07.07.2026 Council Workshop Minutes.pdf

CITY OF BUCKEYE
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JULY 7, 2026
MINUTES
City Council Chambers
530 East Monroe Avenue
Buckeye, AZ 85326
3:30 p.m.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Mayor Orsborn called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Members Present: Councilmember Youngker, Councilmember Beard, Councilmember HagEstad
(arrived at 3:31 p.m.) Councilmember Heustis, Vice Mayor Goodman, and Mayor Orsborn.
Members Absent: Councilmember Berry.
Departments Present: City Manager Doug Sandstrom, Deputy City Manager Dave Roderique,
Deputy City Manager Jared Askelson, Deputy City Manager James Shano, Deputy City Manager
Miranda Gomez, City Attorney Tosca Henry, Interim City Clerk Summer Stewart, Economic
Development Director Suzanne Boyles, Public Works Director Amy Murray, Chief Financial Officer
Keith Fallstrom, Police Chief Robert Sanders, Development Services Director Brian Craig,
Information Technology Greg Platacz, Fire Chief Jake Rhoades, Human Resources Director Cindy
Camarata, Interim Director Program Management Office John Willet, Water Resources Director
Terry Lowe, and Aviation Director Scott Gray.
2. Workshop Items
2.A Presentation and discussion to provide a comprehensive update on the status of the
Council's Annual Strategic Plan.
Staff Liaison: Christa Lancaster, Assistant to the City Manager
Jared presented 3:31 p.m.(1:00) – 3: 56 p.m. (31:00)
Mr. Askelson opened the presentation and explained the Council's annual strategic plan update
process, which began with stakeholder meetings involving Council, staff, and the Buckeye Youth
Council to gather ideas for the retreat held in February. The plan's focus areas were reviewed and
revised: economic growth became building a diverse economy, high-performing organization shifted
to optimizing City services through continuous improvement, infrastructure was updated to investing
in infrastructure, quality of life became cultivating a vibrant community, and fiscal responsibility was
replaced with ensuring high quality diverse housing. Mr. Askelson emphasized that fiscal
responsibility now underpins all focus areas as a guiding principle, along with transparent
governance, accessibility and inclusion, operational excellence, stewardship of resources,
innovation and adaptability, and community partnerships. The plan structure features these focus
areas at the top, supported by guiding principles, and introduces key performance indicators (KPIs)
to objectively measure success for each area. Strategic initiatives and objectives feed into the KPIs,
which will be reported publicly through a dashboard. He highlighted the importance of objective,
data-driven KPIs, benchmarking against past performance, and continuous improvement, noting
that the plan will evolve as new objectives and data emerge. He also stressed aligning the strategic
plan with the budget process and encouraged council and staff to have discussions about which
KPIs truly define success, with the plan serving as a living document for ongoing improvement. Vice
July 7, 2026 Council Workshop Minutes

Mayor Goodman emphasized the importance of a simple, public-facing KPI dashboard that uses
objective measures and provides clear context for tracking progress; encouraged staff to take
thoughtful risks, align KPIs with the City's strategic plan and budget, and use the data to support
continuous improvement and accountability; stressed the importance of using clear, measurable
language in objectives so KPIs can accurately track progress. Mayor Orsborn emphasized that, in
addition to tracking KPIs, the City should measure whether residents are actually experiencing the
benefits of completed projects and services; stated he supports creating public feedback loops
through surveys, outreach, and community engagement to ensure performance measures reflect
both completed work and community impact.
2.B Presentation and discussion regarding the airport development and ongoing planning
projects.
Staff Liaison: Scott Gray, Aviation Director
Ms. Boyles opened the presentation by explaining that the session would provide milestone
updates across several coordinated planning efforts, including marketing and lead generation, utility
and infrastructure planning, long-range airport development, and the specific area plan. She
emphasized that these updates represent progress points rather than final outcomes and that
additional Council updates will follow as the plans continue to evolve. Ms. Boyles noted that three
City departments—Aviation, Development Services, and Economic Development—are collaborating
closely with multiple consultants, sharing data, coordinating scope, and aligning stakeholder
outreach to ensure a unified approach; she highlighted that stakeholder engagement is being
carefully managed to streamline communication and gather input efficiently. Ron Kresha, Chief
Financial Officer of Golden Shovel, explained that Golden Shovel’s work with Buckeye has been
highly collaborative, noting that consultants and City departments are working together rather than
competing. He highlighted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data projecting steady aviation
growth over the next twenty years, with corporate and general aviation playing a major role and
reliever airports growing faster than the national average. He described how early conversations
with staff emphasized aiming high rather than limiting the airport’s potential, which shaped an
ambitious approach to planning. Mr. Kresha summarized the asset and marketing analysis
conducted for the airport (BXK), which included industry research, surveys, and review of more than
one hundred sources. He said both stakeholders and residents demonstrated strong awareness of
the airport and confidence in its value to Buckeye’s future. He outlined a vision of BXK as a major
aviation center in the West Valley, supported by strong connectivity, available land, and long‑term
development capacity. He explained that the airport’s current limitations include utility gaps and a
shorter runway, while the future‑ready version requires site‑ready infrastructure and a 7,300‑foot
runway to unlock corporate aviation, regional competitiveness, and investment interest. He noted
that an 8,000‑foot runway should remain a long‑term option tied to major users or federal and state
funding. He described how phased development could build a foundation for aviation activity, attract
corporate users, expand into maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) and advanced air mobility,
and eventually support cargo, defense, and commercial aviation. Mr. Kresha emphasized the
economic benefits of expansion, including job creation, tax base growth, business attraction, and
strengthened regional competitiveness. He stated that airport expansion is essential for Buckeye to
remain competitive and that the public strongly supports investment. He concluded with the need
for an aggressive marketing strategy and active lead generation to bring aviation users to Buckeye,
stressing that reducing uncertainty for corporate investors is key to capturing future growth.
Councilmember Heustis requested clarification on whether the airport’s development strategy was
based on realistic demand or simply aspirational goals, and whether Buckeye risked overbuilding
without committed users. Mr. Kresha explained that the recommendations are grounded in industry
research, stakeholder input, and current market signals showing long-term demand for corporate
and general aviation. He emphasized that the 7,300-foot runway is not speculative but represents
the present, defensible level of investment needed to remain competitive and attract the types of
users already evaluating sites in the region. He noted that the larger runway options are framed as
July 7, 2026 Council Workshop Minutes

future possibilities tied only to major users or state and federal funding, ensuring the city does not
extend beyond what the market supports. Heustis also raised questions about financial return and
timing, and Kresha responded that phased investment—beginning with infrastructure readiness—
reduces uncertainty for corporate investors, strengthens Buckeye’s regional position, and aligns
growth with actual demand as it emerges. Mayor Orsborn asked whether it makes sense for
Buckeye to extend the runway to 8,000 feet now rather than stopping at 7,300 feet, especially since
certain aviation operators have expressed interest only if that longer length is available. He noted
that doing so might allow the City to attract adversary air users and other high‑value tenants who
would bring investment, fuel sales, facility development, and jobs, and he questioned whether
waiting could result in missed opportunities or the need for a second construction project later. Mr.
Kresha responded that the 7,300‑foot recommendation is based on present, defensible demand
and would immediately open the airport to a broader class of corporate aviation users, but he
acknowledged that a guaranteed commitment from an 8,000‑foot user would change the equation.
He explained that without such certainty, the City risks building for only one tenant while delaying
the chance to fill hangars and attract multiple mid‑size and corporate operators who could begin
generating revenue sooner. He emphasized that both paths have merit, and Buckeye must balance
the potential long‑term value of an 8,000‑foot runway with the cost of waiting to attract users who
can already operate at 7,300 feet. Mr. Gray explained that the purpose of the study was to evaluate
the utilities needed to support the airport’s master plan and long‑range concept, along with
exploring funding strategies and long‑term financial planning. He focused on utility challenges
identified by Kimley‑Horn, noting that the airport’s existing water wells have limited capacity, the
wastewater system relies on an aging septic system nearing its limit, electrical service is adequate
only for small hangars, there is currently no fiber connectivity, and the airport has no gas service.
He described short‑term solutions such as optimizing one of the wells, adding an on‑site fire tank to
support larger hangars, and potentially installing a package treatment plant if a future tenant
requires more wastewater capacity than the current septic system can provide. He also detailed
efforts to expand electrical service through APS coordination and highlighted a new opportunity to
connect to an existing fiber line along Palo Verde, which could finally bring telecommunications
infrastructure to the airport. Mr. Gray outlined next steps, including continued coordination with
water and wastewater departments, mapping all utilities in GIS, refining cost and timing projections
aligned with the master plan, and using existing capital improvement funding for near‑term
upgrades. He noted that Phase 2, expected by year’s end, will determine utility needs for the
long‑range plan, evaluate funding options, and assess how the airport can move toward greater
financial self‑sufficiency before providing recommendations for future capital planning. Mayor
Orsborn asked whether previous investments had already secured enough fire flow for large airport
buildings and why additional upgrades might be needed. Mr. Gray explained that current capacity
can support smaller and some medium‑sized hangars, but larger MRO or manufacturing facilities
will eventually exceed what Hopeville’s system can provide, requiring supplemental fire protection
as the airport grows. Mayor Orsborn also asked about septic limitations, and Mr. Gray confirmed
that near‑term development can proceed with user‑specific or enhanced interim systems until a
permanent connection becomes available. When the mayor asked about fiber access along Palo
Verde, Gray confirmed that a connection is now possible and the city is working to bring fiber and
improved telecommunications to the airport. Councilmember Heustis asked how airport’s
long‑range planning criteria were developed and whether the preferred development alternatives
were being selected objectively. Mr. Sandstrom explained that the evaluation process was built on
standard FAA planning principles and a structured comparison of options, taking into account
safety, operational efficiency, land use compatibility, environmental considerations, and long‑term
economic potential. Councilmember Heustis also asked whether the airport’s proposed layout
allowed flexibility as demand changes. Mr. Sandstrom replied that the plan intentionally preserves
adaptability, noting that the preferred alternatives balance current needs with future growth and are
designed so the airport can expand, adjust, or shift uses as market conditions evolve. Matt Quick,
Vice President of Coffman Associates, explained that the long‑range concept plan looks beyond the
airport’s 20‑year master plan to evaluate how Buckeye should position the airfield for growth well
July 7, 2026 Council Workshop Minutes

into the future. His firm is reviewing previous planning documents, runway concepts, airspace
studies, and demand forecasts to validate earlier work and refine it with additional technical
analysis, including noise modeling and FAA Part 77 airspace evaluations. The study is examining
two potential parallel runway systems, one based on the existing 17/35 alignment and another on a
10/28 orientation, to determine how each would support long‑term capacity needs, including larger
aircraft, cargo, commercial service, and military operations. Mr. Quick emphasized that the analysis
is still preliminary, with many factors yet to be investigated, and that the team will continue
stakeholder engagement, hold a public workshop, and return to Council in September with
preliminary matrix findings before finalizing the recommended long‑range concept later in the fall.
Woods explained that the Airport Specific Area Plan, or ASAP, is focused on protecting the airport’s
long‑term future by guiding how surrounding land should develop. She described recent milestones,
including stakeholder outreach, technical committee meetings, and completion of an existing
conditions analysis. Principal Planner Mandy Woods outlined the study area and emphasized that
the current airport activity center boundary is too small to ensure compatible land uses, prompting a
proposed expansion that accounts for all potential runway scenarios and includes nearby
Community Master Plans (CMPs) without changing their existing entitlements. She noted that the
expanded boundary would provide guidance for future zoning and redevelopment, particularly for
county properties not yet annexed. She said the team will continue stakeholder engagement
through the summer and fall, hold community open houses, and return to council in early fall, with
adoption of the Airport Specific Area Plan (ASAP) planned for early next year. Ms. Boyles closed
the workshop by reminding Council that each airport planning effort they heard about is still in
progress and that the updates presented represent only milestone snapshots. She highlighted the
major themes from the evening: targeted marketing aimed at both current aviation prospects and
larger future opportunities, utility planning that will allow development to continue now while
long‑term solutions are evaluated, and the ongoing refinement of the long‑range concept plan
through additional airspace analysis and matrix review. She also noted that the proposed expansion
of the airport’s specific area plan boundary will keep evolving alongside the long‑range plan to
ensure the airport is protected as growth continues. Ms. Boyles stated that the team will return with
further data and next‑step recommendations. Vice Mayor Goodman asked for a single summary
document that integrates all the airport planning efforts, clearly showing how each plan affects the
others and ensuring they are consistent and aligned. Ms. Boyles agreed, committing to produce a
comprehensive guiding document at the end of the process, beyond a simple executive summary,
that outlines the plans, their interdependencies, next steps, and how BXK’s execution will remain
congruent across initiatives
3. Adjournment.
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Orsborn adjourned the meeting at 5:25 p.m.
______________________________________
Eric W. Orsborn, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Lucinda J. Aja, City Clerk
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the Council Workshop held
on July 7, 2026. I further certify that a quorum was present.
_____________________________________
Lucinda J. Aja, City Clerk
July 7, 2026 Council Workshop Minutes