091626 WSS Minutes - DRAFT

DRAFT Minutes of the
City Council
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Work Study Session
I. Call to Order
The meeting was held in the Litchfield Park Community Room and called to order by Mayor Schoaf at 6:00 PM. A
video recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
Present: Mayor Thomas L. Schoaf, Vice Mayor Paul Faith, Council Member Suzanne Allen, Council Member Lisa
Brainard Watson, Council Member Ron Clair, Council Member Andrew Fraser
Absent: Council Member Justin James
Staff: Matthew Williams, City Manager; Terri Roth, City Clerk; Joe Estes, City Attorney (Zoom); Paige
Peterson, Asst. City Mgr./Director of Finance; Maria Ceaglske, Deputy City Clerk; Keith Drunasky, City
Engineer; Randy Proch, Planning Director; Lisa Adams Williams, Director of Human Resources; Tricia
Kramer, Director of Recreation and Community Services; Yosha Brunson Kuhl, Communications
Director; Kevin Hamilton, Public Grounds Superintendent; Dawn Morocco, IT Specialist.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Council Member Clair led the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. Business
A. Public Grounds Operations
Mr. Hamilton provided a presentation to the Council regarding the levels and service and protecting turf
and trees. He highlighted the following:
• Premium - Showcase level which includes areas such as major entries and signature spaces.
• Enhanced - well-maintained level, which includes areas such as active parks, major
streetscapes, and high use areas.
• Standard - Functional and clean, which includes areas such as secondary ROW's and drainage areas.
He shared that the visible difference is frequency and response time on any of these levels, adding that
safety hazards and urgent leaks remain priority work at every tier.
He highlighted the following for protecting turf and trees, stating that a focused conversion program can
save water while preserving community character.
1. Keep turf where it serves people. Retain healthy turf in recreation, play, event and other
programmed areas.
2. Convert low-value turf. Prioritize medians, narrow strips, difficult irrigation zones and non-
programmable areas.

City Council Work Study Session September 16, 2026
3. Protect and expand shade Inventory every tree, rebuild irrigation by root zone and add canopy
where appropriate.
4. Xeriscape is one design approach within sustainable landscape management.
5. Can target the highest-cost turf without abandoning green public spaces.
6. Keep winter rye focused on recreational and programmable areas; evaluate ornamental turf separately.
7. Every conversion starts with a tree protection plan. Existing canopy is public infrastructure.
Mr. Hamilton answered questions from the Council. Mayor Schoaf directed the Asst. City Manager to provide the
Council dates for a timeline soon.
B. Bandstand Lease Amendment
This item was pulled from discussion and will be brought back at the October 21, 2026 regular
meeting.
IV. Executive Session
A. An Executive Session may be called during the public meeting on any item on this agenda pursuant to
A.R.S. § 38-431.03(A)(3) for the purpose of receiving legal advice.
This item was not held.
V. Adjournment
Mayor Schoaf adjourned the work study session at 7:01 PM.
APPROVED:
Thomas L. Schoaf, Mayor
\tr
CERTIFICATION
I, Terri Roth, MMC, City Clerk. hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
meeting of the City Council of the City of Litchfield Park held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. I further certify that the
meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
Terri Roth, MMC, City Clerk
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