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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMMPC.2011.0222.Minutes oe AiN � TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS �` ' MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE 3 b MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION friow —! FEBRUARY 22,2011 Pledge of Allegiance AGENDA ITEM#1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL A public meeting of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission was convened and called to order by Chair Bill Myers at 5:32 p.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, located at 16705 East Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, Arizona. Present at roll call were Chair Bill Myers, Vice-Chair Steve Fleming, Commissioners Gerard Bisceglia and Klaus Schadle. Commissioners Tom Barberic, Bob Sanders, and Elena Torre were absent. Staff members present were Deputy Town Manager/Finance Director Julie Ghetti, Director Mark Mayer, and Executive Assistant Nancy Walter. AGENDA ITEM#2: CALL TO THE PUBLIC There was no public present. AGENDA ITEM#3: INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS Introductions were made and both new Commissioners gave a brief bio. AGENDA ITEM #4: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE DECEMBER 7, 2010 MEETING MINUTES Mr. Fleming made a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting, Mr. Myers seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. AGENDA ITEM#5: CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING THE COMMISSION CHAIR This item is postponed until the March 22, 2011 meeting. AGENDA ITEM#6: CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING THE COMMISSION VICE-CHAIR This item is postponed until the March 22, 2011 meeting. AGENDA ITEM# 7: CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING THE MEDIA LIAISON This item is postponed until the March 22, 2011 meeting. AGENDA ITEM #8 BUDGET/ECONOMIC UPDATE BY JULIE GHETTI, DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER/FINANCE DIRECTOR Presentation attached. All Commissions are given the same presentation that was given to Council. Changes since the original presentation: • The 3%merit raise for staff was eliminated • There is nothing in the budget for the Special Transportation program • The Prosecutor will remain as full-time • The two full time positions for Economic Development were eliminated 1 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission { 4 • The property tax rate projection is about$10/month for a$250,000 house • The $1.2 million in the CIP fund is restricted for the Adero Canyon Trailhead; fund has not grown significantly because of the lack of development fees AGENDA ITEM #9: REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE REGIONAL PARK AND FH REGARDING THE SONORAN TRAIL • Access to the Preserve's Sonoran Trail is allowed through the Regional Park • The Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)was started about a year ago • The County's Regional Park system was initially on the fringes of the metro area, now it is surrounded by development;there is pressure for more access into the park • Park Superintendant, Rand Hubbell, should have the agreement to staff for consideration by April 1, 2011;the MOU has been through, and signed off by, all committees at the County level • The agreement will allow Preserve access through McDowell Mountain Park; it is a 2.5 mile walk from the parking lot to the Fountain Hills portion of the Preserve • Fountain Hills and the Sonoran Conservancy provided most of the labor to construct the trail under the Regional Park's supervision • There is a $2 fee to enter the Preserve; the MOU will recognize that there is a fee to enter, currently operating under a verbal agreement AGENDA ITEM #10: REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE SCOTTSDALE/FOUNTAIN HILLS CONNECTION TRAIL • Negotiations to connect Fountain Hills' six miles of trails with Scottsdale's 60 miles have been ongoing for about one and half years with Scottsdale's Conservancy, Commission, and staff • Scottsdale's trail builder, Scott Hamilton, will compile a list of items that need to be done to „ad complete the trail, such as flagging the trail, an archeological study, and contact the State Trust Land department • The trails only have to be 24 inches wide, instead of 48 inches, since horses are not allowed • The Preserve has its own code which prohibits equestrians; mountain bikes have been allowed for about two years • Scottsdale's Commission and Fountain Hills' Commission and Council have voted and agreed to connect the trails, without horse usage AGENDA ITEM # 11: DISCUSSION OF PREPARATION OF A 10-15 MINUTE PRESERVE PRESENTATION TO GIVE TO SCHOOLS, SERVICE GROUPS,AND OTHERS • Presentation will be about where the preserve is and what it is about • Mr. Fleming volunteered resources from the Sonoran Conservancy; the Power Point Presentation is from conception to the present • Possibly put the information on Channel 11 • $1000 is in the 2011-12 budget request for tools, toolbox, and/or McDowell Mountain month AGENDA ITEM# 12: REPORT ON THE TEMPORARY ACCESS TO THE PRESERVE • Provides access to the Sonoran Trail • Two ways to get into the Preserve, Adero Canyon, with guided hikes, and the Sonoran Trail • The goal is to get additional access to the Preserve 2 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission R AGENDA ITEM # 13: UPDATE ON TWIN PEAKS • The Peaks are not in anyone's preserve; concern is that people who are not preserve-minded will get a �.- hold of it and do something other than preserve • Located in Scottsdale and in the section owned by the State, which is currently mandated to sell it to the highest bidder in the future • Will open dialog with Scottsdale and the State AGENDA ITEM#14: DISCUSSION OF FAIR PREPARATIONS AND SCHEDULE • The booth is at the north end of Saguaro with Scottsdale Conservancy • The work schedule is set AGENDA ITEM #15: CONSIDERATION OF ADJOURNMENT Mr. Schadle made a motion to adjourn at 6:24 p.m., Mr. Fleming seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. McDow untain Preservation Commission By: Bill yer , Chair Reviewed by: C . Mark Mayer, Director of Communit ervices Prepared by: Nan Wal , Executive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission Regular Meeting held on February 22,2011. further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. By: /. /l irk 4. Icy Wa , , Executive Assistant L 3 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission