New council to be sworn in Tuesday, get update on 2040 Vision

With a new council being seated Tuesday night, a refresher on 2040 Vision seemed a good idea.

Maricopa City Council will meet at 7 p.m. for its regular session. The agenda includes a status report on 2040 Vision, which is meant to guide the city for the next 25 years.

“We thought it would be a good time to provide the council with a briefing on one of the most significant projects in Maricopa,” City Manager Gregory Rose said.

Since the creation of the steering committee this fall, there have been nine forums around the community. Some of the public feedback was expected and some was in the form of new ideas.

Issues that have been at the top of the list of officials and validated through the public forms have included economic development and transportation. Rose said residents want more jobs and more business recruiting in Maricopa. Transportation concerns expressed by the public have not only been about infrastructure for getting people safely back and forth in their cars, he said, but also making Maricopa a walkable community.

The discussions also brought up the new idea of laying the foundation to bring light rail to town, Rose said.

If the council stays on course, it could be set to adopt 2040 Vision in the spring.

“Everyone we’ve talked to has been very supportive of the process,” Rose said.

At the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, newly elected council members Vincent Manfredi, Henry Wade and Nancy Smith will be sworn in with re-elected incumbents Peggy Chapados and Mayor Christian Price by Judge Pro Tem Lyle Riggs.

Outgoing council members Edward Farrell, Dan Frank and Julia Gusse will be recognized for their service.

In other matters on the agenda, there will be a public hearing on the use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and State Special Projects (SSP) funds. SSP funds are competitive, while CDBG funds are a set amount that must be used in a set timeframe.

On the consent agenda are purchases of shelving for the library (up to $35,000), 15 sets of Personal Protective Equipment for fire support services (up to $46,000), two bronze plaques for Pacana Park and Copper Sky Recreation Complex (up to $8,000) and three sets of extrication equipment for fire support services (up to $131,000).

The Maricopa Fire Department is also applying for grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which must be approved by council. One for $1.3 million would purchase a ladder truck. This includes a matching-fund requirement of 10 percent from the city. The other grant for up to $345,000 would allow MFD to host a regional education/training event with Mesa Community College and its Virtual Incident Command Center. This grant, too, requires 10 percent in matching funds.

The council will also look at accepting a grant award of $250,000 from the Rural Economic Development Grant program as part of the Edison Road Extension. The required matching funds of $25,000 come from the 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

Kim Kwiatkowski of Circle K at 19864 N. John Wayne Parkway is applying for a new liquor license. After a change in officers at the company, Michael Basha of Bashas’ at 21044 N. John Wayne Parkway is applying for a control change under the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control.