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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007.0426.TCOM.Minutes Jr TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE OFF-SITE MEETING OF THE (ow FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL AND THE MESA CITY COUNCIL April 26, 2007 Mayor Nichols called the meeting to order at 11:55 a.m. Present from Fountain Hills: Mayor Wally Nichols, Vice Mayor Keith McMahan, Councilmembers, Ed Kehe, Henry Leger, Jay Schlum, and Ginny Dickey. Councilmember Archambault was absent. Town of Fountain Hills' staff: Town Attorney Andrew McGuire, Town Manager Tim Pickering, Public Works Director Tom Ward, Assistant to the Town Manager Kate Zanon, Administrative Assistant Susan Trocki, Executive Assistant to the Mayor and Town Council and Town Manager Shaunna Williams, and Town Clerk Bev Bender. Present from the Mesa City Council: Mayor Keno Hawker, vice Mayor Claudia Walters, Councilmembers Rex Griswold, Kyle Jones, Tom Rawles, Scott Somers, and Mike Whalen. City of Mesa staff: City Manager Chris Brady, Deputy City Clerk Linda Crocker, PIO Heather Gray, Gov. Relations Coordinator Scott Butler, and city Attorney Debbie Spinner. Ms. Zanon reviewed the meeting agenda that would be followed and facilitated the meeting. Welcome and Introductions [Mayor Wally Nichols and Mayor Keno Hawker]. Self introductions of attendees took place as listed above. Mayor Nichols welcomed everyone and commented one of Fountain Hills' greatest assets, the views; and the fact that Fountain Hills is establishing relationships with adjoining communities. He thanked the City of Mesa [the 3rd largest city in Maricopa County] for assisting Fountain Hills in the past. - Mayor Hawker stated that Mesa had supported Fountain Hills in their annexation efforts and hoped to use Fountain Hills as a model for a success story. Update on the State Trust Land [Town Manager Tim Pickering]. Fountain Hills Town Manager Pickering briefly gave an update on the State Trust Land annexation. He pointed out that Fountain Hills had been successful in obtaining a pre-annexation development agreement with the Arizona Land Department. He noted that the Land Department's goal had been to add value to the land before the land auction took place. The land sold last month for $110M, which was the second highest sale to date. Mr. Pickering indicated a willingness to assist Mesa with the process the Town had gone through. He also expressed that the City of Mesa's 20-year plan had been the model for Fountain Hills' current 20-year plan. He stated that this 20-year plan forced the Town to look into the future and to begin taking on those issues now to find answers rather than waiting. Ms. Zanon stated that information on this topic had been provided in the packet provided to everyone. L Z:\Council Packets\2007\R5-17-07\4-26-07 minutes of the Off-Site Joint Meeting between the Town Council and the Mesa City Council.doc Page 1 of 3 Williams Gateway Area Update [Scott Butler, Mesa] Mr. Butler reviewed the plans for this area noting that it was Mesa's long-term plan to establish a thriving center for business, employment, aviation, education, and technology. He discussed the impacts of potential additional passenger services, Cessna constructing a new facility and relocate from California, Embraer constructing a new facility, the educational facilities to be constructed in the area and their role [ASU and Chandler-Gilbert Community College]; as well as the importance of two new studies that were to be completed [Airport Master Plan Update and ULI]. A copy of the presentation is on file in the Clerk's office. Mayor Nichols questioned what impact this Gateway expansion would have on Scottsdale's airport and Mr. Butler responded that this was not a competing market as Scottsdale provided mainly charter services due to their schedules and volume limitations. Transportation Connectivity [Tom Ward,Fountain Hills] Mr. Ward briefly spoke about the lack of connecting road to Fountain Hills and the impact of having a road connect Bush Highway to the Beeline Highway. He stated that Fort McDowell's Tribal Council and the Town of Fountain Hills Council supported efforts to provide connectivity. He noted that staff would be asking the Town of Fountain Hills Town Council to consider contributing 25% towards the cost of the Stantec study that was projected to be completed in June. Economic Development [Kate Zanon, Fountain Hills & Chris Brady,Mesa] Ms. Zanon talked about the Town's trade demographics and how limited the commercial growth was. She stated that the Town was currently working with the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to broaden visitor market outreach and transportation was the key. She reviewed that the Town had invested in the revitalization of infrastructure in the downtown area and that Town's focus was on business retention, filling parcels, and downtown development. Mr. Brady recognized that a well educated and skilled workforce was necessary for economic development and the right infrastructure was needed to move things forward. He discussed that Mesa did not have freeway congestion, the fact that the 202 was scheduled to be completed in 2008, the fact that Mesa needed to work on the North/South connection, and that their water and waste water facilities were in a strong position to facilitate future growth. Closing Remarks and Adjournment [Mayor Wally Nichols & Mayor Keno Hawker] Mayor Nichols thanked everyone for attending and staff for making all the arrangements. He stated that he was looking forward to connecting Fountain Hills to the Gateway Area through the proposed Usury Pass. He presented Mayor Hawker with a Fountain Hills pen set in remembrance of this meeting. Mayor Hawker also expressed his thanks to everyone who attended. He pointed out that the East Valley communities needed to band together to complete projects and indicated that he would follow- up and meet with Fort McDowell Tribal President Bear. He stated that Mesa's relationship was good with both Fort McDowell and Salt River Pima Tribal Councils. He commented that he was impressed with Fountain Hills as a community. Z:\Council Packets\2007\R5-17-07\4-26-07 minutes of the Off-Site Joint Meeting between the Town Council and the Mesa City Council.doc Page 2 of 3 Adjournment Mayor Nichols adjourned the meeting at 1:12 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS By _ d ►a.1,_ Wally ichols, Mayor A'f1'J ST AND PREPARED BY: / Bevelyn J. %nd ,Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Off-Site Meeting between the Town Council of Fountain Hills and the Mesa City Council on 26th day of April, 2007. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 17th day of May, 2007. /61/41'6 Bevelyn J. nde , Town Clerk L Z:\Council Packets\2007\R5-17-0744-26-07 minutes of the Off-Site Joint Meeting between the Town Council and the Mesa City Council.doc Page 3 of 3 j j