HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDApacket__06-22-22_1140_366
NOTICE OF MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
Chairman Patrick Garman
Vice Chairman Bernie Hoenle
Commissioner Kevin Beck
Commissioner John Craft
Commissioner Mary Edman
Commissioner Cynthia Magazine
Commissioner Geoff Yazzetta
TIME:4:00 P.M. – REGULAR MEETING
WHEN:WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022
WHERE:FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call; a quorum of the
Town’s Council, various Commission, Committee or Board members may be in attendance at the Commission meeting.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9, subject to certain specified statutory exceptions, parents have a
right to consent before the State or any of its political subdivisions make a video or audio recording of a minor child. Meetings
of the Commission are audio and/or video recorded and, as a result, proceedings in which children are present may be subject
to such recording. Parents, in order to exercise their rights may either file written consent with the Town Clerk to such
recording, or take personal action to ensure that their child or children are not present when a recording may be made. If a
child is present at the time a recording is made, the Town will assume that the rights afforded parents pursuant to A.R.S.
§1-602.A.9 have been waived.
REQUEST TO COMMENT
The public is welcome to participate in Commission meetings.
TO SPEAK TO AN AGENDA ITEM, please complete a Request to Comment card, located in the back of
the Council Chambers, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion of that item, if
possible. Include the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Speakers will be allowed three
contiguous minutes to address the Commission. Verbal comments should be directed through the
Presiding Officer and not to individual Commissioners.
TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, please complete a Request to Comment card,
indicating it is a written comment, and check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST and agenda
item, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion, if possible.
1.CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Garman
2.ROLL CALL – Chairman Garman
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the agenda.
Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to reasonable time,
place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during Call
to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion of the Call to
the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or (iii) ask that
the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
4.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of
May 25, 2022.
5.REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS AND TOWN MANAGER
6.UPDATE ON Strategic Plan Items from David Pock, Chief Financial Officer for the Town of
Fountain Hills.
7.DISCUSSION ON Awareness of Strategic Issues affecting Fountain Hills.
8.COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
9.ADJOURNMENT
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing notice was duly posted in accordance with the statement filed
by the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission with the Town Clerk.
Dated this 21st day of June, 2022.
_____________________________________________
Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5199 (voice) or
1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain
agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the Commission with this agenda are
available for review in the Town Manager's Office.
Strategic Planning Advisory Commission Meeting of June 22, 2022 2 of 2
ITEM 4.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 06/22/2022 Meeting Type: Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Administration
Prepared by: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager, Mayor/Council
Staff Contact Information: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager,
Mayor/Council
Request to Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION
AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 25, 2022.
Staff Summary (Background)
The intent of approving meeting minutes is to ensure an accurate account of the discussion and action
that took place at the meeting for archival purposes. Approved minutes are placed on the Town's
website and maintained as permanent records in compliance with state law.
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff recommends approving the minutes of the regular meeting on May 25, 2022.
SUGGESTED MOTION MOVE to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on May 25, 2022.
Attachments
May 25, 2022 Minutes
Form Review
Form Started By: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Started On: 06/15/2022 11:46 AM
Final Approval Date: 06/15/2022
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
MAY 25, 2022
1.CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Garman
Chair Garman called to order the meeting of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
at 4:02 p.m.
Vote: 6 - 0 - Unanimously
2.ROLL CALL – Chairman Garman
Present: Patrick Garman, Chairman; Mary Edman, Commissioner; Cynthia Magazine,
Commissioner; Bernie Hoenle, Vice Chairman; Kevin Beck, Commissioner;
Geoffrey Yazzetta, Commissioner
Absent: John W. Craft, Jr., Commissioner
Staff
Present:
Executive Assistant Angela Padgett-Espiritu; Town Manager Grady Miller;
Development Services Director John Wesley
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to
reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on
matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action.
At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to
review a matter, or (iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
The following individual addressed the Commission:
Ed Stizza commented that he is a huge advocate of aesthetics, density, dark skies, and
the quality of life and that he thinks everything falls under those four categories. He said
that the commission could be a voice for the town’s residents and it seems there are a lot
of projects that are now taking place. He commented that Havenly is not really copacetic
to what everybody felt Fountain Hills should be, especially the downtown area. He said
that now we're going through some things with Park Place and you can see the end result
is the construction and you're going to hear everybody complain about Park Place. He
said the town has taken certain steps to try to protect that, but it would have been nice to
have this commission five years ago when all these problems were really starting to ramp
up. He said that you have developers that are only concentrating on their development
and don't care about anybody else. He said development is going on behind Desert Vista
and there are almost 15 different projects that have happened in the last two years. He
said between the lighting crosswalks and it was pitch black there, come 11:00 o'clock
now we're turning it into a lighted area. He commented that we only have 50% of the
parks that we need and, actually, we have less than 50% of the parks and that was done
on a survey. He said the town commissioned a company to research and come up with
that number. He said we don't have any land left, and the school board is pushing for a
bond instead of selling the properties. He commented on several developments,
including some churches that are going with darker colors.
including some churches that are going with darker colors.
4.UPDATE ON New Commissioners
Chairman Garman extended a warm welcome to the new commissioners and requested
brief introductions.
Executive Assistant Espiritu disclosed that she assists the town manager, mayor, and
council.
Commissioner Yazzetta revealed that he moved here from Glendale, a Los Angeles,
California suburb. He has a decade of experience working for a Los Angeles City
Councilman, where he managed significant infrastructure projects.
Commissioner Magazine disclosed that she has been a Fountain Hills resident since
2006. She participates in numerous volunteer activities and has served on the
commission for a number of years.
Commissioner Edman disclosed that she is originally from Chicago and has lived in
Fountain Hills for the past five years. Her background is in sales and marketing, and she
has owned a marketing company for fifteen years.
Chairman Garman disclosed that he has been a member of the Commission for one and
a half years. After six months of service, he moved up to Vice Chairman and was elected
Chairman a month ago. He stated that he is a Pharmacist with a doctorate in
epidemiology who specializes in vaccines full-time. In addition, he served in the military
for over twenty-nine years and retired as an Army Colonel.
Vice Chairman Hoenle disclosed that he is retired from both the Air Force and the IT
sector. As a member of the Kiwanis, he mentors students in elementary and middle
school. He is a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals and
a board member of the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists. Previously, he served on the
commission for the previous plan.
Commissioner Beck disclosed that he retired as CEO of Sumitomo Chemical and has
spent approximately 45 years in the industry. He stated that he moved to Fountain Hills
from Tokyo approximately eleven years ago. He noted that he grew up in Virginia and
graduated from the University of Virginia's Chemical Engineering program.
Town Manager Miller disclosed that he has served as town manager for approximately
eight years. He acts as a liaison between the commission and the
Council, relaying information to the Council on behalf of the commission. He has more
than thirty years of experience working in local government in Arizona, California, and
Rhode Island.
5.CONSIDERATION OF Approving the April 27, 2022, Meeting Minutes
MOVED BY Commissioner Cynthia Magazine, SECONDED BY Vice Chairman Bernie
Hoenle to APPROVE the meeting minutes of the April 27, 2022, Strategic Plan Advisory
Commission.
Vote: 6 - 0 - Unanimously
6.PRESENTATION: Environmental Plan Update from John Wesley, Development Services
Director for the Town of Fountain Hills
Chairman Garman stated that the way forward for the Commission, after having the 2022
Strategic Plan approved by the Council is to be aware of the implementation of the plan.
He said, we have a presentation from John Wesley the Development Services Director
for the town, and he will brief the commission on the Town’s Environmental Plan.
John Wesley, Development Services Director,then gave a powerpoint presentation
referencing the following items:
Part of “Continue to Improve Public Health, Well-Being, and Safety” strategic priority
Not looking for a sustainability or climate action plan
Looking for a plan that will:
Identify key “environmental” features of the Town
Recommend goals, policies, programs, and strategies for addressing these
features
Promote a biophilic approach to the continued development
Development Services Director Wesley stated that in terms of the strategic plan and its
section on promoting the natural and built environment of Fountain Hills, to improve the
health, safety, and well-being of the Community. He said that his approach is a more
general idea of the environment than what you often see in communities developing
sustainability or environmental plans. He commented that the town has a lot of very rigid
requirements and goals set for the reduction of CO2 or carbon footprints.
He reported that he looked at a number of different definitions of the environment and
what it means. He said, It would look at the physical, social, and cultural elements of the
community and not just in terms of air quality and water quality, but would bring in other
social-cultural aspects of the community.
He asked, what do we want to promote or encourage so that we protect and enhance the
public health, safety, and welfare of the community and keep it the type of community that
people want and like.
Town Manager Miller commented that he thinks they are really talking about the physical
environment, and other aspects of that definition that are covered under different aspects
of the strategic plan, like health and wellness. He recommended adhering to a
conventional understanding of the environment.
Commissioner Magazine commented that they had discussions about this and it was in
terms of everything that this community has to offer about its natural beauty, being in the
desert, hiking, biking, and other things that relate to that.
Commissioner Beck commented that it is a very big scope and would like to see
prioritization as it goes further.
Vice Chairman Hoenle commented that it is basically a coalition, and he likes the
definition because it encompasses everything, but he thinks it's too much at the
beginning and thinks they can tie it to those other aspects of the planning concept.
Chairman Garman commented that he is a structural guy and looking at the process and
the reason he asked that leading question was that under the public health, well-being,
and safety, it's one of the four strategic priorities, but underneath that there are specific
supporting tasks or signature strategies, so it's under the signature strategy, which
promotes the natural and built environment of Fountain Hills to improve the public health
well-being and safety. So it's really the natural and built environment we gave the
definition of what we're looking for, and then underneath that, the task is to create this
environmental plan. So it's in the natural and built environment, specifically underneath
public health.
Development Director Wesley stated that he would go in that direction and then
addressed in the presentation, the characteristics, and features that are part of the
environment:
Natural Features
Topography – ridgelines, washes
Vegetation
Wildlife
Land Use Features – 13,005.7 acres
31% parks, golf courses, undevelopable open space
44% developed single residence (11% low density)
17% vacant (mostly State Trust Land)
Population Characteristics
38% over 65 (17% for Arizona, 16.5% for US)
Median age 58.8 (37.4 for Arizona, 37.9 for US, up from 40% in 1990)
Median income $81,537 ($56,213 for Arizona, $60,293 for US)
Pop density 1169.4 (479.1 Maricopa County, 1308.6 Scottsdale)
1980 – 35.6% of families had children at home, 2019 – 17.8%
Social/Cultural Characteristics
Suburban, small town
White, upper-middle class, retired
Large festivals; local small-town activities
Built Environment Characteristics
Single-family, detached homes
Curved streets following the topography
Dark skies
Lake with fountain
Mostly developed, scattered vacant parcels
Transportation System Characteristics
Wide streets
Intermittent sidewalk system
Trails
Bike paths and trails
Development Services Director Wesley mentioned that going forward with the biophilic
perspective, they have not really paid attention to that beyond the basics of maintaining
the natural washes. But as they look at some of the commercial areas, as they continue
to develop or redevelop, there are better ways to pull the natural environment into those
to provide natural shading and cooling. He said the transportation system is another
important key to the town streets, sidewalks, trails, and bike paths and how those play
into the community, providing for the health, safety, and welfare, so people can use
alternative modes of transportation and follow up on the active transportation plan to
provide for those other modes of transportation.
Lastly, he said that they would identify an issue that would describe a characteristic and
then set some kind of goal, policies, and programs that would go along with that, whether
they're existing or new.
7.DISCUSSION WITH POSSIBILE DIRECTION: Regarding the overview of the 2022
7.DISCUSSION WITH POSSIBILE DIRECTION: Regarding the overview of the 2022
Strategic Plan implementation
This agenda item, according to Chairman Garman, kicks off the conversation that the
commission will have regarding the implementation of the strategic plan and informs him
of the commission's perspective; it also relates to agenda item six. He stated that they
are collaborating with the town to receive reports similar to the one just received from the
director of Development Services on plan implementation issues.
8.DISCUSSION WITH POSSIBLE DIRECTION: Regarding awareness of strategic issues
affecting Fountain Hills
Chairman Garman stated that the commission must keep an eye on the future and use
these meetings to increase their awareness of issues that will impact and continue to
impact the town in the future, as this is the commission's purpose. He stated that they can
include topics that are of interest to the commissioners, the town, or the town manager
that may affect the future of the town so that as they work through these various issues,
they raise our awareness of them, and when they begin to create a new plan, the
commission will have a greater level of comprehension.
9.REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS AND TOWN MANAGER
Chairman Garman stated that this item will remain on future agendas so that
commissioners can share experiences or topics that they believe may be of interest to the
Commission. He stated that he would ask each commissioner at every meeting if they
have a non-decision-making topic, idea, or just an FYI they wish to bring up. It might be
something that will be on a future agenda for discussion.
Commissioner Yazzetta expressed his admiration for the park's programming. According
to him, the playground and splash pad was recently renovated, and it seems that there is
always something going on. He stated that he lives in Park Place and can observe events
such as the farmer's market, concerts, and art shows. It's nice to be able to just walk over
and do something without having to deal with all the traffic and everything, he said.
Therefore, it appears that this is a significant selling point for the city, and we should
utilize it to attract new residents, businesses, and tourists.
Commissioner Edman remarked that a review of how the previous strategic plan was
developed and why they chose the directions they did would be beneficial. Water in water
conservation is a topic for future consideration.
Commissioner Beck remarked that when you look up at the night sky, you see the beauty
of our town. I believe the town has done a wonderful job of enhancing the immense
beauty of this area. He stated, "I don't know if we want to sell that, but if we look at
Olympia, Oklahoma, or Taylor, Texas, fifty percent of their budgets are devoted to
increasing corporate production." I'm unsure if this is good for us. We want dark skies,
infrastructure, E-bike paths, more hiking trails, more people, and more businesses, and
we may take a look around to see who is implementing our preferences.
Chairman Garman commented that we are going to move this agenda item so that we
can have our say earlier in the meeting. He said awareness of a topic that he was going
to work on for the commission was a presentation on the history and mission of the
Strategic Plan. He shared that the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy begins in
September and is everything that's going on in the town. Every week there's something
and it is really good as far as raising, again that word awareness of the town and the
issues that are affecting the town. I'm on the leadership board for the Leadership
Academy and I'm also on the Application subcommittee, so I would love to see if anybody
can spare that time from September to November. It's really worthwhile for people who sit
on this Commission, and I would urge you all to apply. It becomes a long-term
relationship with the different classes and you volunteer with these people over and over
again.
Commissioner Magazine remarked that when she attended the Leadership Academy,
she had already resided in the area for eight to nine years, and gained so much
knowledge. She stated that there are organizations in the town that you have never heard
of and have no idea what they do, but you learn about them at the Leadership Academy.
10.ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Commissioner Kevin Beck, SECONDED BY Commissioner Geoffrey
Yazzetta to ADJOURN the meeting of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission at
5:17 p.m.
Vote: 6 - 0 - Unanimously
STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY
COMMISSION
____________________________
Patrick Garman, Chairman
ATTEST AND PREPARED BY:
______________________________
Angela Espiritu, Executive Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular
Meeting held by the Fountain Hills Strategic Planning Advisory Commission in the Town Hall Council
Chambers on the 25th day of May, 2022. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a
quorum was present.
DATED this 22nd day of June, 2022.
_________________________________
Angela Espiritu, Executive Assistant
ITEM 5.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 06/22/2022 Meeting Type: Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Administration
Prepared by: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager, Mayor/Council
Staff Contact Information: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager,
Mayor/Council
Request to Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): REPORTS BY
COMMISSIONERS AND TOWN MANAGER
Staff Summary (Background)
Form Review
Form Started By: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Started On: 06/15/2022 11:50 AM
Final Approval Date: 06/15/2022
ITEM 6.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 06/22/2022 Meeting Type: Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Administration
Prepared by: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager, Mayor/Council
Staff Contact Information: David Pock, Finance Director
Request to Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): UPDATE ON Strategic
Plan Items from David Pock, Chief Financial Officer for the Town of Fountain Hills.
Staff Summary (Background)
Form Review
Form Started By: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Started On: 06/15/2022 11:51 AM
Final Approval Date: 06/15/2022
ITEM 7.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 06/22/2022 Meeting Type: Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Administration
Prepared by: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager, Mayor/Council
Staff Contact Information:
Request to Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): DISCUSSION ON
Awareness of Strategic Issues affecting Fountain Hills.
Staff Summary (Background)
Form Review
Form Started By: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Started On: 06/21/2022 09:23 AM
Final Approval Date: 06/21/2022
ITEM 8.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 06/22/2022 Meeting Type: Strategic Planning Advisory Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Administration
Prepared by: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager, Mayor/Council
Staff Contact Information: Angela Padgett-Espiritu, Executive Assistant to Manager,
Mayor/Council
Request to Strategic Planning Advisory Commission (Agenda Language): COMMENTS FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
Staff Summary (Background)
Form Review
Form Started By: Angela Padgett-Espiritu Started On: 06/15/2022 03:08 PM
Final Approval Date: 06/15/2022