Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018.12.04.TCRM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL DECEMBER 4, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Mayor Linda M. Kavanagh Mayor Kavanagh called the meeting of December 4, 2018, to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. INVOCATION — Pastor Trent Renner of Christ's Church of Fountain Hills There being no pastor present, Mayor Kavanagh asked for a Moment of Silence. 3. ROLL CALL— Mayor Linda M. Kavanagh COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Linda M. Kavanagh; Vice Mayor Art Tolis; Councilmembers Henry Leger, Dennis Brown, Sherry Leckrone, Nick DePorter and Alan Magazine. COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Grady E. Miller and Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Burke. 4. RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS A. Comments from Outgoing Mayor and Councilmembers Mayor Kavanagh said that a few weeks ago the Fountain Hills Times ran her column where she talked about her goals as Mayor and it was also reprinted on the Mayor's Facebook page. She thanked God for bring her to serve her community and her family for their support and understanding when she missed family times. She said that she has made many friends over the years, and some are close enough to be considered family; they have always been an important part of her life. She said that she was really going to miss Town staff, who welcomed her and made her feel at home and part of the team. She said that they are fortunate to have the staff they do, and gave credit to Grady (Miller) for his expertise, knowledge and empathy that made him an ideal leader for staff. She said that he was a true professional in every sense of the word. Mayor Kavanagh gave a special thank you to Nancy Walter, her executive assistant and most efficient assistant with which she has ever worked. She also recognized Heather Ware, Volunteer Coordinator, the director for the Mayor's Youth Council whose unique talents have enriched so many young lives. To her fellow Councilmembers, she said that it has been a privilege, and while each of them came from different backgrounds, in the end they came together as TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 2 a team and she thanked them for their unselfish service to the community. She also thanked the families of the fellow councilmembers for giving up a part of their lives with having their loved ones serve the community. She then thanked the captains, deputies, and firefighters; everyone in the public safety family, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, community service organizations and the veterans. Mayor Kavanagh wished the new Mayor and all Councilmembers good luck and reminded them that what their residents cherish the most is the unique and special quality of life. Councilmember DePorter thanked everyone for coming out, and thanked his friends, family, and neighbors for the opportunity to serve. He said that it was a special four years for him and he really enjoyed every moment. He thanked his parents, Don and Ruth, for instilling in him the need to be a public servant, his children, Jack and Abbey, and his wife, Adrian. He said that she was an awesome Mom and great support as they work on life together. To his colleagues, Councilmember DePorter, thanked them for their service and support, and to staff and those in public safety, he gave his gratitude. His advice was to be nice to each other—communicate. He said that with the recent passing of former President George H.W. Bush, he saw a note that he passed on to the incoming President, which he would share with the incoming Mayor and Council, "We'll be rooting for you!" Councilmember Leger said that he has been on the Council for 12.5 years; serving the community has been an honor, providing him an opportunity to work with exceptional mayors, councilmembers, staff, business community, etc., and it has been an awarding experience. He said that much has been accomplished and they have made Fountain Hills a better community, although there is always room for improvement. He gave thanks to his wife, Janet, and his daughters Kristin and Marissa. He said that they have all called Fountain Hills home for over 25 years. And, to the new Mayor and Councilmembers, he wished them success. Councilmember Magazine said that this evening is a bit nostalgic as it will be the fourth time he has been sworn into office. He said that it has been a tremendous career and he thanked all the citizens for helping him achieve that. He said that while there have been times with heated debates, there has never been a time that they were not able to put aside disagreements, shake hands, and move on. It is critical and essential to good government. He gave a special "shout out" to Town staff for being the glue that holds things together. Through the reduction in staff and strains on budget, they repeatedly go above and beyond. TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 3 B. Comments from Current Councilmembers Councilmember Brown thanked the Mayor for doing an excellent job. He thanked Henry(Leger)for his mentoring, advisement, and leading. He said that he brought so much to the Council. In Executive Session when they were hiring new employees, his corporate abilities allowed him to ask the right questions to bring the team together. He thanked him for all of his efforts, and for bringing his calmness to the Council. Councilmember Leckrone gave a special thanks to Mayor Kavanagh and Councilmembers DePorter and Leger for showing her the ropes as the "new kid on the block." She thanked them for their service, said that it was a pleasure to get to know them, and wished them the best in their future endeavors. Vice Mayor-Tolis then recognized the outgoing Councilmembers and Mayor. He first said that he deeply respected Henry Leger, especially for what is seen behind closed doors. He said that Councilmember Leger is a wealth of knowledge and his 12 years of knowledge is a real loss. He respects his experience with Human Resources and dealing with a lot of those issues, and he brought a tremendous professionalism to the Town Council and he will be missed. At this time, he invited up Janet Leger to pin her husband with the gold and diamond Fountain Hills pin as a thank you from the community. Next, Vice Mayor Tolis said that Councilmember DePorter was the nicest guy on the Council; he is calm and a very patient man. He did an amazing job behind the scenes. He added that Councilmember DePorter is a fraternity brother and they have common values. He has been so involved in the community and with his family, and he has been a pleasure to work with. He then invited up Adrian DePorter to pin her husband. Vice Mayor Tolis then recognized Mayor Linda Kavanagh for her 6.5 years as Mayor, noting huge accomplishments, serving as the longest of all mayors. He said that he has known her since 2002, and served on many boards in Town with her. He said that she has been a uniting force of the Council. He said that he cannot remember one time where Mayor Kavanagh was not steering the ship in the right direction and was a true professional. He then pinned Mayor Kavanagh. C. Comments from the Public Enrique Melendez, in his dual role as Executive Director of Diplomatic Service in Arizona (representing 37 nations), and as a former Town Councilmember that served in the old building, addressed the Council and audience. He said that this would probably be his last time he will be coming before Council, and it was a privilege to be there. He said that Mayor Kavanagh has served under difficult times. He said that he did not come to meetings often, but he followed her TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 4 in the newspaper and met with her many times, and he congratulated her and thanked her for her service. He said that 12.5 years ago Councilmember Leger went to his house asking if he should run for Council. He said that they have been 12.5 excellent years. He also recognized Councilmember Brown for over 20 years of service in the community. And, to Councilmember DePorter, he thanked him for his service and congratulated him after all of these years for ASU beating his Trojans. Mr. Melendez said that there are three consuls in Fountain Hills, from El Salvador, Poland, and the Netherlands and they are very interested in bringing business to Arizona and are looking at Fountain Hills. He was hopeful that the Town Manager would proceed and work with them. He said that yesterday he received a call from the State Department telling him of a new Consul of Estonia, (Maricopa County) Board of Supervisor Chairman Steve Chucri. He said that over the years, both as a Councilmember and with his diplomatic service, he kept in mind the word R-E-S-P-E-C-T and he encouraged the new Council to keep civility and keep volatility as minimal as possible. D. Presentation of Pins See Item 4-B above. Vice Mayor Tolis then asked for a round of applause for the outgoing Council and dismissed those leaving at this time. 5. SWEARING IN OF INCOMING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS A. Swearing in of Incoming Mayor and Councilmembers by Judge Melton At this time, Judge Melton came forward and invited the incoming Mayor and Councilmembers to join him, with their spouses, at the front of the chambers. He then swore them into office and they took their seats at the dais. B. Comments from Incoming Mayor and Councilmembers Councilmember Scharnow first thanked the comments made earlier about the outgoing members, noting that between the four of them they were looking at 22.5 years. He said that they are to be commended for their service and leadership for so many years when so many people today hide behind the keyboards. He said that the Bible he used for the swearing in tonight was one from his Dad dated 1943, who would have been 13 years old when he received it. He thanked him for leading him here, and he thanked his beautiful wife, Brenda, Jarrod Stearns, and all of those that voted for him. He said that it was an honor to be placed in Henry's seat location. TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 5 Councilmember Scharnow said that 2018 was a difficult year; they must look ahead to 2019, but it is incumbent to learn from the past. He would like to channel the community's passion in the most unified way that they can. He ended his remarks with the following quote from Abraham Lincoln: "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." Councilmember Spelich said that he did not prepare any remarks, but thanked his wife, his brothers and sister in Blue from the Chicago Police Department, those that helped with his campaign, Bob and Chris Derr, and fellow candidate Gerry Friedel. He said that he was brought to Fountain Hills in 2009 when his father passed away, who he had cared for the last six years of his life. He said that they were devastated by his loss and came to Fountain Hills as a break. He knew in the first two days that he wanted to live here. He thanked everyone that supported him, and said that he was proud to be on the Town Council. Mayor Dickey then congratulated David Spelich, Alan Magazine and Mike Scharnow. She said that she, too, looked forward to joining a dedicated Council and the professional staff in serving the entire community. She sensed a very good feeling and upbeat sprit and she looked forward to that. She thanked outgoing Councilmembers Henry Leger, Nick DePorter, Mayor Kavanagh, as well as Cecil Yates, for their time and energy in serving on the Council. She said that it is a personal sacrifice and each brought their unique strengths, talents, and accomplishments forward for the good of the Town of Fountain Hills. She said that she and Councilmember Leger were voted in back in 2006 and she appreciated his kindness. She hoped that those with great knowledge will remain committed to the community. She said that there are talented residents in Fountain Hills and those from the Leadership Academy, and elsewhere, have a will to do things that are unique and special. They must all realize the challenge of protecting the Town's assets and maintain and improve public safety, which is their number one responsibility. Mayor Dickey said that they want those within their boundaries to be well served, happy to live here, visit here, work here. She said that as they all work together they can find a good balance, with many pitching in, fighting cynicism, seeking out and helping communicate the facts. She said that their good first step will be their Council Retreat on February 7, 2019, and she invited residents to attend and get a first-hand look at the presentations from departments. She also noted that they are knocking on the door of the 50th anniversary of the fountain and 30th anniversary of becoming a town. She hopes they will honor the TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 6 past, celebrate the present and imagine the future. She said that it will take cooperation and motivation on the part of the Council and those throughout the community. Mayor Dickey thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve. She said that they came here in the 1970's, and her sisters and families have all moved here. She said that they have all had different participation levels, but it shows their commitment from her family. C. Roll Call — Mayor Dickey Mayor Ginny Dickey Vice Mayor Art Tolis Councilmember Alan Magazine Councilmember Dennis Brown Councilmember Mike Scharnow Councilmember Sherry Leckrone Councilmember David Spelich COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ginny Dickey; Vice Mayor Art Tolis; Councilmembers Mike Scharnow, Dennis Brown,Alan Magazine, Sherry Leckrone and David Spelich. COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Town Management Grady Miller and Town Clerk Elizabeth A. Burke. 6. 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 Council and(ii)is subject to reasonable time,place,and manner restrictions. The Council 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 councilmembers may(i)respond to criticism, (ii)ask staff to review a matter, or(iii)ask that the matter be placed on a future Council agenda. None 7. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine, non-controversial matters and will be enacted by one motion and one roll call vote of the Council.All motions and subsequent approvals of consent items will include all recommended staff stipulations unless otherwise stated. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a councilmember or member of the public so requests. If a councilmember or member of the public wishes to discuss an item on the Consent Agenda, he/she may request so prior to the motion to accept the Consent Agenda or with notification to the Town Manager or Mayor prior to the date of the meeting for which the item was scheduled. The items will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. APPROVAL OF the minutes of the Special Meeting of November 13, 2018; and the Regular Meeting of November 20, 2018. TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 7 B. CONSIDERATION OF approving a Special Event Liquor License application submitted by Walter Morlock representing the Fountain Hills Theater located at 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ for the purpose of a fundraiser to be held on January 24 and 25, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM. C. CONSIDERATION OF approving a Special Event Liquor License application submitted by Walter Morlock representing the Fountain Hills Theater located at 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ for the purpose of a fundraiser to be held on March 7 and 8, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM. D. CONSIDERATION OF approving a Special Event Liquor License application submitted by Walter Morlock representing the Fountain Hills Theater located at 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ for the purpose of a fundraiser to be held on March 29 and 30, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM. E. CONSIDERATION OF approving a Special Event Liquor License application submitted by Walter Morlock representing the Fountain Hills Theater located at 11445 N. Saguaro Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ for the purpose of a fundraiser to be held on April 19, 2019, from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Councilmember Magazine MOVED to approve Consent Agenda Items 7-A through 7-E; SECONDED by Councilmember Scharnow; passed unanimously(7-0)with a roll call vote: MAYOR DICKEY AYE VICE MAYOR TOLIS AYE COUNCILMEMBER BROWN AYE COUNCILMEMBER SCHARNOW AYE COUNCILMEMBER MAGAZINE AYE COUNCILMEMBER LECKRONE AYE COUNCILMEMBER SPELICH AYE 8. REGULAR AGENDA A. CONSIDERATION OF cancelling meetings on holidays and approving annual meeting schedule. Town Manager Grady Miller said that in the past Council would consider their meeting schedule throughout the year when changes were needed, but this year staff was proposing that Council adopt the schedule for the year, understanding that special meetings may need to be called and some may be cancelled. He said that he met with the incoming Mayor and they put together the following proposed schedule to include a meeting in August, but they were suggesting that the one meeting be held in that month on the 13th to allow for a longer break for Council and then on the 20th many would be attending the Annual Conference of the League of Arizona Cities and towns. Councilmember Brown MOVED to approve the schedule as presented; SECONDED by Councilmember Scharnow; passed unanimously(7-0). TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 2018 PAGE 8 9. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/DIRECTION to the TOWN MANAGER Item(s) listed below are related only to the propriety of(i) placing such item (s) on a future agenda for action or (ii) directing staff to conduct further research and report back to the Council: None 10. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL REQUESTS and REPORT ON RECENT ACTIVITIES by the Mayor, individual Councilmembers, and the Town Manager. None 11. ADJOURNMENT. Councilmember Magazine MOVED to adjourn; SECONDED by Councilmember Leckrone; passed unanimously (7-0). The Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council held December 4, 2018, adjourned at 6:23 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS n I�.J (..it., 1 Ginn ickey, Mayor ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: Eli abeth rke, own CI r CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Session held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills in the Town Hall Council Chambers on the 4th day of December, 2018. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 18th day of December, 2018. eth urke, Town Clerk