Extracted text (via pymupdf)
14848 characters
Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9:30 AM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Maricopa County, Arizona (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Library District, Stadium District, Improvement Districts and/or Board of Deposit) "The mission of Maricopa County is to provide regional leadership and fiscally responsible, necessary public services to its residents so they can enjoy living in healthy and safe communities” Board Members Kate Brophy McGee, Chair, District 3 Debbie Lesko, Vice Chair, District 4 Mark Stewart, District 1 Thomas Galvin, District 2 Steve Gallardo, District 5 County Manager Jen Pokorski Clerk of the Board Juanita Garza 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 Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in the Supervisors' Conference Room 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Kate Brophy McGee, Chair, District 3; Debbie Lesko. Vice Chair, District 4; Mark Stewart, Supervisor, District 1; Thomas Galvin, Supervisor, District 2 (remote); Steve Gallardo, Supervisor, District 5 (remote). Chair Brophy McGee opened the meeting and asked the Clerk to call the roll. CLERK OF THE BOARD STATUTORY HEARINGS 1. IMPACT STATEMENT HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED HOPI VISTA IRRIGATION WATER DELIVERY DISTRICT (Supervisorial District 3) Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-261 and § 48-263, convene the scheduled public hearing on the impact statement for the proposed Osborn East Estates Hopi Vista Irrigation Water Delivery District. The Board of Supervisors will hear those who appear for and against the proposed district and shall determine whether the creation of the district will promote public health, comfort, convenience, necessity, or welfare. If the Board determines that the public health, comfort, convenience, necessity, or welfare will be promoted, it shall approve the district impact statement, a bond of $250, and authorize the persons proposing the district to circulate petitions within the following proposed boundaries of the district: The Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 9, Township 2 North, Range 3 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian, Maricopa County, Arizona: EXCEPT the East Half of the Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, of said Section 9. (C-06-26-195-X-00) CLERK’S NOTE: Correction to the clerical error in the agenda language to correct Osborn East Estates that is struck through to Hopi Vista which is underlined. Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page 2 of 6 Motion to approve by Supervisor Debbie Lesko, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Steve Gallardo, Debbie Lesko, Mark Stewart 2. PETITIONS HEARING FOR THE FORMATION OF THE TOLSUN FARMS I IRRIGATION WATER DELIVERY DISTRICT (Supervisorial District 5) Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-261, § 48-3423 and § 48-3424, convene the scheduled public hearing regarding the petitions filed for the formation of the proposed Tolsun Farms Irrigation Water Delivery District, as they have been determined to be signed by a majority of the owners of the acreage within the proposed district. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-3424, any landowner within the boundaries of the proposed district may appear and object to the organization thereof, or to the inclusion of the landowners’ property therein. The Board will hear and consider all comments in favor or against the organization of the district and decide whether to approve or reject the organization of the district within the boundaries proposed in the petition or with modified boundaries. If the Board decides to proceed with the organization of the district, the Clerk is directed to publish a notice and post copies of the notice describing the boundaries of the proposed district and fix a date of February 3, 2026, a date not less than 20 days after the publications and postings are completed. Written protests against the organization may be filed by owners of a majority of the acreage with the proposed district boundaries. If no protest is filed, or if one is filed and found insufficient, an order establishing the district shall be entered and will include the appointment of the following three (3) Trustees of the district as set forth in the petition: Arthur Valenzuela Chris Palomino Rigo Mendez The Board will order the Clerk of the Board to publish the petitions and the notice of hearing twice in a newspaper, the last not being less than 10 days before the hearing and post five (5) copies of the petitions and notice within the proposed district boundaries in conspicuous places within the proposed district boundaries described as: Lots 1 through 11, of TOLSUN FARMS, a Subdivision of the North half of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 158 of Maps, Page 1; TOGETHER WITH Lots 54 through 66, of TOLSUN FARMS UNIT TWO, a Subdivision of the North half of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 168 of Maps, Page 21; TOGETHER WITH Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page 3 of 6 Lots 10 through 50, of TOLSUN FARMS UNIT THREE, a Subdivision of the Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 179 of Maps, Page 39; TOGETHER WITH Lots 17 through 35, of VILLA RICA, a Subdivision of the Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 388 of Maps, Page 17. (C- 06-26-198-X-00) Motion to approve by Supervisor Debbie Lesko, seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Steve Gallardo, Debbie Lesko, Mark Stewart 3. PETITIONS HEARING FOR THE FORMATION OF THE TOLSUN FARMS II IRRIGATION WATER DELIVERY DISTRICT (Supervisorial District 5) Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-261, § 48-3423 and § 48-3424, convene the scheduled public hearing regarding the petitions filed for the formation of the proposed Tolsun Farms II Irrigation Water Delivery District, as they have been determined to be signed by a majority of the owners of the acreage within the proposed district. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 48-3424, any landowner within the boundaries of the proposed district may appear and object to the organization thereof, or to the inclusion of the landowners’ property therein. The Board will hear and consider all comments in favor or against the organization of the district and decide whether to approve or reject the organization of the district within the boundaries proposed in the petition or with modified boundaries. If the Board decides to proceed with the organization of the district, the Clerk is directed to publish a notice and post copies of the notice describing the boundaries of the proposed district and fix a date of February 3, 2026, a date not less than 20 days after the publications and postings are completed. Written protests against the organization may be filed by owners of a majority of the acreage with the proposed district boundaries. If no protest is filed, or if one is filed and found insufficient, an order establishing the district shall be entered and will include the appointment of the following three (3) Trustees of the district as set forth in the petition: Alejandro Flores Sheryle Heier Donald Gerhart The Board will order the Clerk of the Board to publish the petitions and the notice of hearing twice in a newspaper, the last not being less than 10 days before the hearing and post five (5) copies of the petitions and notice within the proposed district boundaries in conspicuous places within the proposed district boundaries described as: Lots 117 through 160, of TOLSUN FARMS UNIT FOUR, a Subdivision of the Northwest Quarter and part of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page 4 of 6 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 194 of Maps, Page 1; TOGETHER WITH Lots 1 through 5, of PATHFINDER 91st AVENUE AND I-10, a Subdivision of the Northwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 1732 of Maps, Page 27; TOGETHER WITH Lots 12 through 20, of TOLSUN FARMS, a Subdivision of the North half of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 158 of Maps, Page 1; TOGETHER WITH Lots 21 through 53, of TOLSUN FARMS UNIT TWO, a Subdivision of the North half of the Southwest Quarter, of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian according to the Plat of Record in the Office of the County Recorder of Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorded in Book 168 of Maps, Page 21; TOGETHER WITH A parcel of Land in Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 1 East, of the Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian, Maricopa County, Arizona, more particularly described as the following. COMMENCING at the centerline intersection of Lillian Land and Lizanne Way, as shown on the map of TOLSUN FARMS SUBDIVISION, UNIT TWO, according to Book 168 of Maps, Page 21, records of Maricopa County Arizona; THENCE North 00 degrees 10 minutes 49 seconds East a distance of 583.60 feet along the centerline of Lizanne Way to a point; THENCE South 86 degrees 20 minutes 46 seconds West a distance of 26.06 feet to a point of the West right of way line of Lizanne Way, and the TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE continuing South 86 degrees 20 minutes 46 seconds West a distance of 255.61 feet along the North lines of Lots 44 and 49 of said TOLSUN FARMS SUBDIVISION, UNIT TWO, to a point; THENCE North 05 degrees 11 minutes 42 seconds West a distance of 111.72 feet to a point; THENCE North 85 degrees 16 minutes 48 seconds East a distance of 266.48 feet to a point on the West line of Lizanne Way; THENCE South 00 degrees 10 minutes 49 seconds West along said west line, a distance of 116.90 feet to the TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. (C-06-26-196-X-00) Chair Brophy McGee asked the Board if they would like to hear a brief overview of the process for establishing an irrigation water delivery district. Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page 5 of 6 Supervisor Gallardo explained the written opposition came in at the last minute and he was unable to discuss with opposing residents what their issues were. He noted his familiarity with the area and a lot of the residents. He asked Lori Medaris, Management Analyst, Clerk of the Board’s Office, to give an overview of the process for forming an irrigation water delivery district (IWDD). Ms. Medaris gave a brief summary of the organization of this type of district pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes. She said the information is mailed to all property owners within the proposed boundaries of a proposed district. She explained that approval of an impact statement by the Board of Supervisors grants district proponents’ permission to gather petition signatures for property owners in favor of the organization of a district. Ms. Medaris stated she spoke with Anne Bynon, a resident in opposition. Ms. Bynon had concerns that the three-member board would have the ability to set any amount for a budget. Ms. Medaris explained to her what was statutorily required to help district residents monitor what the district board is requesting for an annual budget and the annual report submitted to reconcile what was spent annually. Supervisor Gallardo asked what the average tax liability was usually requested by this district type, and Ms. Medaris stated the average annual assessment is around $80 a year per acre. Mr. Gallardo also asked if there was no district, who was responsible for the maintenance of the system. Ms. Medaris said prior to an IWDD being formed, maintenance and repairs are handled by the property owners who were willing to go door to door asking for donations to make any necessary repairs. She said usually there were only a handful of property owners who would donate. Supervisor Gallardo noted he is aware the community is for the formation of this district and he supports the formation. Vice Chair Lesko shared her knowledge of how irrigation repairs are made when there is no IWDD. She asked what the petition requirements were. Ms. Medaris explained that a majority (50% plus 1) of property owners, (50% plus 1) of the net assessed value, and 50% of the acreage must be represented by the signatures on the petitions. Ms. Medaris noted all the criteria was met and referred to the Assessor’s Certification. Aaron Herrera, resident and proponent, came forward to answer questions from Chair Brophy McGee. He explained SRP’s responsibilities and what happens if there is a leak beyond their responsibilities. He said SRP would shut off all water deliveries until the leak was repaired. Mr. Herrera noted the adverse effects no irrigation would have on the community’s vegetation. Supervisor Gallardo asked why Tolsun Farms I and Tolsun Farms II were not formed as one district. Mr. Herrera stated each neighborhood was fed by a different gate and the IWDDs only have one gate to feed a neighborhood. Motion to approve by Supervisor Steve Gallardo, seconded by Supervisor Debbie Lesko Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Steve Gallardo, Debbie Lesko, Mark Stewart Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page 6 of 6 MEETING ADJOURNED There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. _______________________________ Kate Brophy McGee, Chair of the Board ATTEST: ___________________________ Juanita Garza, Clerk of the Board