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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/24/2009 Special Council Meeting Minutes~~ ®r,..'~f~.-~ - r~~~ nF s.~~ SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, February 24, 2009, at or after 7:00 PM Ed Honea, Mayor Herb Kai, Vice Mayor Russell Clanagan, Council Member Patti Comerford, Council Member Carol McGorray, Council Member Jon Post, Council Member Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member SPECIAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL All present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA With the removal of item A.2 at the request of UPRR, a motion by Council Member Clanagan, second by Council Member McGorray. Unanimously approved. CALL TO THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS P 1: Presentation: Relating to Engineering; Presentation on status of Tres Rios del Norte and authorizing staff to continue coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineering, the City of Tucson, and Pima County Regional Flood Control District on the Tres Rios del Norte ecosystem restoration study Jennifer Christelman presented. Ms. Christelman reviewed some of the obstacles facing the project and listed high to low effort restoration alternatives. Staff is requesting Council support for Plan CHigh -high level of effort, low water use. This is the most cost-efficient alternative. The cost ranges from $9,874,000 to $391,224.000. The cost of water was estimated using $305 per AF for feasibility and costing-out purposes. When the feasibility study is done and taken out to the community in the fall of 2009, staff is looking at Apri12010 to present the final draft. Staff is asking Council direction to continue coordination with the local sponsors and the Corps of engineers -the Town paying 35% of the construction costs. Vice Mayor Kai asked if there were anticipated problems with mosquitoes in the Continental Ranch area. Ms. Christelman stated that this is being addressed through drip irrigation and vector control. There are areas planned for open water. Council Member Ziegler asked if this would go in the 2009-10 budget. Ms. Christelman responded that money has already been budgeted for public meetings and that they are not looking for funding at this time. Council Member Ziegler noted that economic times would drive this project. Motion to move forward by Council Member Comerford to authorize staff to continue participating as a sponsor of the Tres Rios del Norte Feasibility Study in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and other local sponsors to complete the study with C-High as the recommended plan, second by Vice Mayor Kai. Approved unanimously. P 2: Presentation: Relating to Economic Development; Presentation on the proposed process and community involvement for the Marana Economic Roadmap strategic plan. Presented by Gilbert Davidson. He discussed the types of businesses Council would want to attract to the community that would add value. There is still a lot of work to do to make Marana a place where businesses want to locate. He also discussed the types of target industries and incentives and a collaborative community approach. There are three parts to the economic roadmap starting with the steering committee which include PSA as the facilitator, two seats from the Town Council, four seats from the Utilities Commission (to attract corporate investments), one seat for a major employer, one seat for a small business, one seat for the Chamber of Commerce, one seat for tourism and hospitality, two seats from education, one seat for town staff, and one seat from the Business & Economic Development Commission. The steering committee would then present their recommendations for citizen review, Commission approval and Council approval prior to implementation. The technical team is composed of in-house staff from Utilities, the Airport, Planning, Technology Services and the Town Manager's office. He briefly outlined the current status and timeframe. He noted a draft letter on the dais that would be sent out to all steering committee members. A draft Plan would be brought back to Council. Most of the work will be done in-house for cost-savings. A final working draft should be ready by the end of summer. Council Member Clanagan asked about the steering committee composition, noting that this might be a good opportunity for TREO to be involved and for the town to reach out and see what level of help and expertise they can bring to the process. Mr. Davidson responded that TREO could be a valuable entity in terms of their resources and it could be an opportunity to engage them on a specific activity. ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES PROCLAMATIONS MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Council Member Post reported that there are equestrian events going on all week at the Marana arena; Council Member Clanagan reported that he had been having discussions with a member of the Oro Valley Council about the possibility of having a joint Council meeting to discuss issues of mutual concern. Council Member Ziegler reported on the beautiful venue David Mehl and the Ritz Carlton have created for the PGA Match Play. Council Member McGorray and Mayor Honea also noted their attendance at PGA practice rounds. The Mayor noted that this is great advertising for the region because of the tournament. MANAGER'S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Mr. Davidson stated that he attended a roping event with the Mayor as part of the Tucson rodeo, attended the PGA tournament and acknowledged the dozens of staff members who have worked very hard to make sure everything looks good for the tournament. TOWN REPORTS GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL ACTION A 1: PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance No. 2009.03: Relating to Utilities; amending section 14-7-1 of the Town Code by revising the water base fees and consumption rates; and providing for an effective date The Mayor opened the public hearing. Brad DeSpain addressed Council with an introduction of the members of the group: Barbara Johnson, Dan Jackson, Ann Meaders, Dorothy O'Brien, Lorraine Steckler from the Utilities Advisory Commission, and Roxanne Ziegler as the Council liaison. He covered the objectives and timeline and necessities that required bringing the rate increases to the Council for consideration and approval. The average bill for Marana residents is $3 less than other residents in the state. Dorothy O'Brien addressed the need for the rate increases. She referred to a comparison of current residential monthly water charges to Arizona state averages fora 10,000 gallon use per month. Next she discussed the many goals of a water rate plan through best practices, then the recommended water rate plan which had previously been presented to Council in January. Marana is the only areas were you get the first 1000 gallons within your base rate. Ms. O'Brien then presented a forecast for the long-term water rate plan and summarized that the goal is to make sure that the rates are favorable to state averages and meet environmental regulations and increased operating expenses. The increase is $2-3 for most ratepayers. All rates will be reviewed annually. David Morales addressed Council during the public hearing. He noted his biggest complaint is the tier system. The residential customer is the only one on the tier system. He feels that anyone who has a water line should pay into the tier system. He asked for this consideration because many people in old Marana use swamp coolers that use 6,000 gallons per month and it can be very expensive in the summer months. Motion by Council Member Ziegler, second by Council Member McGorray. Passed unanimously. A 2: Resolution No. 2009-23: Relating to Transportation; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company concerning double-tracking through the Town BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION EXECUTIVE SESSIONS For Items E2 and E3 -Motion by Council Member Clanagan, second by Council MembeN McGorray. Passed Unanimously. E 1: Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A)(3), Council may ask for discussion or consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney concerning any matter listed on this agenda E 2: Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3),(4) and (7), discussion or consultation for legal advice with the Town's attorneys and discussion and to consider its position and instruct the Town Manager and staff concerning possible acquisition of certain water infrastructure and accounts and water rights and/or resources E 3: Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3),(4) and (7), discussion or consultation for legal advice with the Town's attorneys and discussion and to consider its position and instruct the Town Manager and staff concerning (1) the lawsuit entitled Town of Marana v. Pima County/Pima County v. Marana (consolidated), Maricopa County Superior Court No. CV2008-001131, (2) pending legal issues, settlement discussions and contract negotiations relating to the transition of Marana wastewater collection and treatment to the Town of Marana FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion by Council Member Post regarding information being brought to Council for negotiations for projects when they haven't been vetted properly through Planning & Zoning. Council Member Clanagan noted his concerns about being asked to approve something at the same time it is being presented when there has been no time to review and consider the information properly. He asked that the manager address this, perhaps with acut-off date to bring this to Council. Mr. Davidson said he will work on procedures to have in place and bring back to Council at future meeting. Council Members Post, Clanagan and Ziegler requested this as a future agenda item for discussion. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Council Member Clanagan, second by Council Member McGorray. Passed unanimously. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on February 24, 2009. I further certify that a quorum was present. .... -. .D ocelyn C. ronson, Town Clerk ,k ra ~,;F;