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Home My WebLink AboutMMPC.2011.0524.Minutes • �1yT AIN\t ,o i� TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE 0 MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION W MAY 24,2011 ii -W r- o0 ghat is 01' AGENDA ITEM#1: CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A public meeting of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission was convened and called to order by Chair Bill Myers at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, located at 16705 East Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, Arizona. AGENDA ITEM#2: ROLL CALL Present at roll call were Chair Bill Myers, Commissioners Steve Fleming, Klaus Schadle, and Elena Tone. Vice-Chair Tom Barberic, Commissioners Gerard Bisceglia, and Bob Sanders were absent. Staff members present were Director Mark Mayer, Deputy Town Manager/Finance Director Julie Ghetti, and Customer Services Representative Susan Phillips. AGENDA ITEM#3: CALL TO THE PUBLIC No one from the public wished to speak. AGENDA ITEM #4: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE APRIL 26, 2011 MEETING MINUTES Mr. Schadle made a motion to accept the minutes of the April 26, 2011 meeting, Mr. Fleming seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. AGENDA ITEM #5 PRESENTATION ON THE FY 2011-2012 BUDGET AND ECONOMIC UPDATE—JULIE GHETTI, DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER/FINANCE DIRECTOR Ms. Ghetti reported: • Council decided not to increase the telecommunications tax. • Council decided to use some reserves to pay off the bonds for Town Hall; the approximately $350,000, from local sales tax, that would have paid the bonds each year will then be available for General Fund. • We are using one of the pieces of the Reserve Funds, the General Government Development Fees, which has a balance of$520, 000. We are no longer able to charge these fees and have to use this money. If the bond issue does not pass in the next election, the Town will not have the funds to fix the roads as needed. Staff will continue patch the roads; eventually the roads have to be done. AGENDA ITEM #6 DISCUSSION OF SENATE BILL #1525 Director Mayer indicated that Town Attorney, Andrew McGuire, had said we have until 2020 to utilize funds. If Adero Canyon doesn't develop before 2020, a decision will have to be made as how to use the funds. Once they build the access road,then we will have access. Mr. Bisceglia arrived at 5:39 p.m. 1 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission The Town is no longer able to collect Open Space Development Fees; the $1.7 million in the account, plus interest, is all that will ever be in the account. The Town is kept informed of Senate Bills through the Town Attorney and the League. The Town Attorney, as a member of the Senate Bill committee, was instrumental in moving the fee repayment date back to 2020. The development fees can only be used for those projects listed in the plan that is submitted when calculating fees;the trailhead and the open space are part of the plan. The position of the Town Attorney is that a plat has been filed for the access road and therefore we now own that road; under the development agreement, MCO is responsible for building the road, which is a public road. The Town Attorney is of the opinion that we can go in there now,MCO said they would sue if we do. AGENDA ITEM #7 REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE REGIONAL PARK AND FH REGARDING THE SONORAN TRAIL There is no update at this time. Director Mayer suggested that Chair Myers contact Mr. Hubbell. AGENDA ITEM#8 DISCUSSION OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNS TO THE PRESERVE Chair Myers and Director Mayer drove around town to assess the need for potential signage. The suggested sites for the brown signs,with mileage marked: • Palisades and Shea • Palisades and Golden Eagle • Palisades and Saguaro • Golden Eagle parking lot There will also be four to six placards, with arrows,placed on the main streets. • AGENDA ITEM #9: REPORT ON MCO AGREEMENT REGARDING SENIORS, HANDICAPPED,AND CHURCHES The original agreement was for guided hikes during 2004-2005, and then extended 2005 through 2008. The second agreement ends October 31, 2011. The Town Attorney is drafting a new agreement. Depending how often we want to do hikes could determine if something is added within the agreement or if we amend the agreement on an as needed basis. The Commissioners feel the best way is to do the special events requests on an as needed basis. AGENDA ITEM #10: REPORT FROM THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN MONTH WORKGROUP • October 8—Kids Hike with Mayor Schlum and Ranger Amy • October 22—FH Make a Difference Day • October 29 — Event in the park; will start the Preserve trivia contest and promoting the event in September The purpose of the event is for people to experience McDowell Mountain Park, learn about Fountain Hills, the Preserve, the Conservancy, and safety in the desert. Mr. Bisceglia provided a handout with suggestions for October 29th. (Attached) • The twenty minute helicopter rides, over the park, Preserve, and the town, would cost$45 • The horse rides would be $45 per head for a one hour ride through the park • Roadrunner Desert Adventures, Humvees, could also possible be involved 2 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission • Will contact The Slippery Pig bicycle shop about bringing mountain bikes to the park to rent them to those wanting to ride in the park • Set up booths at grocery stores to promote the October events Based on the success of the helicopter and horseback rides, the amount of money taken in above their threshold could perhaps be donated to the park. All vendors will provide liability insurance, naming the Town and McDowell Mountain Park as additional insured. AGENDA ITEM #11: REPORT FROM THE FOUNTAIN HILLS AND SCOTTSDALE TRAIL CONNECTION WORKGROUP The trail is outlined, using GPS, from the Sunrise Trail to the Western Loop. The biggest hurdle will be getting the state to agree that the trail could be built on their ground. AGENDA ITEM # 12: REPORT FROM THE PRESERVE MARKETING WORKGROUP Chair Myers gave a dozen copies of the Emergency Preserve Signage Package to Fire Chief LaGreca, who is distributing them to the appropriate agencies. AGENDA ITEM # 13: REPORT FROM THE PRESERVE ACCESS WORKGROUP Chair Myers met with MCO to discuss Preserve access through Mayan Canyon. The new water company has more ownership than what was thought. The group will meet to see if is feasible to go through Mayan Canyon. AGENDA ITEM # 14: DISCUSSION OF ITEMS FOR THE AUGUST JOINT MEETING WITH L COUNCIL • Note accomplishments in Preserve • Present MMPC goals and current projects • Possibly bring up money issues and access issues The meeting is scheduled for one hour. AGENDA ITEM#15: CONSIDERATION OF ADJOURNMENT Mr. Bisceglia made a motion to adjourn at 6:32 p.m., Ms. Torre seconded and the motion passed by unanimous vote. McD Mountain Preservation Commission By: B 11 Myers, Chair Reviewed by: C . Mark Mayer, Director of Community ervices 3 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission / a Prepared by: cy It , 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 y 24, 2011. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. By: an ter, xecutive Assistant Dated this 25th day of May 2011 §0111 McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission