HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996.0430.TCWSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE WORK/STUDY SESSION OF THE
FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
APRIL 30, 1996
A public meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by Mayor Cutillo at 6:30
P.M., Tuesday, April 30, 1996, in the Fountain Hills Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 16836 E. Palisades
Blvd., Building B, Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Members of the Town Council present were as follows: Mayor Cutillo, Vice Mayor Tibbetts, and Councilmembers
Wiggishoff,Lawrence,Clark,and O'Brien. Councilman Hudson was absent. Also present were Town Manager Paul
Nordin, Community Development Director Gary Jeppson and Town Clerk Cassie Hansen.
Approximately 30 citizens attended.
AGENDA ITEM#2-DISCUSSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
PROPOSED DOWNTOWN PLAN. DISCUSSION MAY INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS ON ALTERNATE
SITES.
Town Manager Paul Nordin started the discussion by explaining the location of different proposed sites for a
community center building. He said the Council was scheduled to make a decision as to the location for the
community center at the next Council meeting, May 2nd. He described the two front-door plan for the community
center proposed to be a front door entrance on both the east and west sides of the community center. One door
would face La Montana and the other would face Avenue of the Fountains looking east. He explained a coordinated
landscaping theme had been proposed for the entire Avenue of the Fountains to create a uniform appearance. He
stated the landscaping costs per property owner had not been calculated and that several sources of funding were
NOW being considered in the beginning planning phase. He said if the landscaping costs were not affordable, downsizing
of the plans could occur. He offered his assistance in financial planning for property owners of Avenue of the
Fountains. He stated costs would be assessed based upon buildable square feet with MCO Properties assuming the
majority of the costs.
Walt Franklin spoke regarding the various uses of the community center. He referred to a survey done two years
ago which had asked what uses the public deemed important for a community center. Answers tabulated included
a civic center,retail center,full service restaurants,hotel and office spaces in a downtown area. Other considerations
for the downtown area included pedestrian-friendly walkways, open space planning and that the downtown area and
Fountain Park should be connected. He said he favored the proposed location and the closing of the Avenue of the
Fountains at that location because it would provide a concentrated area for downtown development.
Jon Klesner opposed the closing of Avenue of the Fountains. Shirley Curry favored the centralized location of the
community center and government buildings. Peter Clarkson said the layout of the downtown area had ignored the
whole concept and that it was more important to consider how the rest of the area would be developed. Darlene
Thompson asked who owned the property in blocks 7 and 8 and what uses were intended for that property. Suzanne
Janson asked about the ownership of the proposed location.
Mr. Nordin explained the efforts of the Council towards the Town's immediate assumption of the ownership of the
fountain and Fountain Park while spreading the financial commitment over several years. Leeza Fraverd said she
was concerned with the Town's maintenance costs for the fountain and Fountain Park. Jerry Kirkendall said he was
opposed to the closing of Avenue of the Fountains and the parallel parking proposal.
Robert Monk said he favored walkways in the downtown area. Darlene Thompson suggested a possible trolley
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 04/30/96
Page 1 of 2
system. Jon Klesner said there would be no access to the rest of the business area if Avenue of the Fountains was
closed off. Mary Pilarinos said she liked the idea of access to the Avenue of the Fountains via an overhead walkway
as well as a trolley system. Jim Heasley said he preferred the location of the community center on the south side
of the Avenue of the Fountains & Verde River Drive because of traffic flow considerations. Peter Putterman said
the emphasis on the site was to improve the commercial areas which would encourage development. Don Drake
stated pedestrian-encouraged areas were successful in the towns and cities he had visited. John Welsh asked if
consideration had been given to the area south of the Post Office. He also said he favored the idea of an overpass
over Saguaro Blvd. Councilman Clark suggested a traffic control light at the intersection of Saguaro and Avenue
of the Fountains to solve the pedestrian safety problem. Mary Pilarinos suggested a jitney service might solve an
environmental pollution problem. Peter Clarkson suggested the Town study the impact of closing off the Avenue
of the Fountains. Councilman Lawrence stated he thought an average person would not have a problem with walking
the four-tenths of a mile distance from Fountain Park to the Community Center.
Mayor Cutillo asked the audience whether they favored the site on the south side of the Avenue of the Fountains
or the proposed site at end of the Avenue of the Fountains at La Montana. A majority favored the proposed site at
the end of the Avenue of the Fountains.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Cutillo adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
/for
By: •
Jo�%M. Cutillo, Mayor
A[TEST: c �ILJ
Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk
PREPARED BY: C*--or2...e&_./
Linda D. Lemmen, Administrative Assistant
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 30th day of April, 1996. I further certify that the meeting was duly
called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 16th day of May, 1996.
liA/J/LC�c .V1
Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk
Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 04/30/96
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