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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.0125.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 25, 2022 1. CALL TO ORDER at 5:00 pm 2. ROLL CALL — Chairman Grzybowski Present:Chairman Scott Grzybowski; Commissioner Brian Jennings; Commissioner Bill Craig; Commissioner Janice Holden; Commissioner DJ Willard; Commissioner Steven Nurney Staff Community Services Director Rachael Goodwin; Parks Superintendent Kevin Snipes; Present: Executive Assistant Patti Lopuszanski; Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously 3. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted(not required) on matters NOT listed on the agenda.Any such comment(i)must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and(ii)is subject to reasonable time,place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may(i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or(iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda. NONE 4. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the meeting of November 23, 2021 TABLED MOVED BY Commissioner Bill Craig, SECONDED BY Commissioner DJ Willard Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously Chairman Grzybowski asked for the agenda to be amended to reflect the Approval of November 23, 2021 MMPC Meeting Minutes, be tabled until the February MMPC meeting. 5. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the special meeting of January 5, 2022 TABLED MOVED BY Commissioner Bill Craig, SECONDED BY Commissioner DJ Willard Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously Chairman Grzybowski asked for the agenda to be amended to reflect the Approval of January 5, 2022, Special Meeting Minutes be tabled until the February MMPC meeting. 6. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Appointment of a Vice Chairperson Chairman Grzybowski called for the nomination of a Vice-Chair due to the resignation of Tom Barberic from MMPC. Commissioner Nurney asked what was required of the Vice-Chair and Chairman Grzybowski explained that if the Chair is not in attendance, the Vice-Chair oversees the meeting agenda. MOVED BY Chairman Scott Grzybowski, SECONDED BY Commissioner DJ Willard Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously 7. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Commission Vacancy Chairman Grzybowski asked about the process to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Commissioner Barberic. The commissioners were informed that the Town Clerk will be posting the open position and term for any interested residents to apply. Interviews will be conducted by a Sub Committee made of Town Council members. The Mayor will be announcing the new commissioner at a future Town Council meeting. Tom Barberic's term is to expire in October 2022. 8. CONSIDERATION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of Trail Master Plan A revised draft of the MMPC Trail Master Plan was sent to the commissioners for review. It was discussed if a special meeting was needed to finalize it and Commissioner Willard requested that it go before Town Council as soon as possible. Commissioner Craig informed the commissioners that the Lower Ridgeline Trail will be completed and after council approval will be ready to get started on the North Leg. It was noted that the end of April is the end of trail season. commissioner Craig requested to push for the March 15th Town Council meeting date. That would require items to be completed by February 28th to get into the packet. The Conservancy is a stakeholder and it was discussed whether to add their input as an appendix. It was agreed upon by Chairman Grzybowski to include their input. Commissioner Nurney agreed that the vetting criteria from the Conservancy should be taken into consideration. Commissioner Holden shared that the Conservancy was conservation-minded and would be happy with no other trails on the 824 acres of the preserve. Commissioner Willard expressed that the Upper Sonoran Trail would be good and that the Sonoran Quartz Connector Trail was supported by the Conservancy. He questioned if it should remain in the plan and Chairman Grzybowski stated it should be left in. There was discussion about Promenade Maintenance and looking at an alternate route for safer conditions. Mr. Snipes, Parks Superintendent addresses mitigating backout drains that are undersized. It will be necessary to do something different with equipment up there as the rock will continue to break down. Commissioner Craig added to also look at what is below the surface and if solid rock. Additional items discussed were trail maintenance, guiding principles, and consideration of Town input. 9. DISCUSSION WITH POSSIBLE DIRECTION: Golden Eagle and Adero Canyon Trailhead Info Signs Ms. Goodwin requested that edits be sent that will reflect a better consistency in signage. It was agreed to add no hunting. Chairman Grzybowski asked about the bike lane in Adero Canyon and Mr. Snipes shared that Director Weldy was looking at the downhill side to see a viable option. 10. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Action Items Commissioner Grzybowski shared with the commission that there were no new items on the Action Items list. He informed the commissioners that the drainage water tank issue has been addressed by Kevin Snipes, Parks Superintendent. Mr. Snipes also informed the commissioners I that the Development Director, Justin Weldy, was is looking at the downhill side to see viable options and the addition of"weekend only" signage. 11. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION: Trail Counter Activity and Trail Counter Recorder The Trail Counter Activity was reviewed and further discussion on the need for new trail counters. 12. UPDATE: Sonoran Conservancy Fountain Hills Commissioner Holden informed the commissioners that there is a need for volunteers to meet and greet at Adero Canyon Trailhead. Thre was discussion on the kiosk at Adero and the inclusion of a map of the Preserve. Mr. Snipes informed the commissioners that Ken Valverde was working on that project. 13. ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY Commissioner Brian Jennings, SECONDED BY Commissioner Steven Nurney Vote: 5 - 0 - Unanimously Meeting Adjourned at 6:37 pm MCDOW LL MOUNTAIN ADVISORY COM jSION 4fk :cott Grz owski, Chairman ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: ja±li, Patti Lopuszanski, tive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting held by the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Advisory Commission in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 25th day of January 2022. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 26th day of April 2022. atti Lopuszan ki, E utive Assistant