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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002.0314.TCSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL March 14,2002 Mayor Morgan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Following the pledge to the flag roll call was taken. ROLL CALL - Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor Sharon Morgan, Vice Mayor John Kavanagh and Councilmembers Sharon Hutcheson, Rick Melendez, Susan Ralphe, and Leesa Fraverd. Town Attorney Bill Farrell and Public Safety Director Steve Gendler were also present. AGENDA ITEM#1 — PRESENTATION BY TOWN ATTORNEY BILL FARRELL ON THE PROPOSED FORT MCDOWELL SPORTS COMPLEX SITE. Mr. Farrell briefly reviewed that staff met with representatives several weeks ago at the suggestion of the Council and heard the issue of the Fort McDowell Sports Complex. He mentioned that although this site was first runner up,they continued to be a very active participant in the selection process. President Pattea indicated he and his staff wanted to come before the Council to introduce Fountain Hills to the concept of what the Fort McDowell Sports Complex site had to offer. Mr. Farrell suggested that if the Council were enthusiastic about the prospects at the conclusion of this presentation, staff would ask for a five minute Special Council Meeting on Monday, March 18, 2002, for consideration of a resolution supporting the Fort McDowell Complex site. This letter would be forwarded to the Stadium Sports Authority (TSA). President Pattea of the Fort McDowell Indian Community expressed his appreciation for the Council's time. He commented that the Fort McDowell Indian Community had been working on this prospect for two years. It was now getting to the point where the Stadium Sports Authority would make their decision. He introduced Jill Heberling who would be making the presentation. Ms. Heberling proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation that included an aerial of the site. She explained their reasons why that this site should be selected over the others for the stadium site. She summarized that Fort McDowell hoped Fountain Hills would see the benefit of supporting this site. Ms. Heberling emphasized that the Fort McDowell Indian Community didn't require any local tax dollars to be spent or financial contributions from the neighboring communities. They felt it made sense for Fort McDowell to be awarded the site because they would add usage to what already existed in Fountain Hills. She explained that they were taking a proactive role in getting needed public support from neighboring communities. She said that they were dealing with Scottsdale and Paradise Valley and would probably be dealing with Salt River Indian Community and Mesa. They hoped to have the support from these communities before the Tuesday meeting of the TSA. Councilman Melendez stated that he believed that "quality of life" was a critical issue. He expressed concerns over the potential for increased traffic, crime, and pollution that such a complex could bring. Councilwoman Ralphe questioned the increased traffic flow along Shea Boulevard. Ms. Heberling showed their plans for the construction of two additional roadways on the reservation that should address the traffic concerns. Vice Mayor Kavanagh commented that the infusion of retail sales that the location of this combination convention center/arena would give to Fountain Hills' retail businesses was needed. He did not feel that the traffic generated would adversely affect Fountain Hills' residents, as most of the traffic from this facility would be traveling the Beeline and Shea Boulevard. He said the negative impact of traffic would be minimal and would be far outweighed by the revenue that would be generated. Vice Mayor Kavanagh was in favor of this proposal and felt that the Fort McDowell Indian Community deserved the Town's support. Lie Councilwoman Fraverd also expressed a slight concern for more traffic. She liked the idea of the additional proposed roads. Councilwoman Fraverd asked for clarification on the construction timeframe. She questioned if the light at Shea Boulevard and the Beeline would be a problem, as that could become a congested area. She Special Session Minutes—March 14,2002 Page 1 of 4 stated that she was, from the Council's standpoint, bothered at the limited time frame, as there had not been sufficient time to alert the public of the public hearing through the newspaper. She had wanted public opinion as to whether or not the public was supportive of this proposal. She didn't feel that a Special Meeting on „it) Monday would help solve the problem of limited community input. Councilwoman Fraverd asked how the Council's decision whether or not to endorse the site entered into the recommendation or the decision that the Sports Authority would make. Ms. Heberling responded that when the Sports Authority sets their agenda, competing sites are given 24 hours notice of their meetings. In the past they've been given less than that, which she acknowledged had been a handicap all along in this process. She spoke to the fact that Thursday's TSA meeting was to be the announcement of their chosen site and the beginning of negotiations with that site and an alternate site as a backup. Ms. Heberling compared the Fort McDowell Indian Community's 4th of July Celebration attendance to that of a Cardinal game and to the attendance of the Fountain Hills Fair. She did not feel that the Town of Fountain Hills would be overrun with traffic because there would be people in place to move the traffic and the absorption rate of Highway 87 was pretty good. Councilman Melendez asked how the Fort McDowell Indian Community's 4th of July Celebration would help Fountain Hills' retail businesses. Ms. Heberling was not sure that particular event could. Vice Mayor Kavanagh asked Public Safety Director Steve Gendler if traffic or crime had been a problem when the Fort McDowell Indian Community held their 4th of July Celebration. Director Gendler replied that there hadn't been any problems as the DPS works closely with the Indian Community to move traffic. Vice Mayor Kavanagh asked if the Marshals Department noticed any spikes in crime during their events and Director Gendler said no. Mr. Farrell discussed the accessibility issue. He felt the Town's participation early on in the process, as a partner, neighbor, and supporter would allow Fountain Hills to give input to the master traffic control plan. DPS would take full responsibility for Highway 87. Marshal Gendler and the MCSO, working closely with DPS, would have a good deal of control over Shea Boulevard. If it became necessary to restrict traffic internally in order to avoid the masses coming into town,then Fountain Hills would have an opportunity to fully ,14) participate and plan for it. Mr. Farrell addressed how the stadium events would assist local businesses if the public came into Fountain Hills and then left. It was his experience that the exposure to the program, not necessarily on the day that the public came to the event, which contained the advertising that talked about the real estate for sale, restaurants, shopping centers was what prompted someone to say it is crowded today but let's return at a later time. Director Gendler stated that the MCSO and the Marshals Department have prepared plans to move traffic in and out of Fountain Hills during the fairs. He explained that the lights are controlled internally, which helped to run the traffic onto Shea. DPS takes care of the intersection of Shea/Highway 87, bringing in additional resources when needed. The proposed increase in traffic would come through the community and be moved straight through without causing gridlock. Vice Mayor Kavanagh agreed that the experience of the Fort McDowell Indian events demonstrated that traffic wouldn't be a problem. He noted that President Pattea had mentioned the possibility of aid from the Indian Community with respect to Shea Boulevard based upon the present terms of the compact between the State of Arizona and the tribes, which could amount to approximately $1 million per year. He said those funds could go a long way towards upgrading Shea Boulevard. Ms. Heberling clarified that money was available and not connected to the stadium issue in any way. Frank Ferrera—Director of the Chamber of Commerce representing 500 businesses He stated that the benefits would overcome any traffic problems. The Chamber of Commerce and those that they represented were in favor of the project site Nancy Puffer She was not in favor of the project site because of the negative impact it could have on the community. She felt that more public input was needed. She asked this Council to wait on their endorsement and allow the new Council to make the decision. Town of Fountain Hills Meeting Minutes March 14,2002 Page 2 of 4 Mike Archambault, Council Member elect He asked if the County or the Town maintained Shea Boulevard. He questioned what the cost would be to thir expand Shea Boulevard. The Town Engineer Randy Harrel was not prepared to answer the question. He asked if the Fiesta Bowl would be in direct competition with the stadium. Ms. Heberling replied that the Fiesta Bowl would not be in competition but go with the Cardinals Stadium. Mr. Archambault asked how many possible events could be held. Ms. Heberling responded there would be approximately eight Cardinal games and 150 smaller State Fair events if they came there. Councilwoman Hutcheson reminded everyone that sometimes the Council has to make tough decisions without the luxury of time due to the nature of the issue. She pointed out that the Fort McDowell Indian Community was only requesting that Fountain Hills give their proposal a boost in their bid for site approval. Roxanne Boryczki,Fountain Hills Tourism Council She stated that they were in 100% support of this site and asked that the Town Council also support the site. John Winters, 11249 Inca He was against this proposal until more studies were done. He expressed that he also had traffic and pollution concerns. He did not like the idea of emergency meetings. He asked that the public have an opportunity for input. He asked why Fountain Hills wasn't asking the Indian Community for some kind of monetary reward for the citizens. Francis Hoffman, 14215 N. Ashbrook Dr. She was against making fast decisions and cited the need for more public input. She was also apprehensive about increased traffic and pollution problems. Sherry Stieman, 16344 E. Crystal Ridge She stated that the location of the complex site was not a decision that the Fountain Hills Council was being asked to make. Fountain Hills was being asked to support the proposal concept. She pointed out that the final decision would be coming from the TSA and, if approved, the project could be built without Fountain Hills' approval. She was in favor of supporting this proposal. She asked how long it would be before the roads and the complex,if approved,would take to construct. Ms. Heberling clarified both would be complete in 2005. Phil Gaziano, 14946 E Sierra Madra Dr. He withheld his support of the plan in its present form because the Council didn't have the opportunity to think it through. He asked that the Council withhold their support until they get more facts. AGENDA ITEM#2—CALL TO THE PUBLIC AND ADJOURNMENT. Councilwoman Hutcheson MOVED to adjourn the meeting and Councilwoman Fraverd SECONDED the motion, which CARRIED unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. L Town of Fountain Hills Meeting Minutes March 14,2002 Page 3 of 4 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS rf BY:`-� � i� Sharon Morgan,Ma}er kL ATTEST: Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk PREPARED BY: / /U. �� deli ev Bender,Executive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Special Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 14th day of March 2002. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 4th day of April 2002. Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk Town of Fountain Hills Meeting Minutes March 14,2002 Page 4 of 4