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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/27/2009 Special Council Meeting Minutes~""~ ~A~A~A 7 ow.~as YAtrsn.a.. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, October 27, 2009, at or after 6:00 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 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Honea called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Council Member Post was excused and Council Member Clanagan joined the dais at 6:05 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE Mayor Honea led the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve moved by Council Member McGorray, second by Council Member Ziegler. Motion carried unanimously S-0. CALL TO THE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS P 1: Presentation: Relating to The Marana Heritage Project accomplishments to date. Council Member Clanagan joined the dais at 6:05 p.m. Tom Ellis introduced Ora Mae Harn to present this item. Ms. Harn shared her excitement about the project and thanked Council for their support. Paula Schaper of WestWord Vision gave Council an overview of heritage and the steps WestWord Vision took in working on the Marana Heritage Project. Council was given a character brochure and a cultural heritage booklet relating to the project. Ms. Schaper said that future plans include a Marana Heritage River Park, placement of interpretation for heritage assets throughout the community with connection to the hub, a marketing program as other points noted in the presentation. Tom Ellis concluded stating that the vision is to have a town where the people understand where they are and where they came from. He also stated that they want to be able to reproduce the brochure and booklet so that they are widely available. Deb Thalasitis thanked Mr. Ellis and his team for the wonderful work put into the project. P 2: Presentation: Relating to finance; an update of the Town's financial status for the first quarter of the 2009-10 fiscal year Erik Montague presented this item. He provided Council with a letter from the Director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee as well as a PowerPoint presentation outlining the general fund major revenues. Mr. Montague gave an overview of the transaction privilege tax collected through September 2009, stating that overall we are just below the expected percentage variance. He also discussed state shared revenues and permits and fees revenues. Costs and revenues will continue to be closely monitored. Council Member Ziegler asked if the town would be able to fund the education reimbursement program that was taken away earlier this year. Gilbert Davidson stated that this is an area where the town continues to monitor and evaluate alternative methods for in house training of employees. He stated that if positive numbers continue it would be possible to re-evaluate the program to include some funds to enhance individual job positions. Council Member Ziegler stated she was not talking about in house employee training and asked if in the 2010-2011 budget there would be money available for the tuition reimbursement program for employees. Mr. Davidson stated that we need to be cautious about funding any additional programs at this time because it is still very unsure what the State's final budget will be and how that will ultimately impact the town. Council Member Clanagan asked for the actual number of building permits issued. Mr. Montague stated that there have been 104 permits issued to date. P 3: Presentation: Relating to Utilities; presentation regarding the review process for water rates and a proposed schedule for considering amendments to the Town of Marana's current water rates Dorothy O'Brien presented this item. She reminded Council that this process began in January 2009. The goals of the water rate plan are still the same as in January. Funds must cover all costs of providing water service including operating costs, groundwater replacement costs, debt payments, administration costs, and required operating margins and debt coverage. Ms. O'Brien stated that an annual rate review has been in process over the past several months and has included review of items such as water usage, CIP review, vehicle replacements costs, system repair and replacement costs, as well as review of assumptions. The notice of intention to increase rates will be heard December 1, 2009, a public hearing will be held on January 15, 2010 and implementation of the new rates is scheduled for February 5, 2010. P 4: Presentation: Relating to Utilities; presentation regarding the evolution and the future of the Town of Marana Utilities Board and Utilities Commission Frank Cassidy presented this item. He stated that the Citizen's Commission has made recommendations on matters relating to the Utilities Department but that the Utilities Board has never really operated as intended. An outside counsel was hired to evaluate the importance of the Utilities Board and the town learned that a utilities board is required if hydropower will be resold, but if the town will only be an end user, then a utilities board is not required. As a result, the town's expectation is to take the hydropower and use it for its own purposes, not to resell. For this reason, Mr. Cassidy asked for consideration of eliminating the Utilities Board and keeping the current citizen's commission as it is in the best interest of the town at this time. Vice Mayor Kai asked whether the school was intending to acquire some of the hydropower from the Town of Marana and if that was the case, would the town need to have a utility board. Mr. Cassidy stated that under our contract it specifically states that the town cannot resell power without consent of the Western Area Power Authority and that he is not aware of any discussions along those lines. Council Member Ziegler stated that at the October Utility Commission meeting there were some members missing and asked staff to tell the commission about the proposed removal of the board prior to removing it. Gilbert Davidson stated that time would be spent with each of the commissioners so that they could be made fully aware of the Council's intent. Council Member Ziegler stated that she did not want staff to spend time with individual members of the commission she simply wanted the information to be relayed to them at their next commission meeting. Ms. O'Brien noted that she would discuss this item at the commission's next meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES PROCLAMATIONS National Community Planning Month MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Council Member Clanagan stated that John Dailey who sat on a previous Planning and Zoning Commission passed away. Council Member Ziegler attended the Marana Health Center ground blessing event and expressed her excitement for its opening. Council Member McGorray stated that John Dailey also sat on the Board of Directors for the Marana Health Center. Mayor Honea attended John bailey's funeral and the ground blessing for the Health Center. Mayor Honea expressed his excitement for the opening of the Health Center. He also attended the ribbon cutting for the SunTran facility off of Prince Road. Council Member Comerford stated that the Marana Heritage Festival was well attended and gave kudos to Ora Mae Harn and her staff for a successful event. MANAGER' S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS STAFF REPORTS GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS CONSENT AGENDA COUNCIL ACTION A 1: Resolution No. 2009-185: Relating to Community Development; authorizing Town of Marana prioritization of projects under consideration for inclusion in a future Pima County General Obligation Bond Special Election T VanHook presented this item to Council. She explained the prioritization of the projects is in focus with the town's strategic plan and asked for Council's approval. She noted that any projects on the list would not be funded unti12012-2013. Council Member Ziegler wanted to know who the members on the bond committee were, besides Mr. Huckleberry. Ms. VanHook stated that Mr. Huckleberry is not an actual member, that he only staffs that bond committee. Council Member Ziegler would be provided a list of the actual members. Council Member Ziegler asked whether or not a reason would be provided if the projects on the list were to be rejected. Ms. VanHook stated that explanations are not usually given to any entities for rejections of projects. Council Member Ziegler asked whether residents would see a tax increase if the bonds were approved. Ms. VanHook stated that it would not be an increase over the currently set cap. Council Member Clanagan asked for a status of the RFP for the skating rink. Ms. VanHook stated that it closed last week and would be meeting with the committee next week regarding the submittals received. Motion to approve moved by Vice Mayor Kai, second by Council Member McGorray. Council Member Ziegler voted against the motion. Motion carried 5-1. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION D 1: Presentation: Relating to Community Development; presentation and discussion regarding a Neighborhood Services program and creating a sustainable community Deb Thalasitis presented this item. The purpose of tonight's presentation is to enhance civic engagement within the town by forming a Neighborhood Services function. She stated that this function can serve as a point of coordination and information for Marana's neighborhoods. T VanHook proposed an approach to use the Marana Estates neighborhood as a test site. She stated that the neighborhood would be surveyed for interest and then the neighborhood visioning process would follow. Ms. Thalasitis asked for Council direction to proceed with the formation of a Community Development and Neighborhood Services Department and to proceed with assessing interest for the Marana Estates neighborhood for visioning process and moving forward if there is a majority of interest from its neighbors. Steve Darby from the audience addressed Council regarding Amole Circle in Marana Estates. His concern is the sharp corner in that area and requested a slower speed limit sign to be placed in that area so that drivers would not be caught off guard with the sharp corner. The current speed limit sign is 25 MPH. Council Member Ziegler thanked staff for their work in this program and expressed her excitement in seeing this item going forward. Motion to direct staff to proceed with the steps necessary to initiate a Neighborhood Services Program. Motion to approve moved by Council Member Comerford, second by Council Member Ziegler Motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS 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. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn moved by Council Member McGorray, second by ice Mayor Kai. Motion carried unanimously 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council special meeting held on October 27, 2009. I further certij ,present. ocelyn .Bronson, Town Clerk