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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.0426.TCOM.Minutes Jr
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE OFF-SITE MEETING OF THE
(ow FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL AND
THE MESA CITY COUNCIL
April 26, 2007
Mayor Nichols called the meeting to order at 11:55 a.m.
Present from Fountain Hills: Mayor Wally Nichols, Vice Mayor Keith McMahan, Councilmembers,
Ed Kehe, Henry Leger, Jay Schlum, and Ginny Dickey. Councilmember Archambault was absent.
Town of Fountain Hills' staff: Town Attorney Andrew McGuire, Town Manager Tim Pickering,
Public Works Director Tom Ward, Assistant to the Town Manager Kate Zanon, Administrative
Assistant Susan Trocki, Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Town Council and Town Manager
Shaunna Williams, and Town Clerk Bev Bender.
Present from the Mesa City Council: Mayor Keno Hawker, vice Mayor Claudia Walters,
Councilmembers Rex Griswold, Kyle Jones, Tom Rawles, Scott Somers, and Mike Whalen.
City of Mesa staff: City Manager Chris Brady, Deputy City Clerk Linda Crocker, PIO Heather Gray,
Gov. Relations Coordinator Scott Butler, and city Attorney Debbie Spinner.
Ms. Zanon reviewed the meeting agenda that would be followed and facilitated the meeting.
Welcome and Introductions [Mayor Wally Nichols and Mayor Keno Hawker].
Self introductions of attendees took place as listed above. Mayor Nichols welcomed everyone and
commented one of Fountain Hills' greatest assets, the views; and the fact that Fountain Hills is
establishing relationships with adjoining communities. He thanked the City of Mesa [the 3rd largest
city in Maricopa County] for assisting Fountain Hills in the past. -
Mayor Hawker stated that Mesa had supported Fountain Hills in their annexation efforts and hoped to
use Fountain Hills as a model for a success story.
Update on the State Trust Land [Town Manager Tim Pickering].
Fountain Hills Town Manager Pickering briefly gave an update on the State Trust Land annexation.
He pointed out that Fountain Hills had been successful in obtaining a pre-annexation development
agreement with the Arizona Land Department. He noted that the Land Department's goal had been to
add value to the land before the land auction took place. The land sold last month for $110M, which
was the second highest sale to date. Mr. Pickering indicated a willingness to assist Mesa with the
process the Town had gone through. He also expressed that the City of Mesa's 20-year plan had been
the model for Fountain Hills' current 20-year plan. He stated that this 20-year plan forced the Town to
look into the future and to begin taking on those issues now to find answers rather than waiting.
Ms. Zanon stated that information on this topic had been provided in the packet provided to everyone.
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Williams Gateway Area Update [Scott Butler, Mesa]
Mr. Butler reviewed the plans for this area noting that it was Mesa's long-term plan to establish a
thriving center for business, employment, aviation, education, and technology. He discussed the
impacts of potential additional passenger services, Cessna constructing a new facility and relocate from
California, Embraer constructing a new facility, the educational facilities to be constructed in the area
and their role [ASU and Chandler-Gilbert Community College]; as well as the importance of two new
studies that were to be completed [Airport Master Plan Update and ULI]. A copy of the presentation is
on file in the Clerk's office.
Mayor Nichols questioned what impact this Gateway expansion would have on Scottsdale's airport
and Mr. Butler responded that this was not a competing market as Scottsdale provided mainly charter
services due to their schedules and volume limitations.
Transportation Connectivity [Tom Ward,Fountain Hills]
Mr. Ward briefly spoke about the lack of connecting road to Fountain Hills and the impact of having a
road connect Bush Highway to the Beeline Highway. He stated that Fort McDowell's Tribal Council
and the Town of Fountain Hills Council supported efforts to provide connectivity. He noted that staff
would be asking the Town of Fountain Hills Town Council to consider contributing 25% towards the
cost of the Stantec study that was projected to be completed in June.
Economic Development [Kate Zanon, Fountain Hills & Chris Brady,Mesa]
Ms. Zanon talked about the Town's trade demographics and how limited the commercial growth was.
She stated that the Town was currently working with the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to
broaden visitor market outreach and transportation was the key. She reviewed that the Town had
invested in the revitalization of infrastructure in the downtown area and that Town's focus was on
business retention, filling parcels, and downtown development.
Mr. Brady recognized that a well educated and skilled workforce was necessary for economic
development and the right infrastructure was needed to move things forward. He discussed that Mesa
did not have freeway congestion, the fact that the 202 was scheduled to be completed in 2008, the fact
that Mesa needed to work on the North/South connection, and that their water and waste water
facilities were in a strong position to facilitate future growth.
Closing Remarks and Adjournment [Mayor Wally Nichols & Mayor Keno Hawker]
Mayor Nichols thanked everyone for attending and staff for making all the arrangements. He stated
that he was looking forward to connecting Fountain Hills to the Gateway Area through the proposed
Usury Pass. He presented Mayor Hawker with a Fountain Hills pen set in remembrance of this
meeting.
Mayor Hawker also expressed his thanks to everyone who attended. He pointed out that the East
Valley communities needed to band together to complete projects and indicated that he would follow-
up and meet with Fort McDowell Tribal President Bear. He stated that Mesa's relationship was good
with both Fort McDowell and Salt River Pima Tribal Councils. He commented that he was impressed
with Fountain Hills as a community.
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Adjournment
Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting at 1:12 p.m.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
By _ d ►a.1,_
Wally ichols, Mayor
A'f1'J ST AND
PREPARED BY: /
Bevelyn J. %nd ,Town Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Off-Site
Meeting between the Town Council of Fountain Hills and the Mesa City Council on 26th day of April,
2007. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 17th day of May, 2007.
/61/41'6
Bevelyn J. nde , Town Clerk
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