HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995.0412.TCWSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE WORK/STUDY SESSION
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1995
A public work/study session of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to
order by Mayor John Cutillo at approximately 8:15 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 1995 in the
Council Chambers of the Fountain Hills Town Hall Offices located at 16836 E. Palisades,
Building C, Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Present for the work/study session were Mayor John Cutillo, Vice Mayor Frank Clark and
Councilmembers Wally Hudson, Peg Tibbetts, Don Lawrence and Marianne Wiggishoff. Also
present were Town Manager Paul Nordin, Town Clerk Cassie Hansen and Information Systems
Technician Peter Putterman. Guests included Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Betsey
Bayless and Don Stapley, Interim Town Manager of Cave Creek Frank Abeyta, and Mayor of
Queen Creek Mark Schnepf.
AGENDA ITEM#2-DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION ON FUTURE CONTRACTS WITH
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
Following a brief welcome by Mayor Cutillo, Town Manager Paul Nordin began his presentation
entitled "Maricopa County Sheriffs Office Charges For Services To Contract Law Enforcement
Town - A presentation to Maricopa County Supervisors Betsey Bayless and Don Stapley". Mr.
Nordin began by stating that he was curious as to why Chairman Rawles was so directly involved
in the contract negotiation process. With the use of overhead reproductions of the attached
materials, he began identifying inaccuracies in Chairman Tom Rawles letter dated March 27,
1995 which had no substantiation in the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Minute Book
dated October 31, 1994. He then discussed the issues of full cost recovery versus direct cost in
the context of the Harvey Rose report. It was pointed out that full cost recovery would equate
to$1,000,000 plus while direct cost would equate to approximately$467,998. He questioned the
Rose report recommendation that cost should be recovered for"all" county vehicles, asking if the
contract cities and towns should be responsible for county vehicles other than sheriff vehicles.
Mr. Nordin, referring to the report's recommendation to charge for housing prisoners, stated that
the contract municipalities were already paying to house prisoners and the Rose recommendation
would result in "double billing". He said that no one was opposed to paying some overhead
costs but that Chairman Rawles' letter was not appropriate considering past negotiations.
Supervisor Bayless commented that she did not really believe that the Rose report referred to
recovering expenses for "all" county vehicles but that they would look into it.
Town Council Work/Study Session Minutes 4/12/95
Page 1 of 3
Mr. Nordin then reviewed the resolution which had been distributed to all contract cities and
towns and told the Supervisors that it addressed how the cities and towns would like to proceed.
He again questioned who was in charge of negotiating the contracts. Mr. Nordin then went over
the three recommendations including rejecting Chairman Rawles March 27 letter as a basis for
negotiation (Board action), directing David Smith and a representative from the Sheriffs Office
(Tim Overton) to begin good faith negotiations with all towns according to principles outlined
in the joint resolution, and working towards the possibility of a three year contract. He also
suggested that the Board utilize the expertise of the Sheriffs Office personnel by offering to sell
additional service to other cities needing to augment their own law enforcement departments.
Mayor Cutillo pointed out that incorporated cities and towns were paying the same county taxes
as unincorporated areas and should thereby receive a certain level of service accordingly.
Supervisor Bayless stated that she had not seen Chairman Rawles' letter until yesterday and that
no board action was necessary to not use it as a basis for negotiation. She stated that she was
more than willing to work towards establishing an equitable contract amount.
Mr. Abeyta said he felt a base needed to be established and that he agreed that contract cities and
towns should pay for costs that they cause the county to incur. A base should be established as
to what the costs are for providing the service and then that cost should be distributed
accordingly.
Supervisor Bayless verified that Cave Creek had gotten the Rawles letter also.
Mayor Schnepf said he felt that the Rose report had overlooked some of the things Queen Creek
provided the Sheriffs Office which helped to offset the county's cost to provide law enforcement
services to their community. He said that in some respects, they felt they were subsidizing the
Sheriffs Office. He concluded by saying that low crime rates should be taken into consideration.
Supervisor Stapley questioned how a base rate could be established, pointing out that the Rose
recommendation was almost double the Sheriffs Office recommendation. He asked how much
the communities could stand to pay. Mr. Abeyta responded that it should not be based on what
communities could stand to pay, rather what they owe for the service they receive.
Supervisor Bayless said she was ready to take all of the information they had received today back
to her staff and the Sheriffs Office and re-examine and reassess the cost issue. Supervisor
Stapley stated that David Smith should be the individual negotiating with Mr. Nordin for
Fountain Hills. Supervisor Bayless said that Chairman Rawles had not discussed this issue with
either her or Supervisor Stapley and they were certainly willing to discuss it.
Supervisor Stapley asked Mr. Nordin if he had talked to any other cities and towns regarding his
suggestion that they contract with the Sheriffs Office for additional law enforcement. Mr. Nordin
Town Council Work/Study Session Minutes 4/12/95
Page 2 of 3
replied that he had not and that it was a conceptual suggestion at this point.
Supervisor Bayless suggested that she and Supervisor Stapley take the information back to the
Board and re-open discussion on the issue.
Mayor Cutillo thanked the Supervisors for their attendance and consideration and adjourned the
meeting.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned the work study session at approximately 8:50 a.m.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
By: L- .,
John M. Cutillo, Mayor
ATTEST: 061-4ZILL.-
Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
work/study session held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 12th day of April, 1995.
I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 20th day of April, 1995.
Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk
Town Council Work/Study Session Minutes 4/12/95
Page 3 of 3