HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC.2015.0331.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS
STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
March 31,2015
AGENDA ITEM#1—CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Dana Saar called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall.
AGENDA ITEM#2—ROLL CALL
The following members of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission were present for roll call: Vice Chair
Dana Saar and Commissioners Lina Bellenir, Gerard Bisceglia, Alice Brovan, and John W. Craft Jr.
Commissioner Nancy Ordowski was excused. Chair Peter Bordow and Youth Commissioner Kate Domin were
absent.
Also present were Town Manager Ken Buchanan,Administrative Services Director Grady Miller, and Recording
Secretary Shaunna Williams.
AGENDA ITEM#3—CALL TO THE PUBLIC John Tinklepaugh spoke at the Call to the Public regarding opposition to Park Place,a proposed development on
Avenue of the Fountains.
AGENDA ITEM#4-CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING FEBRUARY 26,2015 MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner Bellenir MOVED to approve the February 26, 2015 meeting minutes and Commissioner Bisceglia
SECONDED the motion,which CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present.
AGENDA ITEM#5 -DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL 5-YEAR UPDATE TO STRATEGIC
PLAN 2010
The indication from Council(at the Council meeting on March 19,2015)that there is no rush to complete the
Strategic Plan update was discussed. Also discussed were the potential benefits and detriments of utilizing Strategic
Plan 2010 as the basic framework of the proposed update.
A document that was prepared and distributed by Commissioner Craft(copy attached)outlining,"Further
comments/observations to the 2015 Strategic planning process for group discussion,"was reviewed.
The Town's sustainability under the current revenue structure was discussed,i.e.,increasing costs for infrastructure
maintenance and public safety,with decreased funding available for quality of life amenities.
Working to produce the update in conjunction with community/stakeholder groups and other Fountain Hills
governmental agencies was discussed.
Mr. Buchanan pointed out the necessity of outlining an update process(an organizational model such as the classic
Harvard model or a community-wide model),as well as the expected outcome. It was suggested that a volunteer
work group outline a proposed process for presentation to the commission at the next regular SPAC meeting.
Vice Chair Saar and Commissioner Craft volunteered to serve on a work group. Chair Bordow was `volunteered' in
absentia.
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AGENDA ITEM#6-ADJOURN
•
Commissioner Bisceglia MOVED to adjourn at 5:08 p.m. and Commissioner Brovan SECONDED the motion,
which CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY by those present.
•
Shaunna Williams,Recording Secretary
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Strategic Planning Advisory Commission— Fountain Hills
Further comments/observations to the 2015 Strategic Planning process for group discussion
• The 2010 Plan itself calls for ongoing review and revision with a full update every 5
years.
• The SPAC understands that plans are fluid and, based on community dynamics, may
require regular review and refocus. Long term plans will almost always be overridden
because of changing politics, economics and social imperatives.
• We believe that most of the Common Values remain relevant for planning purposes
but may need to be prioritized or given weighted values based on the present
environment.
• The current Plan includes 51 strategic directions (9 currently in play) that are generally
mutually exclusive. We believe that there may be strategic imperatives that overlap
within our Common Values and among the community stakeholders, hence;
• SPAC acknowledges the need for a establishing a shared resolve among the various
stakeholders if we are to be sustainable. Our intent is to find linkages (common
interests) that can be leveraged for the Town's benefit. Which stakeholder groups
should the SPAC contact?...CoC, Schools, McDowell Mtn Preservation, Community
Services Advisory Commission, Scott Cooper— Economic Development Specialist for
FH, MCO Developer.
• To that end, we believe it critical that our Plan must be able to weigh both outcomes
and EFFORTS of the stakeholders ongoing....thus the need for reconnecting with the
community to gain feedback and then employing a decision matrix for prioritizing
strategic directions.
• There seems to be a general belief among SPAC members that fewer, measurable and
achievable strategies be developed and with shorter time horizons (3-5 years).
• Will our planning timeline allow for contacting other towns in Maricopa County for
comparison sake? Apache Junction (37000 pop)—El Mirage (33000 pop)—Queen
Creek (30000 pop).