HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-11-2022 Special Council Meeting Summary Minutes .X .,
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MARANA AZ
ESTABLISHED 1977
MARANA TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
March 10 - 11, 2022
Ed Honea, Mayor
Jon Post,Vice Mayor
Patti Comerford, Council Member
Jackie Craig, Council Member
Herb Kai, Council Member
John Officer, Council Member
Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member
SUMMARY MINUTES
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Travel to The Wigwam Resort and Dinner - Council and staff on their own, no
official business will be conducted, no Council discussion or action will occur.
All working meeting sessions and working meals for the Council Retreat will occur
at The Wigwam Resort in the assigned meeting room.
Thursday, March 10,2022
In attendance: Mayor Honea,Vice Mayor Post (arrived 12:30 PM), Council Members
Comerford, Kai, Officer, Craig and Ziegler.
Town staff in attendance: Town Manager Terry Rozema, Deputy Town Manager Erik
Montague,Town Attorney Jane Fairall,Town Clerk Cherry Lawson,Human Resource
Director Curry Hale, Development Services Director Jason Angell, Economic
Development Director Curt Woody, Deputy Development Services Director Jennifer
Flood, and Parks & Recreation Director Jim Conroy, and Assistant to the Town
Manager Andrea Caicedo.
Marana Town Council Special Meeting/Retreat
Summary Minutes,March 10-11,2022
Page I1.
Town of Marana Consultant: Project Management Firm (ABACUS), Adam Brill
City of Goodyear City Council and City staff: Council Member Wally Campbell, City
Manager Julie Karins, Parks & Recreation Director Nate Torres, Park & Recreation
Assistant Director David Seid, and Recreation Center Operations Manager Steve
Richardson.
Schedule:
7:30AM - 8:30AM Breakfast at Hotel
8:30AM - 9:00AM Travel to Goodyear Recreation & Aquatic Center
Address: 420 S. Estrella Pkwy, Goodyear, AZ
9:00AM - 11:30 AM Brief Presentation and Tour of Goodyear
Recreation & Aquatics Center
11:30AM - 12:00PM Return to Hotel
12:00PM - 1:00PM Lunch: Welcome, Introduction, Recreation&
Aquatics Center Tour Recap
Discussion summary:
• Increase the size of the pickle ball courts, or add another court. Marana
Recreation & Aquatics Center can be used to host the State of the Town and other
big community events.
• Spend the capital money now to have a larger accommodating center (i.e.
gymnasium, pickle ball courts, storage space, arts &crafts, staff office space), as
opposed to having to come back later to add to the center.
• Goodyear provides memberships to its residents. Marana would extend
membership to the community inside and outside of Marana. Fee structure will
be determined later for resident vs. nonresident.
• Hiring of additional employees vs. seasonal employees to staff the center and
aquatics area. Cheaper to heat the pool than to cover the pool seasonally.
• Cheaper to heat the pool than to cover the pool seasonally.
• Did not see monitors at the front desk to monitory all areas of the Goodyear
Center. Also, liked seeing kids and teenagers use the gaming room without
having to pay. In Marana, teenagers do not have a space for them to hang out
with their friends. Currently, teens' hangout in McDonalds.
• Goodyear budgets $1M/facility for its operating cost. Marana estimates $1.2M
annually to run its proposed center, as identified in the Parks & Recreation
Master Plan.
• Look to construct more than just a recreation center. Instead, create a building
space that is community oriented and use with various programming
opportunities.
Marana Town Council Special Meeting/Retreat
Summary Minutes,March 10-11,2022
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• If possible, create a gathering space on the rooftop of the center for community
use as lounging, or coffee area.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Update on Development Activity in Marana
Presentation by:Jason Angell and Curt Woody
Discussion Summary:
• Remington Ranch/Payson
o Comment relating to restrictions for entire land being used for rental
properties. They have submitted different design packages and to look
like other residential subdivisions. In the future, the developer could sell
as individual lots. As of now, they are ghost platting.
o They could subdivide the lots, as the roads are private and the community
looks like other communities. Sometimes, the community is gated.
However, American Homes for Rent are everywhere, even in Tucson and
Phoenix.
o This is a hot market for renters, as homeownership may be delayed for
those looking to purchase.
• Monarch
o 541 lots in platting; 1700 lots for the entire division
• Mandarina
o Over 1000 lots; 2500 units planned in that area; apartment project on the
other side of the tracks - 300 units similar to casita style.
• Stonegate
o Approved for 3100 units and are working on platting 700 units.
o High density that was intended for apartments. Not as much acreage but
have high-density area.
o The Specific Plan was previously completed, and the Town is
communicating with them about drainage. They will need to build
additional capacity.
• Dove Mountain:
o Nine hundred and thirty-nine (939) new lots going through platting.
o Last of the large development in Dove Mountain.
o Will be lucky if they get to 7000 lots, buildout was set for 9000.
o Tapestry has not been sold. There has been some serious interest, but has
not sold.
• Traffic
o Having discussions, specifically with Crossroads. Will essentially look like
Cortaro - frontage and underneath. Thought that the railroad has the say.
The ACA said it is the town's calls. The ACA makes the ultimate
determination.
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o Increased traffic to the interchange - concern is Tangerine and I-10. We all
know what is coming in at Crossroads in a couple of years. Think we have
a great solution. Funding will not be as big of an issue as timing.
o Discuss sunset of some specific plans. For example, Dove Mountain has
exploded in growth. With the Tapestry project, there is a potential for
additional problems to occur. The town cannot retrospectively remove
zoning entitlements.
o In the past, the rezoning ordinance would say if you do not follow a plat
within five (5) years it will go back to Council. The Town could review the
wording, however, can only look to the future, not the past.
Mr. Woody provided an overview of the commercial projects including the Marana
Regional Airport Air Tower where it is currently in its second study, and could
potentially be built within two and one half years (21/2).
Commercial:
• Airport
o Tower study
o CIP Project
• Marana Tech Campus
o PVB Fabrications going vertical over there things like building metal
fabrication large-scale metal fabrication for the utility industry. They will
be putting out some big product out of that manufacturing site. At full
build-out, they have two phases of roughly 105,000 square feet with 75
employees at an average salary is about$52,000.
o International Towers is directly behind them at Breakers, and is called
Breakers 40. They have demolished all the Breakers pools, equipment, and
slides,and have removed everything out of there.This incubation operation
will build small office facility there.
o SAS Engineering operations will refurbish and repair aircraft jet engines.
He does not know the number of employees that will run the small
operation; however, it may be approximately 10 or more. At Tangerine
Business Park, Vroom Engineering manufacture slide-outs for RV's. Total
employee count would be somewhere neighborhood of 10 to 15 for this
small operation. QTC auto repairs will also located in Tangerine Business
Park.
• Tangerine Commerce Park
o Potential medical facility is duplicating 60,000 square foot facility is nearly
completed with another 60,000 square feet. The first facility was primarily
distribution they called it lightness assembly and distribution. The second
location will have 140 employees for work in manufacturing.
o There are some rumbling of Southwest Gas coming into the community
with their plans that will be submitted to the Town soon for review. The
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site is 23 acres and it will be a significant regional operations center with
multiple buildings, training, back office operations and will have some
construction material lay down yard type of activities in the rear of the
property.It is estimated to have 120 employees with a wide range of salaries
for them.
o CTI Trucking looks to move its operation from Avra Valley Road to the
Marana community. This company will likely open across from the site the
U-Haul site.
o Land Trust is the owner of the 100 acres if they purchase. Amazon is going
to go there 1.4 million square feet estimated at 1,500 employees 2,000 at
peak extrapolating and economic impact study that was done for the
Amazon on Thornydale or Silverbell and Ina that Economic Impact Study
had that facility at$432 million over a five-year period. If you extrapolate
those numbers out, it would be a potential of$1.2 billion in five years. As
an economic impact it is not retail sales tax it is not repeat not sales tax to
the town its economic impact to the town. The average low end would be
about$30,000 a year on up to management.
Central:
• Saguaro Bloom
o Currently 1500; up to 2500
o Residents in that community have expressed concerns with some cosmetic
or structural issues with the homes purchased. Building inspector will
drive by - have to be careful. Coordinating a call to sit down with DR
Horton to see how they plan to address it. Want to make sure we deliver
the same message for the staff. Not just for Saguaro Bloom.
• Linda Vista Village
• Twin Peaks Corridor
o Lennar
o Meritage - 35 permitted
o Richmond - 70 lots
o DeAnza - KB 30 lots have been permitted; 265 is the approved
• Commercial: Marana Center
o North American Furniture Warehouse 220,000 square feet to 250,000 square
feet with 50 to 75 employees will be low wage jobs as well as sales positions.
This business would not be manufacturing furniture for sale. Mr. Angell
stated that they would repair furniture that they sold to consumers.
o Luke Dealership that is currently in the permitting stage that once
completed, they would likely see sales of used vehicles at approximately
$1M per year. The HSL Apartment Complex that is ready to break ground.
Internal RV storage facility is also coming online soon. Medical facility and
Amazon warehouse is also coming forward.
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o An age-restricted apartment complex is coming to the area. Silverbell
Gateway Apartments is a three-story complex that will start soon, as well
as other apartment complex were discussed.
2:00PM - 2:30PM Progress Update from Direction Given at 2021 Council
Retreat/State of the TOM Organization. Presentation by:
Terry Rozenia
• Staff Council Communication: How did it go?
o Improve communication with Mayor and Town Council so to avoid
surprises in projects or other community events and concerns.
o Enabling council members to go directly to staff members
o Feedback from Mayor and Council
• Timely communication related to projects before the information
becomes public.
• Updates can be added to the Executive Report to Council
• Every council member is different, issues or concerns of one may
not be the concern of all members.
• Comfortable with the level of communication from the Town.
• Appreciate the new format of the Manager's Biweekly Report
o Proclamation Process
• Town has a handle on the process. The Clerk would only read them
if someone is in attendance of the council meeting to receive it
personally.
o Staff Departures
• Loss of staff this year as those individuals have moved on to
pursue other opportunities.
o Five-star Service Model
• Community expects to receive five-star service when conducting
business
• Conveys accountability of the organization
• Even though someone complains, the person is aware of the
expectations from the beginning that this is how we do business.The
person would receive the news better.
o Internal Communication
• Leadership moved from have courageous conversations as opposed
to confrontation conversations when having difficult conversations
with people.
• This will become key to the success in leadership in the organization.
• Recommend Town staff to proactively have those conversations
with D.R. Horton so to make them aware that the Town is not
ignoring the issue. Town staff will has discussed an approach to
meet with D.R. Horton and to have that conversation on their plan
Marana Town Council Special Meeting/Retreat
Summary Minutes,March 10-11,2022
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to address the concerns of the residents who purchased homes in
their communities. D.R. Horton needs to be informed of the issues
concerning the homes in their communities. The workmanship of
their homes is not acceptable. They need to change how they build
homes in the Marana community.
• Advancement of Infrastructure Projects
o Water/Sewer
o Tangerine Road Widening- make it the four lane divided. Additional
$11.2 million that came from NOFA; $12M; $5M from the state. Roughly
$29.3M.
o Marana Main Street
o Tangerine Farms Road from I-10 to Marana Road - pumped the breaks on
this since we also have to do the improvements on the interchange. Might
make more sense to do it all together.
• Airport:
o Struggled a lot at the airport. Lost a director; however, believe that we
have a great team at the airport.
• Community Center and Aquatics Center
o Moving along very nicely. A year to design.You could be looking at starting
construction latter part of FY2023.
o Strategic Plan Redo/Update
• Did not do the best job to utilize the plan throughout the
organization. Working towards updating the strategic plan.
• Community Development Block Grant
o Update on funding. Once the Town is awarded with the grant, it will be
placed on an agenda for Council's consideration. The Town is hopeful that
by October 2023, it should have the grant funding.
• Pinal Airpark Annexation
o It has been six months since it was last reviewed. Continuing with
conversation and waiting for the right timing.
• Barnett Channel
• Organizational Alignment and Process Improvements
o Update on the realignment of staff in Engineering and Development
Services.
• State of the Organization
o Update on the staffing shortages across town departments, and the
recruitment to fill vacant positions. Post:
• Special Events
o Fourth of July special event: Looking at alternatives.
o Feedback on Special Events:
• Everyone is thrilled with the town's special events. Seek to purchase
a bigger Christmas tree for the holiday lighting.
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3:30PM - 5:00PM Summary of Discussions from the Executive Leadership
Day. Presentation by: Terry Rozema
• Overview of 2021 Executive Leadership Day
o Market Study and Employee Compensation
• Update of the compensation study of the organization. Town staff
will bring the actual numbers to Council during the budget
presentation. We are awaiting the final numbers to come in.
o Alternative Work Schedules
• Discussion on the impact of Town employees working an alternative
work schedule. The alternate work schedule should not apply to
department heads. No one employee can work 100% from home.
Friday, March 11, 2022
7:30AM - 9:00AM: Breakfast at Hotel
9:00AM - 11:00AM: Growing from A Small to Medium Town - How do we keep
up with growth? Presentation by Erik Montague
• General Plan 2040:
o Cost of development
• Recommended that we keep impact studies up-to-date. The minute
we get it in then start pushing on impact fee study.
o Planning for Growth
• Recommended that the Town revisit those plans that were
previously adopted by Council.
o Infrastructure Priorities
• Concern expressed regarding accepting a zoning request is an
indication that the Town would rezone. The Town does have
discretion with development agreements that would be in the best
interest of the Town. The Town is not obligated to give anything. I
• Consensus that other developments cannot get a free ride that
everyone needs to pay their part.
11:00AM - 12:00PM: Update on 2023 Budget, to include available reserves and the
investment of those reserves Presentation by Erik Montague
• Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget Outlook and Project Discussion
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o Ongoing vs. One-Time Resources
• New position requests
• In order to provide five-star service with a growing, the
Town will need to hire additional staff.
• Other increases (insurance premiums)
• Recommended that Town staff budget a certain amount of
money on vehicle insurance to save money.
• The Town has the legal ability to do so but we have not done
an analysis. Staff will consider self-insurance for liability and
will follow-up with Mayor and Council.
• Projects and Funding
o Major projects discussed during the retreat were related to public safety,
airport, transportation, parks and recreation, water, and water reclamation.
o Tangerine Farms Road Extension
• Staff mentioned the town has been receiving inquiries on the property
and interest in getting it developed. This would require a significant
cash amount upfront $18.5 million. Over time, part of it will be
reimbursed.
• Possibly getting one or two major retailers will pay a lot in sales tax,
or perhaps the town do it at one time and not one mile per mile.Thinks
it is a good idea since this is where the growth is.
o Parks and Recreation
• No consensus regarding direction of parks and recreation projects
noted. Suggestion offered to expand Ora Mae Ham Park is important
since the growth is around that area. No support noted for the
expansion of Ora Mae Ham Park.
o Water and Water Reclamation
• Question regarding why additional funds were needed for NWRRDS if
ARPA funds were supposed to be utilized to fund the project.
• ARPA monies were used but there was a delta. There was a limit that
the Town can use ARPA funds to pay for development.
• No direction was provided to staff to advance cash from the general
fund used as a loan or a gift.
o Prioritization Discussion
• Airport: Consensus provided to set aside the $2.5 million for project
match
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• PSPRS: Consensus provided that the first priority is to use $6 million to
pay down the unfunded liability, take the savings, and roll it back in to
pay down the liability.
o Tangerine TI: Consensus noted that Tangerine Rd Interchange is an important
project. Second priority is Tangerine TI. Staff will come back to let Council
know what is needed for Tangerine Rd Interchange and will provide
additional information on impact fee contributions.
• Tangerine Farms Road Extension: consensus that this is an important
project for the town, and ask Town staff to borrowing options to
Council.
• Tangerine Sky Park, Phase 2: The Park is busy all the time, a good
investment. No clear direction was given. Additional discussions are
needed.
• Water Projects: No clear direction was given regarding water related
projects. Focus of this section was placed on NWRDDS and ARPA
funding. Additional discussions are needed for clarification and
direction.
1:00PM - 5:00PM: Hot topics:
• Housing Options and Diversity in Housing Available Presentation by Terry
Rozema and Jason Angell
• Community and Housing Diversity Discussion
o Encourage builders to bring forward a variety of housing development
that is different from the developments we current have in the
community. Diversify housing options and opportunities.
o Suggestion offered to change some of our standards to allow for
manufactured homes like the community off Silverbell and Twin Peaks.
The incentive for this type of housing would be higher density.
o Build more condominium projects.
o Council agreed they would like additional research on housing. Staff will
put together examples and more detail on incentive programs. Staff will
schedule a study session on housing.
• Travel Corridors and Wildlife Connectivity Presentation by Terry Rozema and Jason
Angell
o Additional discussions are needed to identify corridors and open space.
Staff will put elements of the Habitat Conservation Plan HCP and will
bring it back for a study session.
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• Water Resources Demands and Our Water Portfolio/Conservation Presentation
by Jing Luo and Erik Montague
o CAP calls often to see if they want non-Indian Agriculture water.
o Staff mentioned they were not aware of this opportunity. Will do
additional research, as well as provide Council an update to obtain more
water rights.
o Form a task force that will consist of multiple departments. Task force will
make policy and/or purchase recommendations to Council.
o Conservation Incentive Program Feedback
■ Suggestion that the Town develop some conservation programs, as
every bit helps. Staff will look into conservation programs and bring
back to Council for approval.
• Compensation and Employee Retention Presentation by Terry Rozema
o Discussed earlier.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council may vote to go into executive session,
which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters.
El. Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A), Council may ask for
discussion or consideration, or consultation with designated Town representatives, or
consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney, concerning any matter listed on
this agenda for any of the reasons listed in A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A).
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Notwithstanding the Mayor's discretion regarding the items to be placed on the agenda,
if three or more Council members request that an item be placed on the agenda, it must
be placed on the agenda for the second regular Town Council meeting after the date of
the request, pursuant to Marana Town Code Section 2-4-2(B).
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Honea asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Vice Mayor Post, moved and Council Member Comerford second the motion to
adjourn the meeting. Motion passes, 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 6:53PM.
Marana Town Council Special Meeting/Retreat
Summary Minutes,March 10-11,2022
Page 111
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana
Town Council Special Retreat Meeting held on March 10-11, 2022. I further certify
that a •uor i was present.
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Cherry L. L. son, Town Clerk
441.6.
MAA
ESTABLISHED 1977
Marana Town Council Special Meeting/Retreat
Summary Minutes,March 10-11,2022
Page 112