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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/29/2004 Study Session MinutesMINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JUNE 29, 2004 I. PLACE AND DATE Marana Town Hall, June 29, 2004 II. CALL TO ORDER By Mayor Sutton at 5:03 p.m. The study session was held informally, and no official roll call was given. Vice Mayor Kai was excused from the study session. All other council members were present and seated at the dais. Council Member Escobedo was excused at 6:00 p.m. Senior staff and Town consultants in attendance included Mike Reuwsaat, Jocelyn Bronson. Also present were Tammy Reyes, Jeff Comer, Andy Wills, Vickie Edwards, and Jamie Eggold for Northwest Medical Center. A list of public attendees is attached. III. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 2. Study Session: Presentation of ari overview of Northwest Regional Hospital with regard to future development of health-care services in Marana. (Jeff Comer) Mayor Sutton called the study session to order. Mayor Sutton skipped to item two on the agenda, introducing Mr. Comer, CEO, Northwest Medical Center. Mr. Comer began by thanking the Council for the opportunity to present the future development of health care services and those currently underway by Northwest Medical Center in Marana. hir. Comer introduced Mr. Andy Wills, Administrative Director of Outpatient Services; Ms. Vickie Edwards, Director of Physician Services; and Jamie Eggold, Director of Marketing. Mr. Comer stated that Triad Hospitals is the parent company of Northwest Regional Hospital and is the third largest investor-owned hospital company in the country, being traded on the New York Stock Exchange under TRI. The company owns 57 hospitals, ranging from Alaska to Arizona to the East Coast, into Indiana and Ohio. A project is currently underway in Ireland. Triad has about 18 surgery centers and about 200 hospitals not owned by Triad but managed by Triad under management contracts. Triad has 40,000 employees and is celebrating its fifth anniversary on May 19, 2004, in contrast to Northwest Medical Center, celebrating its 20th anniversary on September 25, 2003. On the 30th of September 2003, there ~~as a formal ground breaking for the new hospital in Oro Valley, which will be completed in November 2004, admitting patients beginning January 12, 2005. This is about an $85 million project and will serve the growing Oro Valley area. MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JUNE 29, 2004 In 2003 and 2004, Northwest Medical Center has been awarded as one of the top hospitals in the country. The ratings were performed by an independent rating agency that looks at hospital performance with regard to financial performance, as well as quality and other indicators, awarding hospitals the top ranking. In 2003, Northwest Medical Center was ranked in the top 100 hospitals in the medium-sized community hospital. In 2004, Northwest Medical Center was ranked in the top 100 hospitals in the large community hospital ranking. Only one other hospital in the state received that prestigious award in 2004, and that was Boswell Hospital in Sun City. The hospital has 2,000 employees, has a medical staff of 850, 350 volunteers, and a senior friends program that numbers 8,000. Many volunteers and senior friends live in Marana. Northwest Medical Center has been serving the Town of Marana for 20 years and has been a steadfast and constant supporter of Marana Health Center and expects to continue helping and supporting the Marana Health Center. Mr. Comer referred to two recent instances where he has had the opportunity to refer health care workers to Clarence [Vatne]. He said that as the Marana community grows and develops, it will expect to have afirst-class, state-of--the-art health care system in Marana; and the reason for representatives of Northwest Medical Center being present in this meeting is to present ways to address the health care needs of Marana, in conjunction with the Marana Health Center. A date has been set for the 19th or 20th of July to do some joint planning with the board of the Marana Health Center. The presentation at this meeting is in regard to an ambulatory health center. He said about two years ago he began looking for a site, and from the three sites which were considered, the site selected was Diamond Venture's on Continental Reserve Loop Road. That is the project currently underway to be discussed in this meeting. He said another project he wanted to discuss is beginning thoughts on a location for a hospital. Mr. Comer said the approach in Oro Valley is very similar to the proposal for Marana. The proposal is for about a 35,000 square feet ambulatory center, which Mr. Wills will be describing. As the community grows and there is a need for a hospital, astate-of--the-art facility could quickly be constructed. He offered to arrange a tour of the Oro Valley facility if there is an interest. Over the past 8 years, about $90 million has been spent on the Northwest Medical Center campus on Orange Grove and La Cholla. Mr. Comer said Mr. Andy Wills would discuss the ambulatory center and the services, and Ms. Vickie Edwards would explain how physicians are recruited, followed by Ms. Jamie Eggold, who would discuss the commitment to the Marana community. 2 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JUNE 29, 2004 Mr. Wills, Administrative Director of Outpatient Services, began by presenting a drawing by Ms. Julie Heighten (phonetic), architect, showing what the Northwest Medical Center's Urgent Care, Marana will look like. He said the facility at Rancho Vistoso is very similar to the proposed facility in Marana and would be virtually the same with regard to the types of services offered, with the exception of CT and MRI. Ms. Comerford questioned Mr. Wills regarding feedback from the community. Mr. Wills explained there were different stories regarding the location of the facility. Mr. Wills explained the location chosen is a 10-acre site on the southeast corner of Continental Reserve Loop Road and Silverbell. The ambulatory facility will be located on roughly 3.6 acres of the 10-acre site. He explained there would be other buildings located on the perimeter of the property. He pointed out it would be close to Silverbell Road and would be perpendicular to the road. One member asked Mr. Wills to point out the site. Mr. Wills pointed out the location, stating it is triangular, and he also pointed out the proposed location of the Northwest Medical Center. Ms. Comerford asked what the property was zoned for. Mayor Sutton said the area is appropriately zoned and will not require rezoning. There was discussion regarding which road it would be facing. Mr. Wills pointed out the side would be facing Silverbell, and the building front will be facing an interior spine road. Using a drawing, Mr. Wills indicated where the building would be, showing where there would be a covered walkway/entryway for vehicles to drive in. He said there are 236 parking spaces in the perimeter around that building. Fora 35,000-square- foot building, 210 spaces are required. He pointed out 36 spaces of covered parking. He also pointed out the eight buildings on the perimeter are proposed, professional office buildings. Diamond Ventures is in control of developing the remainder of the property. Ms. Comerford asked about an entry from Silverbell and was told it would be similar to a commercial driveway that one would expect. An observation was made that on the drawing it looks like aone-way. Mr. Wills explained it is a right in, right out. Mr. Wills said there has been some question as to whether or not there could be a left turn entrance. There was discussion regarding crossing the median of Silverbell is problematic right now. Mr. Wills said they had hoped a left turn would be an option to be considered. An observation was made by Ms. Comerford that it would be safer to enter from the Loop Road. Another observation as made that it would be close to 3 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL J[INE 29, 2004 the light. Mr. Wills explained the entrance to the spine road is off Continental Reserve Loop Road. He explained they had planned for there to be a right in, right out, but the question of a left turn entrance would be for the Council to decide. Mr. Wills then presented a detailed drawing of the interior of the building. The building is broken into two halves. One half is for offices for physicians and for some other uses that are planned. The other half of the building is where the urgent care and outpatient services will be provided. In the urgent care portion of the facility, there will be 12 examination rooms and two close-monitor/observation rooms and a central nurses` station. He pointed out the areas for diagnostic imaging, radiography, mammography, an area for a laboratory. He explained there are a lot of walk-in patients in Rancho Vistoso for laboratory services, which has a separate check-in. There will be a community classroom, which is utilized by various groups and some health education events presented by physicians for various things. Mr. Wills pointed out the planned six physician offices, which will accommodate either one or two physicians per office. In Rancho Vistoso, there is a rotating physician clinic, which would generally be specialists who would be at the clinic one or two days a week. There is an office to accommodate physical therapy services. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE; There was a lengthy discussion, I think by Mr. Wills, that was not audible enough to discern what he was saying. Mayor Sutton noted that the demographics are considerably different in Continental Ranch than they are in Rancho Vistoso, but the models are them same. He asked about the specialties and services. Mr. Wills said they were focusing on primary care, which Ms. Edwards would address. Ms. Vickie Edwards, Director of Physician Services, explained that a physician supply/demand analysis is done in new areas, considering the population, age groups, incidents of disease, the type of physicians that are appropriate for a specific community. In the physician supply/demand analysis done for Marana, it was clear there are two types of people living here: young families, lots of children, obstetrical/gynecological services, in addition to the geriatric community. With the initial analysis done, it makes sense to start out with a good family physician, a gerontologist, a pediatrician, and an obstetrician/gynecologist. She said in the time- share suite, there would be an analogy of the demographics to assess which sub- specialists would be better utilized. Ms. Edwards acknowledged that Marana does not have a lot of medical services, so the goal is to bring health care into Marana. She went on to say there is a commitment to bringing in more physicians to serve the needs of the community. As w a result of the demand analysis, there will be recruitment of almost a hundred new 4 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JUNE 29, 2004 physicians between now and 2008. Many of those will be positioned in Marana. Ms. Edwards said there have been community forums in the Sunflower community over the last year and gotten good feedback from people who live there about the types of specialties they would like to have represented. She said she would welcome any feedback on the types of physicians people would like to have in Marana. She offered to use her influence to recruit specific physicians and encourage them to at least have a part time practice. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Again, I think Mr. Wills, and inaudible. Mayor Sutton talked about getting with members of the community and determining what is needed will help with the recruitment process. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: There was another lengthy, inaudible conversation. I think the gist of it was where people from Dove Mountain would go for medical care. Ms. Eggold, IVlarketing Director, explained a community council is utilized in helping determine what is needed in the community. She said they like to build a community council from across-section of the community. The purpose is to being all segments of the population together to give feedback and input from friends and neighbors and co-workers on the type of services needed in the community, and what the community would like to see from Northwest Medical Center as a good corporate citizen. she said they have begun collecting names of persons for a community council. She stated these will be people representing a wide range of needs, involving both retired and working people. Ms. Comerford expressed her concern with using the Sunflower community as a guideline since that is a retirement community and there is a need to incorporate consideration of families and their needs. Ms. Eggold said they do plan to have a community forum at Coyote Trails School in the fall. Ms. Comerford expressed concern about community attendance. Mayor Sutton said there has been interest in the community about the proposed health care facility and a general excitement of having health care close to home. He agreed a lot of people may not attend, but there needs to be a good sampling of council members so it can be well used and cross-functional with the various needs. Ms. Eggold said they would help with communicating with the community who are unable to attend the forums. She posed the question of what a new facility is going to do to be a good corporate citizen. Something that Northwest is doing now is the Care MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL ~°~°~ JUNE 29, 2004 for Kids program. $10,000 is contributed to the Marana School District so kids can come to the Ina/Shannon Urgent Care and ER to get free care, which will be continued. Northwest also sponsors the Marana Med-Start Program, which was started almost 4 years ago with Lori Vargo (phonetic) from Marana High School. There are about 27 kids in the program right now, which has graduated their first class. They start as juniors and go through a curriculum at the high school. They go through a program with the hospital in their junior year, and then do an internship at the hospital their senior year. Northwest is also developing a scholarship program so students may be awarded money to further their education in health care. In the past, Northwest has been sponsors of the Fourth of July and Founder's Day events and work very closely with the Chamber of Commerce. She invited any ideas people may have. There will also be support for the Marana Arts Council. Mr. Reuwsaat referenced a presentation he had given about two months ago about the growth. The board expressed their interest in the Continental Ranch Area and meeting the immediate needs but, also, looking to a long-term partnership as Marana grows, so it was a good opportunity to show them what is expected for the entire community of Marana over the next 20 years. Mr. Comer had asked for names, and Mr. Reuwsaat submitted some names for the community council. If any of you would like to be a part of that or know other people who would like to be a part of that, he asked that those names be submitted to him, and he will pass them on to Mr. Comer. Mayor Sutton asked Mr. Comer to address a new hospital in the future. Mr. Comer began by saying they believe there are immediate needs and long-term goals. The facility being proposed at this time is considered meeting an immediate need. The long-term goal as the community grows is being able to commit to this community as has been committed to Northwest and Oro Valley, afirst-class, acute- care hospital. The one in Oro Valley is becoming a prototype for Triad. A lot of time went into planning that facility, and it's very much outpatient oriented, which is the trend in health care today. Mr. Comer said they would like to locate a site right now, working with the Town administration and with Council and the community, as was done in Oro Valley, setting aside the site, making it a part of the community's planning so that it's planned well within the general plan and master plan. As the population grows, the construction of afirst-class, state-of--the-art hospital would be underway. The chairman of our company, Denny Shelton, has been here. He is personally committed to this project and to Marana, and he will come out any time and meet with the 6 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF NLY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL J[JNE 29, 2004 Council. Mr. Comer said they have been looking at a site off the Marana exchange and want to be as close to Interstate 10 as possible. He said the would like for it to be in conjunction with Marana's planning so it is consistent. Health care needs to be accessible. He said they are looking for a site of not less than 25 acres. He said he has spoken with Clarence at the Marana Health Center and offered to work together in putting a campus together in all health care needs. He said a community college, with the idea of a campus that would embody not only health care and acute health care in the Marana Health Center, but also a community college, because health care and education work together, being a clinic and a setting for training young people in health, so it would work well to be in conjunction with a community college. Mr. Comer said Northwest is committed to working with Marana. Triad is committed to the capital, the resources, and it's a matter of time as Marana grows. He said he thinks it may only be 3 or 4 years away. Mr. Escobedo asked how many square feet and how many stories the facility in Oro Valley is. Mr. Comer said the facility is four stories and 239,000 square feet, with a fourth floor shelled in. The hospital will open with 96 beds. The fourth floor can be converted into either an OB service or more medical surgery beds. If it went for medical surgery, it would result in an immediate increase to 126 beds. There is an 80,000 square foot medical office building adjacent to the hospital, and that building is 68 percent leased right now. Some of the physicians are coming from the Northwest facility; some are growing their practices and relocating there, others are being recruited in with Ms. Eggold's guidance into that community. Mr. Comer said the Oro Valley facility is planned for expansion, so another four- story wing can be built, which would bring it to over 200 beds. There was a question regarding height of a four-story building. Mr. Escobedo estimated it to be 50 to 60 feet. Since Oro Valley did not have codes for building a hospital, Northwest worked with Oro Valley and Pima County in developing codes, with a sensitivity to lighting and traffic. Ms. McGorray asked about the expansion as needed or if the site wouldn't grow any bigger. Mr. Comer said there was a difference in the site in Marana and the Oro Valley site. When the land in Oro Valley was bought about 8 years ago, it was only 6 acres. The Town required it to be only one story and set back 150 feet from Oracle. The most that could be built on that was 52,000 square feet. The site in Marana is 11 acres, and there is opportunity for Diamond to build multiple facilities around it, 7 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL °~' JUNE 29, 2004 which they are proposing, some of which would be medically related. Mr. Comer said this facility will tie in very closely to a new hospital. The Rancho Vistoso facility that was built about 5 years ago will be under the new hospital, and they will be managed as one facility. He expects that when a hospital is built, it will be a component of a health care system for Marana, along with the Marana Health Center, being an integrated health care system. The planning is in terms of more outpatient orientation and more integration. Northwest Medical Center has 278 beds and will become the tertiary center, doing more of the more difficult, high-end cases. The Oro Valley and Marana facilities will be more community oriented. Mayor Sutton noted the Marana exit becomes the center point that has been identified for institutions like this, Pima Community College. There has been discussion with the college expanding about their program and offering a nursing program in Marana. Mr. Comer said the average wage for employees is over $22 an hour, so with 300- plus employees in Oro Valley, it is a tremendous economic impact on employment, plus the physicians who are recruited into the community. He said the facility is for Marana and is to meet the needs of Marana and that Northwest is committed to working with Marana in any way. 1 Study Session• Fourth of July Celebration Update (Tammy Reyes) Mayor Sutton called on Tammy Reyes for presentation of the Fourth of July Celebration Update. Ms. Reyes said the theme for the celebration is Marana Salutes America. The Fort Huachuca military band is being brought in, along with representation of each of the military branches. There will also be representatives of the Border Patrol, VFW, the police department, fire department, Arizona Rangers. In conjunction with that, there will be an equestrian event in the arena. There will be a youth timed event for an hour and a half. It's going to be for children who do not have horses. All children will be able to participate in the different events at the arena. There will be a few food and beverage vendors in that area. Marana Junior High will be set up for the volunteer parking along with Estes. There are three handicap parking lots, two in the main park, along with the one alongside the Lon Adams Road/Barnett intersection. The main stage will feature the Fort Huachuca military band, along with East to West. There will be a second stage by the Pavilion with karaoke. The ice cream social will, also, be by the Pavilion. The adult/teenage area will incorporate a softball game, 8 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHV~EST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL '~'~' JUNE 29, 2004 horseshoes, burlap sack races, inflatables (sic) for children of all ages. There will be a special needs area within the park for seating and participation in all the events. There will be 69 vendors, 28 food vendors with a variety of food. Following a question regarding parking by Mayor Sutton, Ms. Reyes said the main parking is the field behind the bus barn. The parking at Marana Junior High will be for volunteers. The airfield is the second parking lot. When the first parking lot fills up, then police department has set up a couple officers who will be at the airfield. Mayor Sutton asked how many parking spaces there were. Ms. Reyes said there are 25 set up at the airfield and 2,500 set up at the field next to the arena. In response to the number of cars parked last Fourth of July, there were approximately 800 vehicles in the field adjacent to the arena. The airfield lot was not used last year. Marana Unified School District and Twin Peaks Elementary School will provide shuttle service from the Trico Electric Co-op. Public parking on site is $5, including handicap parking. The shuttle service is $2 per adult and/or two cans of food, and children will ride free. In answer to a question regarding the fireworks show, Ms. Reyes said currently there is 1,026, which will be the biggest fireworks display in Marana history. There was discussion with regard to attendance. Mayor Sutton said he would like to thank Ms. Reyes and the Parks and Recreation and all the staff. In response to a question regarding the largest number of people attending an event in Marana, Ms. Reyes said that the last Fourth of July, there was about 10,000. Founders Day last year was 4,000. In response to a question of what is expected, Ms. Reyes said this is expected to be the biggest event in Marana history. Ms. Reyes said she expects 15,000 or more, and another council member estimated 25,000. 3. Studv Session• Town of Marana Pvgmy Owl Conservation Strate~~= Augmentation Alternative. (Mike Reuwsaat) Moving on to item three on the agenda, Mayor Sutton called on Mike Reuwsaat. Mr. Reuwsaat introduced people in the audience who have participated in the Town of Marana Pygmy Owl Conservation Strategy: Leslie Liberti, Sherrie Merek (phonetic), U.S. Fish and Wildlife; Scott Richardson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Developers present are Alex and (UI) from Forest City. Mr. Reuwsaat said that for well over six months, a lot of work has gone into coming to a solution for the pygmy owl conservation and development. He said this is really 9 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JCJNE 29, 2004 about timing and opportunity, in going from a crisis situation in 1997, when the pygmy owl was listed as an endangered species and no one knowing what to expect from both an environmental standpoint and from a development standpoint, to the following presentation, which will provide environmental certainty and regulatory certainty from the development standpoint. It will provide a balance between the human-built environment and the natural environment, mostly it puts forth the concept that we can move towards in corporation of a habitat/conservation plan, a section 10 permit that provides certainty for all the parties so they know where the lines are drawn and how things work so both the environment and development can do well. Mr. Reuwsaat pointed out there are two draft development agreements, two projects that are being planned, which are being presented to the Council. Since 1997, no one has known what to do with the pygmy owl. Projects like Sky Ranch, Saguaro Ranch, Butterfly Mountain, all came in at 20 percent development. Dove Mountain did the section 7, which is the reason for the Tortolita Preserve. Years have passed, and a lot of other properties are ready for development, so it's important to move forward and to provide resolution so developers know what they can and cannot do. Mr. Reuwsaat referred to the draft development agreements presented to the Council, and he said to call him or Frank with any questions, saying they will be coming before the Council in July. He said Tortolita Vistas is a project of Cottonwood Properties, at 40 percent. (UI) Crossing goes back to the Forest City project, which came down from 90 percent to 50 percent. He said they are currently working on the development of Cascada. Recently, the Council approved Willow Ridge, so following the referendum, work will begin there. Mr. Reuwsaat said that in 1997 when pygmy owls were listed, there were 10 to 14 pairs of owls. Currently, there are three male owls left, so they are in a crisis situation. Last year, the National Home Builders won a lawsuit that the pygmy owl should be de-listed. He said that the district court judge remanded that yesterday. In January 2005, there will be a new opinion on whether the pygmy owl is listed or de- listed, based on the science generated since 1997. Because of the judge's decision to continue the pygmy owl on the list, there is more pressure to provide a positive, creative solution for both development and the environment. Referring to a map of the area, Mr. Reuwsaat pointed out the dark areas are in the Town limits. The areas outlined in white indicates state land, so that doesn't leave much within the Town limit, and it would have to go through a section 7 or section 10. The largest area of undeveloped land is state land. The total state land portion is roughly 32,700 acres, including the area around the airport. In trying to come up with a solution that would provide for the pygmy owl and allow for development to proceed under guidelines and price to pay for impact, the expanded preserve concept 10 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL NNE 29, 2004 was conceived. Mr. Reuwsaat said the concept is to say the pygmy owl is listed. Even if it is de-listed in January 2005, it will be in litigation, and the issue will continue for five years, so it has to be dealt with because of future projects. The big issue is what happens with the owls' territory if they go away? He said if it is still listed, it is still critical habitat, and the section 7 and 10 issues still exist. He said the Council made a commitment to the resort and the Dove Mountain area, about four years ago, and leased an area from state land as a mitigation of Tortolita Preserve. The proposal is to follow through with the concept that the expanse of the Tortolita Preserve all the way to the Pinal County line, from the C.A.P. Canal to Dove Mountain, and leaving a quarter mile corridor off Tangerine. That is roughly 18,000 acres. The idea is not only to provide habitat, but provide it on a landscape basis. The idea is to avoid fighting battles on the sevens and tens and people not being happy. This strategy gives a landscape large enough to provide for the owl, which is what the preserve is. Fish and Wildlife and Arizona Game and Fish are working on an augmentation program to bring owls in to re-establish the population. The area designated on the map would become the preserve area. Initially, there would be about 10 pairs, and it could sustain up to 42 to 62 pairs. The guidelines are, in bringing in owls from Texas or Mexico, if owls were to leave the preserve, the issues of habitat would be negated, because the area being referenced would go into the Bajada Environmental Resource Overlay District that staff has been working on for at least six months. It acknowledges the current lifestyle there of about 40 percent, but also acknowledges different landscapes could probably be developed more than 30 or 40 percent or 50 percent, up to 60 percent, like Willow Ridge, which is an outside example. Willow Ridge is a 60-percent development that came up with money to do the road, and also came up with a $5,000 environmental mitigation fee. That fee would go to either purchase the property or manage it over time through a corpus (sic). All of the area outside of state land has the opportunity to develop at 30 to 60 percent. Thirty percent would be at no mitigation, because that is what would need to be done under the current situation for the pygmy owl up to 60 percent. The current state land reform sets aside the area behind Dove Mountain for preservation. The area outlined in orange, which overlaps with an area not in the preserve, called an option area. The Town of Marana or other governmental agency would have up to five years to purchase that property for conservation purposes. The expansion area was left out and state land is planning on un-developing it. He said they are not totally in synch with state land on what the preserve is. Mr. Reuwsaat said he and Mr. Huckleberry think it is important to Pima County and the 11 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL JUNE 29, 2004 Town of Marana to facilitate and to provide that certainty for development and the environment. The County has indicated, and a letter is forthcoming from Mr. Huckleberry, that they are willing and ready to partner in this. The reserve area has been expanded so the County has the same opportunity, so that if someone develops in the County area, it can be allowed at a higher percentage of impact and then move the money up into the preserve. It is broader and bigger issue than just for the Town of Marana. Mr. Reuwsaat said he and Leslie Liberti had also met with the Bureau of Land Management. When determining what the Ironwood National Monument was going to be, an area was set aside and designated to be Ironwood National Monument East. Because it was state land and the uncertainty of the mechanism of purchasing and trading land with state land, an area was dropped and ended up with Ironwood Monument North. In meeting with the BLM, they are interested in the area indicated on the map, being pristine habitat with Ironwood, Palo Verde, Saguaro. It could probably be a state park and the Saguaro National Park with the type of habitat that is there. He said even though the Town is moving toward the concept, as the Town works through the ACP process, there will be more partners because it is a regional project and will have regional impact. It could also have federal and national impact if federal agencies are involved. The Bajada Environmental Resource Overlay District has gone through many revisions and will continue to go through many revisions. There have been meetings with the Sonoran Desert Coalition, the Defenders of Wildlife, and the Nature Conservancy. Ms. Liberti has met with other environmental communities. There is no opposition to this, and they like the concept. Mr. Reuwsaat said this is another example of the vision the Council has set with the general plan and the northwest area plan, in trying to facilitate the vision in terms of the balance between the environment and development and then saying this is how it will actually work. He said he feels it is a win/win situation for both the environmental and developmental communities, as well as for the Town who has to deal with both environmental and developmental issues from a regulatory standpoint. When regulatory certainty is established, it is easier to know what to do. Mr. Reuwsaat said the reason state land would become a partner is because a lot of the state land is to be given away or sold. So dealing with smaller areas of state land can possibly become a trade into the expansion area. State land, because of the school board, is going to come down to like a lot of the other decisions and how to provide money to the school teachers and to the schools. 12 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL ~~ JUNE 29, 2004 They get it by purchasing of the preserve, up-zoning of areas that previously had been developed at 20 to 30 percent but now could be developed to up to 60 percent. Incrementally, the value of the land goes up because of the ability to develop a larger percentage and working with them, also, on the airport and up-zoning around the airport for industrial. Part of the discussion with the state land commissioner was about the immediate need of beginning to work with state land to begin to open up the area around the airport, because it is all state land. Mr. Reuwsaat said this is about aseven-year project to date, from the listing of the pygmy owl, and the Town has come a long ways. This is another example of trying to move ahead and provide consensus and the ability to build and to provide for the environment. Mayor Sutton said when discussion began about off-site mitigation when the pygmy owl was listed, there was allowance for a lot of preservation of a lot of plants and animals, and doing something that would protect the environment. If preservation is based on each development, small or large, and a spot is undeveloped, it is not the way it should be done. He said he thinks it is being done the right way, and expressed his appreciation for the effort which has gone into it. He said he knows state land is the tough one and asked that the Council be kept updated on that issue. Mr. Reuwsaat expressed the importance of Marana's partners in this project, the Fish and Wildlife, the environmental and developmental communities. He also noted that Pima County and the state land commissioner agreed Marana's approach was the right approach, and they each adopted the same environmental zone. He said that is the kind of partnering that is required to provide a regional benefit. Mr. Rm wowlt said that the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) was started because of the pyg y and that is where the emphasis will be. To give an update on the status of toea ddraft HCPetI nSept mberlethat draft w 11 come of Phase I and Phase II, leading p to the Council for review and approval. Mr. Honea asked about the time line to put the plan together, to coordinate all these things with the state, the federal agencies, the environmental and housing industries, plus the municipalities and the county. Mr. Reuwsaat said he thought two years was a good time frame. In the meantime, as the concept is flushed out and cleaned up, and then it is possible to go ahead with the environmental overlay district and begin without the HCP. The HCP is not need to do this, but it does provide the mechanism a section can permit. That is why the HCP is needed. 13 MINUTES OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION/ NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL/ PYGMY OWL CONSERVATION STRATEGY MARANA TOWN HALL NNE 29, 2004 Mr. Honea said it could be used for mitigation in the near future. Mr. Reuwsaat said Willow Ridge, a million dollars. That a buys more prop roach o to area than it does in another. It is the landscape app preservation/conservation. Providing some certainty to the process, it becomes easier for everyone. IV. ADJOURNMENT They Mayor adjourned the meeting. The time was 6:15 p.m. CERTIFICATION I herby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Fourth of July Celebration Update, Northwest Regional Hospital presentation, and Town of Marana Pygmy Owl Conservation Strategy. celyn nson, Town Clerk .~ 14