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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.0919.TCSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION September 19,2000 Mayor Morgan called the Special Session of the Town Council to order with a roll call taken. AGENDA ITEM#1 - MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY MAYOR MORGAN AND ROLL CALL. Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor Sharon Morgan, Vice Mayor Sharon Hutcheson, and Councilmembers Leesa Fraverd, John Kavanagh, Susan Ralphe, John Wyman, and John McNeill. Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Parks and Recreation Commission: Chairman Michael Fleck, Cimber Nuessle, Dick Schmidt, Meta Brinton, Al Lorenz, and George Williams. The following Commission members were absent: Vice Chairman Tim Brown, Kim Marshburn. Also present were Town Attorney Bill Farrell and the Director of Administration/Town Clerk Cassie Hansen. Town Manger Paul Nordin was absent. AGENDA ITEM#2- DISCUSSION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND BOND ELECTION PLAN (5 YEAR AND 7 YEAR) INCLUDING THE PRIORITIZATION AND COMPLETION OF NEW AND EXISTING PROJECTS AND THE USE OF A SURVEY INSTRUMENT. DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS AND THE PROCESS FOR DETERMINING TYPE(S) OF FUNDING TO BE USED. THE COUNCIL MAY, BY MOTION, GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF AND/OR THE COMMISSION REGARDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. Mayor Morgan announced that since it was not agendized that would be no a call to the public. Commissioner Al Lorenz, Chairman of the Facilities subcommittee, made a power point presentation. He gave a historical overview of Parks and Recreation's leadership and how they had gotten to this point. Commissioner Lorenz stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission had held approximately 25 public hearings over the last 31/2 years to develop the CIP list. He noted that the recreation requirements were put together through the public hearing process with input by retired citizens, empty nesters, and families. He gave a brief overview of how improvements had been funded in the past. He reviewed that the land had not cost the Town anything and that in the future would include partnerships with the middle school (no land acquisition costs). He said the information described how much money the Town had put into the project, how much was received from heritage fund grants,and how much money had been received from private partnerships. He made a correction to the figures listed for Fountain Park. He stated that under Arizona Heritage Grant the number should be $700,000 not $1,400,000 as the Town would not be receiving the grant this year. He said that Capital Improvement Inventory(Wish List)was the detailed list of"everything"that would need to be completed. Commission Lorenz stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission recognized that there were other issues facing the Town: • Land Preservation • Commercial Development • School Growth • Fresh and Effluent Water • Law Enforcement Requirements • Street Improvements • Changes in Tax Structure • City"0&M"Budget Now Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 1 of 10 Commissioner Lorenz discussed what the Town had versus what was still needed: • East side park not the same quality as the west side park No youth center • No aquatic center Mayor Morgan asked if the plan was still to put the aquatic center on school property. Commissioner Lorenz responded yes, pending approval from the Town Council and the governing board for the school district. He said that the aquatic center should be built near the high school because it was centrally located, would allow for a swim program in the school, and because there was existing parking. He acknowledged that the daytime hours would have to be worked out with the school for logistic purposes. He said they had not been able to come up with another location for this center. Councilman McNeill questioned why was there such a cost difference between the Commission's cost figures versus Staffs cost figures for the aquatic center. Commissioner Lorenz stated he had put those numbers there but they could become real numbers if some the projects were to be adjusted. He also said that the numbers under Staff were recommendations from e-group for the various facilities. Councilman Kavanagh asked staff, with respect to the youth center, was $1 million of the total for the land price, which would not apply if the land were to be donated. Commissioner Lorenz replied that the $2.5 million figure listed was full price for the youth center. He said they had met with the Boys and Girls Club and said they had$500,000 available for this center and their goal was to get closer to$1.5 million for this project. Vice Mayor Hutcheson asked if the land was still needed from the school. Commissioner Lorenz said that was correct but he also recognized that there was some land title issues to be worked out. Commissioner Lorenz continued with the Have and Have-Not review: • No skate and inline parks • No restrooms or basics at Desert Vista Park (He noted that the Commission had not planned to develop this park for 3 to 5 years.) • Gymnasium issues • Few connecting walks &bike lanes(He pointed out there was grant money available.) • No all-weather running/walking track Commissioner Lorenz reviewed Prioritized List "A". This list outlined short-term projects (starting the end of 2001 and completed by 2002), that had been voted on by the Commission with regard to the order of their preference for completion: Cost per Staff/e-Group Four Peaks Neighborhood Park—Phase II $1,700,000 Community Aquatic Complex $3,000,000 Youth Center with Community Programming $2,500,000 Fountain Park—Phase II of III $1,200,000 Desert Vista Neighborhood Park—Phase I of II $ 850,000 GEP/High School (Connectivity) NA Middle School Athletic Complex(Connectivity) NA Commissioner Lorenz stated there was a new layout for Four Peaks Neighborhood Park - Phase #2 - and he displayed it for everyone's review. He gave a verbal tour of the proposed plans. He said the plan was excellent and he complimented Deputy Director Hughes and staff for reconfiguring the map based upon the priorities and with what the school district would be doing with the property. He said the Commission was very pleased with the plan. The Commission had been concerned because that the total cost figures had increased. Therefore,the Commission had tabled final approval of their recommendation of the plan to allow input from the Council. Nor Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 2 of 10 Commissioner Lorenz explained that the two reasons that the park had not been fixed before now was that the Commission knew the school district was going to remodel the area so they had thought to wait for the school district to finish. Before then the Town had been receiving Heritage Funds and used the time to complete projects with the free money. He acknowledged that it was now time to do something at that park. He pointed out that the families in the area were supportive of the plan. He asked the Council for their opinions. Mayor Morgan said the plan was very nice. Vice Mayor Hutcheson asked if the school district had altered their concern about the Skate Park. Commissioner Lorenz said yes. The plan had been developed with the school district's input. Mayor Morgan asked if this plan diverted the public from using the school's restrooms and drinking fountains. Commissioner Lorenz answered yes. Councilman Wyman asked if all of the land to be used was school land or was some of it Town land. Commissioner Lorenz replied that land ownership was mixed. He noted that the change of title for the land between the Town and the school district had been an on going project for a while. He pointed out that the school district's next challenge would be to provide administration space. Councilman McNeill asked about the area marked #11. Councilman McNeill commented that the amount of parking available in the area was marginal. Commissioner Lorenz agreed and proposed that there was potential for additional parking around Building#9 depending on what was finalized in area#11. Commissioner Lorenz moved on to the discussion of Item#3 — Youth Center - and set Item #2 aside. Vice Mayor Hutcheson relayed that she had talked with Jim Dickey and asked if the school district had made a decision that the Town could use that land to construct a youth center. Mr. Dickey had replied no, that they were not prepared to make a decision at this time. The school district was looking at all of their options. Mr. Dickey had acknowledged that the plans for the land had always shown use for a project like that. He had stated that as far as finalizing land plans they were not at that point yet and was not able to give her any definitive timetable when the school district would be. She expressed that although there had been a conceptual idea of the youth center being located there, as far making any firm commitment or plans for that location,the Town could not do that. Commissioner Lorenz noted that the dialogues between the Boys and Girls Club and the school district were on going. He stated that the Commission was not looking for a specific recommendation from the Council at this moment. He said based upon what the Commission already knew and what Vice Mayor Hutcheson had just shared, he asked if there was a second site choice that would accommodate a facility this size. He pointed out that a facility of 15,000—20,000 square feet would be needed for this center with parking to go with it. He felt that would be a real challenge to try and place this facility at the new Town Center-Library/Museum site because of other proposed things going there. He felt that the Town would have to look to the community partners to help resolve these issues. He pointed out that the multi-generational amenities and programming that would be included in the teen/youth center through the partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. Mayor Morgan inquired if a town the size of Fountain Hills could support the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Parks and Recreation, and the Senior Center. She acknowledged that the Boys and Girls Club had a track record in Town and the YMCA did not have any money for anything. Commissioner Lorenz agreed that so far they did not. Mayor Morgan asked if some of the programming, provided by these different groups, would be repetitive. Commissioner Lorenz said that if everyone's services were combined, there were probably a few things that the YMCA would accomplish above and beyond that programming. He explained that in looking at the Town's tax situation, Parks and Recreation would not have to provide some of the programs that they currently do today. He said the Parks and Recreation Commission would not have a problem with profit or non-profit organizations coming in to offer the same program. He said the Commission was about trying to pay their taxes and to give the citizens what they want. Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 3 of 10 Mayor Morgan stated that she had heard that the YMCA wanted to run the aquatic center if it had a fitness center. She said some of the town's existing fitness centers were concerned at this prospect. She felt there was some program repetition,which would not contribute to friendly business practices. Commissioner Lorenz said those people would have to make their own decisions. He offered to bring them into the planning process. He said he liked the YMCA. He said the YMCA knew they were behind in the process but they were committed to their plan and were trying to get something going that made sense. Mayor Morgan expressed concern for spreading the Town's support among the different organizations. Commission Lorenz responded that he felt there was support for most of it. Vice Mayor Hutcheson said the Town had to be careful when spending federal funds. Councilmember Wyman suggested that when the site selection date was confirmed that then it would be an appropriate time to again review this issue. He said that until that was done the Council would not be in a position to make any plans. Mayor Morgan did not want to delay the completion of the list of priorities by waiting until Item #2 and Item #3's logistic obstacles were removed and the school district gave their OK. Commissioner Lorenz pointed out that by the time Parks and Recreation Department received direction from the Council and the issues were resolved with the school district, he did not feel the either of these two items would fall out of the time line. Councilman Wyman stated that if the Commission could tell him that there was a definite site for the Youth Center, then that item could be moved to the top of the list. Commissioner Lorenz reminded the Council that the list of seven items had been placed in the order of the Commission's vision of priority. Chairman Fleck said the list represented the work completed by the Commission based upon what they had ascertained from the public as to their wants. Mayor Morgan said she would like to see Item#4 moved up, as that was the center of Town and a showpiece and Items #2 and #3 moved down in priority. Commissioner Schmidt noted that they were dealing with several different groups and organizations with similar interests proposed they get the groups together in a circle for positive interaction. Councilman Wyman pointed out that the Town would not have to wait to improve Four Peaks Neighborhood Park,just not include the youth center. Vice Mayor Hutcheson did not want to abandon the idea of a youth center at Four Peaks but said that perhaps the youth center might have to be left out of the plan. She felt that it was not the role of the Town Council to tell the school district to make up their minds just because the Town wanted to have a youth center and aquatic center. She said the school district was aware of what the community wanted. She stated that the Council could not match funding or anything else to build something on land not owned by the Town. Councilman Wyman asked if the school district was aware of the possibility of receiving $1.5 million from the Boys and Girls Club for a joint facility that the school district might then be able to utilize. He said knowing that would help him make a decision. Mayor Morgan said the school district was aware of the funding from the Boys and Girls Club. Councilman Kavanagh said he was under the impression that these items were all high priorities subtracted from the longer list. He said he understood the goal of Parks and Recreation was to attempt to fund all of these seven items at once. With respect to the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA, he said that both organizations understand that if the Town arranges for the land or donates the land, and then gives a sizable chunk of money to one,that the other organization would not get the same thing. He noted that if the other organization wanted to build something that they would be on their own. He hoped both organizations realized that both would be able to use the Town's facilities. He agreed with the Mayor that the Town could not fund with land and partial payments. He said he wouldn't want to see the multi-generational center delayed because the school district was not sure of what was happening. He felt the school district should be given a reasonable amount of time to come to a decision. He said that perhaps they could come to a conclusion within six months and he thought Sow Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 4 of 10 that would be a reasonable amount of time. Mayor Morgan said she did not think that the Council should go to the school district and tell them how to handle their affairs. Councilman Kavanagh proposed asking the school district if they would know what was happening within 6 months to a year. If they said no to that inquiry, then the Council could not rely on them to partner this project. Councilman Kavanagh suggested that if the school district decided that the school site was out for whatever reason, he said he would like staff to contact Rob Dietz, architect for the Community Center. He noted that Mr. Dietz had left some space at that project and might know how much square footage could be used for that purpose as well as how much parking could be used. Mayor Morgan replied that the square footage just referenced by Councilman Kavanagh was in the original design of the Community Center Project and no longer existed. She explained that the current building did not have the same original layout and did not have that square footage available any longer. Councilman Kavanagh asked Mr.Franklin for information. Town Attorney Bill Farrell reminded the Council that a"call to the public" had not been included on this agenda. He stated that the right to speak at a public meeting was traditionally reserved for the public bodies. Councilman Kavanagh asked staff to clarify the issue of square footage at the Community Center to determine if space was available there. Mayor Morgan said she would find out. Councilwoman Ralphe said it would be irresponsible on the Council's part to provide funding for projects where the community partner was not committed. She had heard a suggestion for a March or May bond. She did not think that the Town could move towards a responsible bond issue when the Town did not know if the land was available or if the governmental agency wanted to and agreed to do it. Mayor Morgan proposed coming out of the meeting with the priorities wanted and then let the Town Manager, Paul Nordin, figure out the financial aspects. She pointed out it was not up to the Council to figure out the money aspects tonight. Councilman McNeill noted that the school district was a separate body and he did want to see the Town brow beat the school district for an answer. He said good dialogue was appropriate but did not want to push so hard that they felt they could only answer no. He felt that if the Town kept looking at the issue they would find a site for these facilities even though it may not be where first thought. Vice Mayor Hutcheson concurred and said that just because there had been some encouraging and rational discussions on just those two points, it certainly did not exclude the rest of the items on the list. She reiterated that regarding the youth center and the aquatic center, the Town did not know where those two items would be placed because of the land issues,but that fact did nothing to invalidate the rest of those items on the list. Commissioner Williams said that the Commission needed the Council's input on the list so that the dialogue with the school district could continue. He felt continued dialogue with the school district discussing the where and when issues with regard to the youth and aquatic centers was being proactive and not brow beating. Mayor Morgan said the discussion held by Jim Dickey with Vice Mayor Hutcheson had resulted in the school district saying they could not commit right now. Commissioner Williams felt that there should be more of a public forum for all the information to be dispersed to the appropriate people at the same time. He questioned whether or not if was fair for one member of the school district to speak for all of them. Vice Mayor stated that she had met with Maria Menconi,Jim Dickey,the Mayor, Michael Fleck and Al Lorenz where a similar conversation had been held. The strong impression was given at that time that the school district was not ready to make the decisions yet. Mayor Morgan said that she and the Town Manager Paul Nordin had held a separate meeting with the school Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 5 of 10 district. She pointed out that there had been a few meetings with them. Commissioner Williams again proposed having a more public forum to get the logistic questions asked. Councilman Kavanagh said he was not ruling out the school sites but he suggested that the Town might want to speed up their own consideration of Town Hall. He said that if it were decided to keep Town Hall located in the same complex, there would be a lot of land at the new complex that might be used for this facility. Councilman Wyman suggested that the Town could go ahead with the Four Peaks Parks project without the youth center keeping that project as a priority. Commissioner Lorenz reviewed the remaining four items on the priority list. He said that nothing on the short priority list included matching funds or grants in the cost column. He said these figures included raw estimated cost dollars. He said if grants could be secured the cost would be less. He explained that on the last two items he and Deputy Director Hughes could not list total dollar costs. Commissioner Lorenz stated that his column represented an estimate with him looking at what needed to be done. He said the overall strategy was to connect Golden Eagle Park to the land behind the high school with sidewalks. He stated that once again the Town would need to get approval from the school district to finish this project, which could potentially include helping the school district with their track. He said that the completion timetable for these projects would be by the end of 2002 if possible. Councilman Wyman asked if the Community Aquatic Complex was paced by the school district's decision as well. Commissioner Lorenz replied that right now it was, unless the Council was able to come up with alternative property. Councilman Wyman pointed out that $5.5 million could be subtracted from the total $9,250,000 because it was a non-issue due to the fact that the school district could not make a commitment at this time. Commissioner Lorenz commented that he did not feel that the school district was that far from making their decision. He said the school district was trying to get their bids out now for their two properties and once that was completed they would be ready to talk about these issues. Councilwoman Ralphe asked what materials would be used for the connectivity. Commissioner Lorenz responded concrete, landscaping, stall parking areas,and some type of controlled storage building. Commissioner Lorenz reviewed the various options available to the Town on "How to Pay For These Investments/Improvements": • Vote on General Bonds • Partnerships with others Private Sector Non-Profits • Municipal Property Corporation • Sales Tax Allocation • Impact Fees • Grant Processes • Other Commissioner Lorenz then reviewed the Parks and Recreation Commission's "Recommended Next Steps to Be Taken": • Instruct staff to review best financial options to proceed • Assessment of 0 and M impact • Complete survey with selected firm to seek reliable community support • Begin implementation of these priorities by the end of 2001 • Complete these priorities by 2002 Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 6 of 10 Mayor Morgan stated that the Town Manager Paul Nordin had asked that the Council review the priorities and then let him have the opportunity to look at the different financial options available to the Town. She said Mr. Nordin had indicated that perhaps the Town would have the money available without going out for a bond. Councilman Wyman said if the Town went out for a bond on this and the public voted no he did not feel that a MPC would pass through the Council either. He stated that$340,000 per year would support a$4 million bond taken out of the municipal operating budget. He proposed that if the aquatic and youth centers were removed ($5.5 million total for the two projects) from the priority list, he felt that the Town could comfortably handle the shortened priority list without a bond issue. He said that the Town might not have to spend the entire $4 million because grants were possible. The point being that the Town could make these projects happen comfortably. Mayor Morgan said in the budget $1.5 million had been allocated for the mountains, which now would be taken care of by the sales tax dedication so that section of the pie(general fund budget)was now available. She again asked that Mr. Nordin be given the opportunity to figure out where the Town was financially. Councilman Kavanagh pointed out that the Town would see a fairly steady income stream for Parks and Recreation from the impact fees, if implemented. He said those monies would also fund bonds. He expressed concern that the youth center might be left behind. He felt it would take at least a year for the school district to get everything together. He wanted to give staff direction to concurrently look for another site for this facility. If in the future the school district still doesn't know if they could commit or said no, that the Town could still proceed with a youth center elsewhere. He did not want the youth center project to slip through the cracks. He said it would be tragic to do connectivity at the high school and middle school while the Town did not have the youth center. He felt it was one of the highest priorities and the school site was still a good choice. Councilwoman Ralphe said doing a survey was not the best way to find out what the people were thinking. She proposed a better way was the ballot box. If elected officials were doing things right, the citizens were going to say yes at the ballot box. In her opinion that would be the best survey results that the Town could get. She said,that logically,the Council must turn this over to the Town Manager and Accountant to determine what the Town could do, the timetable that the Town could comfortably do it in, and how it would fit in with other Town needs. Councilwoman Fraverd disagreed with Councilwoman Ralphe's opinion. She said she did not know how the community felt about an aquatic center. She did not want to make a decision and have the citizens tell her at the ballot box that she was wrong. She wanted to know ahead of time. Therefore, she wanted some type of survey done. She pointed out that she was surprised to see that the Commission had changed their list of priorities. She understood this was the short list but she had wanted to look at the big picture and the money required. She wanted to plan for the future. She was not sure that a bond election in the spring was possible. She asked what amenities would be included in the aquatic and youth centers. Councilman Wyman asked how the proposed survey would be conducted. Mayor Morgan said phone surveys were not reliable as those citizens with caller ID may choose not to answer the phone if the caller was not identified. Commissioner Lorenz said the company that the Parks and Recreation Commission had talked to was a very good company and had correctly called the school election results before they were in. He explained that survey had been a combination of phone and mail assessments. Mayor Morgan said she did not have anything against surveys but they should be totally honest. She wanted to see questions like: Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 7 of 10 • Do you want an aquatic center?-yes or no • Are you willing to have your property taxes increased to pay for this?-yes or no • Do you want to pay for the facility with sales tax revenues?-yes or no. Councilwoman Fraverd said the price tag needed to accompany these questions. She said the public needed to be appraised of an approximate cost. Commissioner Lorenz agreed more details were needed on those two items. Vice Mayor Hutcheson said she was not particularly opposed to a survey if the survey asked questions that were appropriate. She did not feel that had been the case in the previous draft survey she had seen. She said that in further checking on this same company they had asked some very inappropriate survey questions and she was sure that those results were not at all what the organization had wanted. She said that the McDowell Mountain Preservation Task Force had completed a successful survey through ASU. She agreed with Councilman Wyman's point regarding the bond and the MPC issue. The Council and the community in general had had a lot of discussion recently about increased taxes. She pointed out that this Council had not raised property taxes. She noted that there had been bonds that the public had voted on for the library/museum project and the preservation issue for the lakeside. She said that the school district had raised property taxes and the public had also voted on that. She acknowledged that the Council had raised the sales tax rate, which was totally a voluntary tax. Vice Mayor Hutcheson stated that due to the negative publicity and the impact of tax increases already in place, it might not be the best time to ask for a bond from the public. She said the Commission might not get the answer that they wanted. She pointed out that there had been a lot of publicity and communication to the public that they were facing huge tax increases. Everyone since the election has made it a project of telling the public just how their taxes were going to be increased. It seemed a little incongruous that for some of those very same people to then go and ask the public to raise their property taxes again. She noted that the Parks and Recreation Department had always gotten a piece of the sales tax revenues. She said that percentage could now be increased because preservation, which had been just added recently, was now going to be funded as Parks and Recreation had always been funded ever since sales tax started. Vice Mayor Hutcheson stated that Parks and Recreation had always gotten a big share of the sales tax and she would like to see that increase. She said probably now it could be. She agreed the next step should be to have Mr. Nordin take a look at the funding of these priorities. She noted that the Council needed the Commission's recommendation about what the Town should do for the public. She did not feel comfortable asking the public to approve a bond again. She would rather say the Parks and Recreation Commission wanted the public to bond again. Mayor Morgan said that the Commission had to pick and choose their timing very carefully, as there were many people who would not vote to bond. Commissioner Lorenz disagreed. He responded that the user groups that would use these proposed facilities were growing larger everyday. He felt it had as good a chance at passing as failing if it was done right. Mayor Morgan agreed with those key words "if it was done right". She was not sure that the Town could be ready to do that within six or eight months. Vice Mayor Hutcheson reiterated that no one had come to her and asked that their property taxes be raised. Commissioner Lorenz asked that the Council just explore the bond issue. Mayor Morgan said she would rather slip those dates back one or two years in order to pay for the facilities without raising the property taxes through a bond issue. Councilwoman Ralphe suggested that development fees might raise significant amounts of money for that purpose if the Town implemented them. Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 8 of 10 Councilman Kavanagh said that at this point the funding options should be kept open. He said if the facilities could be developed with unused sales tax revenues supporting bonds and impact fees that would be good and preferable. He said if that were done, he would feel comfortable with conducting the survey as discussed by Councilwoman Fraverd. He said if the Town was to hold an election, then the Council would clearly know what the public wanted. But if an election could not be held,he would like to have another avenue to see which facilities the public wanted. He liked the idea of a survey so that other amenities could be included, which were not part of the short list and find out if there was something of higher priority. He agreed with Vice Mayor Hutcheson that the company that was originally proposed, while they might be legitimate, seemed to have a cloud hanging over their heads. He stated he would feel a lot more comfortable with a survey conducted by ASU or someone that ASU recommended. He pointed out that a survey in a town of this size would be easy to complete. Councilman Kavanagh stated that the Town Manager was going to contact ASU and report on the costs of such a survey through ASU but he was absent tonight. He hoped Mr. Nordin would be able to report back at a future meeting with those cost figures. Councilwoman Fraverd suggested that if the Parks and Recreation Commission decided to go ahead and complete the survey, she said it would be a great idea to do a little PR work. Perhaps spending some time with the newspaper to give them the facts so that those who read the local paper would have a "little heads" up on what's being done. Councilwoman Ralphe said the type of survey being discussed would be focused strictly on Parks and Recreation. She asked if it would more useful to the Council and to the people who were answering the survey questions if it were to be a broader based survey. Perhaps covering Town issues in general, which would also include the Parks and Recreation issues. That way the public could see the whole picture. Commission Lorenz said the Commission would not be adverse to expanding the survey questions. Councilman McNeill disagreed and said he was in favor of a focused survey based upon the Parks and Lie Recreation issues. He said that otherwise the survey would confuse the public. He agreed that the next step should be to talk with Mr. Nordin on the financial options. He also wanted to see more detailed information on the facilities. Commission Lorenz replied that the facilities had been benchmarked against a facility in Mesa with the amenities that the Commission felt the public wanted in Fountain Hills. He noted that he and Deputy Director Hughes would be attending an aquatic workshop in October to get a better handle on this facility. He agreed with Councilwoman Fraverd's comments that specific details would be needed on what would be included in a teen center and aquatic center. Councilwoman Fraverd stated that this survey should really be focused on Parks and Recreation. She said the Commission had set a bar for the Council as they had certainly done some planning. She felt the Council needed to do the same type of planning for the future. She proposed that the Council might want to consider a survey of their own in the future once the Council had made out their plan for priorities. Mayor Morgan pointed out that there had already been some planning going on. Councilman Kavanagh said that the public should know that the facilities of interest were just a matter of time. Mayor Morgan reminded everyone that at build out,with a population of roughly 30,000,Fountain Hills would not be able to have all the same amenities as surrounding cities. She did not think that the Town would need all of the same amenities provided by surrounding cities. Vice Mayor Hutcheson said she was also interested in having Mr. Nordin pursue the financial aspects of funding. She agreed the survey should be focused on the Parks and Recreation issues. She wanted to move forward with things that were possible and not get hung up on the aquatic center and the youth center at this time because of the unknown factors. Councilman Kavanagh said that the proposed survey would guide the Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 9 of 10 Town Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Chairman Fleck said the Commission was not married to the idea of a G.O. bond. He was very interested in Illow hearing what Mr. Nordin had to say after he looked at all of the financial options available. He expressed that he was happy with the direction that this meeting had taken. Mayor Morgan thanked everyone for their participation. AGENDA ITEM#3- ADJOURNMENT. Councilman Wyman MOVED to adjourn the meeting and Councilman Kavanagh SECONDED the motion, which CARRIED unanimously. Mayor Morgan adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS //7 By./ / in --ef_.----------- Sharon Morgan,Mayor ATTEST: (IA/LI-1—c' )J-tc,h_A.---, cy Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk , > � � PREPARED BY: : .lit i X % "- (,' Bev Bender,Executive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Special Session Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 19th day of September 2000. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 5th day of October 2000. t�.u...„,'-LJ 2cIt-4----- Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk loilw Town Council Special Session/Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 9/19/00 Page 10 of 10