City Council addresses elections, projects, events, services and personnel policies, in addition to General Plan

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Tuesday evening’s City Council meeting was lengthy, and the primary focus was on the explanation of the General Plan, its changes, potential amendments and future implementation (see related story).

Council convened as the Board of Adjustment to hear two variance requests from Georgia Fincher relative to her property on North Condrey Avenue, and its lack of the minimum lot requirement as well as the necessary side variance. Prior owners split the property and built an addition onto an adjacent home. The request was approved since it met all of the state’s requirements for variance.

Special Events
Council passed a resolution in support of Against Abuse, Inc., a domestic abuse shelter, support and counseling organization. A local fundraiser, the Seeds of Change Gala, will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2006, from 6 p.m. until midnight at Province. A dinner, casino night, silent and live auctions and dancing will be featured. Funds will be directed to the establishment of a Maricopa domestic violence shelter.

The City of Maricopa’s second annual Salsa Festival received council approval. The event will be held on April 29 from noon to 3 p.m. on the high school football field.

Funding Projects
Parks, Recreation and Libraries Director Marty McDonald and Grants Coordinator Mary Eick received council approval to pursue a grant that would allow allocations of up to $5,000 to assist in building or refurbishing youth ball fields, basketball courts or skate parks. Specifically, these funds would go toward providing shade structures at the Pacana Park dugouts.

Heather Patel, representing Central Arizona Association of Governments, was present to solicit the council members’ thoughts on projects to be included in this year’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Mayor Kelly Anderson suggested that funds might be directed toward clean up on SR 347. The council, after some discussion, determined that the funds, up to $150,000, should go toward the completion of the street improvement project in historic Maricopa, which was begun last year. Oracle Engineering of Tucson was selected for that project.

Elections
The May 16, 2006, ballot will include voter approval for the General Plan, a resolution authorizing the city to engage in the utility business and its services, as well as authorizing the city to levy a primary (ad valorem) property tax (Public Safety Property Tax) to finance public safety services, such as the fire, police and ambulance. An intergovernmental agreement with Pinal County was approved to provide election services in May. Council also voted to approve the official and descriptive ballot language for these issues.

New Sheriff’s Deputies and Staff
Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez introduced four new deputies, Andrew Wikstrom, Zack Mauzy, Ryan Pass, Matthew McKenzie and new staff member, Marta Dominguez.

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New sheriff’s staff and deputies (left to right) Marta Dominguez, Matthew McKenzie, Ryan Pass, Zack Mauzy and Andrew Wikstrom introduced by Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez (right).

Project Management Consultant Services
Paul Garvin, Principal-in-Charge, representing Don Todd Associates, Inc., presented his firm’s credentials and plan as construction managers for the Maricopa City Complex Project. The awarded contract would be for five years from the onset of the project until completion for a fee not to exceed $1,920,828. Garvin explained that the firm, which has been in Phoenix since 1996, is “here to work collaboratively” on City Hall, a police and court facility, an aquatic center and a library.

Expenditures
A contract with Engineering Mapping Solutions for the development of permitting and plan review tracking software and the purchase of Autodesk Buzzsaw/Autocad Viewer software received council approval. William Sims of Moyes Storey Law will continue to represent the city in development impact fee assessment issues. He will be paid $200 per hour.

Road acceptances
Various parcels in Alterra North and Alterra South were accepted into the city’s street and road maintenance system.

Hacienda Builders, seeking a MOD for roadways in the Lakes at El Dorado, currently provides only fire department access at White & Parker Road. Discussion centered on the need for vehicle access, which would require redesign, taking out lots to put in roadways.

Personnel Policies and Merit Board
City of Maricopa personnel policies and procedures were approved as drafted, as well as the creation of a Merit Board, which is a part of the employee merit system. The board shall be made up of five residents of the city who will be appointed by council’s majority vote, serving staggered two-year terms. Twice annual meetings will be held, and others as called for or needed.

Following the regular meeting, an executive session began to obtain legal counsel regarding several agenda items. Items included the Maricopa Fire District, acquisition or sale of city property and the North Santa Cruz Wash Regional Flood Control Solution. That agreement would bring about 4,000 acres out of the floodplain, resulting in the construction of approximately 9,000 single family dwellings. Staff was requesting direction as to a timeline for moving forward on the matter.