HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994.1101.TCWSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE WORK/STUDY SESSION OF THE
FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 1, 1994
A Work/Study Session of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by
Mayor Cutillo at 6:30 P.M., Tuesday, November 1, 1994, in the Fountain Hills Town Hall,
located at 16836 E. Palisades Blvd., Building C, Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Present were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor John Cutillo
and Vice Mayor Wally Hudson, and Councilmembers Don Lawrence, Peg Tibbetts, Frank Clark,
Marianne Wiggishoff and Bill O'Brien. Also present were Town Manager Paul Nordin, Town
Attorney Bill Farrell, Director of Community Development Gary Jeppson,Planner Loras Rauch,
Town Engineer Randy Harrel and Parks and Recreation Director Robin Goodman.
AGENDA ITEM #2 - PRESENTATION BY MR. ROY WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT OF GPEC, GREATER PHOENIX ECONOMIC COUNCIL.
Mr. Roy Williams explained economic development and marketing principles used by GPEC to
L. assist and encourage future employers to locate in this region. They had conducted a survey to
determine what primary factors influenced a company's decision to locate in Arizona. The
results of the survey identified quality of life, attitudes of local government and economic
development officials, and taxes as major factors. It was announced that Councilman Frank
Clark was a new member to the GPEC executive board.
AGENDA ITEM#4-UPDATE ON THE GRANT APPLICATION FROM THE ARIZONA
GAME AND FISH HERITAGE GRANT FUND TO CONDUCT A WILDLIFE HABITAT
STUDY IN FOUNTAIN HILLS.
Planner Loras Rauch explained to the Council that a habitat inventory of native vegetative plants
would be conducted under a grant issued by the Urban Wildlife Habitat Funds and that the
deadline for application was November 9th. This grant would enable funding for information to
be gathered to map areas of vegetation. This information would be helpful to determine if wash
lands could be developed. NASA overflights information, a hyperspectral sensed data mode,
would depict colors on maps indicating current vegetation in the Town. This detailed information
would be provided as base data. Resolution 1994-29, a resolution supporting the grant
application, was on the November 3rd Council agenda and would be submitted with the
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 11/01/94
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application, if approved. Ms. Rauch indicated that a one-year period was allowed for expenditure
of grant funds--July, 1995 to July, 1996.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW OF DRAFT #2 OF THE PARKS,
TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN.
Parks and Recreation Director Robin Goodman introduced Susan Peerson and Mark Soden,
consultants from Design Workshop, Tempe, who drafted the proposed amendment to the Parks,
Trails and Open Space portion of the General Plan for the Town of Fountain Hills. The General
Plan was adopted May 6, 1993. Information gathered for preparing this amendment included the
assessment of existing conditions, future issues and needs of residents over the next 10-15 years
and implementation for future expansion of parks and trails. Priorities in the amendment include
the completion of Golden Eagle Park, the united efforts of the Town officials, developers, school
district and sanitary district personnel in the development of a park system, the construction of
additional sidewalks and bike lanes and the establishment of a trail system which would link
existing and future parks. Six maps were displayed which indicated drainage corridors and
proposed plans for future parks, bike lanes and trails.
Councilwoman Tibbetts asked if the projected total population figures, which had been lowered
to 35,000-38,000 people, would result in the reduction of the number of parks needed for the
Town. Mr. Soden stated that target needs were within those population figures.
Councilman Lawrence stated his concern over the future possibility of 15 acres being available
for park acquisition in various neighborhoods that were already fully developed and the expense
of maintenance of future parks. Ms. Peerson referred to the proposed plan regarding the
formation of neighborhood groups to determine what park and recreation aspects would be
required in their specific area and that a 15 acre parcel might not necessarily be needed in each
neighborhood.
Councilman Clark agreed that the neighborhood concept would be desirable but could result in
some neighborhoods determining that their needs were limited and that a neighborhood park
would not be essential.
There were 125+ residents in attendance at this meeting. Those who spoke before the Council
included Eric Bolfmch,John McCarthy,Ron Ballard,Joseph Meyers,Buz Donald, Susan Ralphe,
Joe Kelly, Sam Goffey, Linda Jensen, Jack Pauley, Bill Sadler, John Ducan, Ken Stout, Polly
Pollock, Lou Magian, Ilene Bolange, Betty Sanneman, Ray Deyo, Pat Nangle, Leonara Alvarez,
Patsy Kelly, Jake Sorenson, Diane Corenko, Norm Danforth, Fred Henke, Bob Pollock, Richard
Cohen and others. The entire audience voiced opposition to any development of washes for trails
and bike paths. They spoke about the issues of privacy, fire danger, social problems, security,
noise levels, economic impact regarding property values, wildlife preservation, direction for
waterflow and future maintenance costs.
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 11/01/94
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Mrs. Susan Ralphe, on behalf of the Committee to Preserve Natural Environment, requested the
Council delete all references to trails and washes from the proposed park plan. She asked the
Council to work with a citizen committee on a wash policy and presented a compromise plan.
The only wash to be developed in the compromise plan would be the lower Ashbrook wash. If
residential opposition continued to be present the Committee would ask for non-development of
every wash.
John Cavannaugh, a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, explained his reasons for
approval of the proposed amendment to the General Plan. He addressed the issue of public
safety of citizens' having to use roadways for bike and walking. He said that improving the
wash areas would not result in dangerous, life threatening situations and that citizens would not
need to be afraid of using those areas. He encouraged the development of washes as a means
of providing a safer alternative than using public roadways.
Mayor Cutillo informed the audience that no action would be taken since this meeting was a
work/study session. He also stated that a noticed public hearing would be held in the future
when a completed plan was drafted.
AGENDA ITEM #5 - DISCUSSION OF ORDINANCE 94-45, AMENDING CHAPTER 2,
SECTION 2.05, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE
FOR THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR PLANNED
UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
Gary Jeppson explained that the current ordinance allowed anyone to make application for a
Planned Unit Development with no specific criteria. The Planning & Zoning Commission felt
there should be some pre-determined criteria established that would be required before an
application could be filed. The criteria proposed was (1) the preservation of natural features, (2)
protection of environmentally sensitive areas, or(3)provision of usable open space. A developer
must comply with at least one of the suggested standards. Presently, there was no quantifiable
standard regarding the first criteria. The other two have criteria that was set up under the Parks
and Recreation Standards. Calculation for environmentally sensitive areas and open spaces was
1100 square feet per housing unit. The Commission recommended that the figure be changed
to 2200 square feet per housing unit.
Councilman O'Brien stated that just because the above criteria was met, the approval of an
application for a Planned United Development would not be guaranteed.
Councilwoman Wiggishoff expressed her approval of the criteria and said that by establishing
criteria and a specific format, a certain evenness of application would be provided.
Town Attorney Farrell stated that a density transfer could not be mandated, however, a developer
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 11/01/94
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could voluntarily offer.
Town Manager Nordin said that the language describing the PUD application process and criteria
could be modified to state that final approval, regardless of criteria satisfaction, lay within the
powers of the Council.
AGENDA ITEM #6 - REPORT BY MAYOR CUTILLO REGARDING A MEETING
WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON PATTEA, FORT MCDOWELL INDIAN TRIBE,
DISCUSSING ITEMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
Mayor Cutillo stated that he recently had lunch with President Pattea regarding improving mutual
relations between the community of Fountain Hills and the Fort McDowell Indian Tribe. Notice
of monthly breakfast meetings between members of the Council and the Indian Tribe would be
forthcoming.
AGENDA ITEM #7 - ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Cutillo adjourned the meeting at 9:43 P.M.
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 11/01/94 ,
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L
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
By:
J . Cutillo, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda D. emmen, Administrative Assistant
PREPARED BY:
Linda D. emmen, Administrative Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Work
Study Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 1st day of November, 1994.
I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 17th day of November, 1994.
6_
Lin a D. Lemmen, Administrative Assistant
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 11/01/94
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