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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002.1219.TCRM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL December 19,2002 Each council member expressed their wish to the community that citizens enjoy a Happy Holiday Season and prosperous New Year. Mayor Beydler called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Following a moment of silence, roll call was taken. ROLL CALL - Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor Jon Beydler, Vice Mayor Leesa Fraverd, and Councilmembers Rick Melendez, Kathleen Nicola, Michael Archambault and John Kavanagh. Town Attorney Andrew McGuire and Town Manager Tim Pickering were also present. Councilwoman Susan Ralphe was absent. Mayor Beydler requested that consent item #5 be removed for discussion and then read the balance of the consent agenda(items 1-4&6). AGENDA ITEM #1 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 21,DECEMBER 3 AND 5,2002. AGENDA ITEM #2 - CONSIDERATION OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOTEBOOM FOR NICK MORGAN'S, THE SPORTS GRILL LOCATED AT 16737 EAST PARKVIEW. THE APPLICATION IS FOR THE PERSON TRANSFER OF A SERIES 6 BAR LICENSE. AGENDA ITEM #3 - CONSIDERATION OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY NANCY SHINA FOR THE SOUTHWEST INN AT EAGLE MOUNTAIN LOCATED AT 9800 NORTH SUMMER HILL BOULEVARD. THE APPLICATION IS FOR THE LOCATION AND PERSON TRANSFER OF A SERIES 7 BEER AND WINE LICENSE. AGENDA ITEM #4 - CONSIDERATION OF A FINAL PLAT FOR "J&J PROPERTIES CONDOMINIUMS" A SUBDIVISION OF PLAT 206,BLOCK 1,LOT 27. AGENDA ITEM #6 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS: (1) RELEASE OF VARIOUS TRAFFIC SIGNAL REQUIREMENTS (2) TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT PALISADES BLVD/PALOMINO BLVD/EAGLE RIDGE DRIVE INTERSECTION AND (3) TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT PALISADES BLVD/SUNRIDGE DRIVE. Vice Mayor Fraverd MOVED to approve the consent agenda as read and Councilman Archambault SECONDED the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the following results: Vice Mayor Fraverd Aye Councilman Melendez Aye Councilman Kavanagh Aye Councilwoman Nicola Aye Mayor Beydler Aye Councilman Archambault Aye The motion CARRIED unanimously. AGENDA ITEM#5- CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH BURGESS NIPLE IN THE AMOUNT OF$24,700 FOR THE FOUNTAIN HILLS BOULEVARD/EL LAGO TRAFFIC SIGNAL. Mr. Pickering asked Director Ward to give the Council an overview of this project. Director Ward stated that this signal had been controversial for approximately four years The Traffic Standards Committee had been studying this intersection. He stated that four years ago the intersection did not meet the warrants under the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Director Ward stated that since that time various studies had been done. This intersection now met two warrants out of the eight warrants under the MUTCD. He explained how warrants #1 & #2 were met. Staff recommended approval. Vice Mayor Fraverd asked why this intersection could not be a four-way stop. Director Ward responded that the four- way stop was an interim measure because of the-situation with the#1 warrant and traffic delays on El Lago. Staff did not E:\BBender\Documents\Current Minutes 2002\Minutes\Regular Session 12-19-02.doc 1 of 5 want to put in the four-way stop over the holidays because they felt there were people in town that would not recognize this situation. Staff proposed to act on the interim measure in January. Vice Mayor Fraverd asked if a four-way stop was as safe as a stoplight. Director Ward replied that a four-way stop was the safest situation. In this case, the developer would pay 50% of the costs for this signal. If the Town waited a longer period of time, the Town would run out of the time period and the developer would not have the commitment to pay for the signal. Since the intersection did meet the warrants and the Town had the commitment from the developer for 50%, staff was looking to move forward on the situation. Councilman Kavanagh asked what triggered the time period for the developer. Director Ward replied it would start with the development agreement. The town engineer,Randy Harrel, made that projection. Councilman Kavanagh asked if it was necessary to put up the traffic signal if only one warrant was met. Director Ward pointed out that signals could be put up by only meeting one warrant, but the traffic engineer would advise as to whether or not there were delays for the drivers. Councilman Kavanagh noted that this was not a safety issue but a delay and frustration issue. Director Ward said that was correct. Councilman Kavanagh acknowledged that this intersection had been the sight of a very bad accident. He asked how that intersection rated with other intersections on major thoroughfares with regard to accidents. Director Ward said traffic counts had not been taken at other intersections to come up with the warrant at this location. Although there had been increase in the accident rate over the last three years at this intersection,it still did not meet that warrant under accident criteria. Councilman Kavanagh asked staffs opinion as to when other warrants would materialize,which would result in a traffic light. Director Ward replied that was one of the reasons that staff was looking at this. He pointed out that a church owns land east of Fountain Hills Blvd on the north side of El Lago. Therefore, staff was trying to be proactive realizing that there would be additional traffic congestion there. Staff was aware that the warrants had increased when the senior care facility, the community center, the library, and the museum were constructed and developed. The driving main force was when the intersection was tied into with the new asphalt. Councilman Kavanagh restated that within three years there was no doubt that a signal would be required at this location. Director Ward clarified that only the numbers and the traffic engineer tells him when a signal was necessary. He felt staff was moving in the right direction. Councilman Archambault asked if there was a time frame for this signal installation. Director Ward acknowledged there was and that they were behind schedule. Councilman Archambault asked if the signal would be up within the year. Director Ward noted that would be the maximum time frame,as he wanted to have it up between six and eight months. Councilman Kavanagh MOVED to approve the contract with Burgess and Nipple as presented. and Vice Mayor Fraverd SECONDED the motion. The motion CARRIED unanimously. AGENDA ITEM#7- UPDATE ON THE RFP FOR THE AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS. Mr. Pickering reviewed that input had been received last month by the Downtown Group to write a request for proposal for the median and right-of-way area for the Ave. of the Fountains. He deferred to Denise Ruhling for an update. Planner Ruhling gave an overview of the research completed and status of the RFP. She noted that funding would be a challenge. She anticipated bringing a draft RFP to the Council in February that would include a staged phasing of proposed improvements. Vice Mayor Fraverd asked if applicants would be given different figures and asked to provide design improvements based on those figures so there would be options. Planner Ruhling clarified that it would be set up in such a way that there would be three concept plans(budget, modest,and wish list). The idea of phasing was to allow time to analyze the different costs. Councilman Kavanagh asked if Planner Ruhling expected to have an RFP before the Council in February that could be sent out. Planner Ruhling confirmed that was correct. Vice Mayor Fraverd questioned if Planner Ruhling planned to meet with the Downtown Group to discuss ideas during this time period. Planner Ruhling noted that public input was a vital process and she would set up a meeting with Walt Franklin after the first of the year. She explained that the person coming up with the concepts would hold meetings so that they get a very good grasp of what was wanted. Mayor Beydler asked if the RFQ would take into consideration some of the current business owners' concerns and desires that had been expressed at the last Mayor's Committee on Downtown Redevelopment or was this to be based on Ilitibry future plans. Planner Ruhling envisioned they would try to determine how to make everyone click in this area. She felt that current business owners' input and their wish list was as important as anyone else's. Councilman Kavanagh asked E:\BBender\Documents\Current Minutes 2002\Minutes\Regular Session 12-19-02.doc 2 of 5 that there be minimal disruption to businesses. Planner Ruhling pointed out that Ave. of the Fountains was wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic if necessary. Those plans would have to be worked out between Public Works and the persons doing the work. She recognized that the Town did not want to bring any more hardship to the existing downtown merchants. Mayor Beydler asked if a two—five year window was within reason. Planner Ruhling pointed out that would depend upon the input received. She understood that everyone wanted to see some type of action as soon as possible. Planner Ruhling noted it was the Council that would have to make the choice as to which phase would be taken at what time. She explained her role as the person who provided the information. It was her opinion that action could be taken by the end of this next year. Mayor Beydler pointed out that Planner Ruhling's report discussed a possibility of a director for Downtown Economic Development and that the development fees were not exclusively for downtown development but was for the entire town. He asked what type of an impact would that have on the Director of Downtown Economic Development. Mr. Pickering noted that the exact wording would have to be researched when the segregations of those funds were adopted. That would determine what the definition of downtown was. Councilman Kavanagh clarified that a tenth of a percent sales tax had been dedicated to downtown development. Part of the rationale behind that was since the Town was investing a great deal of work and deferred town taxes to Target,it was only fair to give a boost to the downtown. He addressed why the Council was spending this money during this present fiscal crisis. This was money that was specifically dedicated to downtown development. While legally the Council could spend it wherever they wanted,there would be real ethical problems doing so. The Council was not taking money from other needed areas. This was money that would generate more money. Fountain Hills needed to become a destination and an experience. Mayor Beydler asked if these monies could be allocated to create an experience as referred to by Councilman Melendez and Wally Chester. Could these monies be used for other expenses in the community? He wanted to know if these monies were committed to downtown development and that was the only intent for which to use these monies. He wanted to know if the St. Patrick's Day and July 4th celebrations and reseeding the grass around the fountain could be considered a part of the hook for helping downtown merchants to be successful. Were these reasonable items on which to dedicate some of these monies? Mr.Pickering agreed that making Fountain Hills a destination experience was exactly what was being discussed. He did not think that the intent of the funds was to reseed the grass around the fountain and that was why these funds were set up. This money should be used to create a greater downtown than we currently have versus spending it on operational costs already in existence. Vice Mayor Fraverd agreed with Mr.Pickering. A promise had been made to the residents when the sales tax was raised that the one tenth of one percent would go strictly for new downtown development,not to cut expenses and then use this money to bring it back. She was not interested in doing that. Frank Ferrera,Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce In 2000,the Chamber had supported the sales tax increase. They wanted to see the Council's promise kept. Vladimir Hulpach, 16439 Nicolas Dr. He noted that the Chamber of Commerce had started a business advocacy task force. They had addressed two issues: signage and lighting in the downtown. He reviewed that the Plat 208 Property Association had a study conducted and E group had prepared a proposal a few years ago. When lighting was addressed this year, the main mission was to attach particular numbers to this vision. He noted that the task force had endorsements on this project from Plat 208 and the Downtown Merchants Association. Bids were solicited for electric lighting features on the northern side of Ave. of the Fountains, which would be mirrored on the southern portion. The long-term intent would be to have a similar type of lighting extended throughout the other areas of Plat 208 and Town Center III. The bid was approximately $110,000, which had included all of the trench work, installation and cost of the lighting fixtures. This would be for 28 lighting fixtures,the poles, and the banner poles. He noted that there had been input from the community on this. Their biggest concern had been the type of lighting illumination that would be used and that it would be shielded. He stated the biggest encouragement came from discussions with Southwest Gas, who had indicated an interest in this project as a potential contract and promotional project. Southwest Gas said they would create a downtown gas type illumination that would be promoted. They might be able to produce a better bid and would take care of some maintenance issues that were of concern in the issue of gas vs. electric. Southwest Gas had also mentioned that they would possibly accommodate or assume all of the cost of trenching, which was a significant portion of the bid. He proposed that if the Council was interested, that they appoint a staff person to work closely with Southwest Gas, work out all of the contractual E:\BBender\Documents\Current Minutes 2002\Minutes\Regular Session 12-19-02.doc 3 of 5 arrangements, and make this part of the long-term vision process. Southwest Gas had indicated it would take 30 days to finalize their bid. He stated he would pass along the information to staff that he had gathered. Mayor Beydler referred to staffs comments that the planning process should be such that the Town not put in lighting only to have to remove it if there was a plan that called for the lighting to be relocated. He knew there were some businesses that wanted to light up the Avenue of the Fountains now as opposed to waiting. Mr.Hulpach said this plan had a certain location in mind. He agreed that their plan should be adjusted to the long-range vision. He noted that the plans as submitted by Mr. Franklin could be accommodated. Councilman Kavanagh asked if Southwest Gas would be willing to wait 14 —15 months until the exact lighting locations were known. Mr. Hulpach believed that to be true. He said the offer would have to be specified. Southwest Gas had suggested that rather than producing an outward bid they would like to start working with the Town under the Town's guidelines. Councilman Kavanagh thought it sounded like an interesting and generous proposal. He proposed that staff investigate the pros and cons of gas vs.electric lighting in terms of costs,maintenance,lumens,etc. Walt Franklin,Nicholas Dr. He stated he was extremely pleased with the conversation tonight and Planner Ruhling's report. He commented that at this point in time the Town was not looking to spend the kind of money that was in the designated fund. This was purely an RFP for the concept development out of which would grow the plan that would determine how much money would be spent and when. He thought the cost would be less than$50,000. Mayor Beydler asked if the RFP would come after the RFQ? Mr. Franklin stated that the persons applying would quote on what it would cost to develop three concept plans and estimated costs for staged developments of those plans. Jay Edington He stated that lighting was a safety issue for pedestrians. He requested that ash cans be placed along Avenue of the Fountains. Merchants had expressed to him that they had requested Christmas lighting stranded around the palm trees on Avenue of the Fountains. Similar lighting had been done in another shopping plaza off of Palisades Blvd. and it sufficiently illuminated the area. He expressed that could be used as a temporary light source. He also liked the idea of gas lighting. He proposed the idea of a sky walk(as in Disneyland)in the downtown area. Lowell Jansen,President of Plat 208 Property Association He stated that they were willing to cooperate and support the concept of the Downtown Consensus Team. They wanted to get something going soon. Mayor Beydler requested that the planning process coordinate with the developers of the plat on the south forty when it comes to coloring and style. AGENDA ITEM#8- CALL TO THE PUBLIC. No one came forward. AGENDA ITEM#9 -ADJOURNMENT. Councilwoman Nicola MOVED that the Council adjourn and Councilman Archambault SECONDED the motion, which CARRIED unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. L E:\BBender\Documents\Current Minutes 2002\Minutes\Regular Session 12-I9-02.doc 4 of 5 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS Low 1 By: / ,Ion Beyd er,May r ATTEST: AA4A-4--, Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk l PREPARED BY: Bev Bender,Executive Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Session held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 19th day of December 2002. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 16th day of January 2003. • Cassie B. Hansen, Director of Administration/Town Clerk L E:\BBender\Documents\Current Minutes 2002\Minutes\Regular Session 12-19-02.doc 5 of 5