DESERT CONSERVATION COMMISSION - APRIL 14, 2026 MINUTES.PDF

Minutes of the Desert Conservation Commission meeting held on April 14, 2026,  
3:30 p.m., Hybrid Meeting- Tempe Public Library, 2nd Floor Cottonwood Board Room, 
3500 South Rural Road, Tempe, AZ. and virtually through Microsoft Teams 
 
Members Present: 
 
Members Absent: 
 
 
 
Elba Quintero – Chair 
 
Jane Neuheisel – Vice-Chair 
Donald Burt 
 
Ricardo Juan Leonard 
Kimberly Gaffney-Loza 
 
Laura Stewart 
Dushawn John-Armenta 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas Klabunde 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
City Staff Present: 
Alex Jovanovic, Staff Liaison- Deputy Community Services Director – Parks 
Alex Cortese, Parks Manager 
Craig Hayton, Community Services Director 
Bobbi Lloyd, Administrative Analyst 
Gabriel Sabori, Park Maintenance Supervisor 
 
Upon the establishment of a quorum, meeting was called to order at 3:38 p.m. by Chair Elba 
Quintero 
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Public Appearances 
None  
 
Agenda Item 2 – New Commission Member 
Deferred to next meeting. 
 
Agenda Item 3 – Approval of Meeting Minutes 
February 3, 2026 
Motion by Kimberly Gaffney-Loza to approve the meeting minutes of February 3, 2026, as 
submitted; seconded by Donald Burt.  Motion passed on a 5-0 vote. 
Ayes: Chair- Elba Quintero and commission members, Donald Burt, Kimberly Gaffney-Loza, 
Dushawn John-Armenta and Thomas Klabunde. 
Absent: Vice Chair Jane Neuheisel, Ricardo Juan Leonard and Laura Stewart. 
 
Agenda Item 4 – Special Events & Parks Ordinance Update 
Craig Hayton presented to the commission a PowerPoint presentation on Special Events & 
Parks Ordinance Update.  Presentation included the following: 
 
Background 
Minutes 
Desert Conservation Commission 
April 14, 2026

o Special events code 
o Parks & Recreation code 
 
Fall 2025 outreach 
o Fall outreach 
 
Outreach conducted 
 
Public survey 
o Survey: 
 
What we asked 
 
Special events code 
 
Park use permits 
 
Comments 
 
High-level takeaways 
 
Approach to updating codes 
o Our goal, mission & approach 
o Drafting principles 
o Drafting tests 
 
April outreach 
o Provide feedback on proposed changes 
o Provide input & stay connected  
 
Questions 
 
Commission discussion included: 
 
Park ramada reservation vs. special events 
 
Park ranger access to scheduled events/reservations 
 
Agenda Item 5 – Tempe Town Lake Northbank 
Craig Hayton presented to the commission a PowerPoint presentation on the Tempe Town Lake 
Northbank.  Presentation included the following: 
 
Envisioning the future 
 
Broadening recreation 
o 3 North activity zones 
 
Updates 
 
Strengthening collaboration 
o Public private partnership (P3) 
 
Outcomes 
 
Updates 
 
Questions 
 
Commission discussion included: 
 
Kimberly Gaffney-Loza on Rio Salado Technical Advisory Group (TAG) as 
representative from commission 
 
Focus is on land based recreational activities  
 
Agenda Item 6 – Preserve Management Plan Recommendations 
 
Loma del Rio Preservation & Improvements 
Alex Jovanovic presented to the commission a PowerPoint presentation on the Loma del 
Rio Preservation & Improvements.  Presentation included the following: 
o Loma del Rio archaeological site

o Preserve Management Plan recommendations 
o Improvements- Wall renovation 
o Trails & signage 
o Conditions 
o Discussion 
 
Commission discussion included: 
 
Site visited 
 
If signage/cameras would help 
 
Reclaiming volunteer trails- old trails still marked 
 
Adding vegetation to deter bike use 
 
Staff will come back with further updates and seek input for improvements/recommendations.   
 
Agenda Item 7 – Commission Objectives/Priorities 
 
Partnerships 
Commission discussion included: 
o Partner with students to volunteer 
o Specify projects then look for help 
o AZ native plants society 
o Targeted group project 
o ASU-Master of landscape architecture program- Dushawn John-Armenta to 
provide contact 
 
Awareness 
Tabled to future meeting 
 
Planning 
Tabled to future meeting 
 
Uses 
Tabled to future meeting 
 
Agenda Item 8 – Future Agenda Items 
 
John McCain Library 
 
Park Ranger program update 
 
TAG update 
 
Agenda Item 9 – Upcoming Park Public Meeting Notices & Announcements   
 
Events & Parks Ordinances Updates Public Meetings- various dates, times and locations 
 
Annual Boards and Commissions Event, Tempe Center for the Arts, Friday, May 1, 
2026, at 5 p.m. 
 
Meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m. 
Prepared by:   Bobbi Lloyd, Administrative Analyst, (480) 350-8352 
Reviewed by:  Alex Jovanovic, Deputy Community Services Director – Parks, (480) 350-5811