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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006.1005.TCRM.MinutesTOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL October 5, 2006 Mayor Nichols called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Vice Mayor Kehe, Councilmember Dickey, Councilmember Schlum, Councilmember McMahan, Mayor Nichols, Councilmember Leger and Councilmember Archambault, Town Manager Tim Pickering, Town Attorney Andrew McGuire and Town Clerk Bev Bender were also present. INVOCATION — The invocation was led by Pastor John Nichols, New River Community Church. SCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES/PRESENTATIONS: (i) Presentation by Julie Syrmopoulous, Maricopa County Regional Development Services, regarding the West Nile Virus. Ms. Syrmopoulous thanked the Council for the opportunity to address them and for all the effort that has been expended to coordinate with the Town over the last two years in the fight against the West Nile Virus. She commended Mr. Ward and Mr. Morast for their cooperation and on their knowledge of this critical issue. Ms. Syrmopoulous said that she represented Maricopa County Environmental Services, the agency responsible for vector control with the County and highlighted a brief PowerPoint presentation on this issue (copy available in the office of the Town Clerk). Ms, Syrmopoulous discussed the County's Vector Control Program, stating it was composed of four "prongs" — education/outreach; prevention (routine site inspections); surveillance and mitigation. She expanded upon the program's fairly extensive surveillance activities that involve numerous contacts within the veterinarian communities (equine, sentinel chicken flocks, dead birds and carbon dioxide traps, the most significant surveillance process). Discussion ensued relative to the fact that over the last two years, the County has had access to what was called a "RAMP Test" — Rapid Analysis Measurement Platform — and reported that within a 24-hour period they were able to determine whether they have come across a positive West Nile Virus sample of mosquitoes; mitigation efforts; the fact that two years ago, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors defined a particular protocol for fogging and noted that many people support fogging, but many people opposed it, and the importance of utilizing a consistent method of approaching this effort; the facts that would result in fogging within a one - square mile area, were namely: 300 floodwater mosquitoes, 30 Culex mosquitoes (the primary vector known for passing along the virus) and any sample size that yields a positive West Nile Virus per the County's RAMP Test. Ms. Syrmopoulous further discussed risk reduction and said that avoiding mosquito bites was difficult but people need to take steps to avoid exposure such as wearing long sleeves in the evenings, avoiding dusk and dawn hours outside if at all possible, chemical measures that people could use, repellents, including natural ones included on the CDC site, and the prevention of breeding sites. She stated that the County recommended that citizens do the "West Nile Walk" after rain events and noted that as little as four ounces of water in a pot or any type of fountain feature could breed thousands upon thousands of mosquitoes within a 72-hour period. She also ZACouncil Packets\2006\R10-19-06\Council Meeting Minutes 10-05-06.doc Page 1 of 5 recommended that people check out the screens on their homes to make sure they were not allowing mosquitoes to enter residences. Ms. Syrmopoulous further stated that on a countywide perspective, as of today there were 41 cases of West Nile Virus in Maricopa County, compared to 12 two weeks ago and reported that two confirmed deaths had occurred. She noted that last week 9,300 complaints were received and in a week's time that number had increased to 12,060. Over 19,000 sites and 9,300 "green pools" have been inspected. She added that Fountain Hills had faired very well this year with only 19 stagnant water complaints, 8 special trappings, 19 routine site inspections, 3 routine trap locations, 0 West Nile Virus mosquito samples and 15 "green pool" complaints. She stated that last week Fountain Hills underwent its first fogging and explained that it was based on a trap that was set in response to citizen complaints and reported that no positive samples resulted from the RAMP Test. Ms. Syrmopoulous encouraged the residents of Fountain Hills to contact the West Nile Virus Hotline to lodge complaints (602) 506-0700 and/or visit their website for additional information, fogging notices and to have their names placed on the County's "Chemically Sensitive List," which would ensure notification 24-hours prior to any fogging activity taking place with a one -mile radius of their homes. Mayor Nichols thanked Ms. Syrmopoulous for her informative presentation. Mayor Nichols announced that on the upcoming ballot November 7`h ballot, there were 19 Propositions that citizens were being asked to vote on. He reported that the Secretary of State's office would be conducting meetings across the State to provide information on the various issues. He noted that the Secretary of State's office would visit Fountain Hills on Tuesday, October 24�' and would hold an informational meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center. He encouraged all residents interested in obtaining additional information on the ballot issues to attend this informative session. Mayor Nichols stated that prior to the meeting, Councilmember Leger commented on the generosity of one of the Town's citizens in donating a sculpture called the "Joy of Music" to the Town. He said that the donation is in celebration of the donators' wedding anniversary and thanked Jackie and Jerry Miles for their generous contribution to the community. CALL TO THE PUBLIC None. CONSENT AGENDA AGENDA ITEM #1 — APPROVING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 12 AND SEPTEMBER 21, 2006. AGENDA ITEM #2 — CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF A BRONZE SCULPTURE TITLED ".TOY OF MUSIC," UNDER THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL. AGENDA ITEM #3 — CONSIDERATION OF THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT FOR A 4- UNIT CONDOMINIUM PLAT ENTITLED "FINAL PLAT, ASTON VILLA II, A CONDOMINIUM" LOCATED AT 11410_N. SAGUARO BOULEVARD, AKA PLAT 201, BLOCK 6, LOT 3. CASE #S2006- 17. AGENDA ITEM #4 — CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE RELEASE OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO THE FOUNTAIN HILLS COMMUNITY THEATER IN THE AMOUNT OF $50 000 J, ZACouncil Packets\2006\R10-19-06\Council Meeting Minutes 10-05-06.doc Page 2 of 5 AGENDA ITEM #5 — CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING A PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLAT FOR THE 'UEDIFICE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE CONDOMINIUM," A 13-UNIT COMMERCIAL OFFICE CONDOMINIUM PROTECT AND LOT JOIN, LOCATED AT 11010 N. SAGUARO BOULEVARD, AKA PLAT 202, BLOCK 1, LOTS 15,17,18, 19 AND 21. CASE #S2005-21. AGENDA ITEM #6 — CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING RENEWAL OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE CONTRACT WITH PHOENIX HIGHWAY SERVICES INC. FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSPECTION TESTING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,608.08. Councilmember Leger MOVED to approve the Consent Agenda as listed and Vice Mayor Kehe SECONDED the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the following results: Vice Mayor Kehe Aye Councilmember Dickey Aye Councilmember Schlum Aye Councilmember Mc Mahan Aye Mayor Nichols Aye Councilmember Leger Aye Councilmember Archambault Aye The motion CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0). REGULAR AGENDA AGENDA ITEM #7 — CONSIDERATION OF DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO SCHEDULE TOWN COUNCIL WORK/STUDY SESSION TO BE HELD ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 12, 2006, WHOSE AGENDA SHALL BE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR TIMELIEST PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE FOUNTAIN HILLS MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN PRESERVE. Mayor Nichols clarified that this agenda item was just to discuss whether or not a meeting should be scheduled rather than to discuss the pros and cons of the public access. Councilmember Dickey MOVED to direct the Town Manager to schedule a meeting to discuss this agenda item at a future time and Councilmember Archambault SECONDED the motion. Vice Mayor Kehe referred to maps displayed in the Chambers and provided brief background information relative to this agenda item. In 1999, the Council proclaimed 386 acres previously acquired from a settlement agreement and land trade as the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. In December 2001, the Town acquired an additional 354 acres for a total of 748 acres. When Scottsdale extended their Sonoran Preserve holdings to include 200 acres within Fountain Hills, the practical total was just less than 1,000 acres. He reported that since 2001 the Town had engaged an engineering firm to design a trailhead master plan. In addition, the Sonoran Conservancy volunteers built a system of trails. He said that at this point in time, the Town's access through the Preserve depended upon the construction of the access roadway on Eagle Ridge Drive, which was currently gated at the end of Copperwynd. The Vice Mayor noted that the current plan called for development from the extension of Eagle Ridge Drive to a certain point in the trailhead. The property owner, MCO, had advised that their first priority was the Eagles Nest development followed by the development of Adero Canyon. He added that the State Trust Land had also come on to the scene. He reported that recently, the State Land Commissioner decided to postpone the auction of that piece of land until December and the appraisal had been significantly reduced, which he felt would bring ZACouncil Packets\2006\R 10- 1 9-06\Council Meeting Minutes 10-05-06.doc Page 3 of 5 more players into the game. He said that they did not know who would eventually be the purchaser but if it was MCO, there might be an impact on the development of Adero Canyon. He said that it might be another five years before general public access may be available to the Preserve. Vice Mayor Kehe advised that an alternative was to reduce the public access timeframe and presented the following possible options: (1) Use a right-of-way that had already been established in order to gain access from the gate to the trailhead; (2) Access from McDowell Mountain Park; (3) Access from a fire emergency right-of-way. He said that he, along with Councilmembers Leger and Dickey were proposing that a Work/Study Session be scheduled to discuss the feasibility of pursuing an alternative. He emphasized that everyone who was a stakeholder, should be part of the decision -making process, the Town, the Sonoran Preservancy, the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission and MCO. He requested support from the members of the Council. Town Clerk Bev Bender advised that two speaker cards were submitted and although the citizens did not wish to speak at this time. They expressed their support for the Vice Mayor's recommendation (Paul Appeldom, 12836 N. Mountainside Drive, #3 and Toni Vallee). Ms. Bender added that two other citizens wished to speak at this time. Roy Kinsey, 17120 E. Fairway Court, a member of the Sonoran Conservancy, spoke in favor of the Vice Mayor's suggestion and, on behalf of invited the members of the Council, the Town Attorney and the Town Manager on a trip to the Preserve, a hike Adero Canyon and through the hills. Dan Mangelsdore, 17120 E. Fairway Court, speaking on behalf of Wayne Tall who was out of the country and served as the acting head of the McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission, read a brief statement in support of the motion. He noted that the Commission actively supports immediate action to provide access to the Preserve. He added that it was important to make the right decision when choosing which of the several access choices was most appropriate. He suggested that a team be put together to develop rational, near -term access to the Preserve. Mayor Nichols thanked the speakers for their input and called for a vote on the motion. The motion CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0). Mayor Nichols clarified that the Secretary of State's informational meeting on October 24'h will be held at Town Hall Council Chambers rather than the Community Center as previously stated. AGENDA ITEM #8 — COUNCIL DISCUSSION/DIRECTION TO THE TOWN MANAGER. Items listed below are related only to the propriety of (i) placing such items on a future agenda for action or (ii) directing staff to conduct further research and report back to the Council. A. None. AGENDA ITEM #14 — SUMMARY OF COUNCIL REQUESTS BY TOWN MANAGER. Mr. Pickering advised that staff would work to schedule the meeting discussed under Agenda Item #7. Mayor Nichols also announced that today is Vice Mayor Kehe's birthday and he and the Council sang "Happy Birthday" to the Vice Mayor. AGENDA ITEM #10 - ADJOURNMENT. Councilmember McMahan MOVED that the Council adjourn and Councilmember Leger SECONDED the motion, which CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (7-0). The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ZACouncil Packets\2006\R 10- 1 9-06\Council Meeting Minutes 10-05-06.doc Page 4 of 5 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS By Wally ] / "01-`�1[11e101 : ;4",'ndtf-,'Town Clerk 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 5`h day of October 2006. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 19`h day of October, 2006. Bevelyn J. en , Town Clerk ZACouncil Packets\2006\R 10- 1 9-06\Council Meeting Minutes 10-05-06.doc Page 5 of 5 PI 9