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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHCAC_2026_0107_Packet NOTICE OF MEETING REGULAR MEETING HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Chair Bob Burns Vice Chair Toni LePoer Commissioner Chandler Harper Commissioner Peter Gallagher Commissioner Bonnie Kline Commissioner Tiffany Titus Commissioner Tim Yoder TIME: WHEN: WHERE: 4:00 PM - REGULAR MEETING DOORS OPEN 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026 FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS 16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills History & Culture Advisory Commission 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 A CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA ITEM, complete a Request to Comment card and hand it to the Clerk prior to discussion of that item. Include the agenda item NUMBER on which you wish to comment. A separate submission is required for each agenda item. Request to Comment cards will not be accepted once the Commission deliberations begin. Submit a Request to Comment card prior to a public hearing agenda item. TO COMMENT ON A CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, complete a Request to Comment card, indicating that it is a written comment, check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST a consent or regular agenda item, and hand it to the Clerk prior to discussion on that item. A separate submission is required for each agenda item. TO SPEAK TO CALL TO THE PUBLIC, complete a Request to Comment card and hand it to the Clerk. 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. This Request to Comment card, and any information you write on it, is a public record subject to public disclosure. Meeting Packet Page 1 of 45 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. STATEMENT OF PARTICIPATION Anyone wishing to address the Commission regarding items listed on the agenda should fill out a Request to Comment card located in the back of the Council Chambers and hand it to the Clerk prior to consideration of that agenda item. Once the agenda item has started, late requests to speak cannot be accepted. When your name is called, please approach the podium, speak into the microphone, and state your name and if you are a resident for the public record. Please limit your comments to three minutes. To avoid disruption of the meeting, to maintain decorum, and provide for an equal and uninterrupted presentation, applause is not permitted, except when community members are being honored by the Commission. 4. PRESENTATIONS 5. REGULAR AGENDA a. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory Commission Verbatim Meeting Minutes September 4, 2025 b. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory Commission Verbatim Meeting Minutes December 3, 2025 c. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Historical Registry for the Fountain d. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 250th Anniversary of the USA e. UPDATE: Historic Art and Essay Contest f. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Public Art Information Updates g. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Public Art Applications h. UPDATE: The next meeting date is February 4, 2026 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 7. ADJOURNMENT Dated this _____ day of _______________, 2025. Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call (480) 816-5100 (voice) or (800) 367- 8939 (TDD) 48-hours prior to the meeting to request reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished to the Council with this agenda are available for review in the Clerk's Office. Meeting Packet Page 2 of 45 ITEM 5.a. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory Commission Verbatim Meeting Minutes September 4, 2025 Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS 1. Verbatim MM HCAC 250904 Meeting Packet Page 3 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION September 4, 2025 A Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills History and Culture Advisory Commission was convened at 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains in open and public session at 4:01 p.m. Members Present: Chairperson Tim Yoder; Commissioner Bob Burns; Commissioner Bonnie Kline; Commissioner Peter Gallagher Members Absent: Commissioner Toni Lepoer Staff Present: Recreation Manager Ryan Preston; Executive Assistant Patti Lopuszanski Meeting Packet Page 4 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 1 of 14 Post-Production File Town of Fountain Hills History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting September 4, 2025 Transcription Provided By: eScribers, LLC * * * * * Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings. * * * * * Meeting Packet Page 5 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 2 of 14 CHAIR YODER: Good day, everybody. I'd like to call to order the September 4th, 2025, meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission at 4:01 p.m. May I have a roll call, please? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Of course. Chair CHAIR YODER. CHAIR YODER: Here. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Commissioner Burns. BURNS: Here. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Commissioner Kline. KLINE: Here. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Commissioner Gallagher. GALLAGHER: Here. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And Commissioner LePoer has called in, and she will be absent. CHAIR YODER: All right. Thank you. Next up, a call to the public. I see, Patti, that you have included a ARS paragraph there. That's just for our notes. LOPUSZANSKI: That is correct. It just needs a new posting that we've had to put on for ourselves, so you do not have to read that. And we do not have a call to public. CHAIR YODER: Very good. Moving on. Statement of participation is the item number 4. Same. LOPUSZANSKI: Also, it is an informational piece just for people to know, just if they want to participate in how they must do so. But we need to have this formally admitted in all of our agendas now. CHAIR YODER: Next on the agenda item number 5, reports by commissioners. So we have reports by commissioners. No. That's the -- LOPUSZANSKI: Chair, this -- CHAIR YODER: I'm waiting for the update. We don't have -- yes. Are there reports by the commissioners? GALLAGHER: No. What I have to report is an agenda item. Meeting Packet Page 6 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 3 of 14 CHAIR YODER: Yeah, it's an agenda item. Anybody else here? BURNS: Well, I'll throw this in. Doesn't really pertain to this in particularly, but I have made it official with the office that I'm going to be retiring at the end of the year from the news business, so -- but I plan to continue this, so as long as they'll have me. CHAIR YODER: Did you ask any of our permission before retiring or? BURNS: I'm sorry? CHAIR YODER: You didn't ask if you could retire or not, so I guess -- BURNS: I'm not asking you. CHAIR YODER: I guess it would have been nice. KLINE: So how many years is that, Bob? BURNS: Thirty-eight. KLINE: Thirty-eight. Wow. BURNS: Thirty -- I'm sorry. Thirty-seven. I lose track. KLINE: I can speak from seeing you work that you've done a great job and you're going to be greatly missed. CHAIR YODER: Yes. You have served the community well. BURNS: They've already hired my replacement, so. So I guess I can't change my mind. CHAIR YODER: Funny. KLINE: So I'll just mention something I saw on Facebook. Actually, it was something that Mark Gridley wrote about his early days in Fountain Hills. And it was reposted just recently in the historical society or not the historical society, but a historical group of Fountain Hills online, and it was really fascinating to read through that. And I don't remember where the Fountain Mountain Inn was. CHAIR YODER: The Fountain Mountain Inn later was called the Silverstein. KLINE: Oh, okay. That explains it. CHAIR YODER: Yeah. Uh-huh. I would like to state for the record that my brother sent me a photograph today of the Dan Kuchan residence, another very long-time resident, who has a flag banner waving now in his front yard for the 250th anniversary of the Meeting Packet Page 7 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 4 of 14 nation. Real nice, colorful banner. So people are -- KLINE: Good start. CHAIR YODER: -- getting ramped up for this already. Okay. If that's it, let's move on then to the regular agenda items. Consideration and possible action approving the minutes from our June 4th meeting. Anybody have any comments, or can I get a motion to approve the minutes? GALLAGHER: I do have one comment. Having not been at the last meeting, I read them with interest, and I found Doug Katonak's name spelled about five different ways. So that needs to be corrected. Otherwise, I would say they're fine. CHAIR YODER: I believe that's just the machine's transcription problem, but. LOPUSZANSKI: Yeah, it doesn't -- CHAIR YODER: They have an actual recording. LOPUSZANSKI: It doesn't recognize a specific name kind of thing. So a lot of times it's just a verbatim that's going off of the software program, so. But if it's just a spelling, we can still approve the minutes. CHAIR YODER: AI will fix that up in another year and a half. Can I get a motion to approve? BURNS: Move to approve -- KLINE: I'll second -- BURNS: -- the minutes. KLINE: I'll second that motion. CHAIR YODER: All in favor? ALL: Aye. CHAIR YODER: Any opposed? LOPUSZANSKI: And chair that gets approved 4-0. Thank you. CHAIR YODER: Thank you. Next on the agenda is public art applications. Do we have any coming in? LOPUSZANSKI: At this point in time, no, we do not. Meeting Packet Page 8 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 5 of 14 CHAIR YODER: Moving on. The historical registry for the Fountain -- getting the Fountain registered as a national landmark. GALLAGHER: Yeah, I think I can give a quick update. Although if you read the paper recently, you may have gotten also another update, but we were able to get it submitted kind of first round submitted to the State Historic Preservation Officer, that's Dr. Collins and his team. It is currently under review by them. They like to review it and make sure everything's good to go before they then push it to review, the State review process, which is going to be in November. And that review process just ensures it's ready to go to the federal level after that to the national park service. So that's kind of where we're sitting at now. We expect to get it back here in the next week or so with some requested edits. We will take care of that in-house, any edits they request. If we need information, we may ask you guys to dig a little deeper, but I got a feeling he said it's mostly going to be just structure of the submittal more than content, said the content looked good for the most part. So it's more my errors and how I submitted it. So anyway, that's what we're looking at. They said it could be up to about six months after it gets pushed from state, so we're hoping for everything to be settled no later than May of '26 for that. That's kind of where we stand at this point. CHAIR YODER: That's great news. I'm really excited about that whole thing. GALLAGHER: Yeah. Thanks. I mean, you guys did the vast majority of that work, so I really appreciate the work you guys put into it. So it came together really well. And like I said, hopefully, we get through the first time around. CHAIR YODER: Yeah. Okay. Any other further comments? We'll move on then to the 250th anniversary of the United States and that work group. BURNS: I think Bonnie probably has something she wants to say. I don't -- I haven't done much work on it over the summer. KLINE: So yeah, I would like to do some more. But one thing that I found was that there's an America 2 -- Arizona celebrates the 250th anniversary, and they have a program with a logo that towns and other groups can use on their publicity. And there's Meeting Packet Page 9 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 6 of 14 a passport of 250 places to visit in Arizona. And I looked through it, signed up for it and looked through it, and Fountain Hills is not on there yet so I would like to see if we can change that. CHAIR YODER: Is that a website then, Bonnie? KLINE: They have a website. Let's see. CHAIR YODER: State governments? GALLAGHER: Yeah. KLINE: Yes. GALLAGHER: There's a website. It's a state site. And there's a form you can fill out. So right now, they're still gathering the information. They're not I mean, you can view it, but it hasn't really been pushed out yet. So there's a form you can fill out. So Bonnie, you mentioned this to me. You left me that voice mail. I emailed you back earlier today. Basically, there's categories to choose from. It can be things like, obviously, restaurants, but also landmarks. There's dark sky focused stuff. So there's a lot there that we can submit. And so you know what, I could ask for that workgroup's help on would be maybe choosing which categories and what we can submit to possibly be on that list. And then I think it's number five and six on that form, there's some more questions that require a bit of a narrative and maybe asking for that committees, subcommittees, or workgroup's help with those narratives -- KLINE: Okay. GALLAGHER: -- on those two questions. The other questions we can answer, no problem. But those two, we could use some help on. I think that's a cool thing to get on and see if we can submit and see what gets picked up. KLINE: Okay. GALLAGHER: Uh-huh. KLINE: All right. I'd be glad to help. GALLAGHER: Excellent. I know, like I said, off the top of my head, obviously, the Fountain. Any other historical places we can think of? Dark Sky Discovery Center still won't be open probably for at least half of next year. And so I'm not sure, but we do Meeting Packet Page 10 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 7 of 14 have some stargazing spots and things like that, and maybe we can highlight the dark skies as well. And like I said, there's a lot of categories to look through and make recommendations. And feel free to do that within the workgroup and see what you guys come up with. KLINE: Okay. GALLAGHER: And just update, I didn't see a deadline on that. I assume the sooner the better. KLINE: Yeah. GALLAGHER: I assume they're going to start pushing it out, November, December, really, January 2026. KLINE: Yeah. I was looking for the deadline. I didn't see one. GALLAGHER: I didn't see either. KLINE: Like you said 2025, so. GALLAGHER: Uh-huh. So I figured if we get it in before November, would be great by the end of October if we have that ready to go. CHAIR YODER: Okay. Very good. Anybody else on that? All right. Moving on now to the historical art and essay contest. That we have proposed to the Fountain Hills Unified School District. Pete and I went to the meeting as we planned there in mid-June, and I think it was good. But Pete, maybe I'll just let you take over for this and then maybe make a final comment, but -- GALLAGHER: Okay. CHAIR YODER: Pete put together a nice display and let him talk about that. GALLAGHER: I put together a PowerPoint presentation so we could show them some pretty pictures while I talk to them about the contest. But for some reason, my slides blew up, and the fonts were wrong, and you couldn't read them, and everybody enjoyed that quite a bit, but they actually enjoyed the briefing even more. I think they were very excited about the contest that we want to run, and the school district seemed to be very interested in supporting it. Certainly, Dr. J was very, very interested in supporting it, and Meeting Packet Page 11 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 8 of 14 I didn't get any pushback from anybody, actually. So I feel that we're good to go. I have a copy of it if it needs to go into the record, but otherwise that's all I have to say. CHAIR YODER: I double up on what Pete said. I saw Dr. J again after that meeting in a social occasion and unsolicited, he came to me and he said, by the way, you're all good with that. You just let us know when you want to go. And so, as we've discussed, I was hoping to kick that off, like, right before their Christmas break. So hopefully, we can have the website information or the formalized application information somewhere available that we'll need from the town. And then it's just basically, I think a matter of Pete and or me or us going over to the school district and knocking on the door and saying, here it is, we're ready to go. PRESTON: Did you have anything actionable at all for you guys at that point? What to kind of do next, or is it more like you said ball's in our court for following up? CHAIR YODER: I think it's ball's in our court. I kind of suggested that at the meeting that we were in. I said, we'll come back to you in the fall and write ahead of time. And I think I mentioned something like late in September or in October and then go to the -- another meeting and say, we're ready to go. We just wanted to remind you, and we'll bring the materials or make the materials public. We have to decide that on November the 30th or something like that. PRESTON: Right. Okay. And then in your guys's vision, when is the judging taking place? When are we revealing the winner? Like, how did you guys discuss yet? How to kind of wrap that up? BURNS: I have some notes on a schedule, as Tim said, we'll kick it off in December or the end of November with a due date of early March, and then make decisions before the end of the school year and perhaps be able to do our presentations in May for the winners of the contest. CHAIR YODER: So just for clarity, Ryan, all of this scheduling and stuff, I basically just took directly from that earlier Mesa City thing, and they did -- their whole thing was designed because May is Historic Preservation Month. PRESTON: Right. Meeting Packet Page 12 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 9 of 14 CHAIR YODER: So they wanted the students to hand in their materials in mid -- early mid-March so that they could be evaluated and judged and then be like displayed in May, which is coincides with the end of the school year, too. So I mean, we don't have to follow that. But I thought, well, you suggested that we look at that, and I just mimicked it. PRESTON: Right. Okay. Yeah. No, that's I think that could work. It just it depends on how we want to present the winners as well. I know we had discussed previously doing it at a -- maybe a town council meeting. So it's also looking at those agendas and seeing if we can get on those agendas. I know May is typically pretty packed for agenda items for the town council meeting. So those could be tough to get on to squeeze into. So that's something we'll have to look into a little bit as far as timeline is concerned. CHAIR YODER: Tell me, when are the town counci l meetings each month? A re they -- LOPUSZANSKI: Usually, it's the second and the fourth Tuesday of the month. CHAIR YODER: Okay. LOPUSZANSKI: Uh-huh. CHAIR YODER: So maybe what we could do -- LOPUSZANSKI: Wait, first. I'm sorry. PRESTON: First and third. LOPUSZANSKI: First and third. Sorry, first and third. CHAIR YODER: First and third. LOPUSZANSKI: Yeah. CHAIR YODER: So maybe we could have them ready to go if May is not good, maybe at the very end of April, we could have them all. I mean, it's probably all still cramped then too, but that might be better. BURNS: Could we at least try at this point to get on the May agenda? One of the two agendas for May? GALLAGHER: Yeah. I mean, I'm not saying we can't. I'm just saying it's a difficult time to get something like this on the agenda as a recognition, just because of how packed those get and how often things like this may get bumped. And so that's why I don't Meeting Packet Page 13 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 10 of 14 want -- I wouldn't want it to get bumped if we had set up, had the kids in. So I'd like to pick a time where maybe there's a guarantee that we're going to be on it and stay on it again, it's not a no. I just wanted to bring that up as a possibility. And maybe having a backup plan of -- if we can't do it through the town council podium, maybe there's something with the school district we could partner with at the same time where we can join up with and maybe do it with the district or at a district event, as well school district event. So just kind of keeping that in mind as we look at this. But I'll see -- but we won't know how packed that May agenda is going to be until fortunately closer to May. BURNS: Another suggestion or question, I suppose, is if we can't get it on a town council agenda, would it be appropriate for the History and Culture Advisory Commission to do the presentations here? GALLAGHER: Yeah. I mean that's definitely an option. We can do it at one of our meetings as well. CHAIR YODER: We could do that early May thing, or that'd be cool because the parents would come in, and we got plenty of space here. Another option might be backing up to your suggestion, partnering with the school district, doing it maybe at the school, maybe some of us and maybe we could convince the mayor to show up also or something like that just like on their schedule some Wednesday afternoon at a rally or I don't know what. GALLAGHER: Right. Yeah. Like I said. So I'm just, you know, we'll have a couple plans, couple backup plans as well. And I'll try to get more ideas about what the possibilities are that time of year for getting on the agenda. And so I think it's something like this they would want to push and promote, but again, it's things like this often get pushed toward the end of the year because that's the last meeting I believe. Is there a June meeting? LOPUSZANSKI: There is a June meeting. GALLAGHER: Okay. LOPUSZANSKI: But you're right, May is really tight because we're doing budget and then Meeting Packet Page 14 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 11 of 14 it goes into June with the final, but they're always pretty well packed. There's a lot going on for the end of the year, but we can kind of check to see what the timeline compared to what it was last year, and we'll go from there. CHAIR YODER: Well, just casually speaking for myself, I like that Pete's suggestion maybe we just do it here, May the 4th or whatever that day will be. But we've got some education specialists here, and I think the grading and evaluation process will be fairly straightforward and easy for us to do sometime in late March. And we don't even have to know the exact details of the awards recognition when we start in November like that. Some of that could be the nuts and bolts. GALLAGHER: Correct. Yeah, a lot of that can be to be announced. CHAIR YODER: And if we can figure it out in January or February. GALLAGHER: Okay. And so, the presentation or the information you guys have is pretty standard from what was there before, as far as the talking points or the criteria. Okay. I wouldn't mind taking a look at the PowerPoint. So if you have it, I can grab that from you. And if you need to pick up the jump drive later, I can pull it on my computer, you can take it back. BURNS: I rather dump it on your -- I'd rather leave it on your computer now, because there's other information on here that I should not be sharing with anyone. GALLAGHER: Gotcha. Okay. All right. So maybe we can figure out a way to get that just so I can see it, and then anymore -- and just maybe just re sending me some of the other documents. We can start putting a package together for the school. CHAIR YODER: Okay. I'll forward you the rough draft that I had created. I think that's what he worked off of to create what he did. GALLAGHER: Okay. So I made -- if that's all we have then that's probably -- CHAIR YODER: I had sent it to you guys already, but yeah, sure, I'll resend it. GALLAGHER: Perfect. Okay. BURNS: I'll email the presentation -- GALLAGHER: That'd be perfect. BURNS: -- with includes the script and everything. Meeting Packet Page 15 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 12 of 14 GALLAGHER: Okay. Perfect. CHAIR YODER: Okay. Moving right along to point F, public art identification. Anything? No. GALLAGHER: I believe part of that work group isn't here today, so maybe we can get an update time. Oh, yes, I can update you. We had talked about the software. It's called SeeMyLegacy. I did a small presentation on it, I think last time we were together, about the QR codes on the art, the art walk, kind of updating that. So we have purchased that software and I have gotten started on some of the updates. I am just waiting for some updated descriptions for those, but then we'll -- basically, what I'll do is we'll start adding these little QR codes, which we've already purchased, metal QR codes, that'll start being placed on the art pieces, and then it'll be a really upgraded digital tour for that as well. So that is in the works. That is something I'm currently working on. I just know the workgroup is helping us put together some of those packages and some of the -- what they call the stories for each of those art pieces. We already have a lot of that already, but we're looking to kind of add a little more meat to what we already have for those. KLINE: So I did bring some notebooks from when I was an art docent to give to Toni, but she's not here today, but I will make sure she gets that if there's any information in there that might be useful. GALLAGHER: Yeah. Perfect. Because, like I said, a lot of what we have, at least a lot of what I have access to is a little older, maybe not. It's more informational, more dry. And we're looking to get that information in there, but also, we want to tell whatever story we can behind that art piece as well. And so that's more the information we're looking for at this point, so yeah, that'd be great. CHAIR YODER: Okay. Very good. Very good. Last but not least, future agenda items and presentations. KLINE: I can speak to that if we can start with -- in October, I know that Chair CHAIR YODER has decided that he wanted to step down as chair. He's still staying on the commission. His term is up October 31st. We are in the process of subcommittee Meeting Packet Page 16 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 13 of 14 interviews, which will be on Monday afternoon. I'm hoping that there will be a second. So we have two vacant positions. So we will be interviewing with our council members on Monday. Unfortunately, Susan decided to step down. She had some personal issues that she was taking care of, and so she didn't feel she could commit to them, the History and Culture Commission. So she will be recognized at a future town council meeting. And right now, it's tentative for October 21st. I will send you all out an email and let you know we would like to have everyone there to recognize. If she's able to make it, I will be able to tell you, and the mayor would be presenting her with the appreciation plaque. So that is all I have for you right now. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Is that a Wednesday? KLINE: It is a Tuesday. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: A Tuesday. KLINE: Tuesday. Uh-huh. GALLAGHER: And I just have another quick thing maybe to add next time, depending on what I hear back. So there was a question, I think a couple times ago about the work done with the Fountain Park signs. The new signs, kind of the big placard, informational signs at Fountain Park. I think we have three of them that this commission had worked on, I think before. Maybe any of you guys were actually on the commission. And Susan had been asking about that, but we are in the design phase of that now that has actively been working on for the design because you guys, this commission came up with, again, what are we going to put on there? What's the text going to look like? What's the copy? So we're now working on the design. And if I have an update, we'll add it to that. Otherwise, just kind of stay tuned for that as well. So that is actively being worked on at this point. BURNS: Are those replacements for the existing signs? GALLAGHER: Yes. Yeah. The ones that you can't see or read anymore. BURNS: All right. GALLAGHER: Yeah. Uh-huh. So like at the end of the avenue -- BURNS: Other than potential updates, you're probably just kind of using the same copy Meeting Packet Page 17 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION Page 14 of 14 and stuff, aren't you? GALLAGHER: I think it's pretty well updated. Yeah. It's completely different -- BURNS: Oh, okay. GALLAGHER: Yeah. -- brought in and we're hoping to use that same QR SeeMyLegacy things where they can actually scan a QR code depending on where you are. For example, I have a bunch of aerials now of Fountain Hills. I've had both the whole town. I also have focused on the park through the years as well. So that's where things like that will be uploaded as well, and then there'll be a lot of information from those QR codes that are going to be on there as well. And they won't be printed. They'll be metal laser engraved on there so that it won't fade either. CHAIR YODER: Anybody else? All right. Next meeting date is October the 1st, 2025. Can I get a move to adjourn? BURNS: I so move. KLINE: I'll second the motion. CHAIR YODER: All in favor? ALL: Aye. CHAIR YODER: Any opposed? LOPUSZANSKI: Motion passes, 4-0. Meeting Packet Page 18 of 45 Having no further business, Chairperson Burns adjourned the Regular Meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission meeting held on September 4, 2025, at 4:28 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS ________________________ Tim Yoder, Chairperson ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: _________________________________ Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative 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 History and Culture Advisory Commission of Fountain Hills in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 7th of January 2026. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 7th Day of January 2026. _________________________________ Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Meeting Packet Page 19 of 45 ITEM 5.b. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory Commission Verbatim Meeting Minutes December 3, 2025 Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS 1. Verbatim MM HCAC 251203 Meeting Packet Page 20 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION December 3, 2025 A Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills History and Culture Advisory Commission was convened at 16705 E. Avenue of the Fountains in open and public session at 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Chairperson Bob Burns; Vice Chairperson Toni Lepoer; Commissioner Tim Yoder; Commissioner Peter Gallagher; Commissioner Chandler Harper Members Absent: Commissioner Bonnie Kline; Commissioner Tiffany Titus Staff Present: Recreation Manager Ryan Preston; Administrative Assistant Stormy Mazeikis Meeting Packet Page 21 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 1 of 15 Post-Production File Town of Fountain Hills History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting December 3, 2025 Transcription Provided By: eScribers, LLC * * * * * Transcription is provided in order to facilitate communication accessibility and may not be a totally verbatim record of the proceedings. * * * * * Meeting Packet Page 22 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 2 of 15 BURNS: Call this meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission together for December 3rd. I know there was a second show in here at 5:30 today, so we don't have a lot of leeway. So let's get started. Roll call, please? MAZEIKIS: Yes. Can I start with Chair Bob Burns? BURNS: Present. MAZEIKIS: Vice Chair Toni LePoer LEPOER: Present. MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Tim Yoder. YODER: Here. MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Peter Gallagher? GALLAGHER: Gallagher. Yes, I'm here. MAZEIKIS: Thank you. Commissioner Bonnie Klein. Commissioner Chandler Harper? HARPER: Here. MAZEIKIS: And Commissioner Tiffany Titus. BURNS: Okay. I've got a couple of additional things here. First off, heard from Bonnie about an hour ago. She said that her husband passed away yesterday. So she's not making it with us today. Obvious reasons. So and I'm going to ask for your indulgence a little bit. My voice is not good, and my hearing is not great on the best conditions. So I'm a little congested and I'm not sure why. So I probably won't hear much. So if I give you a blank stare, that's -- don't be. It's not to be rude. PRESTON: We'll use some hand signals for you today. BURNS: And I would like, if I'm not out of line, Ryan, to ask Stormy to give us a little introduction of herself. PRESTON: No, I was going to -- I was going to mention Stormy and this being her second ever commission meeting. And she's doing a fantastic job. So yeah, if you would like, Stormy? You don't have to. MAZEIKIS: No, I don't mind. Thank you. Oh, my gosh. I was with the State Gang task Meeting Packet Page 23 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 3 of 15 force and contracted with the Department of Corrections, and I did that for a decade. Still, to this day, I'm the only female in the nation that had that position. After that, my husband and I, we opened up an automotive shop. And we did that for a decade, and then now I'm here. So that's a little bit about me. I love horses and I don't have horses anymore, but I do have a Cane Corso, and he's 151 pounds. Just a fun fact. BURNS: Well, yeah. Well, we look forward to working with you. Thank you. MAZEIKIS: Thank you. BURNS: Any other commissioners have any comments or updates? PRESTON: So we actually -- that is not part of the agenda anymore moving forward on all future agendas, actually. BURNS: Okay. PRESTON: So we can move straight to -- BURNS: I recognize that, but it's still on there. PRESTON: Is there? Okay. I'm looking at the agenda here. I don't think we have one. But yeah, we can jump straight to presentations, would be great. Thanks. BURNS: All right. I think moving down, discussion or motion on the minutes. YODER: I move to approve. BURNS: From the November 5th meeting. HARPER: I'll second that. BURNS: Okay. PRESTON: So we'll take a vote? BURNS: All in favor? LEPOER: Aye. GALLAGHER: Aye. HARPER: Aye. BURNS: Like I said, please bear with me. PRESTON: And that'll pass 5 to 0. MAZEIKIS: Thank you, Ryan. Meeting Packet Page 24 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 4 of 15 BURNS: Yeah. PRESTON: Bob's moving quick. It's all right. BURNS: Where is that? Does that bring us to. Discussion in historical registry of the fountain. You have my notes included in the packet there. And I don't know if Ryan has had any discussion with the State commission or not that he can add to that or we're where we're at. YODER: I'm sorry. Do we need to fill in the other members of the group here? PRESTON: Yes. So you can do that if you'd like. Tim or Bob or I'm happy to jump in and discuss what happened at the meeting. BURNS: I'm sorry. YODER: Well, I'll just state for Chandler, and Peter, and Toni that the effort to get the fountain listed in the Arizona, as an Arizona landmark went down. It did not pass. And so that's where we are right now. Bob was there for the meeting online, and Ryan knows some other things, I think. So that's the update. PRESTON: Yeah, exactly. So we got some feedback. It was feedback. Unfortunately, a lot of the feedback went in contrast to a lot of how we were advised by our Shippo representative moving forward with how he thought that would go. The town has that information now above my level and deciding if they want to pursue the angle for which we were encouraged to pursue. For that, I know, Tim, I read your remarks and I agree with a lot of what you said in your statement, and we don't know if we are going to put forward a document that talks about the land before our control, essentially. And so they're looking into that now. But as of now, it's put on hold. We are not yet planning on moving forward with the resubmission with the -- until I get a chance to talk to our Shippo representative, which I have not gotten ahold of yet until I'm able to work with the town manager and attorney as well, to see what we want to put forward as far as a secondary application. BURNS: For the time being, we're not moving? Meeting Packet Page 25 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 5 of 15 PRESTON: Correct. For the time being, no action on it. We are in a holding pattern at the moment. BURNS: Okay. LEPOER: Do you think we'll try again? PRESTON: It'll depend on my conversation with our -- with the Shippo representative. The direction they were pushing us to go. I don't know if it's the is a direction the town is going to go as far as the application. LEPOER: Based on the feedback, I'm guessing. PRESTON: Correct. GALLAGHER: I'm sorry, what direction is that they wanted you to go? PRESTON: a lot of it was highlighting the, the native land the relationship with that, the Orme Dam, the Orme Dam conflict. Some things that weren't part of the town itself and maybe more of the County and the State. And so just deciding of what of that we want to put on record as far as town responsibility with what we're moving forward with our submission. GALLAGHER: So that's all history. But what does it have to do with the fountain? PRESTON: There's the main question that we're working on answers to, and I don't know, Chandler's buzzed in a couple of times, so I'll let him maybe talk on what he's got to say. HARPER: Yeah, I was just going to ask. So the town is working on these applications themselves rather than utilizing a historic consultant? Is that -- PRESTON: Yes. So we did utilize this commission. We were working with Doctor Collins with the State Historical Preservation Society, so he did advise us throughout the process. This commission wrote many of the narratives, which we then tweaked a little bit based on feedback from Doctor Collins with Shippo. Everything we did was at mostly at his direction, and then he actually put the final packet together for us for submission. And so that's a conversation I have yet to have with him and kind of where we went sideways with being off with what he thought we should put forward and what, what Meeting Packet Page 26 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 6 of 15 the board was actually looking for. HARPER: Got it. I will note just to for your guys' information, historic consultants who specialize in this space typically do have better luck with those commissions and those meetings. Obviously, there's an expense with that that we'd have to consider hiring someone for that. But those guys usually have a pretty good relationship with those boards and know exactly what they're looking for and how to sort of get things moving. So just if the town does decide to move forward, I would have them consider that. PRESTON: Yep. And that's a good suggestion, is something we looked into on one of the consultants that has been helping me with this process is actually our Developmental Services Director who worked in this field in Mesa. And when they did their submission, they did hire somebody to work with so that that was an option. We were hoping to avoid that option. But it may be something we may look at again. BURNS: Just as -- forgive me if I repeat anything, but from my perspective in sitting through the meeting, I think, you know, when we get to it or when we want to get back to it, I think the issues they brought up can be handled. There might be a couple of holes there, you know, just take a little more research. So just keep us posted on and we'll get back to work when ready. PRESTON: Yeah. YODER: I'm sorry, I have only one question, I guess now. For now. And that is, if this doesn't happen, does that prevent or preclude us from going to the national level? PRESTON: That is correct. This is a precursor to national. It has to be state approved first. And yes, don't worry. If there's work to be done, it'll make its way back here. So don't you worry about that. BURNS: Okay. I guess next up, we have discussion and possible action. The 250th anniversary for the United States. I was going to rely on Tiffany to go over this. She got into this very enthusiastically. And did a great job putting together the notes and the information we discussed. And I don't know if anybody's had time to go through this or whatever. You got any questions or ideas that otherwise, maybe I really would prefer Meeting Packet Page 27 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 7 of 15 her to address it right now, but. PRESTON: I've had a chance. I've had this for a little while. I've had a chance to read through it in detail. I'm happy to give a quick recap, and I can kind of give you a couple of yeas and nays off the bat. I'm happy to scratch a few off the list that I know just aren't feasible. So a lot of what we put out there as well might be outside the scope. There's a lot of reference to the museums and some other groups that we don't really have purview over. So great ideas, but a little outside of our scope as this commission and as well as the town so they highlighted a few here. One is you know, lighting ceremony, red, white and blue for the fountain. That is something that will be done. It's not nailed down exactly when that will happen. But that will happen. A large America 250 cutout to place somewhere around town that is actually being actively looked into as well. So that is something we hope to do right now. It's a couple of quotes we got are not exactly cost effective for a temporary installation. So we are looking at options for that. The America number three on this list is America 250 branding. Again, that is we are actively working on a logo. We're working on t shirts right now to replace our fourth at the fountain t shirts. So they'll be updated t shirts that will have pre-sales before that that you can get your shirts before the event. So we are working on both a logo and a new shirt to celebrate the 250th. Number four, she mentioned the concert series. There's the music fest has been set for a while, so we're not going to tie much in with Music Fest. However, we are looking to do a tie in with our concerts on the Avenue series to tie that in somehow, whether it's more Americana, whether it's a decades thing. So we are working on tying the theme in with that. So that was another big part of this. This workgroup was how do we tie that in with already running signature events? And that is something the town is actively working on itself. The Pony Express mural. You guys mentioned that last meeting. Murals are put on hold right now, and you actually see it coming up on one of the counsel agendas as a Meeting Packet Page 28 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 8 of 15 discussion point, as well as being discussed internally with the mayor. Murals, they're tricky. Once you allow one, we can't then -- we can't yay or nay based on content. So it kind of opens a lot of doors for those. And then also with it being on a federal building, obviously we have no say over that one way or the other. BURNS: On that item. Just a thought. It occurred to me, I know I think I even mentioned at the time she brought this up that it's not going to happen on the post office wall, but I was kind of wondering because I think there's still painting utility boxes around town. I was wondering if there was a maybe a couple of those that could be dropped into the theme. PRESTON: Right. Yeah, those are all set and done, and we're actually not doing any more other than the ones you see being done now. And there's just there's reasoning behind it, some I don't know. And I do believe it's going to be discussed. Just the idea of murals in general will be discussed at an upcoming town council meeting. So they're not going to be moving forward with any new ones as of now. BURNS: Okay. GALLAGHER: One quick question. Has anybody considered at least consulting with the Postal Service since the Pony Express is kind of an historical part of the Postal Service? PRESTON: I have not. No. And I don't believe anybody with the town has. I know for an example, they did not want the Pony Express ending at the post office parking lot last year, so I don't know how that it's not a direct relationship right now. It's a group that does that for the Pony Express. And so I don't know if we have a liaison with the town that would do that, that would make that contact with the federal government and who that contact would be to try to make that happen. GALLAGHER: Probably the manager of this post office would be a place to start. PRESTON: Right. GALLAGHER: And no is an acceptable answer. PRESTON: I could put you in charge of that, Peter, if you'd like to reach out to the manager on behalf of the commission. Meeting Packet Page 29 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 9 of 15 GALLAGHER: I will happily go visit the postal service and see what they have to say. PRESTON: I love it. Perfect. And we can make that happen. And I'm just going to kind of move down the list here a little bit. There's American 250 Art walk. I was wanting to get a little more information on that, but I know both Bonnie and Tiffany being out. I don't know how much additional information you had on that, Bob, and what we would do to tweak that. So I'll follow up with the workgroup offline, maybe on that item. There's a few things, you know, we've talked about time capsules. That's been mentioned internally as well. However, we just did one five years ago, so we don't plan on doing another time capsule within that time slot. They talked about the Thanksgiving Day parade. That is a chamber initiative. So we can maybe put a -- if they want to put some ideas together to push to the chamber, that's fine. But then that's one of the things that are beyond the scope of the town. I did reach out. There's been a lot of things about the stories of people in town, historical stories, whether it's veterans, whether it's part of the native groups. That's something I did reach out to the community center. They run a series of presentations, and they would love to have something like that. We have struggled finding veterans who want to speak about their experience to a large group of people. So that could be something we can have the work group work on in the future is maybe finding people who actually want to get up and speak about their history in that respect. So they're open to it, and they'd love to plan some, especially in the summer months. So just on that note there's a lot of talk about new sculptures and things like that. I can let you know the town doesn't do their own sculptures. Sculptures come through development. And so we wouldn't be pursuing any new sculptures for the 250th initiative. Curriculum packet for teachers, again, that's not something the town would take on. That's something we could again recommend to the school, but that's not something we would take on and push out ourselves. And then the oral history project that was mentioned could tie into the stories and the presentations through the community Meeting Packet Page 30 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 10 of 15 center. But we wouldn't have the resources to go out and film these stories like it suggested in the packet. BURNS: Well, this really was an exercise in putting everything we could think of out there. And I know there's a lot in here that's just not practical so -- PRESTON: I wanted to run through the whole list. So I got on record because I did look into quite a few of these things for you guys, just to see what we can do. There's an idea of the 250 Volunteer challenge. I'd love that idea. That is a maybe not a very realistic number of volunteer hours. Even our top volunteers from last year don't come close to 250 hours. There could be a play on that. We could do with less hours. But I did like that idea. It's got a lot of community involvement in it. It's got, you know, what we're looking for. So that was a really fun idea. There's a local business one, like a local business passport. Again, that's an idea that we could push on to the chamber. But they would be better suited for that. I love the idea of the heritage tree planting initiative. The 250 trees. I've reached out to parks. They're out right now. But I'd love to get something moving on that. I think that's a really great idea. We've talked about rededication of memorials, and I've been told that's a no go for the most part. There may be something we can do with the presidents, but as far as rededicating anything that most likely won't be happening. And I think that that's everything. And a lot of this stuff, Bob, I know you're in the work group, has a lot of collaborations with you know, our native neighbors. Just keep in mind they may see the 250th celebration differently than we do, and there may not be as much collaboration as we hope. But if somebody knows anybody in that regard and wants to reach out, that would be something. BURNS: Something that, you know, I had noticed in contact and everything that one thing that you know, the native people around here take a great deal of pride in is their service. So they're, you know, that that might be a direction to approach. PRESTON: Yes. Traditionally, the 4th of July has been used as a celebration of native Meeting Packet Page 31 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 11 of 15 services, of armed services. So and native veterans. Correct. Okay. Well, that's kind of my update. That's me being Tiffany for a second, just to kind of give you guys an idea of what was in that packet, kind of what is feasible, what is, what is not feasible, and what may be better for a different group outside of the town as well. BURNS: All right. LEPOER: (inaudible). PRESTON: What's that? LEPOER: Tiffany, you've changed. PRESTON: Yeah. Thank you. BURNS: Anybody else on this one? PRESTON: Oh, sorry. And the other, one of the other main points was to try the town to use its power of communication to put out to all these groups that we are looking for their ideas. They can bring them to us so that we can create a centralized web page of all the activities. And that is something that we will work towards doing as well. BURNS: Okay. And let me -- give me a minute to see whether that brings us. Oh, okay. Historic art and essay contest. Tim or Peter? You got anything? YODER: I have nothing since last month. BURNS: Okay. GALLAGHER: I was waiting to hear something from Ryan on this. PRESTON: Yep. Ball's in my court on that one. So we did -- so quick update. We were able to create an online form that we've now QR code linked to the to the flier, which we've now finished. And it's everything's updated. I don't have a copy with me now or attached here, I apologize. I just put that together, the form together yesterday. I did reach out to both Christy and Dr. J at the school just to remind them it's upcoming. Kind of give them a heads up of what our deadline and everything was. I unfortunately sent that out, like the day before Thanksgiving break. So I'm sure it got buried. I haven't heard back yet but I am going to follow up with them tomorrow. To try to get a response and just an acknowledgment that we're going to be pushing that out first of Meeting Packet Page 32 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 12 of 15 the year is kind of the goal. We'll be starting pushing that in January. We learned you can't push anything out in schools in December if you wanted to stick past January. So we'll be pushing that out in January. And like I said, the fliers two sided. Now it has everything, and it's got the QR code that will link to the sign up page where they enter the contest, which will then tell them to bring in their art piece. If it's a visual art piece, they bring it in to Town Hall or if it's they can also email us the if it's a written essay. We beefed up the -- I didn't use I signature page as well for both the kids and the parents. BURNS: All right. And Public art information updates. Ryan or Toni? LEPOER: Ryan, I think that's you. And then I'll say I do have one question after you give the update. PRESTON: Okay. Not a big update on this end. Not much progress since last meeting. It's been a pretty busy month for our department. We are hoping to continue moving forward with getting the QR codes assigned and up and geo coded. As I mentioned, there's about 106. So it will take some time. Right now the avenue is finished. The Centennial Circle has been finished. The plaques haven't been physically put on the items yet. But on the digital end, everything's been taken care of and updated. So it's just a matter of eventually making that public and getting those QR codes out. Next -- the next thing we're attacking is Fountain Park. I wouldn't expect us to move on that until probably second or third week of January, realistically. LEPOER: Ryan, did you have any luck getting me access to what's there now? Just so I can look it over. PRESTON: Yeah, I apologize, I think -- I thought I sent a link, but I'll send it again. LEPOER: I didn't see. PRESTON: Okay. I'll send it again right after. First thing tomorrow morning. Because I'm not heading back. Okay. LEPOER: Do you know which email you would have sent it to? PRESTON: Whatever email you use for this. LEPOER: Okay. I didn't see it. Meeting Packet Page 33 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 13 of 15 PRESTON: Okay. I'll send it again. No problem. Or I'll send it for the first time possibly. Yeah. BURNS: All right. Public art applications. Up next. I take it there is nothing to discuss there? PRESTON: No new applications. BURNS: Yeah. Okay. Any thoughts or ideas on future agenda items or presentations? Anything scheduled or planned there? YODER: I just regarding the school project, the history, Historic art and essay contest. So we'll have a little bit of go time at the next meeting or right there in early January as school gets back into session I take it. So should I plan to attend a school board meeting that week, the next week or whenever, so that I can report something in February? PRESTON: Good question. Let me, let me let me hear back from Doctor Jay. And I can ask him that and see what he thinks if it'll be necessary, or if we can just go with pushing it out. YODER: Okay. Yeah. Please. You know, tell him that I was specifically my name, that I was wondering because you know, he knows me well, and. PRESTON: I will always name drop you. So don't you worry about that. YODER: Well, you know, tell him if I don't need to go there and he makes me go there, I'm going to be very upset with him. PRESTON: I will let him know that Commissioner Yoder would love to sit through another school board meeting, and you would love to be there. BURNS: All right. PRESTON: Did anybody else have anything they wanted to see on the next agenda? Any ideas for presentations? GALLAGHER: Is there a deadline for getting something on to the next agenda? PRESTON: One week before our next meeting. GALLAGHER: One week. Okay. Because I promised last meeting that I would speak to the museum director about doing a presentation, and I have not yet asked her, so I will Meeting Packet Page 34 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 14 of 15 try. PRESTON: So you know, one week before the next meeting will be New Year's Eve, I believe. GALLAGHER: Yep. PRESTON: So you may want to give a little more leeway than a week. GALLAGHER: I'm going to see her this week or next week, I think. PRESTON: Excellent. And update you on that as well. So community Services Director Kevin Snipes will be sitting in in my place for the next meeting. I will still be out of town from the holidays. But Kevin will be here to answer any questions. YODER: Also, regarding few future items. I did speak with -- oh, I texted you, I think or emailed you the head of the operations over here at the Dark Sky Community, and he said he would be willing to come in sometime in the future and talk to us about his side. And he thought others would be willing also. PRESTON: Yeah, I definitely know they're trying to do some outreach. And I know specifically Michael is happy to come in and speak. So if you want, I can probably work on setting that up. It will probably be for the February meeting. But if you guys are interested in that, I can move forward with getting something set up from them. Yeah. YODER: I mean, I for one would like that. I think that'd be good for us. GALLAGHER: Either Michael or Donna Wright. Dr. Wright is the education director. So -- YODER: Michael was telling me, you know, his specialty is the structure and the operations. And then he recommended the director of the education program. Also separately, maybe for another time or maybe ahead of him. He said she would be. It's a she? PRESTON: Yes. YODER: Yeah. Yeah, she would be great. GALLAGHER: She is very good at doing presentations. So just a thought. BURNS: All right. Ready to move on? I think we're looking at next meeting Wednesday, Meeting Packet Page 35 of 45 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS DECEMBER 3, 2025 HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Page 15 of 15 January 7th. I presume the same time, same place? And with that, I'll take a motion to adjourn. LEPOER: I motion. BURNS: Have a motion. And a second? HARPER: Second. BURNS: All in favor? YODER: Aye. GALLAGHER: Aye. LEPOER: Aye. BURNS: Okay. Meeting Packet Page 36 of 45 Having no further business, Chairperson Burns adjourned the Regular Meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission meeting held on December 3, 2025, at 4:29 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS ________________________ Bob Burns, Chairperson ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: _________________________________ Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative 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 History and Culture Advisory Commission of Fountain Hills in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 3rd of December 2025. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 3rd Day of December 2025. _________________________________ Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Meeting Packet Page 37 of 45 ITEM 5.c. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Historical Registry for the Fountain Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS 1. HSRC_MINUTES_11-21-2025_DRAFT_FOUNTAIN PARK SECTION (1) Meeting Packet Page 38 of 45 HSRC Meeting Minutes 11-21-2025 Page 4 • Add mention to the contribution and interpretation of the site to the agricultural history of Tucson. • Add mention of Mission Gardens’ connection to Tucson’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. • Provide the precise date that the landfill comes with a statement that says this is the date we are choosing as the end date for the period of significance because this is the date that the landfill begins to be constructed and the parcel stops being used as agricultural. The Chair called for a vote on the motion, which passed with vote of 6-0. - (01:15:16) ROLL CALL VOTE Kit Gallup Y Margaret Hangan Y Karl Hoerig Y KEY Taz Khatri Y Y - For Douglas Kupel NP N - Against Lucas Lindsey Y AB - Abstained Terry Majewski NP NP - Not Present Bill Otwell NP Don Ryden Y 3. Fountain Park, 12925 North Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, Maricopa County Collins provided an overview of Fountain Park. MOTION TO OPEN DISCUSSION: - (01:22:05) Ryden moved that the State Historic Preservation Officer place FOUNTAIN PARK on the Arizona Register of Historic Places at the LOCAL level of significance under CRITERION A and C and that the nomination be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register for placement in the National Register. The motion was seconded by Khatri. Burns, who assisted with the nomination, was available to answer questions from the committee. After open discussion, the following recommendations were made by the Committee: • The Orme Dam controversy should be discussed in this context of the fountain’s complicated history. • Address the ability to see the fountain from Fort McDowell, Leonard noted that there is a nuanced symbolism in the narrative there. • Explore the Disney Imagineer element of the narrative. This connects the idea of planned communities explore what is good about America. Meeting Packet Page 39 of 45 HSRC Meeting Minutes 11-21-2025 Page 5 • Include information about the landscape architects of the park. • Include information regarded how this park is different or similar to other planned community parks. • More information about what was the inspiration for the fountain. Why a fountain? • Refine the period of significance. De-emphasize information on current events. Clean up the chronological timeline. The Chair called for a vote on the motion, which failed to pass without prejudice with vote of 0-6. - (02:02:17) ROLL CALL VOTE Kit Gallup N Margaret Hangan N Karl Hoerig N KEY Taz Khatri N Y - For Douglas Kupel NP N - Against Lucas Lindsey N AB - Abstained Terry Majewski NP NP - Not Present Bill Otwell NP Don Ryden N * A break was taken by the committee from 11:52 a.m. to 12:03 p.m.* 4. Villa del Rio, 7200 East Campo Del Rio, Tucson, Pima County Collins provided an overview of Villa del Rio. MOTION TO OPEN DISCUSSION: - (02:23:38) Khatri moved that the State Historic Preservation Officer place VIA DEL RIO on the Arizona Register of Historic Places at the LOCAL level of significance under CRITERION A and C and that the nomination be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register for placement in the National Register. The motion was seconded by Hangan. Preparer, Levstik, was on hand to answer questions raised by the committee. Urban and Evans spoke as well. After open discussion, the following recommendations were made by the Committee: • A clear map of the district is needed without the colored overlay or tone down the saturation so that the house form is visible. • Include a map that includes the articulation of the four floorplans. Meeting Packet Page 40 of 45 ITEM 5.d. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 250th Anniversary of the USA Staff Summary (background) Staff is currently designing America 250 avenue banners and a logo, and developing a webpage where local groups can share information about related activities. Staff is also exploring the concept of a commemorative structure that could be placed throughout the community. Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS None Meeting Packet Page 41 of 45 ITEM 5.e. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) UPDATE: Historic Art and Essay Contest Staff Summary (background) The town has been in communication with the schools and plans to start pushing this project in late January. Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS None Meeting Packet Page 42 of 45 ITEM 5.f. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant Staff Contact Information: Phone: 480-816-5148 Email: smazeikis@fountainhillsaz.gov Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Public Art Information Updates Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS None Meeting Packet Page 43 of 45 ITEM 5.g. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Staff Contact Information: Phone: Email: Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Public Art Applications Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS None Meeting Packet Page 44 of 45 ITEM 5.h. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: 1/7/2026 Meeting Type: History and Culture Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Submitting Department: Community Services Prepared by: Staff Contact Information: Phone: Email: Request to Town Council Regular Meeting (Agenda Language) UPDATE: The next meeting date is February 4, 2026 Staff Summary (background) Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle Risk Analysis Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s) Staff Recommendation(s) Suggested Motion FISCAL IMPACT Fiscal Impact: Budget Reference: Funding Source: ATTACHMENTS None Meeting Packet Page 45 of 45