9.17.2024 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
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D R A F T REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE EL MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 10000 N. EL MIRAGE ROAD 6:00 PM -TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 Minutes 1. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Alexis Hermosillo; Vice Mayor David Shapera; Councilmember Roy Delgado; Vice Mayor Monica Dorcey; Councilmember Bob Jones; Councilmember Anita Norton; Councilmember Donna Winston 2. CALL TO ORDER - Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance Moment of Silence 3. PROCLAMATION 1. Proclamation to support Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness Day September 18, 2024. (Administration) Mayor Alexis Hermosillo provided background information on Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness Day and proclaimed September 18, 2024, as Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness Day. 4. CALL TO THE PUBLIC Citizens desiring to speak on any issue within the jurisdiction of the public body may do so at this time. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person and shall be addressed to the City Council as a whole. At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual City Council Members may (1) respond to criticism made by those who have spoken, (2) direct staff to review or follow up on the matter, and/or (3) direct that the matter be put on a future agenda. Resident Jim McPhetres stated improvements were done to Varney Road not too long ago, and he is not sure what still needs to be completed. He asked how the project would impact the Grande Mirage Home Owner's Association. Mr. McPhetres then stated he does not understand why a consultant is needed to tell the City what they already know is needed for Parks and Recreation. Resident Steve Gilliam stated he received his tax statement, and he discussed the increase in taxes that occurred. Mr. Gilliam stated more parks are not needed in El Mirage. Resident Scottie Gentry asked how long the grants already received for Varney Road improvements lasted and she added all that is needed on Varney Road are speed humps. Resident Jeff Loch (on-line) stated he is opposed to the Varney Road Improvements project and all that is needed is the installation of speed humps. Mr. Loch asked if residents were asked if they thought the improvements were needed. Resident Aaron Flannery (on-line) stated he is opposed to the Varney Road Improvements project and added the newly elected candidate should be seated in the appointed Councilmember's seat immediately. 5. CONSENT AGENDA All items listed under the Consent Agenda will be voted on with one motion. If discussion is desired regarding any Consent Agenda Item, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and voted on separately. 1. Consideration and action to approve the minutes of the Regular Council meeting held Wednesday, September 4, 2024. (City Clerk) 2. Consideration and action to approve the destruction of municipal documents that have reached the end of their retention period as authorized under A.R.S. § 41 -15I.19. (City Clerk) 3. Consideration and action to approve a final plat to accept and record public utility and access easements for a 9.4-acre industrial property at 9105 N El Mirage Road submitted by LSRS Land Surveying. (Development Services - Planning and Zoning) 4. Consideration and action to enter into a Professional Services Contract with NFra Inc. to provide design services and construction documents for the 121st Avenue Improvements in the amount of $158,976. (Development Services) 5. Consideration and action to enter into a Professional Services Contract with NFra Inc. to provide design services and construction documents for the Varney Road Improvements in the amount of $212,571. (Development Services) This item was pulled from Consent for discussion. 6. Consideration and action to enter into an agreement with W.W. Williams Company, LLC to provide Fire Apparatus Maintenance & Repair Services for the City of El Mirage, for an amount not to exceed $130,000 in FY 24/25. (Fire) Vice Mayor Shapera moved to approve Consent agenda items 1-4 and 6, as presented; seconded by Councilmember Dorcey. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed - Unanimously 6. REGULAR AGENDA 6. 1a Consideration and action to enter into a Professional Services Contract with NFra Inc., to provide design services and construction documents for the Varney Road Improvements in the amount of $212,571.00 (Development Services) Associate Engineer Tessa Wessel provided a brief description of the project. Councilmember Norton stated the north sidewalk has already been constructed and the stretch from 129th to El Mirage Road is barely used. Councilmember Norton stated adding a median would only increase traffic and speeding on the roadway. She then stated the project was wasteful spending. Vice Mayor Shapera stated he has always been against this project believing it is not 2 Regular Meeting - Council Minutes September 17, 2024 necessary. He stated widening the road would only increase traffic in the area and not one resident had expressed to him the need for this project. Councilmember Dorcey asked how much grant money was received for this project and if the funds could be used elsewhere. City Engineer Jorge Gastelum said a $60K grant was received, and the money would have to be returned to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) if not used for this specific project. Councilmember Norton stated that, regardless of the grant amount, this project will not benefit the residents. Councilmember Delgado stated he has lived in the area for twenty-eight years and Varney Road has been improved over time and should have the final improvements completed now. Vice Mayor Shapera moved to deny entering into a Professional Services Contract with NFra Inc., to provide design services and construction documents for the Varney Road Improvements in the amount of $221,571; seconded by Councilmember Norton. Vote: 6 - 1 Passed NAY: Councilmember Roy Delgado 1. Consideration and action to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with 110% Inc. to conduct a Parks and Recreation System Wide Master Plan for an amount not to exceed $194,870, requiring expenditure of the remaining balance of FY25 Special Project Activity No. 42404 as well as use of contingency funds in an amount not to exceed $16,250 and authorization for the Finance Department to make necessary transfers. (Parks and Recreation) Parks and Recreation Director Sean VonRoenn provided background information on the item and introduced Consultant Farrell Buller of 110% Inc. who gave a brief presentation on the proposed process they will utilize to gather information. Vice Mayor Shapera stated a study like this was done not too long ago, and it was not very successful due to smaller cities having low participation rates by residents. Vice Mayor Shapera stated volunteerism shows the health of a city, and he hopes this study will generate more volunteers. He stated he supported what Mr. VonRoenn is doing and if more children were involved in after-school activities, the crime rates would drop. Councilmember Norton stated a resident made the comment that staff should be completing the study, but a consultant is better qualified to provide the outreach needed for this study. She stated she was in favor of this item. Councilmember Jones stated he agreed with comments already made. Councilmember Dorcey stated there is no reason to doubt this study should begin now. Councilmember Winston stated if text messages were going to be involved in the outreach please be sure to explain to residents that the text messages are not spam or a hoax like what has been seen recently. Mayor Hermosillo asked that language inclusivity be part of the outreach efforts to include both English and Spanish. Vice Mayor Shapera moved to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with 110% Inc., to conduct a Parks and Recreation System Wide Master Plan for an amount not to exceed $194,870, as presented; seconded by Councilmember Dorcey. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed - Unanimously 2. Consideration and action to approve Ordinance O24-09-08 setting forth and fixing the dates, times and location of the 2025 City Council Meetings. (City Clerk) Vice Mayor Shapera moved to approve Ordinance O24-09-08 setting forth and fixing dates, times, and location of the 2025 City Council Meetings, as presented; seconded by Councilmember Dorcey. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed - Unanimously 3 Regular Meeting - Council Minutes September 17, 2024 7. CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS & SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS The City Council may not act upon any matter in the City Manager's summary but may have general comment or questions. City Manager Crystal Dyches congratulated Mayor Hermosillo on being presented with the Outstanding Public Official Award from the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce at the Annual Gala held on September 6, 2024. 8. MAYOR'S COMMENTS and COUNCIL SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS The Mayor and City Council may not discuss or act upon any matter in the summary unless the specific matter is properly noticed for legal action. Vice Mayor Shapera thanked the Police Department and the Fire Department for their outreach efforts. Councilmember Norton reminded everyone of the Suicide Prevention Event being held at the El Mirage Library on September 19, 2024. Councilmember Winston congratulated the Mayor on winning the Outstanding Public Official award. 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION 1. Consideration and action to adjourn into Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03.A.7. for legal advice related to contract negotiations. (Administration) Vice Mayor Shapera moved to adjourn into Executive Session for legal advice related to contract negotiations, seconded by Councilmember Dorcey. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed - Unanimously 10. ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. _____________________________ Alexis A. Hermosillo, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ Sharon Antes, City Clerk I hereby certify the aforementioned minutes are a true and accurate record of the Regular El Mirage City Council Meeting held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, and a quorum was present. 4 Regular Meeting - Council Minutes September 17, 2024