HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014.0102.TCRM.Minutesz:\council packets\2014\r140116\130102m.docx Page 1 of 7
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE
FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
JANUARY 2, 2014
* CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Kavanagh called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers
* INVOCATION – A moment of silence was observed by all in attendance.
* ROLL CALL
Present for roll call were the following members of the Town Council: Mayor Linda Kavanagh, Councilmember
Ginny Dickey, Councilmember Dennis Brown, Councilmember Cecil Yates, Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen, and
Councilmember Henry Leger. Town Manager Ken Buchanan, Town Attorney Andrew McGuire and Town Clerk
Bevelyn Bender were also present. Councilmember Tait D. Elkie was absent from the meeting.
* MAYOR’S REPORT
i) The Mayor may review recent events attended relating to economic development.
The Mayor announced that she and Town Manager Ken Buchanan had attended the Joint Planning Advisory Council
meeting in Chandler that consisted of members from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), the Central
Arizona Governments and the Pima Association of Governments. She noted that it was an opportunity to hear regional
updates from the cities of Tucson, Globe, Casa Grande and Mesa dealing with economic opportunities for Arizona.
She said that there was also a state land review presented by State Land Commissioner Vanessa Hickman and an
update from Mayor Lopez Rogers on extending the border zone in Arizona to promote tourism. She added that
Phoenix presented their plans for their new global commerce center called the Phoenix Mart, a unique concept to
connect North American industries with domestic and global buyers. She stated that Phoenix is hoping that they will
be able to add 10,000 jobs once this is in operation. The Mayor advised t hat this was a good opportunity to network
with other Mayors and Managers on issues that they all have in common.
* SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES/PRESENTATIONS
i) None.
CALL TO THE PUBLIC
None.
CONSENT AGENDA
AGENDA ITEM #1 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FROM DECEMBER 19, 2013.
AGENDA ITEM #2 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION
#09070658, SUBMITTED BY ROBERT JOSEPH NELSON, REPRESENTING FRY'S FOOD & DRUG #70,
LOCATED AT 14845 E. SHEA BOULEVARD, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ. THIS IS FOR A SERIES 9
(LIQUOR STORE) ADDING SAMPLING PRIVILEGES.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION
#09070635, SUBMITTED BY ROBERT JOSEPH NELSON, REPRESENTING FRY'S FOOD & DRUG #70,
LOCATED AT 14845 E. SHEA BOULEVARD, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ. THIS IS FOR A SERIES 9
(LIQUOR STORE) ADDING SAMPLING PRIVILEGES.
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AGENDA ITEM #4 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A BUDGET TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF
$994,000 FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) FUND TO THE HIGHWAY USER
REVENUE FUND (HURF) FOR PAYMENT TO VENDORS FOR THE ANNUAL PAVEMENT
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ADOPTED WITH THE FY2013-14 FISCAL BUDGET.
Councilmember Yates MOVED to approve the Consent Agenda as listed and Councilmember Brown SECONDED
the motion.
A roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Mayor Linda Kavanagh Aye
Councilmember Ginny Dickey Aye
Councilmember Dennis Brown Aye
Councilmember Cecil Yates Aye
Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen Aye
Councilmember Tait Elkie Absent
Councilmember Henry Leger Aye
The motion CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present (6-0).
REGULAR AGENDA
AGENDA ITEM #5 - CONSIDERATION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DLR
GROUP, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,250 FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS, BID/NEGOTIATION, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
FOR FOUNTAIN PARK - PHASE 6.
Supervisor of Recreation Bryan Hughes addressed the Council relative to this agenda item and noted that last month
there was a presentation on the tentative scope of work for this project. He said that this evening he would like to
highlight a brief presentation to clarify some items and receive additional direction from the Council that hopefully
will result in moving forward with a contract between the Town and DLR Group. He noted that the goal is to have the
project under construction during the summer months.
Mr. Hughes highlighted the presentation (Copy available on line and in the office of the Town Clerk) and covered the
following topics relating to Fountain Park - Phase 6:
* Master Plan approved in 1998
* Final Phase of improvements in existing master plan
* Professional Services Agreement with DLR Group
* Scope of Work
* Contract total including reimbursables - $105,250
* Recommended and alternative locations for an LED display
* Pathway Lighting (Bollard lighting is recommended)
* Floating Fountains
Mr. Hughes stated that staff was looking for approval of the contract with DLR Group with clarification on the LED
display, pathway lighting, and the decorative floating fountains/aerators.
Mr. Hughes indicated his willingness to respond to any questions from the Council.
Mayor Kavanagh asked how many fountains they are looking at putting in and Mr. Hughes replied that staff was
thinking of five (5) total and noted that they range in height -- anywhere from 10 to 15 feet to 30 to 40 feet. He
advised that they have not yet determined what would work best for that area.
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Councilmember Yates commented that the Council is just approving the concepts and the budget and the design group
will come back with the exact bollard that they are proposing and some LED options for consideration. He said they
are not approving the LED tonight -- just asking the group to come up with some concepts and present them.
Mr. Hughes concurred with Councilmember Yates statement but clarified that staff is looking for a little more direction
so that the group is not doing too much extra work on a design if it is not something that the Council wants to pursue.
He agreed that they could get a couple of concepts put together for the Council to consider.
Councilmember Yates stated that he loves LEDs and what they are meant for but for beautiful Fountain Park he is just
not sure if that is the image they want to have there. He agreed that they definitely need something announcing
upcoming events in Town and there was lots of discussion about putting it on Shea Boulevard because that is where
there are 32,000 cars a day, many of which are out-of-towners, so it would bring a lot of people in. He said that he is
open to having that discussion.
Councilmember Brown noted that every time someone drives past the high school they look at their little LED sign
that announces what is going on and he does not believe it is offensive. He added that it is a good way to communicate
with the public. He stated that if they are going to talk about an LED sign he thinks they should start with a simple
basis like that as opposed to something that they look at over at Four Peaks that lights up that part of the Town all by
itself. He said he thinks they should be going with an information sign and not something like they see out on Shea
and the Beeline -- a nice, calm and polite information sign to keep the local people informed of what is going on in the
Park. He also discussed the floating fountains and said they are "cute" but before they make any kind of decision like
that he believes they should discuss it with some engineers who can tell them how much water they really need to
move, what it is really going to cost to operate and maintain or if there is a better value for the $300,000 in the water
control system.
Councilmember Dickey advised that she is not in favor of LED lights on Saguaro Boulevard and noted that obviously
they are talking about funding when they discuss putting signs there. She added that they have talked a lot about
putting them out on Shea Boulevard and she would prefer to do that especially with all of the additional people that
would see the sign if that is where it is placed. She said that as far as the idea of putting a fairly limited one over by
Fountain Park, the Town holds a lot of events that are not in the Park and it seems to her that since money is always an
object to take into consideration, she would rather not put an LED sign into this project and save that money for Shea.
She referred to Councilmember Brown's comment about the floating fountains being "cute" and said she is all for
putting things in that draw people to the Town but she is not sure that taking the budgetary money out of the water
quality money is the way to go -- it could be better spent on something that is really devoted to fixing the quality of the
water. She pointed out that $300,000 is a lot of money and expressed concern over high annual costs associated with
the floating fountains. She said before they could decide on that, she agrees with Councilmember Brown that they
would need a lot more information. She further stated that they had received some input from citizens regarding
pathway lighting (a glowing type of thing) and there were letters to the editor addressing LED signs so they have been
hearing from citizens who are a little bit unhappy with an LED sign. She added that last week there was a letter to the
editor about other improvements that could be made to the Park as far as keeping it clean and things like that which
they are going to be addressing.
Mayor Kavanagh asked if the idea of putting in the floating fountains was based on some study that was conducted
regarding the aeration of the lake or was there any engineering done and Mr. Hughes responded "not specifically." He
stated that if that is something that the Council would like staff to look into a little bit more they would contact their
water quality expert (Mr. Amalfi) and obtain more information on exactly what these fountains do as far as aeration
and things like that. He said that they don't know that they will solve the entire proble m -- they are floating and
therefore handle surface water -- but they can't hurt and staff can certainly do some more research and obtain that
information.
Vice Mayor Hansen commented that she wondered whether staff had talked to Mr. Amalfi about this because her
recollection was when they were having these discussions a year or two ago she heard that while aesthetically pleasing,
they don't really get down and mix like something under the water would. She stated that if they were going to go that
way, they would have to recognize that it's probably more for aesthetics than effectively curing any water problems.
She referred to the slide that depicted a combination of the LED light and monument sign an d said that for an LED it
helps to kind of tone it down a little but it is combining the monument sign with it. She added that she agrees with
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Councilmember Dickey that if it is an even/or type of thing, she would rather see that type of signage out on Sh ea
Boulevard because she thinks they could get a bigger "bang for the buck."
Councilmember Leger advised that he is not in favor of placing an LED at the Park and agreed that they get more
"bang for the buck" by saving those dollars and reallocating those funds towards Shea Boulevard. He added that with
respect to the bollards, he likes the fact that staff is considering the concrete and said that anything metal just totally
deteriorates in the Park area. He further stated that if the Council feels comfo rtable going with an LED, it is perhaps
something he could get behind at the Park but reiterated that he thinks they would get more "bang for the buck" from
Shea Boulevard. He added that with respect to location, if they get to that point, he thinks where staff recommended
the LED or the monument sign go is the appropriate place. He said what would concern him from a traffic engineering
standpoint is if anyone has ever spent any time observing human behavior/traffic behavior at the four-way stop, people
have a hard enough time negotiating that let alone trying to pay attention to pedestrians. He stated that he certainly
wouldn't want them paying attention to the sign. He noted that as Mr. Hughes stated, at Palisades it makes more sense.
He advised that he doesn't want to send a mixed message and it depends on where the majority of the Council wants to
go -- a toned down version with just a banner of LED is something that perhaps he could support and get on board
with. He commented on the extensive discussions the Council has had regarding enhancing water quality and more
specifically before this Council and other Councils that was aerators and aerators from an engineering perspective are
designed specifically to do that and he thinks that is what they need to do to enhance water quality. He added that even
if the money is dedicated for that, he would have a hard time supporting the floating fountains. He said he mentions
that now because it looks as if staff is asking for some clarity as they go into the design phase because if they are going
to go with the floating fountains, they would have to be incorporated into the design (or how would they go about
that?).
Mr. Hughes agreed and said that would be something that would have to be engineered separate ly but the idea was if
they were trenching, now might be a good time to do that.
Councilmember Leger advised that if that is the case, it would seem to him that the Council would then have to come
up with a definitive answer tonight -- either a yes or a no.
Mr. Hughes explained that there is a little bit of time and the group can move forward with some of the other design
elements. He said that if they know they are putting in a trench, that can be added later (figure out what the power
needs are and make sure they are spacing the electrical boxes for that type of stuff).
Councilmember Leger stated that he believes they need to look at the efficiency because that is the function of the
aerators and they would probably get less results from the floating fountains.
Mayor Kavanagh asked about the money they have for the monument sign with the LED sign as they see it before
them and if they just did the monument sign without the LED would there be enough money to put an LED sign on
Shea Boulevard or would that require additional funds?
Mr. Buchanan replied that it is unknown at this time and depends on where they are going to put it and what type of
LED sign they are looking at for Shea -- it's a totally different project so they would have to go back and develop a
scope and location on that. He said that he believes what he is hearing from the various comments by the Council is
that they prefer bollards rather than the light standards and no LED sign at the Park at this time (they would rather look
for another project for another LED sign to be considered out on Shea Boulevard if there are any funds left over from
this project). He added that as far as the fountains, without having adequate information to show more of a mixing as
well as aeration, at this time the Council cannot make an informed decision. He stated that those are the three things
he believes he is hearing should not be part of the project at this time -- stick with the original.
Councilmember Yates commented on when they studied the running of the Fountain last year and spent a quarter of a
million dollars just turning the Fountain on every hour on the hour for 15 minutes and said he is with Councilmember
Brown as far as the efficiency. He advised that just running the fountains is prob ably going to be cost prohibitive so
unless staff can come back and say they have found a more efficient and effective way to do it, mix, aerate and only
add 20% to the budget, he cannot support it. He noted that he is also leaning towards what Councilmem ber Brown
stated as far as a simple LED sign because he knows they are very effective. He added that whatever the line item
budget is for signs, monuments, LEDs, if staff can ask the group to leverage that into Package A, Package B and
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Package C, (from no LED sign and put it all out on Shea to a very simple LED, etc.) that would be a huge help. He
stated that he thinks that is something extremely important for the people who live in Town and might not travel on
Shea Boulevard. He added that he likes the idea of doing something along the lines of both.
Mr. Hughes referred to Fort McDowell's display at the end of Shea Boulevard and pointed out that that is a full color,
graphic sign and staff was never intending something similar to that. He said that the one that has been recommended
is in color but still very simple but there are other options to keep it even simpler like one color.
Mayor Kavanagh asked if this is something like what Peak's Fitness has out front and Mr. Hughes responded that he
believes the proposal is a step below Fort McDowell's sign and a step up from Peak's Fitness but very similar.
Councilmember Dickey advised that complaints had been received regarding the sign in front on the church on
Saguaro kind of close to Shea, which is very simple. She stated that the other part of this is maybe they don't have it
on at night and they might have some other options but she is just not generally in favor of it going on Saguaro. She
added that if it winds up that a majority of the Council decides they want an LED sign there, she hopes that they would
be open to discussing not putting it on at night at all because probably nothing is going on at that time.
Mayor Kavanagh commented that she hates the idea of having an either/or and if she has t o choose she is going to
choose Shea Boulevard only because they have heard from the business community that they need to bring people in
for the events and probably a lot of that traffic that goes up and down Saguaro is also headed to Shea. She noted tha t
she has heard from Charlotte McCluskey with the Farmers Market and at the last meeting Phylis Kern was here and the
people who run Oktoberfest and those people are trying to get people into Town and see that as really necessary since
the center of Town where all the activity happens is off the beaten path. She reiterated that she does not like to be in
an either/or situation and agreed that it would be nice to have information for people who live in Town but if it is a
choice she would rather have it out on Shea Boulevard because that is where she thinks it is going to be the most
effective.
Vice Mayor Hansen asked what the timeframe is for the work they are going to be doing on Shea and Saguaro
Boulevards -- on Shea from Technology out to 89.
Mr. Buchanan replied that staff is trying to put out the call for bids in the spring and hopefully during the summer they
will be able to have the asphalt and the signal replacement done at the same time.
Vice Mayor Hansen asked whether some additional signage could be worked into that project and Mr. Buchanan
responded if they have funds available. He noted that the sign out on Shea is going to be a little bit different than this
sign -- much bigger and the location is going to be critical -- and staff has not yet gotten into where they think that
should go so they need to explore a scope on that type of a sign.
The Vice Mayor asked whether that is something that they could "roll into that" so it wouldn't be an either/or -- let the
park signage be part of the park project and the other signage be part of the street project and Mr. Buchanan replied
"sure."
Councilmember Brown stated that he thinks they should start by finding out what the signs cost -- just a general cost
for something like what it in front of the Baptist Church, a very simple sign, and maybe then contact the Fort and find
out what that cost and then somewhere in-between they will have a feel for how much money they are actually looking
to spend. He said that he doesn't have a clue as far as what they cost and he believes the simple ones are fairly
inexpensive.
Councilmember Yates advised that he has done some of the big jumbo signs on some shopping centers and they can be
costly (one was roughly $80,000 but it has a beautiful base and stonework). He agreed with Councilmember Brown
and stated that the very simple ones that are in front of the schools and the churches cost only a few thousand dollars.
He added that that is why he thinks if staff comes back with two options then the Council at that time can decide yes or
no but he agrees that more work/research needs to be done. He asked what the Council can do tonight that won't stop
the process but will still provide staff some direction.
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Mr. Hughes replied that staff still wants to get the design group going and what they are talking about is a small part of
the project. He said if the Council approves the contract tonight, then the group can get rolling on that and he will ask
them to present a couple of options/cost estimates on a couple of LED signs that can be brought back to the Council for
their consideration. He noted that they are going to design the monument base to be similar no matter what corner it
goes on so all they are talking about is putting something on top and that won't change the design a whole lot (perhaps
just some power requirements). He added that more research will be done on the fountains because it sounds like the
Council does not want to move forward with the fountains until the y know more about the desired effects and as far as
the bollard lighting, he didn't hear anyone disagree so they can move forward on that.
Mr. Buchanan noted that they have the project itself and now they have three things that he thinks they need to vote on
-- do they want to do the fountains or not? He stated that right now he can tell them that they will not address
everything that they need to do and like Councilmember Brown said, it will make it "cute." The aeration will help a
little bit but just that will not solve the problem and they are working with the Sanitary District on that and they will
need to put in other systems to mix it up. He added that he believes he is hearing that everyone supports the bollards
and then they have the LED sign and staff can certainly bring that back at a separate time (put it in the project to be
designed and they can always stub out another electrical service for it in case they change their mind in the future). He
said that staff can bring some samples back to t he Council for their consideration but they need to get this project
going and decisions need to be made on these three things.
Councilmember Brown MOVED to put the fountains in another category, in another project sometime, to examine the
price of the LED lights and agreed that the bollards should be put in and not the standard lights, in concrete, and to
approve the Professional Services Agreement with DLR Group as presented with these exceptions and Councilmember
Yates SECONDED the motion.
There were no citizens wishing to speak on this agenda item.
Councilmember Dickey stated that Councilmember Elkie is not at the meeting and he had some opinions on this too so
this will give him an opportunity to have more input also.
The motion CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present (6-0).
AGENDA ITEM #6 - DISCUSSION WITH POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO STAFF RELATING TO ANY ITEM
INCLUDED IN THE LEAGUE OR ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
OR RELATING TO ANY ACTION PROPOSED OR PENDING BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
Town Manager Ken Buchanan advised that the Legislature goes into Session two weeks from today.
AGENDA ITEM #7 - COUNCIL DISCUSSION/DIRECTION TO THE TOWN MANAGER KEN
BUCHANAN.
Items listed below are related only to the propriety of (i) placing such items on a future agenda for action or (ii)
directing staff to conduct further research and report back to the Council.
A. None.
AGENDA ITEM #8 – SUMMARY OF COUNCIL REQUESTS AND REPORT ON RECENT ACTIVITIES
BY THE TOWN MANAGER KEN BUCHANAN.
None.
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AGENDA ITEM #11 - ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Brown MOVED to adjourn the meeting and Councilmember Yates SECONDED the motion, which
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present (6-0). The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
By _______________________________
Linda M. Kavanagh, Mayor
ATTEST AND
PREPARED BY:
_________________________
Bevelyn J. Bender, Town Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Session held by the
Town Council of Fountain Hills in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 2nd day of January, 2014. I further certify
that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 16th day of January, 2014.
_____________________________
Bevelyn J. Bender, Town Clerk