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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997.0429.TCWSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE WORKSTUDY SESSION OF THE thw FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL & MC DOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION APRIL 29, 1997 A public meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by Mayor Miles at 6:30 P.M., Tuesday, April 29, 1997, in the Fountain Hills Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 16836 E. Palisades Blvd., Building B, Fountain Hills, Arizona. ROLL CALL-The following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council were present: Mayor Jerry Miles,Vice Mayor Bill O'Brien and Councilmembers Don Lawrence, Marianne Wiggishoff, Sid Apps, Al Poma and Penfield Mower. Also present were Town Manager Paul Nordin, Town Attorney Bill Farrell, Assistant Town Attorney Andrew McGuire, Town Clerk Cassie Hansen, and Director of Community Development Gary Jeppson. The following members of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission were present: Chairman Roy Kinsey, and Commissioners Jim Carroll, Peg Tibbetts, Loras Rauch, Mark Scheehle, and John Wyman. Commissioner Arnold Roy was absent. AGENDA ITEM#2-DISCUSSION OF THE MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS, MISSION, AND GOALS. Chairman Kinsey presented information regarding a resolution which would establish a mountain preserve, create the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and include preservation goals to be considered in a five-year budget plan. He said the Council should consider the preservation goals in perspective when approving future submissions for subdivisions. He said that unless the Council established specific methods to accumulate significant funds for land purchase, the opportunity to acquire any remaining undeveloped land could be lessened or eliminated. He showed a series of eight view shed analysis which illustrated the visible and non-visible areas from three viewpoint locations in the Town. He pointed out that an informational video had been created at the request of the Commission to support preservation efforts. He explained the ramifications shown in the video created as a result of allowing hillside transfer options in mountain locations and how preservation of the McDowell Mountain areas could be attained by outright purchase of the lands. He displayed the video for the Council which depicted elevations of 2240' and 2500' and visual displays of what development of the areas in between those elevations might look like from different locations. Mayor Miles admitted that the only real choice the Town would have for preventing development of mountainous lands would be to purchase them from MCO Properties. He said the community would be charged with deciding whether to invest in land preservation through funds collected from additional sales taxes or property taxes. Chairman Kinsey said the Commission had hired a land evaluating firm to procure an appraisal of land values. Commissioner Peg Tibbetts pointed out that former MCO surveys had indicated tremendous public response in favor of preservation and were willing to pay for it. Mayor Miles stated the Town would need to decide what to do with the land, once acquired. He said decisions would need to be made concerning either leaving the land in its pristine state or the development of a public park as well as exploring what goals the residents wanted for preservation. He expressed his concern about what Scottsdale planned to do with its 200 acres which were located in the Town of Fountain Hills and said that joint efforts between the communities could create a major preservation area. Lir Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council &McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission 04/29/97 Page 1 of 3 Commissioner Loras Rauch added that the Resolution would establish a preserve as a first step for the continuation of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission as well as educational endeavors in October, working with the Ler conservancy and other future efforts. Mayor Miles stated he thought the resolution was premature in nature and said he wanted input from the community as well as more time to study the Commission's report. Commissioner Scheehle spoke about the establishment and benefits of membership in a conservancy and preservation organization such as the Arizona Community Foundation. He said promotional and educational materials costs could be subsidized and that filing fees were estimated between $6,000-$10,000. Chairman Kinsey stated there was a joint meeting planned between the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission and Scottsdale in six weeks to establish common goals and guidelines. AGENDA ITEM #3 - ADJOURNMENT OF JOINT SESSION. Mayor Miles adjourned the Joint Session at 7:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEM #4 - SPECIAL SESSION CALLED TO ORDER; AND ROLL CALL. Mayor Miles called the Special Session to order at 7:31 p.m. All Councilmembers were present. AGENDA ITEM#5-PURSUANT TO A.R.S.38-431.03.a.7.AND A.R.S.38-431.03.A.3;VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OR CONSULTATION WITH DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC BODY IN ORDER TO CONSIDER ITS POSITION AND INSTRUCT ITS REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY; AND FOR DISCUSSIONS OR CONSULTATION FOR LEGAL ADVICE WITH THE ATTORNEY OR ATTORNEYS OF THE PUBLIC BODY. Councilman Lawrence MOVED to go into Executive Session. Councilman Poma SECONDED the motion which CARRIED unanimously. Mayor Miles recessed the Special Session at 7:32 p.m. AGENDA ITEM #6 - RETURN TO SPECIAL SESSION AND ADJOURNMENT. Mayor Miles reconvened the Special Session at 7:40 p.m. Councilman Apps MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Councilwoman Wiggishoff SECONDED the motion. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Loy Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council &McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission 04/29/97 Page 2 of 3 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS By: Je Miles, ayor A 1"1'BST: 0 -1 Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk PREPARED BY: C�� 9 CY"...,77t,hciiyc.9 Linda D. Lemmen, Administrative Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Session Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 29th day of April, 1997. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 15th day of May, 1997. kititnajA„) Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council &McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission 04/29/97 Page 3 of 3