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Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, June 06, 2016 Board Members 9:30 AM Clint Hickman, Chairman, District 4 Andrew Kunasek, Vice Chairman, District 3 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Denny Barney, District 1 Maricopa County, Arizona Steve Chucri, District 2 (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Steve Gallardo, District 5 Library District, Stadium District, Improvement Districts, and/or Board of Deposit) County Manager Joy Rich "The mission of Maricopa County is to Clerk of the Board provide regional leadership and fiscally Fran McCarroll responsible, necessary public services to its residents so they can enjoy living in healthy and safe communities.” Meeting Location Supervisors' Conference Room 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Board of Supervisors of Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona, convened in Special Session at 9:30 AM on Monday, June 6, 2016, in the Supervisors’ Conference Room, 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Clint Hickman, Chairman, District 4; Andrew Kunasek, Vice Chairman, District 3; Denny Barney, District 1; and Steve Gallardo, District 5. Absent: Steve Chucri, District 2. Also present: Fran McCarroll, Clerk of the Board; Joy Rich, County Manager; Michelle Wood, Legal Counsel; Maria Ceaglske and Val Rae, Minutes Coordinators. PRESENTATION AND ACTION Parks and Recreation 1. ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN UPDATE 2016-2036 Presentation regarding the Estrella Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update 2016-2036. At the conclusion of the presentation, approve the Estrella Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update 2016-2036. R.J. Cardin, Parks and Recreation Director Leigh Johnson, Parks and Recreation Planner The Estrella Mountain Regional Park entered the Maricopa County park system in 1954. The first master plan was written in 1965 and last updated in 1988 with several iterations in between. Many components of the master plan have never come into fruition while at the same time public demands and changing use patterns often dictates when and where development occurs. This update to the master plan is to bring those disparities back into alignment and to steer future development of the park. The Parks and Recreation Commission provided their approval recommendation on March 15, 2016, during their regularly scheduled meeting. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reviewed the plan and determined it to be consistent with the R&PP Act, per letter dated April 12, 2016. This item is located in Supervisory District No. 5. (C-30-16-020-P- 00) Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, June 06, 2016 Page 2 of 4 ~ Supervisor Chucri entered the meeting telephonically at 9:30 a.m. ~ R.J. Cardin, Parks and Recreation Director, presented the Estrella Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update. The park is located in District 5 in the cities of Avondale and Goodyear. It sits on the bank of the Gila River. As with all of the parks, the master plan is guided by the Parks and Recreation vision and mission it adopted in 2009. The park system is designed to provide a myriad of benefits to residents and visitors. The parks are also designed to enhance economic impact in the areas where they are located. Estrella Mountain Park is special because it was the first regional park in the County system and it opened in 1953. It also contains the first nature center, which was a prototype. ~ Supervisor Barney entered the meeting. ~ Leigh Johnson, Parks and Recreation Planner, presented the planning process for the Estrella Mountain Regional Park Master Plan update. The process included a review of previous park plans, multiple public meetings, youth outreach from ages 12 to 18, and feedback from the meetings. From the input, park improvement options were identified and included in the master plan. The feedback received included the following: improving the turf field areas, adding areas for RV and tent camping, upgrading the trails and competitive track area, improving the park entrance, adding educational signage, and protecting the open space. ~ Supervisor Kunasek entered the meeting. ~ The recommended park improvements include the following. Updates the playgrounds to include a more nature-based playground environment. Projects for the El Rio riverbed area. Adding multi-purpose ball fields to add more greenery to the area. A Brine Wetlands Project with Goodyear and the Bureau of Reclamation to treat Goodyear’s water through a constructed wetlands process and return it to the Gila River, which helps to supply water for El Rio. A connection to the Maricopa Trail will be added. Making improvements to the competitive track area. Adding an entrance on the south side of the park. Redeveloping the rodeo area with a RV camp area. The camp area will include equestrian, picnic, and relaxation areas. Using the Coldwater Event Center as a trailhead. Supervisor Chucri asked for more details on the multi-purpose ball fields. Ms. Johnson said there would be eight (8) multi-purpose ball fields with the build out, which is the maximum number included in the plan. The plan includes a phased approach, so the ball fields will be added as the market demands. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, June 06, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Ms. Johnson stated that Goodyear will produce 30% design plans for the Brine Wetlands Project before the end of the year. Up to one million gallons of brine per day will be processed, which requires up to 40 acres of land. Once the water is cleaned, it will discharge into the Gila River. The project will include a significant educational component. The Goodyear Pilot Project for the El Rio is to improve the existing trailhead by adding parking and an additional ramada. Mr. Cardin stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission added numerous updates over the last 14 to 16 months to the park project. The commission voted in March to forward the plan to the Board of Supervisors for approval. The Bureau of Land Management letter indicates that the park plan abides by the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, which is how they received the additional 17,000 acres of park land. They also recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the Estrella Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update. Supervisor Kunasek asked if salt is left behind during the brine water reclamation process. If there is, what will be the concentration of salt and will it be removed. Mr. Cardin said that the brine water is a result of the reverse osmosis drinking water treatment plant in Goodyear. The water is pumped to the wetlands site and is mixed with fresh water, which then drains into the wetland area. The vegetation should filter most of the salt from the water. The water from that area drains into a blending pond, which is located next to the Nature Center, so this is another educational opportunity. At that point, the water is considered partial body contact and is considered significantly clean. The water then drains from the pond into the Gila River because it meets all safety standards. The wetland has to be refreshed every 20 to 25 years. Goodyear is responsible for refreshing the wetland area. Supervisor Kunasek noted there will be minerals in the water if it is draining from a reverse osmosis system and asked if those will be filtered out. Mr. Cardin said the minerals will be filtered out and fresh water will be added to it before it drains into the Gila River. Supervisor Barney noted that having Goodyear take over responsibility for part of the costs associated with the improvements and maintenance makes this a more fiscally responsible plan. Chairman Hickman noted that the two ball fields that are currently at the park are not irrigated enough to create the greenery that was important to those who provided feedback. Mr. Cardin said there is an agreement with the Estrella Youth Sports Organization as a sub- lessee to develop and maintain the fields in phases. Supervisor Gallardo said the park is very large and he supports the partnerships with other organizations and municipalities to help improve and maintain the park. He noted that the park is a jewel to the southwest valley. Motion to approve by Supervisor Gallardo, seconded by Supervisor Barney Ayes: Hickman, Kunasek, Barney, Chucri, Gallardo 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to convene in Executive Session to consider items on the Executive Agenda dated June 06, 2016, for Board of Supervisors and relevant Special Districts pursuant to statutory authority listed for each item. Motion to approve by Supervisor Barney, seconded by Supervisor Kunasek Ayes: Hickman, Kunasek, Barney, Chucri, Gallardo Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, June 06, 2016 Page 4 of 4 MEETING ADJOURNED After discussion on the executive items and there being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ___________________________________ Clint Hickman, Chairman of the Board ATTEST _____________________________ Fran McCarroll, Clerk of the Board