HomeMy WebLinkAboutHCAC_2026_0401_Packet
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
OF THE 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, APRIL 1, 2026
FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA
PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC MEETINGS
Request to Comment Cards
To speak or submit written comments, a Request to Comment card is required. Cards must be completed and
submitted to the Clerk before the meeting begins. Late or incomplete cards will not be accepted. A separate
card is required for each agenda item.
Agenda Items (Consent or Regular)
Request to Comment cards must include the agenda item number, whether the speaker is FOR or AGAINST the
item, and whether the individual wishes to speak or submit written comments.
Call to the Public requests are accepted in person only. Request to Comment cards must be submitted prior to
the meeting commencing.
Speaking Rules
Speakers may speak only when recognized by the Presiding Officer and are limited to three (3) minutes. All
comments must be directed through the Presiding Officer, not to individual commission members or staff.
Request to Comment cards and submitted information are public records subject to public disclosure.
Meeting Packet Page 1 of 29
1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. INVOCATION
3. ROLL CALL
4. STATEMENT OF PARTICIPATION
Anyone wishing to address the Commission regarding items listed on the agenda or during Call to the Public
must completely fill out a Request to Comment card located in the back of the Council Chambers and hand it
to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting. Once the meeting 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. Comments may not exceed three minutes. It is the
policy of the Commission not to comment on items brought forth under "Call to the Public." However, staff
can be directed to report back to the Commission at a future date or to schedule items raised for a future
Commission agenda. To avoid disruption of the meeting, to maintain decorum, and provide for an equal and
uninterrupted presentation, applause is not permitted, except during Proclamations, Awards, and
Recognitions. All meeting participants must maintain proper decorum as specified in Section 6 of the Council
Rules of Procedure.
5. PRESENTATIONS
6. CONSENT AGENDA
All items listed are considered to be routine, non-controversial matters and will be enacted by one motion
and vote of the Commission. All motions and subsequent approvals of consent items will include all
recommended staff stipulations unless otherwise stated. There will be no separate discussion of these items
unless a Commission Member or member of the public so requests. If a Commission Member or member of
the public wishes to discuss an item on the Consent Agenda, he/she may request so prior to the motion to
accept the Consent Agenda or with notification to the Director or Chairperson prior to the date of the
meeting for which the item was scheduled. The item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and
considered as the first item on the Regular Agenda. The remaining items on the Consent Agenda will be
enacted by one motion and vote of the Commission.
a. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of History and Culture Advisory
Commission Verbatim Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2026.
7. REGULAR AGENDA
a. DISCUSSION: Historic Registry for the Fountain
b. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Public Art Applications
c. UPDATE: Public Art Information
d. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Historic Art and Essay Contest
e. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 250th Anniversary of the USA
f. UPDATE: Mandatory Training - Open Meeting Law (April 21, 2026, at 4:00 - 5:00 PM)
g. UPDATE: The next meeting date is September 2, 2026, at 4:00 PM
8. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01, or as prescribed by state law.
9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
10. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting Packet Page 2 of 29
Dated this 26th day of March, 2026.
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
AZRelay 7-1-1 the Thursday prior to the meeting to request reasonable accommodation.
Meeting Packet Page 3 of 29
ITEM 6.a.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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 of March 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
1. HCAC_2026_0304_Minutes
Meeting Packet Page 4 of 29
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
March 4, 2026
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 4:03 p.m.
Members Present: Chairperson Bob Burns; Vice Chairperson Toni LePoer;
Commissioner Tim Yoder; Commissioner Peter Gallagher; Commissioner
Chandler Harper; Commissioner Bonnie Kline; Commissioner Tiffany Titus
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Community Services Recreation Manager Ryan Preston;
Administrative Assistant Stormy Mazeikis
Meeting Packet Page 5 of 29
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Post-Production File
Town of Fountain Hills
History and Culture Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2026
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 6 of 29
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BURNS: Call the meeting of the History and Culture Advisory Commission for the Town
of Fountain Hills to order here. It's a little after 4 o'clock. But start by -- please rise for
the pledge and remain standing for a couple of minutes.
ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
BURNS: Okay. Thank you. There's a statement of participation, but it doesn't look like
there's anyone here to participate. So no presentations. And let's see. The consent
agenda; consideration and possible action --
MAZEIKIS: Hey, Bob, can we do roll call? Sorry.
BURNS: I'm sorry? I'm sorry, Stormy. You threw me off my game.
MAZEIKIS: It's okay.
BURNS: Roll call, please.
MAZEIKIS: Chair Bob Burns?
BURNS: Here.
MAZEIKIS: Vice Chair Toni LePoer?
LEPOER: Here.
MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Tim Yoder?
YODER: Here.
MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Bonnie Kline?
KLINE: Here.
MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Peter Gallagher?
GALLAGHER: Here.
MAZEIKIS: Commissioner Chandler Harper?
HARPER: Here.
MAZEIKIS: And Commissioner Tiffany Titus?
TITUS: Here.
MAZEIKIS: And we have a quorum.
BURNS: Okay. Now, can we do the consent agenda? Consideration of possible action;
approval of the meeting minutes from February 4th, 2026. Do we have a motion or
Meeting Packet Page 7 of 29
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comments?
TITUS: If there are no comments, I move to approve the agenda as is.
YODER: And I'll second that.
BURNS: Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, say aye.
ALL: Aye.
BURNS: Okay. And discussion and possible action; historic registry for the fountain.
Tim and Chandler and I got together for a discussion, and I think there's some of that
stuff in the packet. I know the memo I wrote, and I know Chandler sent some stuff
along. I'm not exactly sure who all that got to, whether everyone saw that, or -- I don't
see it in the packet here though, so.
PRESTON: Yup. So the information Chandler sent along will be shared dependent on
how the discussion today goes, essentially, and how the action today goes on whether
or not this commission votes to advise us to move forward with the application.
BURNS: Well, just a comment before I discuss the recommendation; I was unable to get
a hold of somebody from MCO Realty. It was just -- I sent a message and didn't get a
response. And I just haven't gotten around to following up. So that's where that stands.
But that can be done down the road. You see here that our discussion was to more or
less move ahead and refocus the application on the fountain only, highlighting the
technical and design features in the interaction, along with water conservation elements
through its recycling qualities. And another recommendation is proposing that the
contacts be made to consider the feasibility of retaining assistance from a consultant.
And that came from the work group. So I don't know if Tim or Chandler would like to
make any comments on any of that stuff or anything else.
YODER: I just want to say I agree with that. I think that's great. And I want to mention
that Chandler was a big help in some further research and examination. I'm not sure if
that's appropriate to talk about.
PRESTON: Yeah, you could talk about it all.
YODER: Yeah.
PRESTON: It's fine.
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YODER: Well, I'll turn it over and let Chandler actually talk about it. Yeah.
HARPER: Yeah, yeah. So I appreciate that, guys. And yeah, Bob, you hit the nail on the
head there. I think -- and we discussed this in the working group, I think the best course
of action would be to, if we as a board decide to, you know, move forward with that
secondary application, I think it'd be good to refocus on the technical and design
features of the fountain itself rather than the Fountain Park. One, it narrows the
application quite a bit to where it's a lot easier to get everything that you need in there.
And it's a lot easier to garner that information rather than, you know, these things
about, for instance, the grassy areas of Fountain Park. It's too difficult. It's too hard to
write a narrative, is a good way to put it, as to why this grass and sidewalk, et cetera is
historic when it's really not. The focal point is the fountain itself. And so I think by
narrowing that, we'd have a lot higher chance of success.
And then additionally, I did bring up to the working group, you know, exploring the idea
of retaining a historic consultant that specializes in these applications simply because
they do have those existing relationships with the State Historic Preservation Offices,
SHPOs, as they're typically called. And so they tend to have a positive reaction going in
rather than new faces. So those are the things that were discussed. And then, as far as
the additional research after the working group, I sent over a couple applications to the
working group for other fountains throughout the country; one in Nebraska and then
one in Cincinnati, Ohio, just as an example of other fountains that were on there
specifically for their engineering and design features. And I think it was helpful to the
other members of the working group. And they can chime in and tell me if it wasn't, but
it sounds like it was. And it shows that it's a much simpler application that way because
you narrow the focus. And so I think that's where we landed was that that would be our
recommendation; that if we want to move forward, we would only do so with the
understanding that it would be an application for the fountain itself.
BURNS: And j ust one of the things I'm -- was thinking was, you know, even though, you
know, the park was built at the time, you know, almost 60 years ago now, and it's
absolutely true that a lot has happened in that park that might be considered historic or
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worthy of mention, you know, it doesn't really work within the -- it's an evolutionary
thing and really doesn't work within the, I don't know, parameters of including it. Or it's
difficult. So.
HARPER: Yeah, Bob. And that's another great point. And that's something that I
don't -- I was not a part of this commission at the time the original application was filed.
But that's another consideration, is that if the entire park were to be put on the Register
as it was originally attempted, you would have significant hurdles moving forward in
perpetuity, essentially, as to changing anything in the entire Fountain Park. So you want
to redesign the splash pad? Probably got to go through the State Historic Preservation
Office because you've said this is historic as is. And so then, you run into a lot of issues
that way. Whenever you narrow it, you also ease the burden on the Town moving
forward. You know, 100 years from now, if they want to update something, they can
work with the state historic offices on, okay, what do we need to fix on the fountain?
Not, hey, we need to move the sidewalk. You know, we have to jump through all these
hoops, you know. And they despise us from 2026, so.
PRESTON: And I can give a quick comment on that. That is something that before we
even moved to this commission with this idea, we looked into. And for the National
Register of Historical Places, it is more of a ceremonial term. It's not an actual historical
landmark. That's step 2 in the process. And last I spoke with the Town Manager, they
weren't going to move to that second process. It was just going to get on the NRHP and
not moving forward to the next process. It's when you get that landmark status is then,
yes, when you have to deal with all that. And that's something that the Town, at least at
the time, was not wanting to push forward to. Yeah. For that exact reason, we want to
be able to do maintenance on our own fountain and park.
HARPER: Right.
PRESTON: Yeah.
GALLAGHER: So what's really historical about the fountain is that when it was built, it
was the largest fountain in the world, right?
BURNS: Yes.
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GALLAGHER: And it was a technological wonder. And those are the things that you're
focusing on, right?
HARPER: Correct. And that's exactly what I think we need to rein it into.
KLINE: I haven't looked, but I'm sure that it was listed in the Guinness Book of World
Records for a number of years. So that could be pointed out if it hasn't been already.
PRESTON: And there's a lot of good pointers back from the commission who turned
down our application about what to include, what not. And I think the water
conservation -- where does the water come from; how do we get the water -- I think
there's some confusion on that. So I think clearing that up within the application
because the lake would have to be part of the fountain regardless because it's part of
the mechanism of the fountain. So the fountain is the lake essentially. So that would be
part --
BURNS: Yeah. The fountain itself, the pumping system --
PRESTON: Yeah.
BURNS: -- and obviously the water.
PRESTON: And just keep in mind there was requests for a lot of the schematics and
things for the fountain and for the pumps and everything. And from the company
standpoint and the Town standpoint, we weren't going to release too much of that. We
did put some historical documents in there. But as far as full schematics of the pumps
and the mechanisms, they weren't willing to include that. So just a heads-up if you do
move forward that that was a --
BURNS: Well, and that's one reason I was hoping to get some feedback from MCO
Realty because I believe there is a, you know, a descending company still in Texas who
might have some information they could pass along to us, so. And like I said, I haven't
heard back from Michael, so I'll try reaching out again to see. Unless, did you say you
know Michael Gant, Tim?
YODER: Yeah, I do.
BURNS: You want to try and reach out to him and see?
YODER: Sure. Will do.
Meeting Packet Page 11 of 29
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BURNS: And with that, anything else? Listening for a motion. Do I want -- is one
appropriate, or do we need two for each -- one for each recommendation, or --
PRESTON: No. So if we want -- basically what we're looking for here is direction on
whether or not that this advisory commission wants to move forward with the
resubmission. And so the motion would focus around that.
BURNS: Okay. So we don't need to talk about the specifics of the memo here?
PRESTON: Correct. Specifics aren't important right now.
BURNS: Okay.
PRESTON: Just whether we're going to move forward with the reapplication --
resubmittal.
BURNS: Okay.
HARPER: Then I would motion to move forward with the reapplication.
GALLAGHER: I'll second that.
BURNS: Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, aye.
ALL: Aye.
BURNS: Any opposed? Okay. Thank you, all. And I got to figure out where I'm at here.
Should have made a copy of the agenda, and I didn't. Okay. 250th anniversary for the
USA; I guess, the town has some T-shirts they're selling as you can -- if you want to see.
And --
YODER: Are you wearing one right now?
BURNS: Yes.
LEPOER: He is.
YODER: May I see it?
LEPOER: Stand up and model for us.
PRESTON: To confirm, because his mic wasn't on, Commissioner Yoder would like a
twirl.
BURNS: And a little logo on the front there, too. So.
YODER: Did you get -- a re there many colors, and did you get one of each color?
BURNS: No, there's just one color that I recall.
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PRESTON: Correct. There's just one color. However, there was a green Irish Fest one
available, too, that's new this year if anyone's interested.
YODER: Very nice. Thank you.
TITUS: Where are the shirts available to purchase?
PRESTON: They're available both at Town Hall, second floor, as well as for the 250th,
the Chamber's Visitor Center also has a few for sale. And they will be on the art side of
the market next Wednesday, a week from today.
BURNS: Ryan, do you have anything else there that you -- as far as activities, any
events? I believe there's a few things coming up.
PRESTON: Yup. So just a reminder that if anybody has any groups interested in getting
on the web site, there is an application on the FountainHillsAZ.gov/250 site that they
can submit their own events up so we can get it out, and we can promote those as well.
Update from last time is we did add to our -- we have a Movie in the Park event where
we're showing "National Treasure." It's a 250th event. We moved it to Fountain Park.
And we're also working with Peter Volny and Gary of the Fountain Hills Auto Club to do
an American car parade and car show that same evening. So that'll go around the
fountain and end on Saguaro. And those cars will be available to view up until the
movie as well.
KLINE: What's the date on that?
PRESTON: That is April 25th. And that's all in the Fountain HillsAZ.gov/250. You can
find all the 250-related events that we're doing.
BURNS: I believe the Community Chorus has stepped up for one or two concerts.
PRESTON: Correct. Y up. It looks like they're doing a few concerts as well. Um-hum.
BURNS: And that's not too far off either, is it? No.
PRESTON: I'm not sure the exact dates for those.
BURNS: Yeah, okay. Okay.
PRESTON: Again, we're still taking ideas. We're pretty set at least as far as our budget is
spent. But if there are ideas that maybe can be creative and work within the scope of
what we're already doing, feel free to share them and I can pass them along.
Meeting Packet Page 13 of 29
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BURNS: Okay.
TITUS: I have a question related to the -- in that you mentioned specifically there's a
parade, and it's an American car parade. Are parades something that we as a
commission can be a part of, especially for America 250? Like, could we apply as a
group to have a car in that parade? And would w e do that separate from the
Commission, or can we do it as a group? Like, we don't need to be a part of a working
group to do that, do we, if any of us have an American car?
PRESTON: No. You can definitely apply. Like I said, it's Gary with the FH Auto Club
who's handling that for us. And I can get you his contact information.
LEPOER: I think that would be really fun to be a part of it, you guys.
PRESTON: All right.
BURNS: Right.
KLINE: You have a car, Tiffany. It's not American. Sorry.
BURNS: Okay.
KLINE: Ryan, I was wondering --
BURNS: What's that?
PRESTON: You'll need to turn it on.
TITUS: I was just wondering what you thought of the idea of reaching out for more
information about the traveling exhibit.
PRESTON: Yeah. So I sat on a work group -- internal one with the Secretary of State's
office for that already. And they had their dates set. We spoke about the potential
bringing it out, and it doesn't look like a feasibility right now for that. I know you had
reached out, and I think they told you something similar as well, you know. So that was
brought up when we had a meeting with the Secretary of State's office regarding the
250 celebrations a couple of months ago.
LEPOER: Question for you. I had mentioned to Kevin about the possibility of selling the
flags, like, that we're going to be putting on the poles around town. Any thoughts on
that pop up at all?
PRESTON: Selling the banners that are on the poles? Probably not, because all that are
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ordered are on the poles. And by the time they're off the poles, it'll be 2027.
LEPOER: Yeah. I just mentioned it as a money-making that you could sell them to
make -- you know, make money and whatever.
PRESTON: Gotcha. We wouldn't be able to print to sell, if that makes sense. We'd have
to pre-print and order quite a few. And I don't know if it's the risk the CFO would want
because those are unusually expensive to order. Yeah. And we'd have to order a
certain amount ahead of time. So it would be tough to have it in stock to be able to
push out for sale.
KLINE: Just curious, what happens to the banners when you take them down?
PRESTON: I am unsure. I can get back to you on that.
TITUS: Okay. Maybe they could be donated to another group as a fundraiser, kind of
memorabilia.
PRESTON: Usually, if it's Town property, it's got to be auctioned or tossed is the rule. So
donation is usually out of the question --
LEPOER: Auction.
PRESTON: -- just with Town property. But again, by the time they come down, they will
be no longer necessary, I guess. It'll be past the 250th anniversary.
KLINE: Yeah. I know they won't be pristine, but some people are sentimental.
PRESTON: Right. And yes, I can reach out to Director Jacobs and see that that is kind of
her purview, and see what it is they plan on doing with those, as most of the times we
order banners, they're not single-use. We rotate them through. This would be our first
kind of single-use banner, so.
KLINE: Yeah. I would think that at least one or two should be saved for the museum for
future years as part of our history.
PRESTON: Perfect. I'll pass that along.
BURNS: Yeah. They would definitely be obsolete after the end of this year. And what
kind of shape they'll be in is another thing. And I imagine the manufacturers saw an
opportunity for a one -shot deal to make them maybe a little more expensive for those
who wanted them, so. But you know, it might be kind of fun to think about an auction
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for something like that. Okay. Anything else?
Thank you, Bonnie, for the effort you put into a couple things there.
KLINE: Yeah, I'm still working on it. I haven't given up.
BURNS: Okay. And historic art and essay contest, just remind me what the dates are on
that, so I --
PRESTON: Yeah. So we've been pushing it out to the schools, and then on our social
media as well. I'm not sure how far it's getting out in the schools. We have gotten a
few submissions already, not much. March 19th is the deadline. So we're hoping -- I
believe spring break is next week for Fountain Hills Unified School District. So our goal
was to give them the week of spring break. And then, the Thursday following spring
break is the deadline. So we're hoping having that week break, that's when all the kids
are going to work on it and turn it in. I'm sure that's what they spend most of their
spring break doing. So that's what we're hoping for. But I'll keep everybody updated on
that. But right now, it's just only a couple --
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: -- submissions have trickled in so far.
BURNS: And this is an aside, but it kind of relates. I am working with the Dark Sky
Festival Committee. We had a meeting yesterday. And people working on the art
contest, and they were a little disappointed in the response this year. But you know, it
is what it is. And so.
PRESTON: Yeah, we've noticed, you know, a downtick in responses to things like this. It
also happens to be the same time, I believe, the Coalition does their essay contest --
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: -- which I know is a little more popular. Just the amount of access they have
to the school --
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: -- is helpful as well. And also, it's sometimes hard to reach all the kids, as
there's a portion of the population that goes to school outside --
BURNS: Right.
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PRESTON: -- of the Fountain Hills Unified School District. And so a lot of times, those
districts don't allow us to get those fliers into their schools. And so --
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: -- it could be a challenge to reach all the kids, we're finding. But we're trying
to get creative with it. And we're hoping --
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: -- that these last two weeks, we get more submissions.
BURNS: Um-hum. Okay. I guess, nothing else on that. Anything new on public art?
PRESTON: Yeah. So this -- kind of the work group in this point was added a lot of times
for -- I think we started with the mapping is where a lot of this was, specifically Toni,
some stuff we were working on. We have -- the Avenue portion is now live of the
mapping, in addition to Centennial Circle. So those have been updated, and we expect
the rest of those to be done within about a week so that the full art walk will be done
and on a new system here soon. So just an update on where we stand on that, and it's
coming along pretty well. We're getting new photographs taken of a lot of the art and
just the new platform we're putting it out on. It's going to be a lot more accessible for a
lot of people in the way we're doing the QR codes. We've got those in rotation to get up
on all the art pieces starting hopefully this week, if not next week, to start getting QR
codes that are scannable and will tell you about the art piece, and also direct you to the
tour. Then, you can take the next stop on the tour as well.
LEPOER: When do you think the website's going to be ready?
PRESTON: So both of those are live right now.
LEPOER: Oh, they are? Okay.
PRESTON: Yeah. So the Centennial Circle walk as well as the Avenue are both live right
now.
LEPOER: Oh, good. In the new format.
PRESTON: Yup. In the new format.
LEPOER: Yay.
PRESTON: It's not posted anywhere yet. Once we get the QR codes up, that's when the
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posting will happen. But they're live, and you can search for it now.
LEPOER: Oh, nice.
PRESTON: And I believe this Commission's received that link as well.
KLINE: Yeah, that'd be great.
PRESTON: Um-hum.
TITUS: I will say I visited the site through the link. And it is beautiful. I mean, it's really
nice to have, and it's very well-done. So thank you. It's a beautiful start.
BURNS: I'm not sure who's hosting it, but didn't they start some art walks recently
related to the Miles family?
PRESTON: If they did, it's not through the Town.
BURNS: Okay.
PRESTON: Um-hum. Because I'm unfamiliar with it.
BURNS: It may have been the museum that's doing that or somebody else.
GALLAGHER: The museum has Centennial Circle art walks that are basically a guided
tour.
BURNS: Okay. And just an aside, not exactly art, but I see you got the new signs out in
the park, and it's appreciated. I know I was starting to get feedback on those ones that
were there. And if it's appropriate, can you tell me how those are different from what
we had before that might hold up better?
PRESTON: Yeah, that's Art in the Park. For sure. A couple of things are different. One,
they're much cheaper to manufacture now, those type of signs. And two, it's a
poly-metal, a printed poly-metal. And it's supposed to be a lot more fade-resistant to
the sun.
BURNS: Um-hum.
PRESTON: However, if it does fade, the cost to replace it, we could buy, I think, 20 each
of those signs at the cost of one of the old signs.
BURNS: Yeah.
PRESTON: So cost-effective-wise, it's a lot easier just to -- they have it now, we reprint --
BURNS: Yeah.
Meeting Packet Page 18 of 29
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MARCH 4, 2026, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 14 of 16
PRESTON: -- and we put it back on. And we can also make changes as we grow as well,
needed. But they're supposed to hold up to the sun quite a bit better.
BURNS: And it was a member of the Rotary Club that brought this up to me. And it
might be good to keep in mind the next time you get not necessarily that, but similar
project, you know, to knock on these guys' doors and see if they want to, you know,
sponsor or help out in some way, so. But now that it's done, I don't think they're
probably -- okay. Next, public art applications. You got anything?
PRESTON: No new public art applications right now.
BURNS: Okay.
PRESTON: Um-hum.
BURNS: And I guess, next meeting up. Next meeting, April 1st, April Fool's day. So in
call to the public, I don't see any public here, so I'll assume there's no one here. No
speaker cards?
And just to clarify, if someone by any chance had sent in an email for our attention,
you'd let us know, right, Stormy?
MAZEIKIS: Yes, I would.
BURNS: Yeah.
KLINE: So I just wanted to mention that at the Fountain Hills Botanical Garden that
they've got some new signs. And the one near the dam where the ranch -- or the
cowboy bunkhouse or whatever you want to call it -- has new information that I didn't
know. It talks about the fact that it had bunk beds and a stove, and it just gives a little
bit more --
BURNS: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
KLINE: -- information. So it's very interesting.
BURNS: Kind of a line shack down there. Yeah.
KLINE: Yeah, line shack. That's a good word.
BURNS: Yeah. Okay. Anyone have anything for future agenda items they want?
TITUS: May I ask a question related to a future agenda item? I'm not thinking this is a
future agenda item. However, it relates to the America 250. But it's not on our agenda.
Meeting Packet Page 19 of 29
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MARCH 4, 2026, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 15 of 16
We had a Leadership Academy presentation two years ago now, but it was all about the
drones for pyrotechnics for the fireworks for the 4th and how many towns and cities are
looking at including either drones or the total switcharoo. I know we don't want to do a
whole switcheroo. But there's so many reasons. It's amazing nowadays. The question
would be, is that something that would be fun to learn about and have a presentation
on, or are we just purely not interested in drones for our 250th celebration, the 4th of
July? Have you heard anything about it?
PRESTON: Yeah, we can add that as a -- we can probably put that as a discussion
underneath the 250th anniversary. I wouldn't be able to discuss it too much right now
just because it falls outside of what we're at in the agenda. But next time, if you want to
bring that up either during the 250th anniversary, or we can specifically -- I think the 4th
of July would fall under that, no problem. So we can add a discussion regarding that.
Um-hum.
TITUS: I'd love to add that for the next agenda item under the America 250.
PRESTON: And if it's a presentation, too, you can we can discuss that, too. If you had
somebody in mind that wanted to do a presentation on the possibility of that, you could
set that up as well.
TITUS: If the committee is interested, it could be extremely short. I could limit it to,
like, seven minutes or less. And it's fascinating, the benefits.
PRESTON: Yup. So if you wanted to do a presentation if you want, basically what we
would need, you would have to have all the information including the slides to Stormy
at least a week before the next meeting in order to have it included.
TITUS: Thank you.
PRESTON: And then, my suggestion is, if you do put slides together, make sure to have a
cost estimate as well with what, if you want to do a drone, what you think that they
would cost.
TITUS: Thank you.
KLINE: I would just like to say that it'd be nice to have some kind of presentation by
different arts or culture groups like the museum or the Art League or other art and
Meeting Packet Page 20 of 29
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MARCH 4, 2026, HISTORY AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Page 16 of 16
history groups around town just to keep us informed about what's going on.
PRESTON: Yeah, absolutely. We've discussed that before. And it might have been,
Bonnie, before you were on. And if you guys want to set those things up, you're
welcome. If it's outside of a Town employee presentation, we won't seek out those
presentations. But if you know somebody, and you'd like to have them do a
presentation, absolutely. Again, just get the information to Stormy so we could set it up
ahead of time. So yeah, you can reach out and have those types of presentations.
Obviously, we're going to make sure it's germane to the group. And if it is, absolutely
we can get them in. But that's something that again, the Town staff wouldn't pursue
anybody to do a presentation outside of Town staff, if that makes sense.
KLINE: Okay. Great. Thanks.
BURNS: Ryan, I'm interested in seeing whether or not -- whether it's you or someone
else you think appropriate on staff that can come in and talk to us a little bit about the
role of the commissions in general and this particular one, you know, how we operate
and, you know, some of our limitations in our powers, if you will. You know, I think we
would appreciate an update.
PRESTON: Absolutely. So our Town Clerk's probably the best for that. I'll reach out to
her and see if she's available April 1st to kind of give --
BURNS: Okay.
PRESTON: -- an overview of that and answer any questions you might have.
BURNS: All right. Thank you. Anything else? Okay. With that, take a motion to
adjourn.
KLINE: I'll make a motion to adjourn.
HARPER: Second.
BURNS: Motion and a second. All those in favor?
ALL: Aye.
BURNS: Okay. And we are adjourned at about 4:35.
Meeting Packet Page 21 of 29
Having no further business, Chairperson Burns adjourned the Regular Meeting of the
History and Culture Advisory Commission meeting held on March 4, 2026, at 4:35 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 4th of
March 2026. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum
was present.
DATED this 1st Day of April 2026.
_________________________________
Stormy Mazeikis, Administrative Assistant
Meeting Packet Page 22 of 29
ITEM 7.a.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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: Historic 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
None
Meeting Packet Page 23 of 29
ITEM 7.b.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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: 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 24 of 29
ITEM 7.c.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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: Public Art Information
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 25 of 29
ITEM 7.d.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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: Historic Art and Essay Contest
Staff Summary (background)
DISCUSSION: Essay Contest — Projects are due by March 19 and should be turned in to the
2nd floor of the Fountain Hills Town Hall. Only submissions with submitted or attached
forms will be accepted. NOTE: Work that contains descriptions of violence or an act(s) of
violence or harm to a person or animals will not be considered. One winner will be selected
from each grade level category: 3rd Grade – 5th Grade, 6th Grade – 8th Grade, and 9th Grade
– 12th Grade. Winners will be recognized in May at a Town event, to be determined.
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 26 of 29
ITEM 7.e.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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)
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 27 of 29
ITEM 7.f.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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: Mandatory Training - Open Meeting Law (April 21, 2026, at 4:00 - 5:00 PM)
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 28 of 29
ITEM 7.g.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 4/1/2026
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 September 2, 2026, at 4:00 PM
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 29 of 29