An agreement would have Duncan Family Farms leasing land near City Hall.

 

The City of Maricopa plans to lease some of its property, and area food banks may benefit from the deal.[quote_box_right]If You Go
What: Maricopa City Council Meeting
When: Aug. 6, 7 p.m.
Where: 39700 W. Civic Center Plaza[/quote_box_right]

Tuesday’s meeting agenda of the Maricopa City Council includes an agreement with Duncan Family Farms, based in Goodyear. CEO Arnott Duncan has already signed the agreement.

As part of the five-year arrangement, Duncan Family Farms will supply 20,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to food banks located within the City of Maricopa. The company will also pay for maintenance and upkeep of the property. All of that is in lieu of rent.

City Manager Rick Horst said the city was approached about the acres it owns around City Hall. The deal applies to about 100 acres in a horseshoe shape. He said farmland leasing is inexpensive (“$100 an acre”) so they negotiated a deal that included the cost of maintenance.

“If it benefits the food banks, that’s a good thing,” Horst said.

The agreement is on the council’s consent agenda, meaning it will likely be voted on with a group of other items at the same time.

Those include the ratification of the sale of about two acres of Estrella Gin Business Park to Mel’s Auto (NAPA) for $1.75 per square foot, or approximately $152,460. Mel’s Auto is currently in a building owned by Arizona Department of Transportation, which has marked it for removal as part of the overpass project.

The property is near the corner of Edison Road and Roosevelt Avenue.

Also on the consent agenda is the ratification of the city’s $2.7 million purchase of the southeast corner lot at State Route 347 and Bowlin Road. Horst said that is intended for economic development such as a second hotel (after La Quinta is established) or a family restaurant and shops. The nine acres are being purchased from a real estate family in Michigan.

Council is also set to approve an agreement with the Pinal County Flood Control District for construction of flood-control structures in the Sorrento subdivision. The structures will be owned and maintained by Sorrento Community Master Association.

On the regular agenda is the renaming of West Lucera Lane in Glennwilde. Proposed by Heritage Academy, it would be West Heroes Way.

Council will also discuss an amendment to the zoning map affecting 28. 65 acres at the corner of Bowlin and Hartman roads and amending zoning requirements at the Stonegate Planned Area Development south of Alan Stephens Parkway.

The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m.