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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/2007 Regular Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 PLACE AND DATE Marana Municipal Complex A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL By Mayor Honea at 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL Ed Honea Mayor Present Herb Kai Vice Mayor Present Russell Clanagan Council Member Excused Patti Comerford Council Member Present Tim Escobedo Council Member Present Carol McGorray Council Member Present Roxanne Ziegler Council Member Present STAFF Mike Reuwsaat Town Manager Present Gilbert Davidson Deputy Town Manager Present Frank Cassidy Town Attorney Present Jocelyn Bronson Town Clerk Present B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATIONIMOMENT OF SILENCE Following the pledge and a brief moment of silence the Marana High School Choir sang the National Anthem. C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Council Member Comerford moved to approve the Agenda with some changes: remove Item I from the Consent agenda at the request of the applicant; move Item 3 of the consent agenda to Item I on Council Action; remove Item 3 on Council Action, to continue again at the request of the applicant. Motion was seconded by Member Escobedo and was unanimously approved. Item J.3 will be continued to November 6 th per the applicant's request. D. CALL TO THE PUBLIC David Morales addressed the Council suggesting the town invite all the clergy, ministers and priests to say a prayer before the start of each meeting, on a rotating basis. Mr. Morales mentioned the separation of church and state and provided an example in the form of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. E. PRESENTATIONS I MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 1. Presentation: Status of the Capital Improvement Projects Under Construction (Barbara Johnson) Barbara Johnson stated that she wants to report on a regular basis on the capital improvement projects that are being worked on. She presented a map outlining projects in the design phase, in the construction phase, and upcoming projects. Marana Vista Estates, Tangerine Farms, Thornydale Road., and the Bank Protection Project were the topics for this meeting. Ms. Johnson noted that Honea Heights is a complex project involving the county, and staff is still working with the county to determine how best to land that. No conclusion has been arrived at; however, we are in the process of putting out for bid a paving project which will pave their roads to the extent that we can until we can get the sewer line issues resolved. The last word we had from the county was that they were not going to look at any potential future IGA with us with regard to that sewer line. Marana Vista Estates, in one our older neighborhoods, started construction last week. We're looking to improve the street lighting and put in five-foot sidewalks, with the idea that the whole community will have improved safety and a better sense of community. That project is expected to be finished in January. The county has provided $370,000 in bond money, and the town has contributed $630,000 from the general fund. Tangerine Farms is a project that takes a four-lane divided road, from I- 10 and Tangerine Road back through Gladden Farms and connects to Moore Road. It will have multi-use lanes, sidewalks, curbs, and landscape shared-use paths. This is funded through an improvement district for a total of $30,000. We are a little ahead of time, looking towards early next year for completion. Pima County has approved the sewer lines, and we've completed the first lift on Moore Road to Lon Adams. Thornydale is a project to reconstruct Thornydale between Orange Grove and where the bridge crosses the CDO Wash, where Pima County left off. It's a $13,000,000 project and includes taking Thornydale Road to six lanes, with multi-use lanes and public art. Ms. Johnson thanked Council Members for coming to the open house. She noted that the residents would like a longer sound wall, which will be increased by 1000 feet. Ms. Johnson noted that the guaranteed maximum price amendment negotiations with Granite are almost complete. Staff is trying to fix as many prices as we can to limit the number of unknowns in the contract. There are some waterline relocation issues, which staff is working on with the City of Tucson, and a few other miscellaneous right-of-way issues. On Silverbell Rd, there is a sanitary sewer interceptor project. It consists of about 4600 linear feet of sewer main and 14 new manholes; 1600 feet of water line needs to be replaced. There are major drainage issues along Silverbell, which is going to be a five- lane road, and which is in line with some of the bank protection work and the community park that is going to run that length. That's a less-than-year project. That award has 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 gone to Granite Construction, and staff has completed our pre-construction services contract. Total funding looks to be about $16,000,000. Pima Mine Wash runs every time we get rain, and that's one of five drainages that are brutal on Silverbell Road. Bank Protection Project - $4 million that the county took over at the beginning. It's a project that provides a soil-cement erosion protection along the west bank of the Santa Cruz from Ina to Cortaro. The project is almost complete. ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES - No announcements or updates. PROCLAMATIONS - Interfaith Community Services (Jocelyn Bronson) Ms. Bronson read a proclamation regarding Interfaith Community Services, stating that the month of November 2007 to be ICS month. F. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Council Member McGorray stated she attended the Tip-A-Cop, held at the Texas Roadhouse. She also attended the MUSD Heroes Dinner, and presented three plaques to honored individuals, and she also had the opportunity to speak at the Marana Heritage Farm last Saturday. Mayor Honea also attended Tip-A-Cop, and attended an Urban Land Institute meeting in Tucson with Mr. Davidson and Mr. Reuwsaat. Mayor Honea also went to Rock-N-Roll in the quarry, and the Food Bank event. He stated the he had the privilege of sharing a meeting with the Governor, speaking on transportation. Mayor Honea and Mr. Reuwsaat went to Northwest Hospital and met with the new CEO. Lastly, Mayor Honea mentioned the FEMA meeting that would be taking place the following day. G. MANAGER'S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Mr. Reuwsaat emphasized that the meeting with FEMA is very important, and hoped that some change will come out of it. He also made mention of Deb Thalacitis, the top candidate for Assistant Town Manager. H. STAFF REPORTS - No Reports. GENERAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Resolution No. 2007-173: Relating to Development; approving a release of assurances for Oasis Hills and acceptance of public improvements for maintenance (Keith Brann) 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 2. Resolution No. 2007-174: Relating to Real Estate; approving and authorizing the designation of a 0.720 acre portion of the Marana District Park as Silverbell Road public rights-of-way as needed for the Silverbell Road Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Project No. 1999-050 (Frank Cassidy) 3. Resolution No. 2007-175: Relating to Public Works; approving and authorizing the intergovernmental agreement between Pima County Regional Flood Control District and the Town of Marana for the design and construction of the Barnett Linear Channel Improvement Project (Barbara Johnson) 4. Resolution No. 2007-176: Relating to Utilities; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a Common Interest in Anticipation of Litigation Joint Participation Agreement relating to the Western Area Power Administration 2017 Hoover Dam Power Contracts; and declaring an emergency (Frank Cassidy) 5. Resolution No. 2007-177: Relating to Utilities; adopting the Revised Town of Marana Drought Preparedness Plan (Brad DeSpain) 6. Resolution No. 2007-178: Relating to the Police Department; approving and authorizing the Marana Police Department to execute a Wide Area Network and Law Enforcement Software User Agreement with the Pima County Sheriff's Department (Richard Viduarri) 7. Resolution No. 2007-164: Relating to Public Works; approving and authorizing a proposed alignment for the future Tangerine Road Interchange (scrivener's error from September 18, 2007 meeting) (Gilbert Davidson) 8. Minutes of the September 18, 2007 regular meeting and the October 2, 2007 regular meeting. Upon motion by Council Member Comerford, seconded by Council Member Escobedo, the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved. J. COUNCIL ACTION 1. Resolution No. 2007-179: Relating to Parks and Recreation; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Western Heritage Committee relating to the use and maintenance of the Western Heritage Arena and adjacent property; and declaring an emergency (Jane Fairall) Ms. Fairall stated that this resolution proposes a memorandum of Understanding between the town and the Western Heritage Committee (WHC), regarding the use and maintenance of the Western Heritage Arena. The Western Heritage Committee is going to enter into its own agreement with the MUSD, so that the WHC can then allow us to use the property for special event parking, and we can allow the committee to use the arena, as it has been doing for rodeos and other special events. The WHC will continue to repair and maintain the arena for the Town of Marana and will staff all the events with their staff. The Town will have priority usage for the property for the events listed in the 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 agreement, the Founder's Day Event, 4 1h of July, and Holiday Tree Lighting. Requests can be made if other needs for the arena arise. Mr. Davidson went over some of the alterations that were made to the resolution since the original proposal. He also stated that this contract promotes the youth in the community that are interested in rodeo and Western Heritage events. Harold Mencher addressed the Council, stating that he is concerned that the Town is giving up all control over the arena. He is requesting that the Town retains some control so that the volume of the public address system does not disturb the citizens of the Town at their homes. Council Member Ziegler assured Mr. Mencher that the Town has not given up control of the arena, and that if the Town has a complaint it has a right to go to WHC to correct the problem. Council Member Comerford agreed, and Council Member McGorray made mention of a noise ordinance that is in place as well. Upon motion by Council Member McGorray, seconded by Vice Chair Kai, Resolution No. 2007-179 passed unanimously. 2. Resolution No. 2007-180: Relating to Community Development; endorsing the Marana Combined Appeal Program as the beneficiary charity of proceeds from the "Spirit of Marana" day during the 2008 Southern Arizona Home Builders Association Parade of Homes (Josh Wright) Mr. Wright provided information about the Marana Combined Appeal Program. Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, Resolution No. 2007-180 passed unanimously. 3. PUBLIC HEARING. Ordinance No. 2007.25 ' : Relating to Development; approving and authorizing a rezoning for the Uptown at Marana Specific Plan. (This item was noticed and held on October 2, 2007, and was continued to October 16, 2007.) (Kevin Kish) Item J.3 will be continued on November 6, 2007. K. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES Resolution No. 2007-181: Relating to Boards, Commissions and Committees; approving and author ing the reappointment of Ed McCauley and the appointment of Terry Tometich as citizen members of the Personnel Action Review Board (Jocelyn Bronson) Ms. Bronson stated that this resolution allows the council to reappoint one member and appoint a new active member to the Personnel Action Review Board. 5 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 Upon motion by Council Member McGorray, seconded by Council Member Escobedo, Resolution No. 2007-181 passed unanimously. L. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION 1. Presentation: Preliminary Findingsjor the Wastewater Service Rate Case Study (Barbara Johnson) Ms. Johnson stated that, in order to assist in the analysis of the financial impact on the town, and the rate payers, from the wastewater system acquisition, the consulting services of econalysis.com were engaged. Dan Jackson, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Econalysis.com, stated that his company was engaged to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the financial impact to the Town of Marana of the acquisition and operation of its wastewater system. He stated that, in an analysis such as this, they seek to address the following issues. First, what the cost will be to actually operate this system once it is acquired. Second, what will need to be built to provide service to the rate payers and the costs incurred. Lastly, what the impact will be to the rate payers of the acquisition of this system. Mr. Jackson stated that the analysis addresses each issue and examines the financial impact of this acquisition both in the current year and for a forecast period of ten years into the future. He went over various rates of wastewater utilities throughout Arizona, and how they compare with the wastewater utility of Marana. He also stated that under town ownership wastewater rates will have to go up, though wastewater rates are going up for everybody in Arizona. The average forecast percent rate increase that is going to be experienced by the Town of Marana under this analysis, is equivalent to what rate payers have been experiencing over the last ten years. People in the town have seen the rates go up at about 5 1/2%-6% on average per year over the last decade. Wastewater rates throughout the United States are expected to increase significantly over the next decade. Rate payers in the town, under town ownership of the system, are expected to see a beneficial rate structure that will enable them to pay charges that are less than the state average over the next decade. Council Member Ziegler thanked the Water Department for their work on this presentation and had general questions about the difference in rates for current rate payers in Marana now and in 2008. Vice Mayor Kai asked Mr. Jackson to elaborate on his recommendation for one rate structure for commercial. Mr. Jackson stated that basically the use of one rate structure for commercial helps to eliminate the extra work required in classifying the different commercial entities and deciding how to charge them. Vice Mayor Kai stated that $300,000 per year for repairs and reserve for the wastewater plants seems to be a conservative number, to which Mr. Jackson replied that the number could very well be lower, as newer plants do not require as much expense. 6 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 Vice Mayor Kai asked if 12 months is enough time to build a wastewater system, or if more time is needed. Ms. Johnson stated that the projected time to complete is actually 24 months, at the end of January 2009. Mayor Honea asked Ms. Johnson to explain how Marana can treat water to A+ at about the same cost as the County can treat B water. Ms. Johnson stated that one advantage is that the town is smaller, in terms of the overhead costs. The town has a very favorable situation with respects to its financing, extremely good utility rates in terms of electricity, and a very favorable management contract. M. EXECUTIVE SESSION Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, Council voted unanimously to recess and convene to Executive Session. 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. 2. Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3),(4),(6) and (7) for legal advice with the Town Attorney concerning water rights and water service issues and to consult with and instruct the Town Attorney and the Town Manager concerning the 1979 intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Marana and Pima County relating to sewer service within the Marana town limits and to direct the Town Manager and Town Attorney with respect to that agreement (Frank Cassidy) Council returned to the dais after executive session, and Mr. Cassidy stated that the legal department requests that the Town Council authorize the filing of a lawsuit against Pima County, to litigate and determine the rights under the 1979 Pima County/Marana Sewer IGA, and that they be authorized as soon as possible with that litigation. Upon motion by Council Member Comerford, seconded by Council Member McGorray, authorization as discussed in Executive Session was approved 5-1. Vice Mayor Kai voted no. N. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Notwithstanding the Mayor's discretion of what items to place on the agenda, if three or more council members request an item to be placed on the agenda, it must be placed upon the agenda for the second regular town council meeting after the date of the request (Marana Town Code, Title 2, Chapter 2-4, Section 2-4-2 B) Council Member Comerford requested that Council meet on a more frequent basis, such as every Tuesday as needed, as long as so much material is coming forward. Council Members Escobedo and McGorray concurred. The item does not need to come back to Council for approval. 7 MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARANA MUNICIPAL COMPLEX DATE: October 16, 2007 0. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Council Member Escobedo, seconded by Council Member McGorray, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the Marana Town Council meeting held on October 16, 2007. 1 further certify that a quorum was present. C lyn C. Kr;nson, Town Clerk OF -e .QRP 0 RA TF -p Rim .0 M. = SE A L 8