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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/28/2006 Study Session Minutes MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX MARCH 28, 2006 PLACE AND DATE Marana Municipal Complex, March 28, 2006 A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Called to order by Mayor Honea at 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL Ed Honea Herb Kai Bob Allen Jim Blake Patti Comerford Tim Escobedo Carol McGorray Mayor Vice Mayor Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Present Present Present Present Present Present Present STAFF Mike Reuwsaat Gilbert Davidson Jim DeGrood Frank Cassidy Tim Mattix Town Manager Assistant Town Manager Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Town Clerk's Office Present Present Present Present Present B. CALL TO THE PUBLIC David Morales addressed the Council and said he has received e-mail regarding the upcoming May election and the 1/2~ sales tax. He said that the Council usurped the will of the people a couple of years ago by passing a 1/2~ tax increase. He asked if Marana residents will have to pay one percent, instead, if the Regional Transportation Plan is passed. He said he thought it needed to be cleared up. Mayor Honea responded that the Town went to the Southern Arizona Homebuilders' Association, the Marana Chamber of Commerce, the Business Advisory Council, and published a notice about the sales tax increase. He never received a phone call or a letter in complaint. He said the Council did not usurp anyone. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS D. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Presentation: Buffelgrass (Jennifer Christelman) Jennifer Christelman, Environmental Engineering Division Manager, introduced Julio Betancourt, Senior Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Mr. Betancourt addressed the Council and gave a presentation outlining the buffelgrass problem in the area. He explained invasive species, and said that buffelgrass is taking over the Sonoran Desert. Invasive species pose a threat to the Sonoran Desert, and to the health MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX MARCH 28, 2006 and welfare of the residents, as well as a fire hazard and a threat to parks and open areas. Economic implications include rising costs of fire suppression, erosion of tourist revenues and diminished property values. He explained buffelgrass, and said that it is spreading throughout the world. He described what it looks like, and how it can take over the landscape. The invasion in Pima County started in the 1990s. Mr. Betancourt explained that buffe1grass fires bum hotter than other types of fires. He explained that the media and fire departments classify a lot of fires as brush fires, when they are really buffelgrass fires. 2. Presentation: Draft Modification to Title 6 of the Land Development Code relating to regulations for subdivisions of ten lots or fewer (Barbara Berlin) Barbara Berlin, Planning Director, addressed the Council and gave an overview of a draft proposal that will address helping smaller landowners to complete their projects, as well as deal with the problems of minor land divisions. Ms. Berlin explained that currently, if a project is three lots or fewer, it is a land split or minor land division; ifit is four lots or more it goes into the subdivision process, which is lengthy and costly. The Arizona Revised Statutes allows for municipalities to adopt an abbreviated subdivision process for 10 lots or fewer. Ms. Berlin explained that this will also allow a modification of zoning requirements; the minimum requirements of dust control and drainage will remain, while allowing the Planning Director and Town Engineer to negotiate for reduced improvements in some cases. There may be cases where full improvements will still be necessary; however, in some areas it will allow for improvements where presently there are virtually none, such as in the area of Camino de Manana. In the minor land division process, if improvements are requested, they don't have to be made until there is a building permit pulled. If there is a lot split after that, the purchaser of the lot has no knowledge of the requirements for improvements. Mike Reuwsaat, Town Manager, thanked staff for bringing the item forward. He said that staff will bring the item back for Council consideration at a later date. 3. Presentation: General transportation routes along the east side of Interstate 10 (Kevin Thornton) Kevin Thornton, Assistant Director of Public Works, addressed the Council and said that the Town is looking at providing alternate access to the 1-10 frontage road for the San Lucas development. The proposed alignment consists of Postvale Road, Grier Road, and the Patton Road alignment, which does not currently have existing right-of-way. He proposed approaching the property owners with an emergency access easement, and the Town could provide a gate at the other end ofthe right-of-way. Design will be in fiscal year 2007; construction will be during fiscal year 2008. The proposed ultimate road network will provide several access points to 1-10; this was included in the Council packet. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX MARCH 28, 2006 Council Member McGorray asked for clarification on Patton Road; Mr. Thornton replied that it is currently a private, dirt road that will access the frontage road. Further discussion was held about Patton Road. Council Member Comerford expressed concern about the timing. She asked if the timeline coincided with the construction of the new San Lucas property. Mr. Reuwsaat responded that San Lucas will be opening in the next fiscal year; staff could move the funding for the design and construction into the CIP budget for the next fiscal year. Mr. Thornton said that the major concern would be that by chip-sealing the road a 404 permit may be required. Mr. Reuwsaat said that he had been in contact with an attorney representing many of the property owners in that area. The developers agreed that it made sense to get another road to Tangerine. Council Member Escobedo asked for clarification regarding the project's costs. Mr. Thornton answered that chip sealing will be $140,000, with an additional $20,000 for planning and design. Council Member Escobedo asked if there were arms at the railroad crossing; there are not. Council Member Escobedo asked for clarification regarding the gate. Mr. Thornton proposed a normal gate with a lock; in the case of emergency, staff could go unlock it. Further, Council Member Escobedo asked about emergency access to the gate; Mr. Reuwsaat replied that all emergency personnel will have access. Council Member Comerford said that this road will be an alternate route in the event of an emergency, not for everyday use. Her main concern is helping people evacuate, or getting assistance to residents. Discussion ensued about traffic driving through the area, and Mayor Honea expressed concern about damage to the gate. He stated that people will see a finished road and want to use the shortest route, and could cut the chain to gain access. Mr. Reuwsaat answered that staff will secure the gate as well as possible, and he hopes that the residents will also help police the area; there will be challenges, though. Further, property owners have already been in discussion with the railroad. Council Member Escobedo pointed out farmland in the area that he would like to have gated, for safety concerns. Mr. Thornton responded that staffwill talk to property owners in the area to see if they have any ideas, also. 4. Discussion: Election Cycle and All Ballot By Mail Considerations (Jocelyn Bronson) Jocelyn Bronson, Town Clerk, addressed the Council and said she was available to answer any questions about the memo included in the Council packets. Vice Mayor Kai asked Ms. Bronson to address the cost of an all ballot by mail election. Ms. Bronson said that Chris Roads, Registrar of Voters for Pima County, estimated the cost at $32,000 based on a 40% voter turnout. Ms. Bronson said she has been budgeting that amount for the past several years, so there would be little increased impact to the Town. Vice Mayor Kai asked about the cost to keep polling locations open. Ms. Bronson replied that Town Hall would be the polling place, so the cost should be restricted to Town staff. Vice Mayor Kai further asked about the percentage increase in an all mail ballot election. Ms. Bronson said that Town elections had been getting four to six percent voter turnout; municipalities using all mail ballot elections are experiencing a twenty-to-thirty percent increase, with 40% turnout the average. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX MARCH 28, 2006 David Morales addressed the Council in opposition to changes to the current voting system. He had served on the Pima County Republican Committee for over 10 years and listed five possible reasons for low voter turnout, including: no qualified voters, close proximity to Tucson and confusion about which municipality residents live in, the way the elections are being advertised, the issues on the ballot, and harassment of candidates. Council Member McGorray announced that the all mail ballot in Oro Valley had a 51 % turnout. Council Member Escobedo spoke about a bill going through the State Legislature that will limit a municipality's authority to set election dates. He also expressed concern about mail ballots being returned prior to candidates having the opportunity to campaign. Finally, he expressed concern about Council Members' terms being shortened when the term is changed. Council Member Comerford stated that she has never seen a candidate harassed. The priority is to get as many people as possible to get involved in elections and voting. Vice Mayor Kai thanked Ms. Bronson for putting together the pros and the cons. He said he is inclined to leave the election cycle as is, but look into vote by mail more. Ms. Bronson thanked Vice Mayor Kai, and clarified that the Council could choose when an election cycle change will go into effect. In an all mail ballot election, all registered voters will receive a ballot. She said that Mr. Roads is willing to come address the Council on this subject. Mayor Honea said he likes the elections as they are. The way they are set up now, interested voters have to go to the polls to vote on Marana issues. He expressed concern that Marana's items will be buried under other issues on the ballot in a November election. With the issues happening now, voter participation will improve. Vice Mayor Kai agreed. He noticed that larger municipalities aren't going to fall elections, because they don't want their issues lost. Council Member McGorray asked if people are able to request an early ballot now. Ms. Bronson replied that each individual may request an early ballot, and the number of people doing so is increasing. Ms. Bronson mentioned that there can still be a polling place with an all mail ballot election. Vice Mayor Kai asked if the Town can control what is on an all-mail ballot election. Ms. Bronson explained that publicity pamphlets are not produced for Council elections. The advertising in a Council election is done by the candidates. Ms. Bronson clarified for Mayor Honea that the County does notify people where their polling locations are. Council Member Escobedo said that the real reason to consider this is to reduce the cost of referenda or recall elections by increasing the number of required signatures. The Town is growing, and there is more awareness. He likes the way the elections are currently run, and would like to see this tabled until after the next mayoral election. He emphasized that with low turnout, and the low number of signatures required, referenda and recall could easily be done, costing the taxpayers a lot of money. MINUTES OF COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX MARCH 28, 2006 Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member Allen, staff was unanimously directed to table the item until after the next general election, in 2007. Mr. Reuwsaat commended Ms. Bronson on the work she did. He appreciated the complexity of the issue, and how the Council handled it. He disagreed that there were not enough qualified voters in the community. In the past two years, 5,800 new registered voters had been added in Marana. He expressed concern about the statement that there was confusion in the Continental Ranch and Sunflower areas, because those areas are where the largest voter turnout occurs. Council Member Escobedo agreed with Mr. Reuwsaat, and added that Heritage Highlands is also very active in elections. E. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Blake, seconded by Council Member Escobedo, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:19 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes ofthe Marana Town Council meeting held on March 28, 2006. I further certify that a quorum was present. ~~~ ~",'U""'l ~ OF~ ~ ~ ~~~\\'''''''''''~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ::P/~O~..'~ORATE\. ~ _r-= QCC) :s - - - - - - I;S~A.T:: - ~ al I~S ;:: ~ 't ~!IIi ~ ~IIIII"\\\'~ ~ ~~~/Z ,\9\'~ ~1111.il\\\\~ Tim Mattix for Jocelyn C. Bronson, Town Clerk