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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/2011 Study Session Minutes i _ ARN STUDY SESSION MINUTES 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, December 13, 2011, at or after 6:00 PM Ed Honea, Mayor Patti Comerford, Vice Mayor David Bowen, Council Member Herb Kai, Council Member Carol McGorray, Council Member Jon Post, Council Member Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member STUDY SESSION CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL. Mayor Honea called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Town Clerk Bronson called roll. All Council Members were present; Council Member Post arrived on the dais at 6:02 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE /INVOCATION /MOMENT OF SILENCE. Led by Mayor Honea. APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Vice Mayor Comerford moved to approve the agenda, moving Item D3 to the first item on the agenda. Motion seconded by Council Member McGorray. Passed unanimously. DISCUSSION /DIRECTION/POSSIBLE ACTION 1: Presentation: Relating to Streets; a presentation on Interstate 10 construction from Prince Road to Ruthrauff Road. Keith Brann introduced Todd Emery, ADOT Tucson District Engineer, who gave an overview on the interchange re- construction project. Mr. Brann noted that this interchange construction will be very similar to how other interchanges in the town will operate. Mr. Emery noted that when this re- construction is done, there will be four lanes in each direction. The Prince Road interchange, which will be done in two phases, will take approximately 26 months to complete. When complete, traffic will go over the interstate at that intersection. Traffic under the interstate at Prince will be closed beginning in 2012 for the duration of the project. When traffic is detoured, there will be three lanes of traffic open in each direction including an emergency lane. No access will be lost on Prince, although they may be shifted. Pulice Construction is the contractor for the project. Funding for the project comes primarily from federal highway trust funds channeled through the RTA and RTA money. The current plan would be to start construction on the Ina TI in 2016 with the same federal dollars allocated to the PAG region. Mr. Brann explained what would be done through PAG — a full -on December 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes I advancement of Ruthrauff in 2013. Ina is still fully compliant with the voter mandate of the RTA. The construction of the various TI's are intended to overlap, but the closures are not. 2: Presentation: Relating to Special Events; community partners review of the 34th annual Marana Founders' Day Festival event. Del Post presented this item as a review and to obtain council feedback on the event. He gave a brief background as to what was intended to be accomplished with the 2011 event basically to follow the strategic plan and make the event more of a regional attraction by relying on community partners. After listing the partners who participated in this year's event, he introduced some of the community partners — representatives from SAACA, Marana Rotary Club and the Heritage Conservancy. They each spoke of their experience with the event and noted what things they felt could be improved upon. Kate Marquez, executive director, and Jonas Hunter, special events director for Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA). Ms. Marquez responded to a comment by Mayor Honea regarding the lack of Marana exhibitors, saying that over 700 invitations had been sent out, many in Marana. Possibly holding the event on a different weekend would have made a difference in that. Next, John Officer, president of the Marana Heritage Conservancy, spoke of his group's experience. A member of the group provided Silverbell Mine tours for two days of the event, which he said was very well received. Some of the comments he heard were that more people wanted just a "Founder's Day" without regional partners and so many events. John said that he pushed for the date(s) of the event to coincide with the Anza Trail trek through Marana. But it was a new learning experience and there were many events going on throughout the region on that weekend. Overall, he felt Founders' Day was well- attended. Last, Don Jorgensen spoke as president of the Marana Rotary Club, who sponsored the Heritage dinner which kicked off the four -day event. He felt it was a success — especially for a first -time event. He also noted that the town staff were extremely supportive. They hope to increase the visibility of the event in future years and expand awareness of the Man and Woman and Student and Teacher of the Year nominations. One of the goals was to highlight the quality of the nominees which was commented on by Council Member Bowen. The Rotary Club would support moving the event to earlier in the month in future years. Council was extremely complimentary about the Rotary event. Del Post concluded the presentation by noting that staff provided a summary survey report of all the surveys taken by other community partners and some of the staff and Council members — all of which are in the Council packet. Council Member McGorray noted that perhaps changing the time would have allowed more organizations to be in the parade which could have helped get more people out viewing the parade. She also heard comments that it was more expensive this year, and perhaps staff would look into that for next year. 3: Presentation: Relating to the Marana Chamber of Commerce; Business Walk Program presentation. Ed Stolmaker introduced Jeff Bronaugh, Managing Partner of BCE Consulting and chair of the Chamber's economic development committee. Mr. Bronaugh introduced other members of the committee in attendance: George Kennedy, Lori Funk, and Marsha Regrutto. He gave an overview of the program which they believe will complement and augment the town's strategic business development program. He asked not only for Council support, but also Council participation. The plan is to have one town official paired with one chamber member to go to businesses and listen to what December 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes 2 the business community needs to sustain and improve the business environment. The Council is very supportive of the plan, which is expected to launch in the first and second quarters of 2012. 4: Resolution No. 2011 -109: Relating to Personnel; amending the fiscal year 2011- 2012 classified salary schedule to change the position title of Economic Development Administrator to Economic Development and Strategic Initiatives Manager and to change the position title of Utilities Technology Analyst to Technology Analyst. Presented by Suzanne Machain, who noted that the item is self - explanatory and is an administrative matter for which she is seeking Council approval. Motion to approve by Vice Mayor Comerford, second by Council Member McGorray. Passed unanimously. 5: Ordinance No. 2011.35: Relating to Development; revising the Town's development impact fee program to conform to A.R.S. § 9- 463.05, effective January 1, 2012; establishing separate accounts for development impact fees collected before January 1, 2012; and establishing an effective date. Presented by Frank Cassidy. This new statute will require the town to re -study of all its impact fees. He is recommending reduction of park impact fees by $285. Further, the ordinance sets aside the existing fees in separate accounts. This ordinance also eliminates the automatic indexing of fees. Motion to approve by Council Member McGorray, second by Council Member Ziegler. Passed unanimously. 6: Relating to Animal Control; discussion and direction regarding request from Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) to authorize PACC to divert a portion of the Town's dog licensing revenue, collected by PACC from Town residents, to the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona's (AWASA) spay and neuter initiative. Jane Fairall presented this item, noting that a letter from Pima Animal Control requested the town to authorize diverting about $14,004 annually, or essentially to pay $14,004 more than the town pays now to support this initiative. Ms. Fairall noted that animal control fees have increased considerably over the past few years, and this donation or fee would be in addition to what the town is now paying the county. Several Council Members felt that if the Alliance wants to solicit for their cause in the bills, they should be able to do so, but to have the county mandate adding an additional fee from taxpayers for a charitable organization is unacceptable. A motion to not participate with an additional donation to the Alliance through the Pima County Animal Control was made by Mayor Honea, seconded by Council Member Post. Motion passed unanimously. 7: Resolution No. 2011 -110: Relating to Boards, Commissions and Committees; modifying the procedures for filling current and impending Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment vacancies. Kevin Kish presented this item. He noted that there are currently vacancies on both the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. He outlined the current process for appointments to the Commission and Board. Under the Town Code, the procedures can be modified. Staff is recommending that Council take that opportunity to modify the current procedure by appointing a Council subcommittee to review the applications and make recommendations to the rest of the Council. Motion to approve by Council Member Post, second by Vice Mayor Comerford. Passed unanimously. December 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes 3 8: Resolution No. 2011 -111: Relating to Economic Development; supporting the development of a Union Pacific Railroad rail yard and industrial park in Pinal County. Presented by Gilbert Davidson, who noted that placing this item on the agenda was a Council request. In Pinal County there has been talk over the past year of a proposed Union Pacific rail yard. This industrial park could help the Town economically by creating jobs. It is also linked to the Pinal Air Park. There has been a lot of discussion by way of the town's strategic plan to forge a link between the air park and a future rail site and the opportunities related to a shipping distribution center and industry creation. This item would also be a support to the State legislature and State Land and other community partners in Pinal County. Mayor Honea noted that he put this item on the agenda after several legislators asked for support for this proposal. He went on to explain that within the next 10 or 15 years this could bring hundreds of new jobs and major economic development to the region. Council Members Ziegler and Post noted that they supported economic development, and this plan sounds like something they wanted to support, but both asked for a presentation at a study session to become more educated and to give them a more comprehensive overview of the benefits and drawbacks of the rail or switching yard. Mr. Davidson noted that there had not been a formal presentation by Union Pacific or any other entity. He recapped the discussion by Council in that he heard that Council supports economic development and wants to see jobs happen, and if this is the right thing, they would be behind it 100 %. He asked for time to gather information from previous presentations by various agencies in order to come back in early 2012 with full background information for Council. Council Member Post made a motion to table this item until more information can be presented to Council at a study session in January or February. Second by Council Member Ziegler. Motion passed 5 -2, with Mayor Honea and Vice Mayor Comerford voting nay. 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. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Mayor Honea to adjourn at 7:34 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on December 13, 2011. I further certify that a quorum was present. o lyn C. onson, Town Clerk ,�5��``,mny ski }� 00 00RPO 0 0 .� S EAL stO December 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes 4