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Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, February 24, 2014 Board Members Meeting Scheduled Start Time: 10:00 AM Denny Barney, Chairman, District 1 Steve Chucri, Vice Chairman, District 2 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Andrew Kunasek, District 3 Maricopa County, Arizona Clint Hickman, District 4 (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Mary Rose Wilcox, District 5 Library District, Stadium District, Improvement Districts, and/or Board of Deposit) County Manager Tom Manos "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 Informal Session at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 24, 2014, in the Supervisors' Conference Room, 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Denny Barney, Chairman, District 1; Steve Chucri, Vice Chairman, District 2; Andrew Kunasek, District 3 (entered late); Clint Hickman, District 4; Mary Rose Wilcox, District 5 (entered late). Also present: Fran McCarroll, Clerk of the Board; Shirley Million, Minutes Coordinator; Tom Manos, County Manager; and Cynthia Kelley, Legal Counsel. PRESENTATION AND ACTION Parks and Recreation 1. WHITE TANK MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN UPDATE Presentation regarding the White Tank Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update. At the conclusion of the presentation, approve the White Tank Mountain Regional Park Master Plan Update. RJ Cardin, Parks & Recreation Director Leigh Johnson, Parks & Recreation Park Planner The White Tank Master Plan Update is intended to provide operational and development guidance for the park based on a comprehensive analysis of current conditions and future trends. The plan was presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on November 7, 2013. On January 21, 2014, the Parks Commission accepted the plan and recommended that it be approved and adopted by the Board of Supervisors. (C-30-14-016-M-00) R.J. Cardin reported that the White Tank Mountain Regional Park was acquired from the Bureau of Land Management in 1961 and the Park’s original Master Plan was created in 1964 and explained that it is overdue for a revision. The Park is approximately 30,000 acres and in terms of acres comprises nearly a quarter of the 11 parks in the County. The Park averages approximately 200,000 visitors yearly, attendance was down last year due to the campground being closed while the electrical system was upgraded, and the Loop 303 Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, February 24, 2014 Page 2 of 3 was also under construction and this is a main artery to the Park. Visitors often visit the White Tank Park 16 times in a row during a year, many using the hiking and mountain bike trails. Out of state visitors are heavier from December through March. Visitor surveys are taken regularly. ~ Supervisors Wilcox and Kunasek entered the meeting ~ Mr. Cardin reviewed the early slides missed by the new entrants. He explained that people who go to the park become very connected to it and 72% surveyed said “This park means a lot to me.” He said this is generally true for all of the parks in the County, once they are discovered the visitors keep returning to their favorite. White Tanks Park is rich in cultural resources (with petroglyphs dating back to 800 AD), water falls, wild animals and gorgeous natural resources. Development in the White Tanks is mostly along the eastern boundary. There are 250 picnic sites 31 miles of trails and 40 camping sites that include 4 host sites and full electricity and water availability. A dump station for those with RVs is nearly completed. A new Nature Center and library was opened in 2010. Leigh Johnson, master planner for the park, explained the various activities and meetings for stakeholders and agency partners involved in master planning the Park for the next 20 years. Supervisor Wilcox asked if the Park uses Solar Energy for power. Ms. Johnson said the Library uses about 23% from Solar. Supervisor Wilcox would like this use to increase and said that many of the city parks use quite a lot of Solar Energy. Many things in the update that weren’t included in the original 1964 master plan have already been put into general use by visitors, such as mountain biking. Recommendations for the update plan include five categories with rankings of high, medium or low priorities, which she discussed: 1. Develop New Facilities 2. Maintain/Rehabilitate Existing Facilities 3. Education/Interpretation 4. Administrative 5. Resource Protection. She presented an analysis of the last 25 years on the different categories and use areas in the Park to inform the Board of Return on Investment. Potential funding sources include grants, private donations, partnerships, park budget and special one-time-only funding allocations. Ms. Johnson said the amounts received may vary each year. Supervisor Kunasek asked about encroachment of a planned avenue from Olive to Bell Road and what impact the road improvements might have on the eastern edge of the Park. Mr. Cardin responded in the belief Supervisor Kunasek referred to Jackrabbit Road along the eastern boundary of the Park. He said that road is not within the Park’s boundary and there would not be any direct impact. The Master Plan gives guidance on working with other entities on such things as developers, roadways and utilities to develop a 50-100 foot buffer zone and landscaping buffers between the Park and any future developments. Wild life corridors will also be studied to make sure they are not impacted and animals have freedom to move across the Park’s boundaries. Discussion ensued on the size of the Park and whether additional lands should be purchased. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, February 24, 2014 Page 3 of 3 Supervisor Kunasek noted that the Board had discussed size years ago when some developments were requested at the time Usury Park was obtained. He did say that it was not desirable for property owners to build walls between their property and the Park, erecting “a line of walls.” He said there had been problems with these walls along other park boundaries when they were developed and this is a reason for the wide buffer zones and proper planning before the fact. Mr. Cardin said the department’s goal is to work with any future developers, adding that developers have generally seen a park as a huge amenity adding to the desirability and value of the development properties. Motion to approve the updates as presented, by Supervisor Hickman, seconded by Supervisor Chucri Ayes: Barney, Chucri, Kunasek, Hickman, Wilcox 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to convene in Executive Session to consider items on the Executive Agenda dated February 24, 2014, for Board of Supervisors and relevant Special Districts pursuant to statutory authority listed for each item. Motion to approve by Supervisor Wilcox, seconded by Supervisor Chucri Ayes: Barney, Chucri, Kunasek, Hickman, Wilcox MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________________ Denny Barney, Chairman of the Board ATTEST: _____________________________ Fran McCarroll, Clerk of the Board