House-arrest program, Honeycutt Road before council

A new program allowing Maricopa Municipal Court to substitute house arrest or continuous alcohol monitoring in lieu of jail time for some offenders could be implemented during the Maricopa City Council’s regular meeting tonight.

And, council members could approve a resolution allowing the city to acquire property near the intersection of Honeycutt Road and Johns Wayne Parkway to make the intersection safer and more navigable for drivers. The needed land could be donated, purchased, exchanged or dedicated by the city.

Recently, the city prohibited left turns at the intersection to avoid the backup of cars trying to turn left onto John Wayne Parkway.

Other city business includes possible:

• Formation of a task force to assist the city with re-writing the zoning code. Councilmembers previously approved a $330,750 contract with Dyett & Bhatia Urban and Regional Planners of San Francisco to update the zoning code.
• Setting aside $20,000 for a consultant to help recruit a replacement for former Development Services Director Brent Billingsley, who recently became the city manager in Globe.
• Voting on a contract for up to $40,000 with Jacobs Engineering Group for general services relating to capital improvement projects.
• Purchase of furniture and seating for the new city hall.
• Applying for Assistance to Firefighters, Fire Prevention and Safety grant for up to $13,000. If awarded the grant, the city would be obligated to a 10-percent match.