, I walked this area and
people were out walking. I believe a developed trail system, whether that be an
asphalt or grovel trail system, would encourage people to walk even more, Then
they would know what wash they were going up and everything. These are many
developments, many neighborhoods, because they are all mostly walled and the
only accesses out are generelly the outlets to the washes. There are a few that
have a troll access out that is not a dreinage outlet, but most of them are outlets to
the washes and this blue line, these encase the washes here going down to the
dyer. There happen to be these drains that go out to them and that's where they
access that particular defaulted troll system. There are maps, not only the map
inside your packet but also photographs, which indicated that. So basically, in
summary, we feel that Coyote Trail is a beautiful school but it's in an inappropriate
location because it's on an arterial. We really believe that the school districts could
look in the future at school sites which would be accessed on a collector. That's
going to be much more appropriate for both pedestrians and bicyclists and serve
the motoring public well. Also, to develop a trail system within the area and just to
monitor the sidewalk usage along here. If there were a number of crossings we
still feel that these bicycle lanes could function well but we understand that parents
are concerned, not necessarily about being on it, but getting to it. It is a high-
speed roadway, but it's designed as an artedal to function that way. We never
recommended that you try and reduce the speed limit here and put in
roundabouts. It's not appropriate to take this mad and try to make it a collector or
make it a local street. That would make more problems than it would ever solve.
We feel that what wa have brought forth are ways that the Town and the school
distdct can work together to solve these issues, but also to give some of the kids
another way to get to school which we feel could function quite well just along the
backside through the default trail system and, hopefully in the future, the trail
system itself. We would be glad to help in any way. Do you have any questions?
Mike Rauwsaat: Mayor, I have a comment. I would like to see this reported to
Mr. McGann. This is following right along with some of the recommendations that
are being developed in the Master Park Plan. Some of the concerns are exactly
the same concams that we are talking about today so it these could be forwarded
and incorporated into some of those discussions that would look at standards like
the school sighting and all that, we'd appreciate it. Other than that, it's good
recommendations. I would like to see, you know, emphasis on the trail and
backside, and also a look at widening the sidewalk so that you've got a little more
space, if it's viable, for both bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Maybe ten feet wide, or
whatever.
Ora: I was just going to say that I think a lot of emphasis also needs to be put on
safety. Much more emphasis should be put on some safety programs that would
teach the children themselves. We can do everything we can think of to keep
them safe but if they don't follow those guidelines, then they get in trouble. So I
think we need to put more emphasis on educational safety programs for the
school.
Roxanne Zlegler: Mr. Schaffer, on page I of your report, is that true that there
are only 30 students out of 704 that walk to school?
Mr. Schaffer: Miss Ziegler, yes that is correct. It's 30 to 50, it ranges but I think
that's because parents perceive this as a real safety issue and the majodty of them
would rather have them walk or ddve them to school than have them take their
bicycle. There are only 30 - 50 that actually bicycle to school. I believe that if
some work was done educating them about taking the back, telling them it's quite
safe, you'd never have to deal with any vehicles getting back there. If the school
worked on doing that I think more kids would bicycle to school.
Roxanne Ziegler: I was really surprised, I though maybe it should have been 300.
I don't know about the rest of the Council, but reading through this, to me there is
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really only one answer. You can't move the school and you can't move Silverbell
and you're going to have the high speeds (Chief, you need to write more tickets),
To me, the default trell is it, to me there's no other way to do it, Like you said, you
can put some more stop signs in at Wade and Buena Neuvo but that's not going to
do it. It's the only way, default to the default treil. I always walked to school or
biked. But you know I drive by there everyday and I see a lot of parents swinging
in and out and on to work, or whatever, but I really don't see a lot of children
walking or riding their bikes. I know we don't have to make any recommendations
tonight but I really think the default treil is the answer.
Dick Schaffer: I really agree and I want to thank the Town of Marena for
requesting this of us because this is not something we're passing to the Town of
Marena, We feel, especially getting around to the school siting issues, that we're
going to be passing this onto every school district in the Valley. Actually there is
an Education Facility Planner professional group in Scottsdale, international. They
have some recommendations and standards and they really do recommend
keeping elementary schools and most schools off of high-traveled roadways and
arterials. We're trying to distribute those to school districts and say, ~Please
consider your students, as pedestrians and bicyclers, when you site a school."
That is not just the school itself, the immediate environment of everybody safe
around them but also in getting to that school. And I think that affords us an
opportunity and a responsibility to really pass that on proactively around the Valley.
Sherry Millner: Madam Mayor, this was discussed 3 yeare ago when I came on
the Council. They talked about this trail system when they built the school and I'm
surprised it hasn't been done. They talked about linking all of the housing
developments so the children would have a safe way to get to school. This is now
being reinforced again and I think it is something we seriously need to look into this
time.
Michael Reuwsaat: There's a humorous side to this. I think it's kind of funny if
you encourege more people on that sidewalk, find you get into more conflicts and
conflict resolution, what do you do, give them boxing gloves? The more comment
you make about 70 people and the more bikes and people you put on that
sidewalk, the more opportunity there's going to be, so I fully concur, let's get that
trail system on the backside.
Sherry MIIIner: I have to say one thing. When I went to Washington, D. C. in
March, one thing I did notice besides a lot of bicycles, is they rode on the
sidewalks and each one of them had a bell. You knew when a bicycle was coming
because they rang that bell and you stepped out of the way. I guess it was an
unwritten law which way to go because I always went the wrong way. If the kids
need to dde on the sidewalks I think that would be something that should be
enforced also, that way people know they're coming.
Dick $chaffer: Tucson is one of the few communities in the state that does not
allow, by ordinance, it's residents to dde on the sidewalk. That's not the case in
Marana, that's not the case anywhere I know in the Valley, much less the state.
There are opportunities even on the sidewalk to do that and to do that safely. I
believe that the bom is very effective. I've used one for years, Richard Corbin
lives with one on his bike, it's been there for years and it's very, very effective.
Shoutings nice but if you just have a bell that really does announce yourself and
people know what's coming, it works very well. But those kids. I did notice this in
the report, really do take this education quite seriously. I've never seen it before,
but coming from this school all the kids had helmets and not only all the kids on
bikes had helmets but all the kids on roller blades had helmets. That's the effect of
the Town's program with the police going there about helmets as well as the
education program and I think you should be really proud of that.
Dave Parker: Madam Mayor. members of the Council my name is Dave Parker,
7135 W. Maple Ridge Drive. Quick background, I'll try and keep this to 3 minutes.
I was Traffic Officer for San Diego PD, Traffic Safety Investigator for the county of
San Diego. I went to ADOT as the Risk Manager for 8-1/2 years and I'm now the
Risk Manager for the county. When it comes to planning I don't have quite that
much background. I did reside in the Transportation Planning Department's space
because they didn't have space for me when I went to ADOT. I actually got a
certificate making me and honorary TPD employee for occupying prime TPD
space longer than most TPD employees. When I moved here I ended up joining
the Marana Planning Commission and figured I needed to know what I was doing
so I went over to the Ore Valley Citizen's Planning Institute and kind of got a little
bit of education. Now I'm learning more day by day about the Planning
Commission. My first contact with the Town is actually coming to talk to this
Council about Coyote Trails Elementary School and pedestrian safety at Coyote
Trails. I really appreciate Mr. Atier's forwarding the report to the Planning
Commission and offering the presentation to the Planning Commission. I wanted
to come and make a few comments today. One of the things that made me feel
better after coming and talking last time was I wes told that all children except the
ones who live in the parcels immediately adjoining Coyote Trails do have bus
service and they may ride the bus. That made me feel a lot better after the last
meeting. When I was reading the report one of the suggestions was to look at an
off-site, or what they call a non-abutting, school crossing. Under the concept that
we have a school crossing right in front of the school but there's no sidewalks
connecting that school crossing to any of the streets that are coming down in the
other areas where kids come. One of the problems with non-abutting school
crossings is they are allowed but the school district by statute has to agree to have
a crossing guard there at all times if the school's doing anything. If they don't,
there are several cases out of Phoenix with severe liability for the school district,
so that is an option but it's an option with a downside to it. They are going to have
to, by law. have someone there at all times. The one that's in front of the school
they choose to have somebody there, the one that's non-abutting they would, by
law. have to have somebody there. There's also some safety issues of using what
we're calling the default trail by the river. I have some concerns about directing
children to isolated areas. I'm a big user of the Intemet and on the Intemet lurkers
are fine but they're not fine around schools and isolated areas and children. I have
a severe question about directing children into an area where there aren't people
around who can see them. Stragglers become potential victims. The other
question is if the linear park goes away you also don't have other people coming in
that area and now we're putting children next to an embankment where they are
going to like tiding their bikes along the top of the soil cement right next to the
dyer, Another thing that I'd like to see addressed is that the actual complaining
party was someone from Wade Road whose children have to cross Silverbell and
then travel down, The linear park doesn't really help that, I think we need to look
a little further in that direction, Chief, I really do appreciate you enforcement, keep
it up, and may I never be one of your customers, This isn't a big issue for me, I
have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, I live in Continental Ranch. I understand the
issues of children getting to and from that school, I think in the future we have a
lot of things to our advantage that wa can use when we're looking at school sitings.
If I understand our zoning code correctly (I'm still learning), the only place schools
go is in the ABC zoning or to E, maybe not F, we don't want to put them in a flood
zone. or in R 144, which is not likely to be on prime arterials. Even if it is the old
zoning it's going to be a significant land use which means it will come in front of the
Planning Commission, We can look at that, we can keep that in mind, What
seems to be the issue is the existing specific plans, Some of them were actually
done by the County and then became part of the Town, Another place, not just
this one, that I think we ought to be looking at is the school that's sited for Dove
Mountain. It's partially on West Tortilla Road. then Red Hawk Road, and now
Dove Mountain Road, So the same things here eventually may be issues there,
I'd like to help look at those. And if there's something I can do to help some place
along the way looking at those issues I'll make myself available. Thanks,
Ora: Thank you, Mr. Parker, Any further questions, discussion? OK, lets go on
to Item C. Moratorium on Additional Water Connections,
Moratorium on Additional Water Connections - Request for a Moratorium on
Additional Connections at the Picture Rocks Water System of the Marana
Municipal Water System Inside and Outside the Certificate of Convenience and
Necessity Area, Discussion/Action
Brad DeSpain: Madam Mayor and Council, this is continued from your meeting
on 4-21-98, You asked that the staff get with the consulting engineers and
research alternatives to the pressure and expansion problems with the Picture
Rock system. As your blue sheet states, in that research and investigation we
found that there is probably an expedient solution to those two problems and that
is to add a booster pump and electrical panel and extend the existing pressure
pipeline that comes out of the well storage site, The wall storage site is at Picture
Rocks and Wade with Old Yuma Mine Road going on. There is a pressure line
that comes out of that site. One of the lines goes along Picture Rocks to serve
Picture Rocks Retreat and those houses in that area, Another comes out and
goes somewhat parallel to the Wade Road area to where it changes from 6" to 2",
There's a short section in here that is 2". That section would then need to be
abandoned in place and we would extend that 6" on down and parallel to the
existing line that is in the edge of Wade Road to Ina Road, We would then cross
the intersection of Wade and Ina to tie into a 6" line that comes across Ina as it
comes west up to Harold Drive and serves houses in this area here. The yellow
lines are indications of services that we would have to extend from the existing 6"
line that also serves as a transportation line from the well site down here on
Silverbell, up Cortaro, across Ina, and up Wade, We'd need to extend those to the
new pressurized 6" line. With doing that and making an inner tie over here for the
4" we would have the ability to pre vide pressure to all of those customers that
basically lay north and west of Ina Road along Wade. Those individuals that are
along Ina Road back to Cortar Farms Road and down Cortar Farms Road to the
well site would have ample gr vity pressure as their elevation is 100 feet less than
what the storage tank is currently. So we have the ability to utilize that full 24 feet
of the stor ge tank as pressure for those people. The people from Ina Road, up
Wade, and acrss Picture Rocks over to Harold and up would then be able to have
pre sure provided to them out of the pressure tank and boosters that would be
installed here at the storage site on Wade and Picture Rocks. The extensions that
have been asked for by the people on Old Yuma Mine Road, who were here last
time. could also be served out of the pressure side of the pressure system at the
storage tank site, We would eliminate those people in the Wade Road area and
the Harold Road area of being served off of the top 4 feet of the stor ge tank as
their pressure and not off of the pressure system. That probable cost as put
together by the consulting engineers is $45,000, And that's probably a little strong
but we wanted it to be because there is rock in that area, We'll have to do some
pot holing, We have not had time to get our crew down to do pot holing in that
area as we just finished up the Cortaro-Honea Heights inter-connection today, We
will get down there and do some pot holing and determine for sure the length of
the 2" line and those things we need, We feel very comfortable with that price tag,
We can certainly accomplish what we need to do down there. With that, I also
re calved a request today from a gentlemen by the name Jeff Murtaugh that has
some property on the west side of Harold Drive in Section 4 and he would like to
put in about 45 homes in that area, I think that might be an opportunity that we
can also get some participation to help pay and maybe come up with some
additional stor ge that could go in that area, There is some knolls or mounds in
that area where we could get elevation enough to get additional stor ge and help
with that pre blem for everybody in the Picture Rocks area, Any questions,
Madame Mayor?
Herb Kal: Bred, could you elabor tea little more, maybe cladfy for me how many
customers we'll be picking up for this $45,000 investment project.
Brad DeSpaln: Madam Mayor, Councilman Kal, at this point in time, with what we
have projected here, it would be Mr. Curtis and the group that wes here at your 4-
21 meeting and talked with you about that. I think there's about 10 or 12
customers that would be interested in that specific area of Old Yuma Mine road
and back to the southeast there. With this request we had today that would be an
additional 45. There is some other requests that have come in that are just up
from Wild Horse Guest Ranch that go back to the west toward Belmont and the
Old Yuma Mine Road area that these gentlemen are from and there's another 4
that have talked to us about the possibility of getting water in that area also.
Herb Kal: So basically its 10 or 12 that we're looking at right now plus someone
with 45 units that will probably require more upgr des from that point.
Brad DeSpaln: That's correct, but in that situation I think we can handle it like a
development and that individual would be responsible for all of those costs that
were encountered that put demand on the system in the way of storage booster
pumps,
Herb Kal: Brad, do the 10-12 units pay back for your rough numbers at all?
Brad DeSpaln: With the rough numbers that we have put together, it's a long,
drawn out process, probably 35-years at our current rates, to recoup anywhere
near that cost, But, I think that as water becomes available in that area we can go
up to the 272 homes that the system will carry as it stands if we do this upgrade,
And with that projection then we can probably double what we have there now and
we would bring that down to about 15 years,
Herb Kal: Are any of the 10-12 new connects contributing anything toward soma
of the work we're doing?
Brad DeSpaln: Madam Mayor, Councilman Kal, at this time they would not be,
we had not projected that, They will have their own costs to extend an 8" line from
the pressure tank out into Old Yuma Mine Road and wast then on Old Yuma Mine
road and then back to the south to cover their needs and property, That's a
consideration if it's Council's pleasure.
Ora: Mr, DeSpain, what I see you talking about is increasing that line down Wade
Road, those improvements are just more or less improvements to the water
system itself, dght, so that we can serve those people on Harelson?
Brad DeSpaln: It is improvements, Those people along Wade Road as you go
back down towards Ina to the east there, are on the top 4 feet of that tank that we
talk about and that's all they have for pressure. If the capacity of that tank drops
below 4 feet then they really have no water and this would improve that so we
could supply the water between 40 and 60 lb, as we do to those existing
customers that we have that is a margin for us now, It seems like every time we
turn around, if the pumps off for just a little bit or something happens then those
people are very marginal on water,
Ora: I know Joe Rex lives in that area and I've heard some of her talk about the
water, (laughter)
Brad DeSpaln: Mrs, Rex is not as vocal as Mr, Rex now (laughter) and Mrs, Rex
is very vocal,
Ora: Council's pleasure on this?
A motion was made by Ed Honea, seconded by Mike Reuwsaat, that the
Council direct management and staff to proceed with the upgrades to the Picture
Rocks Water System. The upgrades are to add a booster pump, electrical panel
and extensions of the existing pressure lines at the Iow pressure area and to
create a transmission line out of the water line that currently services that section
of the system, When additional service requests are granted, those customers
11
should sign an agreement to support and be involved in annexation to the Town of
Marana, WIT. HDEA~
Mike Reuwsaat: Mayor, I will second that with a caveat if I can get an amended
motion, slightly. You know, I don't like looking at annexations just based upon
water. Maybe it makes sense, but I don't think that that's what our decision on
annexation should be. I think it's an important one, but I don't think it should be
driving our decisions. In light of that, I would just like to add that when additional
service requests are granted those customers should sign an agreement to
support and be involved in annexation if it is advantageous to the Town of Marana.
Ora: Will the maker of the motion accept that amendment?
The amendment was accepted by Ed Honea and seconded by Mike
Reuwsaat.
Ed Honea: On the annexation part, if we're going to spend $45,000 to do an
upgrade to a water system, you know we're really looking at doing upgrades for
our citizens. I think the reason we bought the water companies that we bought
was to inter-tie Continental Ranch, Picture Rocks, and all of those together to
where we would have back-up systems for all of our system. The only problem I
have with this is we are going out and spending $45,000 of our taxpayer's dollars
to improve a water system that's not in the Town. That's why I think Mr. DeSpain
put that last sentence on there, I feel very strongly about this. If we're going to be
spending a lot of money in Continental Ranch, Honea Heights, or Berry Acres, or
some community inside this Town, that's one thing. But, spending $45,000 to do
improvements to a water company outside the Town that we don't plan on
recouping in my lifetime, I have a problem with that. That's why I like the
annexation verbiage. It doesn't require them to annex, it asks them to sign an
agreement that they would be supportive of it if and when we decide to annex that
area.
Ora: Let us take a vote on the amendment, please. All those in favor - would
you restate it Mr. Reuwsaat?
Mike Reuwsaat: When additional service requests are granted, those customers
should sign an agreement upon request of the Town, after due diligence in
determining whether annexation makes sense on the whole, to support and be
involved in annexation to the Town of Marana, All I'm saying is that the decision
for annexation should be greater than providing water service, I'm a little bit
concerned with Mr, Kai's comments, There were good questions and your
comments are good also but when we look at annexations I want us to take a
whole look at it before we tell these people they ara required to support and be
involved in the annexation process. I want to be on the front side of that decision
looking at all the services and cost of infrastructure, Services to that area should
be part of annexation and not ddven by water,
Roxanne Zlegler,' Then why mention it at all? Why don't we just stop where it
says system period. Why mention annexation at all?
Ed Honea: I think to expand, and Mr. DeSpain correct me if I'm wrong, a lot of
these people that we are going to be extending service to are not "in the old
franchised area of the Picture Rocks Water Company". I mean we are not legally
obligated to provide them with water at all. So, if we buy a company, we have a
little different type of thing than a pdvata water system. We're obligated to provide
service to everything in that franchise within reason. A lot of these homes are not
in the service area, so do we spend $45,000 of our taxpayer's money to provide
water to people that we don't have to provide water to. We have no legal
obligation to do it. There are a lot of things in this Town that we can spend that
$45,000 on. That's why I'm saying if we're going to start doing this stuff outside of
the franchise, then maybe we ought to get some commitments,
Mike Reuwsaat: I'll make it easier, I'll go ahead and amend what I was going to
say and drop it after "system" because of the process of annexation. We'll go
ahead and look at it through that deal, I just have a problem going ahead and tying
it into a motion. Again, I want to look at the full picture, it's not that we don't went
you in but you guys understand that there's other things besides water. I don't
have a problem extending water outside our service area. It's done by every
community. Look what Tucson Water is doing for the Town of Marana and so
forth. So it's not something that's out of the norm, And it should make financial
sense, whether it's tying in and providing a system, That's why I'm voting for it,
because I assume that we're making this decision because it makes sense to
provide a total water system end backups. To me that's the driving decision on
why I'm going to vote yes, not because you're going to be a citizen of Marana, but
because it makes sense to provide for the people who are out there and those who
want to. If it makes sense for annexation I think we ought to be looking at that
separately.
Ora: Are you withdrawing your amendment?
Mike Reuwsaat: Withdrawing that amendment but requesting an amendment to
drop the last sentence.
Roxanne Zlegler: Have we got a second on that?
Ed Honea: Why don't I Just withdraw my motion? I think Mike was the
second and we can start over again,
Ora: So the first motion has been withdrawn. Councilman Kal?
Herb Kal: I just have another question for Brad, Back to the 10 new customers.
Is it necessary for us to spend $45,000 to upgrade for currant people along Wade
Road the 2" pipe anyway and at the same time pick up 10-12 other customers?
Brad DeSpain: I failed to bdng that point forward and that's the big point, We've
got 34 customers that are on the top 4 feet of that tank and this is going to help
alleviate that problem with them regardless of who else comes on. That would be
my recommendation, that we need to do that.
Herb Kal: Picking up the extra 10 or 12 is supposed to be gravy for us?
Brad DeSpain: That would help us pay for that cause we need to do that anyway.
I apologize, that was a point I should have impressed on you, We need to do it,
Roxanne Zlegler: I certainly understand Council Member Honea's point but I also
remember the meeting we had not too long ago with water rates and people who
were in that audience that were not in the Town but they were within the water
service, I don't like the idea either, annexation is one thing, water is another. I
think in the past we've done a bad job, we have so much convoluted stuff in
agreements that we can't remember who we promised what to and having people
have to sign up and a year or two from now saying, "Oh, by the way, because you
got water from us now you have to annex also, remember that promise you
made?' I think stop it at the end of systems.
A motion was made by Roxanne Zlegler, seconded by Mike Reuwsaat, that
Council direct management and staff to proceed with the upgrades to the
Pictura Rocks Water System. The upgrades are to add a booster pump, electrical
panel and extensions of the existing pressure lines at the Iow pressure area and to
create a transmission line out of the water line that currently services that section
of the system. The motion carried 6/0.
Ora: I would like to comment on just one thing. Remember how many people
that get Tucson water complain because they do not have a vote when it comes to
water issues, So we need to make people that are coming onto our water systems
realize that if they are not in the Town they will not have any say on water rates
and other water issues, I just think we need to make people aware of that when
we're doing things like this.
D, Stage II Vapor Recovery. - Discussion/Action
A motion was made by Ed Honea, seconded by Sherry Millner, that the Town of
Marana not adopt implementation of the Stage II Vapor Recovery as proposed by
the Pima Association of Governments and the Pima County Department of
Environmental Quality, Motion carried 6/0.
Pima Association of Governments Regional Council Meeting Agenda - Review for
Discussion and Direction
The agenda was not available.
F, State Legislative Matters - Discussion/Action/Direction
Michael Hain: Anything could happen and we don't know what's going to happen
right now obviously. As far as the incorporation bill, it passed the House by I vote,
it's in the Senate. There are certainly interests on both sides who are paying great
attention to it, We have assureances from one side that they're going to sit on it
and that they're opposed philosophically and they're opposed for political reasons
and then we have assurances from the other side saying they're going to do
everything they can to resurrect it, so we don't know,
Mike Reuwsaat: I made some phone calls yesterday. I talked to 6 Senator's
offices. I will follow through this week but what concerned me about that was there
was a lack of knowledge of the bill or basically an attitude. I told them, "Look, I'll
fax you our position on it." So that's always scary because if people aren't
polarized they're likely to bend to any immediate pressures of someone in their
office, regardless of whether they understand what the impacts aro to property
rights and so forth. So I would encourage Council. if they get a chance, to fax a
note, and that's all I'm going to do, saying that you urge for a number of reasons
that the bill not be passed. Just so they get the message because they are not
knowledgeable. Out of the 6 offices I only had 1 that was knowledgeable.
G. Mayor and Council's Report
Sherry Millner: I just attended the SAHBA breakfast on the 23~ of Apdl and it
was very informative and I urge more council members to go if at all possible. On
the 3~ of May I attended the Explorer Citizen of the Year. I really enjoyed that and
Mayor, I enjoyed meeting your family. It was a really enjoyable time. Of course,
we all went to Hurvie's retirement. I lost my voice later that night and my throat
hurt all the way through Sunday so may I suggest at the next party we have with a
band. we have them play background music or quit when we want to talk cause I
was this far from everybody's ear, That was groat,
Herb Kal: No report from myself. Just a quick comment. I thought that Captain
Ruehl did a real nice preayer and it seems like he makes an effort to come to our
meetings. Maybe we should look into a donation to the Salvation Army for his
efforts. I think that would be good.
Mike Reuwsaat: I would like to reiterate the same thing about Kristie McFariand.
That gift is involved, she's a lifeguard out at Continental Ranch, she's doing a lot of
things with community volunteering. Having to raise $2,400 to go to the Ukreaine, it
ought to be quite an experience. Her family's trying to build in Woodside right
now. I'm suro Planning and Zoning is aware of the wall issue there. Her family is
involved with that.
Ed Honea: I think I spent more time with you last week, Madame Mayor, than I
did with my wife. Monday night was the Northwest Fire District. Councilman
Reuwsaat was there as well. Tuesday was the budget, Wednesday night we met
with Tucson Water and Mr. DeSpain and that was very interesting. Some of those
guys, I think, speak with forked tongues but it was quite interesting, Nice people,
they were very courteous, they came out and gave us a lot of information, One
bdef comment on that Avra Valley project, I think the town of Marona should take a
very, very close look at that project, I mean we should scrutinize it, and it might
even be something we would want to talk about at a later Council meeting,
May 5, 19~8
Ora: One of the things I wanted to bdng up about Hurvie Davis' retirement party
was the fact of how gracious the New West was to the Town, Two of their secudty
guards walked around behind me all night, just to see what I needed, I just
couldn't believe how gracious they all were to help with everything, We're going to
send a nice letter of thank you to Kirby and his crew and a couple hundred dollars
for tips for these young people that were so gracious,
All council membem will be getting this Town of Marena Council Retreat, This is
some suggestions, this is everybody's retreat, I am looking to get these papers
back with comments on them. We will gear this retreat to your convenience, One
of the things we have talked about, and if anybody has an objection I'd like you to
get back to me, is a hay ride and a cookout put on by the Gold Canyon Ranch up
there in the Superstition foothills on Friday evening, I was planning on doing that
and making arrangements for that, If anybody is opposed to that please let me
know, Put these comments on these papers and get them back to Sandy and I so
that we can do what's in the best interest of everybody.
H, Manager's Report
Hurvle Davis: Perhaps this would be more appropriate if it were an Assistant
Manager's repoR due to the fact that it seems like I am a has been, people that I
used to do business with walk by my office now for meetings, they hardly speak,
hardly look in anymore, stuff like that, It's rough, But I would indicate to you that I
attended a breakfast meeting last Fdday morning, which was a reception in honor
of Mary Peters who is the new ADOT Director, She appeared and actually spoke
at the breakfast meeting for the Women in Transportation. Very, very exciting
young lady that I think is going to take ADOT in a new direction and hopefully we
will continue to have a strong partnership with ADOT as we've had in the past.
She's a very dynamic lady and I think she is going to do great things for the state
transportation department, I was pleased to be invited, Now, I am also attending
more lunches and dinners than I can count including a tremendous party that we
had Saturday afternoon, I am very grateful for that and I will always remember it,
until my dying day, Even though my memory may not recall it, I will remember it
because I have a video tape thanks to Brad and Bob Millner. When my mind
doesn't recall it we can put the tape in the VCR and I can watch it then. Talking
with Jocelyn today I'll be making a copy to leave with the town for historical
purposes that Lily can put in the archives, It was truly an event, I know it was a
little loud at times, I get a little loud at times, Everyone I spoke to had a great time,
had a lot of fun and that's what it's all about, Everyone that attended should have
a good time, not just who the party was for, We also got a lot of compliments
about what a fantastic place the New West was to have something like that,
People said, "we didn't know there was anything like this around" to which I
replied, "You ought to get to Marana more often," I think it reflected good on the
Town and the New West as well. They did do an outstanding job, There will be a
Pima Mine Recharge Project ceremony this Thursday at 9:00 that I will be
attending, Maybe you all got invitations for it, It's down the south side of Tucson,
in the Pima Mine/I-10/Nogales Highway area. At 11:30 that same day we will have
the PAG Ride Share Award ceremony at the Marriott, All the managers of the
local jurisdiction had agreed to be presenters of awards, Unfortunately, the City of
Tucson and Pima County managers had to back out but I will be a presenter, and
so will Chuck Sweet from Ore Valley, Ann Parrlsh from Sahuadta and Rene
Gastelum from South Tucson, Marena will be receiving some awards as well, So
with that matter, I don't have anything else and I don't know if Mr, Hein has
anything. Maybe for the next meeting you might want to put the Assistant
Manager's report on the agenda so you can discuss it and then the meeting after
that you can revert back to the Manager's Report.
Ora Ham: I would like Mr, Hein to report on our Explorer newspaper pregrem that
we're putting together,
Mike Hein: There are a few activities. One references the Marana page. Some of
you may recall there has been a year's series of advertisements in the Explorer
"Come grow with us" with pictures of various places in the community. I think Chief
Smith was in a couple of them, some nice quotes. Nice ad campaign but it may
have overstayed its welcome, if you will. It's gotten a little stale. In lieu of that,
Miss Larsen has agreed to do a Marana page which will be hand delivered to all
the residents of the town of Marana and a couple outlying areas meaning we'll
basically get a whole page to announce events that will be forthcoming as well as
provide us an opportunity to write articles such as new businesses coming to the
Town, a calendar of events, the Council will have a comer (with the first issue
going to the Mayor of course), so once a month you will each have that issue and
you'll each get an opportunity to write a little thing. Jocelyn will help you out.
We're doing a feature on the home that closed yesterday. The Mayor signed the
documents to close on a home yesterday for a deserving family within the
community. So we'll be running articles like that which may not always get the
attention of some of the newspapers but allow us to announce some of the
programs that are going on. Another thing we're working on with the Explorer and
the Business Advisory Committee is an ad campaign using various new services to
help promote the area that is going to be hit by construction, employing a
construction "dough zone" where participating merchants will receive signage and
discounted ad space. We're trying to line up billboards and other things from
members of the business community to encourage customers to frequent that area
and then they can redeem the receipts from that area for "zone dough" that can be
applied toward an auction at the end of construction, In theory we are going to try
to get auction items such as cars, trips to Disneyland and Sea World. So, we want
some pretty nice gifts so people can bid on them using the receipts from that area.
Another thing you will be receiving from me is a memo talking about potential lease
space and moving some departments around to better utilize space that we have
and expand so we're not tripping over each other in the interim till we build a final
facility, Finally, I wanted to report on the Post Office, I spoke personally with
Senator McCain's and Congressman Kolbe's office today and there will be a letter
coming expressing their support to the Town to change the name of the Cortaro
Post Office to Marena,
Roxanne Ziegler: What happens after that?
Mike Hein: It will be directed to the person who has the ability to make that
decision. Hopefully, given the strong interest and support they will make the
appropriate decision.
Roxanne Ziegler: Who is that person?
Mike Hein: Mr. George Lopez.
Sherry Millner: I live in Continental Ranch and my mail doesn't come out of
Cortaro but what good is the post office going to be for Marana?
Ed Honea: The Cortaro Office is about twice the size of the Marana Office and the
reason it was built so large is so the routes for Continental Ranch and Picture
Rocks are eventually going to be shifted to Cortaro.
Sherry Miller: So does that mean our addresses will change from Tucson to
Marana?
Ed Honea: That would be one reason for doing that.
Ore: Any other comments? Hearing none we will go to future agenda items.
X, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Ed Honea: Could I ask Mr. DeSpain a question before I have a future agenda
item. Is it too early to talk about the procedure and what they're doing at Avra
Valley for an agenda item? With some of the rate charges that the County and
City are going ~ want to do on the other side of the airport in the Town, if they
want to do the same thing in kind somewhere down the road, recharge water and
try to pull it out.
Ora: You can't speak on it Mr, DeSpain, You can say yes or no.
Is it too early to make it an agenda item?
Brad DeSpain: Maybe?
Ed Honea: I have nothing.
A motion was made by Mike Reuwsaat, seconded by Ed Honea and carried unanimously
to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
AUDIO TAPES OF THE MEETING ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MARANA TOWN HALL
CLERK'S OFFICE.
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are the true and correct minutes of the Regular
Council Meeting of the Mamna Town Council held on May 5, 1998. I further certify that a
quorum was present,