HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/1996 Regular Council Meeting MinutesPLACE AND DATE
Marana Town Hall September 17, 1996
I. CALL TO ORDER
By Mayor Honea at 7:03 p.m.
II, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Honea
III. INVOCATION
Led by Mayor Honea
IV. ROLL CALL
COUI~CIL
Ed Honea
Sharon Price
Tom Clark
Ora Mae Horn
Sherry Millner
Herb Kal
Bobby Sutton Jr,
STAFF
Hurvie Davis
Dan Hochuli
Sandra Groseclose
Dave Atler
Doug Maples
Jane Johnson
Jocelyn Entz
Roy Cuaron
Joel Shapiro
Paul Sweum
Harvey Gill
27 Members of the Public
Mayor
Vice-Mayor
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member, excused
Town Manager
Town Attorney
Town Clerk
Town Engineer
Chief Building Official
Human Resources Director
Assistant to Town Manager
Finance Director
Principal Planner
Planner II
Senior Engineering Technician
V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Sherry Millner, seconded by Tom Clark and carried unanimously to
approve the Agenda as written.
VI, ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
No Minutes for approval at this meeting.
VII. CALL TO THE PUBLIC/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Steve Paschal, 7360 W Beryllium Ln.: He lives in Parcel 27a in Continental Ranch and is here
representing himself as well as other homeowners in the area, Parcel 26 is on the opposite side of the
fence wall that is being developed by Coventry Homes. Coventry maintains that they need to build a
five foot fence in order to sell their homes with pools in the backyards. We met with Coventry Homes
yesterday and basically if they are going to put just one course of brick on the wall we would agree to
let them tear down the wall and put a new one up. That would give us not as high of a fence and all
the neighbors would be agreeable to that. Today one of Mr. Paschal's neighbors called the Town to
find out for a five foot wall for a pool fence where is it measured -- on the outside wall or the wall on
the inside of the pool. Today he was informed that Coventry Homes intends to go ahead and put a
wall in next to our wall, essentially making a double wall. He is concerned about the safety and
liability issues of the double wall. He would like for the Council to consider putting on the Agenda the
issue of a dual wall.
Robert Sales: 13449 N. Warfield Cir.: He is representing the Homeowner's Association this evening
from Adonis. The Town has a piece of equipment that we would like to use around our sewer pond, a
bushhog that has an extension to do banks with. He contacted Bob Kern about this and he asked
him to talk to the Town Manager. He didn't talk with him, but Mr. Davis turned him down. He would
like a one time authorization to utilize this piece of equipment. We are willing to pay for the use of it.
We have not been able to find this piece of equipment anywhere within reasonable transporting
distance. The second issue is the Marana Prison. We would like to use inmate labor to clean up the
alleyways in Adonis. He contacted the Prison and was told to speak with Bob Kern. If the Town would
allow us to use the Prison work crew, to put it on his workload to go through and clean up our
alleyways. Our alleys are used by Public Works for the water, electric, gas and so forth. We are a
small association and the cost of doing this is high, but the labor is available through the Prison. He
has not been able to contact Mr. Kern on this issue but he would like the Council to consider the use
of inmate labor for this. He has been told by one of the Marana Police Officers that none of the officers
want to work "Old Marana'; they all want to work down south because that's where the action is. The
response time for an officer in this area as opposed to the response time in Continental Ranch or
anything along Ina Road is a great difference in time. He suggests that the Council take a look at this
situation and see if there is a problem here. His last issue is animal control. We need to have the
Council get with P/ma County Animal Control on the problem we are experiencing with coyotes and
loose dogs.
Ora Ham: She wanted to make the Public aware of a Health Fair that is going to take place
September 30, 1996 at the Marana Health Center. It will start at 3:00 p.m. and will go until 7:00
p.m.. We are going to do some preliminary health checks.
Dave Atler: Mr. After introduced a new staff member, Chuck Gaida. He is filling the position created
when Abel Sanchez left the Town. He is working on his degree in Geological Engineering and has
expressed an interest in getting a Master's Degree in Land Planning.
Sandy Groseclose: Founder's Day is coming up October 12, 1996, There's a parade and fair in the
Park along with various entertainment and a carnival as well.
VIII. STAFF REPORTS
Reports are on file at the Marana Town Hall.
GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
A. Consent Agend~
1. Resolution No. 96-77; Continental Ranch Parcel 3 - Requested by Coscan Arizona, Inc. For
approval ora ~!gKle ¢~mily detached home subdivision F/ual Plat located within the NE 1/4 0!
Section 34~ T12S~ R12E, Continental Ranch Parcel 3. Property Owner is Ranch Holdingst
8160 N. Hayden Road~ Building J, Suite 208t Phoenix~ AZ.
2. Resolution No. 96-81; Cortaro Ranch Final Plat by RI Dorado Holdings - An application for
review and approval of a Final Plat for a single family detached home subdivision and
commercial development. The proposed site is located at the Northeast corner of Cortaro
Farms Road and Interstate I0 in a portion of the No~th half of Section ~6, T12S, R12E.
3. Resolution No. 96-70 - Entering into a Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA! with Pima
County for administration of the Travel Reduction Program.
5. Ordinance No. 96.34; 1996 National Electrical Code - Adoption of the 1996 National
Electrical Code as modified.
Resolution No. 9/~-78; Arizona Department of Commerce Grant - A Resolution of the Mayor
and Council committing local funds as leverage and authorizing submission of a grant
application to the Ar/zona Department of Commerce for the development of a capital
improvements plan for the Town of Marana,
7. Closure of Railroad Crossing - Change in date of Southern Pacific's request to close
TanRer/ne Road at the Southern Pacific railroad crossing to up~rade the ex/sting crossing.
A motion was made by Ora Harn, seconded by Sharon Price and carried unanimously to accept the
Consent Agenda as written with the exception of Item #4 being removed and placed under General
Business.
4. Appointment to the Planning Commission - Filling of vacanc~ on the Town's Planning
Commission created by the resignation of K.T. Berry.
Hurvie Davis: There has been a vacancy on the Town Planning Commission as a result of the
resignation of K. T. Berry who has served on the Commission for a number of years. Earlier this year
there was another appointment to the Planning Commission, at that time there were three
applicants that indicated an interested in serving on the Commission.
Tape malfunctions. TIME BACK ON: 9:08 p.m.
B. Public Hearing; Resolution No. 96-82 - Request by Northwest Fire District for a variance to
permit a lot split from 10 acres into 2 parcels, allowing the creation of a 9 acre parcel and a 1
acre parcel~ the smaller to be used for a firehouse~ located at 13051 N. Tortofita Road~
Assessor's Parcel No. 218~44-08607. Applicant is Northwest Fire Dtstrictt 1520 W. Orange
Grove Road~ Tucson~ AZ.
C. Update - Cortaro/l-10 Interchange Improvements.
Tape malfunctioned, picked up at this point.
Herb I/si: If ADOT constructs a two lane road and the developer would like to see a third lane in
there, is there a number over and above that number that would be necessary to make that third
lane.
He doesn't understand the question. ADOT said they would try and find some way to cover the cost
of the two lanes.
Herb I/si: Is there a number that we look at to make that a third lane, he doesn't think ADOT would
pay for that.
The two-lane road is based on the same estimating process and it should be less. You're looking at
about $130,000 difference between the two lane and the three lane. Again we wanted to make sure
that everything was clear so that when we did the two lane we essentially did a basic two lane road,
no curbs, no bike path and no anything else, the three lane includes for paths. What the Town
would want out there would determine the actual final cost of the project.
Mayor Honea: We do not have money to construct this road allocated in this year's budget; it is not
available. We already got the contract from the State that says we have to sign, that says we will
make available to them $1.4 million upon demand if they ask for it. And there is a slight possibility
they could ask for it all up front. And $400,000 we do not have and it was not budgeted for. We
would probably have to cancel another project some where to come up with the money.
He doesn't know, he hasn't gone back and looked at the Town budget. He was advised by Town staff
back in June of this year that the Town was just so concerned about this project and to make
certain that there wouldn't be any problems, that the Town had budgeted for the whole $1.4 million.
Mayor Hones: The reason that was done is there wasn't a conduit to pass private money to pass
private money to ADOT. The reason that was put in the budget was so that we could take the private
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money and then the Town could put up the $1/4 million. There is 50 foot for a two lane, but it takes
90 for a three lane. That's almost double the footage for one more lane, why 40 feet to add one more
lane.
That's what is shown on the plat.
Mayor Honea: Why couldn't 75 feet make three lanes.
The Town could reduce the number in the same way, if you want simply use the number from the
two lanes, it's not really material one way or the other. It is what ever the Town would want, what
we're saying is we will dedicate up to 90 feet because you may in the future need that.
Dave Atler: It may need to be expandable in the future.
Mayor Hones: The only reason the roadway would need to be expanded would be because of the
commercial growth along the roadway, Who determined that 90 foot of roadway across that piece of
property is worth $1.2 million.
That's based on the selling price of the real estate in that area.
Mayor Hones: If a 90 foot roadway across that property is worth $1.2 million, then that entire piece
of property must be worth about $100 million roughly. It seems that the donation figures are
extremely exaggerated from his point of view. He just can't see that property being worth that
amount of money. We do not have this money budgeted this year. We could use part of that $1.4
million and build this roadway but if the next day the State comes up and says, hey, we want the
money so we can get started on this project we have to come up with $1.4 miliion. That would mean
that we would have to cancel some other projects.
That is a very good point and that's the exact reason that governments entered into
intergovernmental agreements. When you entered into that IGA with the State agreeing to build the
loop road you get some consideration for that. The consideration from the State is that they will
build the interchange project and provide the signals and that the Town will no longer need to
advance that money. That's a problem that goes away as soon as that IGA is done, and not only
does it go away but all the excess money that is budgeted for, you get do to other projects with it..
With respect to reimbursing through sales tax, it's a complex process to put together. We are all
trying to get this done quickly. We think what we have proposed is a fair proposal to do this. If we're
going to look at splitting it and get reimbursement over time and advancing that then we think we
should look at what the full cost of those two lanes are and then reimburse for the full cost of the
two lanes. That to us seemed like a much higher expense for the Town; we weren't comfortable
asking that. We think the proposal that we're making is much more efficient, much faster and much
more reasonable for everybody.
Ora Ham: She doesn't particularly see this as a private road, this is a road we have to put in if we
want to do that interchange the way we want to do it. She doesn't see that it just benefits SVP. She
would hke to ask Mr. Davis if any other of the investors have been asked, are they still willing to pick
up some of the costs of the stop lights or some part of the project such as that.
Hurvie Davis: We have not had any further discussion with the developer on the east side of the
Interstate. The agreement that we had reached with that developer was that they would advance to
the Town $100,000 on demand, that we would in turn forward to ADOT for the advancement of this
project. That $100,000 would be reimbursed when it was reimbursed to the Town from the State
Department of Transportation. Furthermore, the developer on the east side has indicated, agreed to
donate right-of-way for the straightening of the curve on the east side of the Interstate as you cross
the railroad tracks and so forth. That is the latest agreement and discussion we had with that
developer.
Ora Ham: As she understands it, the road must be built before we can have the interchange fixed
the way we want it, is that correct?
Yes it is.
Ora Ham: What does Mr. Atler figure the cost of that road is if we would put it in right.
Dave After: If we were to do the two lane road it would be just over $100,000.
Ora Ham: If we put in three lanes.
Dave After: He didn't do the numbers on that, but he would say roughly $140,000 if you add in the
engineering.
Ora Ham: What would be the additional cost between the two lane and the three lane.
Dave Atler: In this case about $40,000 based on our numbers. He hasn't talked with them about it
so he thinks it's a little premature. The other option is one that has not been as palatable. The
option would be to condemn the rights to two way access on the frontage road. He spoke with Mr.
Higgins earlier regarding that and he didn't feel at the time that it would cost the project any time.
So there is an alternative to the loop road but again the condemnation proceedings would be
unpalatable. If we are going to be building this loop road then only two lanes are necessary for what
it is there for. Through the numbers that we've run in his Department, it appears that the t~vo lanes
would cost, with engineering and construction surveying, a little over $100,000. ADOT would not do
curbs, they wouldn't do sidewalks nor would we for what the road is going to be used for. He wanted
to mention that because there is some disagreement.
Ora Ham: ls Mr. After suggesting that a two way road be built for now.
Dave At[er: He's suggesting that based on what ADOT needs for the interchange itself is only a two
land road.
Ora Ham: What does the Town need, if we build a two lane road there now and businesses go in on
that side, then later on we're going to have to go in and try to do turn lanes and other things. Is it
not more expedient to do that now.
Dave After: Certainly, he ~vouldn't want to see it any other way. Ultimately, five lanes might be
necessary because of the 10,000 trips a day that are projected. What the Town would do through
Mr. AtleFs Department is the same thing that was done on Silverbell and Cortaro. We would require
that third lane be constructed with the project. We did the same thing with Waste Management on
Ina Road to try and get the traffic off there. Yes, it is more expedient to do it today, however, if it was
something that we were going to go out and build to expedite the interchange and to make the
interchange work better without having to go through the process of condemnation, we would only
do the two lane.
Ora Rarn: Are there different expectations on cost than what Mr. Racy is suggesting for the project.
Dave After: Yes, that is primarily based on the cross section that he has talked to. Because it's an
ADOT project he tries to focus more on what their needs are. $140,000 for three lanes ff we did just
three lanes of pavement.
We are asking that the Town pay for what the cost of the road is.
Dave Atler: That is correct. Again, it's a little premature because we don't know what ADOT is
looking for. If we built the road we would bid it and that would come through us and they wouldn't
be involved.
With respect to the issues with ADOT, that's why you authorize your Staff to go ahead and enter into
an IGA with ADOT. That is normal procedure; that's not real complicated; it's done all the time.
With respect to going with a one way frontage road all the way from Ama Valley Road, he thinks
that will throw this project way off schedule.
Hurvie Davis: It should be pointed out, his understanding from ADOT is that the frontage roads will
eventually become one way. The loop roadway for this project in an interim roadway until such time
as the frontage roads officially become one way.
Ora Hath: She certainly would be opposed at this present time of making the frontage roads one
way, because of the fact that there are so many small businesses that are on that road that simply
would not be able to take that kind of change. Many of them would probably go out of business of
they did not have that two way road. Hopefully, and eventually we will get a road up through there
where they can use another access and we can make the one ways.
Hurvie Davis: His understanding is that the frontage road between Cortaro and 1-10 right now -~
half of k is one way and half is two way. And with this interchange improvement at Cortaro it would
go all one way.
Dave Atler: That is correct, that is his understanding from ADOT.
Ora Ham: She would be opposed to that.
Back in 1967 when ADOT condemned a lot of that frontage for the frontage road, they entered into
an agreement that now they really regret. SVP has already said that they would sign a waiver of any
right to a two way frontage road in that area. We are also working with the businesses trying to get
them to understand the importance of this project. And to sign away their rights to a two way
frontage road.
Sherry Millner: Is there any way that Council could possibly have a study session on this issue,
where we could get into a little more depth and get some time frames on what we are talking about.
Mayor Honea: He really doesn't think that a decision is going to be made tonight. We do need to
make a decision pretty quickly. Maybe we could put together two or three different options and the
cost of each one.
Ora Ham: She would like to ask that a couple members of the Council sit down with Town staff and
SVP in the near future and see if there can be an agreement worked out that we can all live with and
accept. That could be brought back to the Council at the next meeting. We need to resolve this issue
and she would be very happy if Council Member Kai and Council Member Clark would do that. They
are kind of distanced from the project in the sense that they could look at it very openly.
Sharon Price: What is the time frame on this.
Ron Williams would like to send out the letters immediately. They are literally waiting for the
outcome of tonight's meeting to see if they can be sent. He would like to suggest that at a minimum
he would really like to see the Town commit to ADOT that they will work with the local community,
resolve the details amongst all of us in good faith as we've been working and very rapidly. But at this
point the Town commit to ADOT that the local community collectively will take responsibility for the
loop road so those letters may go out and the project will then keep moving on pace. ADOT doesn't
care how much we pay and the Town pays, ADOT cares that the local communiW do it; that's what
we really need to try and do tonight to not slow anything down.
Ora Ham: The Council is in agreement that the road needs to be buik. How it needs to be built and
who pays what maybe needs to be worked out. If we want to just move on the project tonight, but
she would feel uncomfortable doing that, but we could maybe have a special meeting of the Council.
This would give our people time to work together and work out an agreement that we all could live
with.
Mayor Honea: If we make a commitment to do the project.
Ora Ham: She would be willing to make a motion that we do the project.
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Mayor Honea: Do we have any figures, do we know whether it's $100,000 or $400,000, where are
we going to get the money.
What the direction would be is to have Staff enter into negotiations with the State to do that 1GA
which is going to clarit~r some of these issues like traffic signals and other things. The Town is not
ratifying that agreement tonight, so the Town is not binding itself to the specifics of any deal; simply
committing to ADOT that the Town will take responsibility for that.
Mayor Honea: If we sign an agreement with the State that says we will be responsible, we're
responsible even if they don't pay anything. If we make a commitment to do it then we have no
bargaining power with SVP; we're committed to do it. He has a real problem committing to anything
without knowing the costs.
He understands that concern.
Tom Clark: In addition to that with the kind of moneys we are talking about he would like to have
the whole Council present. All Council Members should have some input into any type of agreement
that we might entered into.
Mayor Honea: He would like to prepare as much as possible and have another meeting next
Tuesday evening.
Hurvie Davis: He thinks it would be helpful if we could have some official communication from
ADOT in Phoenix outlining what they are looking to the Town for as an obligation or commitment.
He has a letter date July 29, 1996 with an IGA that calls for the Town to commit and they will
invoice the Town in the amount of $1.4 million. He has talked with Mr. Higg/ns several times, he
feels that an IGA is still necessary in some form. It would be extremely helpful if ADOT in Phoenix
would tell us so that both the district office, the Town and private interests know exactly what
commitment we have to live up to with ADOT. The only formal correspondence he has with anybody
in Phoenix is the 1GA asking the Town to sign and commit to the $1.4 million.
RECESS
D. Resolution No. 96-83 - Discussion and adoption of a Resolution accepting the landscaping
and irrigation for maintenance in the rights-of-way along portions of Silverbell Road~
Coachltue Road and Twin Peaks Road (Council will sit as Board ofAd, fustments).
Hurvie Davis: We entered into an agreement with Southwest Value Partners back in November of
1992 re§arding SilYerbell Road, Coachline Blvd. and Twin Peaks Road in the Continental Ranch area
relative to taking over the responsibilities for these roadways. That agreement at the time set forth
certain conditions and time frames in which the Town would take over the responsibilities. There
were three requirements: bring the roads up to specification and conditions as set forth in the
Continental Ranch Specific Plan adopted by the Town on April 5, 1988, confirming that the roads
meet all engineering and code requirements of the Town of Marana, the County of Pima and any
other entity having jurisdictions over the roads. And confirming that all contained on the punch list
which was previously prepared listing all the necessary work to the roads be performed. The punch
list at that time was developed when RTC had possession of the property. The punch list pertained
only to the structural pavement of the roadway itself, did not include the landscaping. That
agreement said there were certain time frames in which to get these things done, assuming they
were done in that time frame that SVP would continue to maintain the landscaping for a period of
two years thereafter. The physical improvements to the roadway pavement itself was accomplished
and it was accepted by the Town in August of 1995. The latest proposal he entertained is that they
would put up some amount of money into an escrow account and have the Town responsible for
bringing the landscaping up to standard. He doesn't remember the exact figure, but they would put
that money into an escrow account with the Town as the beneficiary and we could draw on it when
we decided to proceed to bring the landscaping up to date. Mr. Davis indicated that it would
probably be acceptable then he would take it to the Council perhaps, if we came up with estimates
as to what the costs would be, and see if that would be acceptable. We had no further discussion
after that. The landscaping has not been brought up to Town standards, in many cases it is in a
state of disrepair. The normal practice in government is the developer puts in public roadways, they
MANANA TOWN COUNCIl.
SEPTEMBER 17, 1996
are brought up to the jurisdiction's standards, they are inspected and at the time that they pass
inspection they would be accepted into the Town's maintenance program. We have half of the
problem addressed and we have been continuing to maintain these roadways as far as pavement is
concerned, but we have not with the landscaping. There are some estimates before Council this
evening; Mr. Atler will go over this with the Council.
Dave Atler: The cost estimates that Council received include a number of items. The total repair cost
totals $67,470.00-- that's based on information the Town got from Triple A Landscaping. They hold
the current contract to do the maintenance on Continental Ranch. This includes some of the clocks
that are not operational, changing some irrigation lines and things of that nature.
Ora Horn: At the present time do we have an irrigation system on Silverbell Road.
Dave Atler: There is an irrigation system which was installed for the landscaping that is out there
today, that includes Coachline and Twin Peaks.
Ora Harm They have to be watered how often.
Dave Atler: It depends on the vegetation. There is vegetation out there that is probably being
irrigated every day. It has to be irrigated at least a few times a week during the summer. One of the
recommendations made by the landscape architects two years ago was to go with low water use
which would eliminate the turf.
Ora Horn: She has a great concern, she was under the impression that when we made this
agreement that all that landscaping would be turned into low maintenance and low water usage
landscape. In this desert there is a lot of things that don't have to be watered very often, that's what
we need to get to.
Sharon P~ice: Most of the plants along there with the exception of Twin Peaks have been well
established, they've been there a long time. She doesn't think there is a substantial amount of
maintenance of water that goes into it. On Coachline there is very little vegetation along that that
would require extensive watering; Twin Peaks is a different story.
Mayor Honea: We are talking three roadways in the Continental Ranch area right now. Silverbell
Road is a major corridor for people other than those in Continental Ranch. He personally doesn't
think the Town should take any that is not completely perfect and operating, all the valves operate,
all the lines are in, everything is up to snuff. He sees no reason for the Town to go in there and make
a bunch of repairs and maintenance on any of these things. He told the President of the
Homeowner's Association that the Town would have a very difficult time spending $70,000 a year
maintaining some lush vegetation on these roadways when we still have dirt roads in some areas of
this Town. He also believes that the Town is not legally obligated to take this, we have several
documents that contradict each other. We have documents signed by SVP saying we're not
responsible, we have documents that say maybe we are. He doesn't see any reason for the Town to
take a system that's not operating; there's no reason in the world. A tot of the vegetation on Twin
Peaks is very high water use and high maintenance vegetation. When we talked a couple years ago
with SVP we voiced an opinion to them that the vegetation needed to be basically the same type of
vegetation that is on Silverbell Road. Instead of taking action and going out and accepting all of this
at a cost of $70,000 which was not budgeted for, maybe we should accept $ilverbell Road and
continue to do some negotiating on the other items. We are going to have a very hard time justifying
spending large amounts of money on one mile of road.
Sharon Price: She would like to get an opinion from Dan Hochuli. On Section 6, whether the
agreement was entered into that Town would take over the responsibility of maintaining the
landscaping, is the Town legally obligated to that.
Dan Hoehuli: He looked over Page 2 of that agreement a number of times, it seems to him that what
this means is that the roads, the roads are typically defined as the whole right-of-way, the roads and
the landscaping. What was meant here is that everything would be brought up to standard. The
Town could not afford the landscaping maintenance at the time so the Town was requesting an
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additional period of time for SVP to continue paying for the maintenance. He can't think of a
situation where the Town would take over the maintenance of any public infrastructure that didn't
meet Town Code. It would seem to him that Sect/on 6 taken in light of everything else we do is that it
needs to be brought up to Code first.
Mayor Honea: Maybe we can try and work out the particulars on Silverbell Road first, since that
seems to be the easiest, then we can work on the other two roadways.
Dave Atler: We have a very brief punch list that Triple A Landscaping prepared. In terms of the cost
to bring it up and make the repairs, Silverbell is in the worst shape. It is almost half the total repak
cost that we have looked at for the three roads.
Mayor Honea: Would the Homeowner's Association be agreeable to maybe starting up a committee
to work out some of these issues. He agrees with the Town Attorney that really everything in those
right-of-ways would have to be working.
Sharon Price: Would the Landscaping Subcommittee from Continental Ranch be included on that
committee as well. The should have, they have more direct connections with the homeowners.
Mayor Honea: He thinks the Council should give some kind of guidelines to the Staff as to what we
are looking for. We should tell staff that everything has to be operational and up to speed before we
would accept it as the Town's responsibility. We might also look negotiating with Coventry Homes, ff
they are interested in keeping a lot of greenery there on Twin Peaks Road as an individual developer
or as inclusive in the Homeowner's Association as well.
Ora Ham: On Twin Peaks where Coventry is putting in their homes and selling, they probably want
that vegetation to make the project look more attractive. If they want that project to make it look
more attractive then they should pay for it, not the Homeowner's Association.
Mayor Honea: Maybe they would be interested in participating if they want to keep that type of
vegetation. If we accept the vegetation there's nothing that mandates the Town keeps that type of
vegetation.
Sharon Price: The Homeowner's out there bought into an area that looked good and they would like
to maintain that. The Town did state that they would be looking into taking over that.
Craig Briner, Covent~r Homes: Our plan right now is to have that area looking good year round.
We don't necessarily believe that it looks good year round right now. What we are going to do is try
and come up with a plan to make Twin Peaks more desert friendly and at the same t/me look good.
Hurvie Davis: If memory serves him right he believes the requirements in the Continental Ranch
Specific Plan calls for desert type, low maintenance, low water consumption landscaping. We will
research that so it is available for the meetings and so forth.
Dave Atler: Whatever plan that we would look at we will make sure it is in compliance with the
Specific Plan as well as the Landscape Ordinance.
Tape Malfunctions
E. Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Council - Continuance of discussion of proposed new
position of Council Executive Assistant.
Hurvte Davis: This item is on the Agenda due to the fact that is was discussed before by the Council
and at that time it was indicated that we should do some research as to how much time various
people were putting in to handle the activities of the Mayor and Council.
Mayor Honea: Mr. Davis has an executive assistant, someone to help him to do research and to
interact with people at his direction. It has really freed him up and made him a more accessible
individual. He's noticed that in the Planning Department, since Sandy Gladden has been promoted
to an executive assistant to Mr. Flannery, in about the last month he has been amazed at how much
more information and how much easier it is to get it out of the Planning Center. What happens is
you're so busy and there are so many people you need to deal with, for a person to be a viable
representative of the Town and understand ideas and concepts a lot of times you need a lot of
research. A lot of times he doesn't have time to prepare and to do research that is necessary. He
doesn't have time to get ready, he has to try and do a little research on his own. He really thinks that
this is a needed position, there's not going to be a lot of holes, this person will be kept busy. There
are several other things that we need to do in the Town. We need to get all of the minutes of every
meeting this Town has had back to day one. We need to be able to have someone that can go in and
research and pull that stuff up. We have three or four years on the computer now, we're working
backwm'd. Another thing is coordinating meetings for the Mayor and Council Members, you have to
be able to coordinate when people are available. He would ask the Council to seriously consider this,
he sometimes finds the job overwhelming. He loves doing the job and likes working for the Town but
there are times when he just cannot keep abreast of what's going on. He thinks it would be money
well spent, this money has also been budgeted for. Be really feels that this position would beneficial
to our Community, it is a needed position.
Sherry Millner: A normal work week is 40 hours, this totals 33 hours in a month's time. That tells
her there is not enough work to keep a person busy doing that. Being in the same type job and
having the same problem with nothing to do, she could see where this person might be utilized more
as a part time person, maybe as an assistant to Sandy. This person might help with the lnternet,
she doesn't see where doing research would fit in, that's what they do. She doesn't see where it's
warranted at 35 a month for a full time person, you're going to have a person staring at a wall.
Where would this person be placed, there is no more room at Town Hall.
Mayor Honea: Included in the 35 hours is not all the people that do things for him. People like
Sandy Gladden and Jana and different people over in the Planning enter do things for him as well. It
doesn't include the research and a lot of the other things that would be done. Patting the minutes in
alone is going to take a year so that we can be ware of everything that is going on. If you put the
person in as part time it causes the same problem that happens now. Research is very important
and it needs to be done and updated.
Sherry Millner: Her personal feeling is that 35 hours a month that we have docmnented does not
prove to her that a full time person should be hired. A general person that can be utilized in the
whole office that is in dire need of help yes, but a person that would not be utilized that much, as a
Council Member she can't see it.
Mayor Honeu: This person would have very important things that need to be done.
Sharon Price: As far as typing information into the computer it is very important that we have it,
but you can hire some one from a temp service that would come in and do that and you don't have
the employer costs involved. She cannot justify 35 hours a month into a full time position, plus the
added expenses.
Tom Clark: He could see how an assistant like this could be absorbed into the Town Hall Staff. He
remembers getting information from Jane on this a couple months ago as far as what the
responsibilities were. When you encompass all this in addition to it, it seems to him that this person
should make at least $40,000 and have a bachelor's degree. He just can't see it right now, in the
Town's budget for doing something like this.
Ora Harn: It's pretty hard to understand the Mayor's position until you sit in that chair. She knows
that it is a big job and she thinks that if we need Staff people we need to talk about it, but she has to
look at 33 hours for the whole month and say that does not create a whole person. But she does
think that somebody in ti-ds staff should be responsible to the Mayor, to help when it is needed.
F. P/ma Association of Governments Regional Council Meeting - Review for discussion and
direction.
Hurvie Davis: We will be having the PAG Regional Council Meeting next week. The Agenda for the
Management Committee even arrived late and he understands that the Town Clerk probably
provided that on the dais this evening for the Council. Item #10 which is the T,I,P. Amendments,
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Transportation Improvement Program Amendments. Mr. Atler is more familiar with this than Mr.
Davis.
Dave Atler: We have a number of projects on the list, totalling currently about $6 million. This
includes Tangerine Road, Moore Road, Sandario and the Marana intersection and projects such
as that. There are some projects that have been stricken from the list, those are projects that are
currently not acceptable by the EPA. Based on the current accepted model by EPA the projects
that are unstricken are the ones that are acceptable. The Cortaro T.I. has been stricken from the
list, that does not mean it won't be funded because ADOT is working with PAG currently to
explain to them that it's not an air quality project, it's a safety project. The other projects have
been removed until such time that PAG can hopefully convince EPA that the model that should
be used is more appropriate for Pima County. They are making Pima County abide by much
stricter air quality requirements for lower elevations.
Hur~ie Davis: There is reason to be concerned, but no reason to be alarmed at this point in time.
Sharon Price: Item #13 is the 1STEA reauthorization. What is this reauthorization?
Hurvie Davis: The ISTEA is a federal transportation act and it has to have some action for
reauthorization each and every year in order for the federal funds to be authorized and flow down to
the State and local governments.
Sharon Price: She would like to encourage the Town to tl3~ and keep track of that; it is a
substantial amount of money that could be available for our Community.
G. Mayor and Council~s Report
Ora Ha. tn: We are working on our VIP Breakfast for Founder's Day, We had a meet/ng this evening.
We will have the breakfast again at the Estes Elementary School cafeteria; Sunwest will pick up the
tab for the breakfast and decorate the cafeteria,
Tom Clark: He was asked to speak to some sixth graders last Friday from Thornydale Elementary. It
was in reference to the CHAMPS Program. The CHAMPS Program is set up as a peer program to
initiate sixth graders before they go into junior high and high school on how to be leaders.
Sharon Price: She ~vent to Page for the Governor's Conference this past week; she was very
impressed with the conference. She would like to encourage other Council Members to attend as
many conferences as they can, they are very informative,
Mayor Hones: He had eight meetings in the first four days of last week. He has been talking with
Mr. Flannery in regards to the Orange Grove Annexation, which is going quite well, about 85 - 90%
of the signatures are in. On Tuesday he met with the Water Committee, we are trying to tie all the
loops together in the purchase of Cortaro Water. This is a $600,000 purchase and it could evolve
into millions of dollars worth of wholesale water over the next twenty years. On Wednesday we had
the Annexation meeting, we discussed several annexation issues that are on our program right now.
Most of the Council Members went to the Oro Valley Country Club to listen to the Governor speak,
that was quite fruitful. He had a meeting that evening with the Continental Ranch Homeowner's
Association in regard to the linear park. There are a lot of things going on and it takes a lot of time
and a lot of effort.
H. ManaRer's Report
Hurtrte Davis: He also attended most of the meetings that have been referred to this evening
including the CMID. We continue to advance the purchase agreement for that water system as well
as Marana Water Service which is privately owned. Mr. Hochuli, Mr. Atler and Mr. Davis have been
meeting on the Tangerine Road project to get the right-of-way for thc transition coming off across the
railroad tracks. It's been a long drawn out process, we hope to try and finalize the agreement for the
right-of-way very soon. If we cannot reach agreement we will have to do as we did down on Horizon
Hills Drive, just file for condemnation and let the Courts determine the price of the property.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None
XI. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Sharon Price, seconded by Tom Clark and carried unanimously to adjourn.
TIME: 10:30 p.m.
AUDIO TAPES OF THE MEETING ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MARANA TOWN HALL CLERK'S
OFFICE.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are the true and correct minutes of the Regular Council
Meeting of the Marana Town Council held on September 17, 1906. I further certify that a quorum was
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