HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPAC.2022.1026.MinutesTOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
OCTOBER 26, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER —Chairman Garman
Vice Chairman Hoenle called to order the meeting of the Strategic Planning Advisory
Commission at 4:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL —Chairman Garman
Present Commissioner Mary Edman; Vice Chairman Bernie Hoenle; Commissioner
Kevin Beck; Commissioner Geoffrey Yazzetta
Absent: Vacancy; Chairman Patrick Garman; Commissioner Cynthia Magazine
Staff Town Manager Grady Miller; Executive Assistant Angela Padgett -Espiritu
Present:
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.
Newly appointed Commissioner to the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission Jill Keefe
addressed the commission. Ms.Keefe has been a Fountain Hills resident since 2017.
She recently retired from corporate life and started an organic produce shop and grocery.
She said her goal is to serve the town in a way that will make Fountain Hills residents
proud.
4. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approving the September 28, 2022,
Meeting Minutes.
MOVED BY Commissioner Kevin Beck, SECONDED BY Commissioner Mary
Edman to APPROVE the minutes of the September 28, 2022, Strategic Planning
Advisory Commission Meeting.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
5. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS AND TOWN MANAGER
Commissioner Yazzetta reported that Fountain Hills has the most volunteers and people
that are interested in giving back to the community. He said that it is excellent to see how
frequently people step up to give back to this great town. He welcomed new
Commissioner Jill Keefe, who is a fellow Leadership Academy Class 6 member.
Commissioner Edman extended a warm welcome to new Commissioner Jill Keefe and
said that she is looking forward to having her join them.
Commissioner Beck welcomed new Commissioner Jill Keefe.
Vice Chair Hoenle reported that he and Fountain Hills Unified School District
Superintendent Cain Jagodzinski met for coffee. He said that they have had discussions
on the Biophilic Network, the town's Environmental Plan, and potential outdoor study
education areas.
Town Manager Miller reported that it is great to have new Commissioner Jill Keefe here
and to have her introduce herself before the first meeting as acting commissioner.
A. Update on the Recruitment of a Strategic Planning Advisory Commissioner by Town
Manager Grady E. Miller
Town Manager Miller updated the commission on the appointment of the new
commissioner to the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission. He reported that Mayor
Dickey appointed Jill Keefe at the October 18, 2022, Town Council Meeting. Jill Keefe
will begin her role as commissioner at the November 16, 2022, commission meeting.
6. PRESENTATION: FH Young Community by Betsy LaVoie, President / CEO of the
Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Betsy LaVoie, the President and CEO of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce,
shared the history and background of the Fountain Hills Young Community. She said
that in 2016, a group sponsored by the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association
named Vision Fountain Hills was tasked with conducting the largest community survey in
the town's history. She said that the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission worked
closely with Vision Fountain Hills and that through this workshop survey and collaborative
process, the Town, the Chamber of Commerce, Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic
Association and the Fountains Unified School District defined initiatives that the
community was seeking and that one of those recommendations was a way to connect
our younger community for the purpose of fostering vibrant and dynamic growth.
She said that resident and a member of Vision Fountain Hills Ryan Deegan partnered
with the town's Economic Development Director at that time and the previous CEO at the
Chamber of Commerce to create and form the Fountain Hills Young Community. She
said the mission of the FHYC is to grow and foster the young community of Fountain Hills
as a diverse and vibrant town through active and adventure -type activities and events,
social connection, and community engagement. She said that they wanted to share with
the world that Fountain Hills is not a retirement community and that young people do live
and work here. She said that the FHYC committee is currently led by Chair Jason
O'Neal and that the immediate past Chair, Savannah Lamey, won the 2020 Young
Professional of the Year Award.
In closing, Ms. LaVoie shared that the FHYC events not only drive business to local
establishments in Fountain Hills but if a young professional was looking at communities
to possibly move to, it might encourage them to consider Fountain Hills. She mentioned
that it is crucial for the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to have a committee like the
FHYC to help the sustainability of our community. She stated that the main idea is to
have the FHYC committee put on these engaging events to then share socially to attract
people from outside of Fountain Hills to Fountain Hills and to also encourage other
people who do live and work here so that they know they're not alone here in town, and
that they can join and that we will welcome them.
7. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Vice Chair Hoenle thanked Ms. LaVoie for a great presentation on the Fountain Hills
Young Community and commented that Ms. LaVoie always brings energy to everything
that is going on.
8. NEXT MEETING DATE: Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
The next meeting of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission will be held on
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, in the Council Chambers at 4:00 p.m. The meeting is
being held on the third Wednesday of the month due to the Thanksgiving Holiday being
on the fourth week.
9. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Commissioner Mary Edman, SECONDED BY Commissioner Geoffrey
Yazzetta to ADJOURN the meeting of the Strategic Planning Advisory Commission at
4:29 p.m.
Vote: 4 - 0 - Unanimously
ATTEST AND_REPARED BY:
Angela spiritu, �-, five Assistant
STRATEGIC PLAN j ING ADVISORY
COMMISSION
Patri' Garman, Chairman
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 Strategic Planning Advisory Commission in the Town Hall Council
Chambers on the 26th day of October, 2022. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a
quorum was present.
DATED this 16th day of November, 2022.
Angel- Espirittive Assistant