PARKS, RECREATION, GOLF AND DOUBLE BUTTE CEMETERY ADVISORY BOARD – MAY 13, 2026 MINUTES.PDF

Minutes 
Parks, Recreation, Golf and Double Butte Cemetery     
Advisory Board 
May 13, 2026 
 
Minutes of the Parks, Recreation, Golf and Double Butte Cemetery Advisory Board meeting held on 
May 13, 2026, 6:01 p.m., Hybrid Meeting- Tempe Public Library 2nd floor Cottonwood Board Room, 3500 
S Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ, and virtual through Microsoft Teams. 
 
Members Present: 
Lane Waddell – Chair  
Mary Farmer – Vice Chair 
Katelyn Keberle 
Lauren Wunderlich 
Lisa Zyriek 
Regina Ponder 
Members Absent: 
Cory Pechtl 
Eli Enger 
Elizabeth Hatch 
Gerardo Lopez 
City Staff Present: 
Craig Hayton, Community Services Director 
Alexander Jovanovic, Deputy Community Services Director – Parks (Staff Liaison) 
Shawn Wagner, Deputy Community Services Director – Recreation 
Shelbie Meyer, Administrative Analyst – Parks 
Evelyn McNeil, Recreation Manager – Kiwanis 
Councilmember Nikki Amberg, Mayor and City Council 
 
Other Guests Present: 
None.   
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda Item 1 – Public Appearances 
• 
Mary Ann Sandoz Harriman 
o Concerned about the maintenance of the Double Butte Cemetery. She has three generations in 
the Historical section and is too old to care/maintain the plots herself.  
• 
Dr. Marsha Harrison 
o Expressed concerns about poor maintenance at Double Butte Cemetery, noting that her 
mother's gravestone was never properly leveled and that cemetery conditions were often in 
disarray. She stated that repeated complaints to the City were not taken seriously and that the 
conditions were upsetting for her family when visiting loved ones' graves.  
• 
Chris Sar 
o Founder of Friends of the Double Butte Cemetery which focuses on preservation, care, and 
promoting use of the cemetery and its historic elements. His goal is to love on this park and 
activate the space. Four generations of his family are buried in the Historic and Pioneer 
sections. He believes it is cut off by the rest of the city by the freeway, and it is being forgotten. 
Would love to work with the city to activate the space and hold volunteer projects.

2 
 
 
• 
Rob Moore 
o Thanked the board for advancing the project and recognized John Tokach for his efforts at the 
cemetery. Recommendations included developing a long-term maintenance and staffing 
strategy; evaluating alternative locations for stadium staff operations; dedicating resources to 
maintenance, drainage, retention, and wildlife habitat; incorporating the Double Butte landform 
into habitat planning; consulting the four Southern Tribes regarding the cemetery’s significance 
as a burial site and cultural resource; partnering with the Tempe Buttes Marriott Resort to 
support tourism opportunities; creating interpretive signage and a long-term solution for 
maintaining the Pioneer Section’s historic open irrigation system; preserving the cemetery’s 
historic character and avoiding a synthetic environment; establishing a timeline and budget for 
preventative maintenance to prevent future neglect; and engaging the public during the draft 
review process. The speaker noted that local historical organizations could assist with public 
outreach and asked when the draft plan would be available for review and feedback. 
• 
Peggy Moroney 
o Emphasized the historical significance of cemeteries and advocated for preserving and sharing 
the stories of the pioneers and community leaders buried at Double Butte Cemetery. The 
speaker noted that funding and community support are available for infrastructure 
improvements and recommended restoring the irrigation system, increasing landscaping efforts, 
involving local clubs in volunteer activities, creating shaded gathering spaces for families, and 
exploring the use of historic Mill Avenue bricks for seating areas or donor recognition 
opportunities. The speaker also encouraged historical interpretation and educational 
programming, including historical reenactments, to help connect the community with the 
cemetery’s history.  
• 
Korri Turner 
o Noted that the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation previously funded a Logan Simpson 
report on the cemetery through a private donation and observed that additional reports have 
since been completed. The speaker expressed hope that information from the earlier report was 
utilized to inform the City’s planning efforts and emphasized the continued commitment of 
preservation advocates to protecting the cemetery, particularly its historic section.  
 
Agenda Item 2 – Approval of Meeting Minutes 
April 15, 2026 
Motion by Lisa Zyriek to approve April 15, 2026, meeting minutes as amended. Seconded by Lauren 
Wunderlich. Motion passed by a 6-0 vote. 
Ayes: Lane Waddell, Mary Farmer, Katelyn Keberle, Lauren Wunderlich, Lisa Zyriek, and Regina Ponder 
Absent: Eli Enger, Elizabeth Hatch, Gerardo Lopez, and Cory Pechtl. 
 
 
Agenda Item 3 – Double Butte Cemetery (moved from Agenda Item #7) 
Alex Jovanovic presented an overview of the findings of the Double Butte Cemetery Study. Board members 
were sent the study beforehand and given the printed version of the site study assessment by TYPSA.

3 
 
 
• 
Presentation Information 
o Presentation Overview (key findings, recommendations, historic preservation, treatment, and 
next steps) 
o Project Overview & Site Map (aging infrastructure, accessibility, historic features, and 
sustainability) 
o Infrastructure: Key Findings (roadways, landscape & irrigation, drainage, and maintenance 
facilities) 
o Roadway & Drainage Conditions 
o Landscape, Irrigation, and Pedestrian Access 
o Entries, Signage, and Maintenance Facilities 
o Historic Preservation: Pioneer Section Survey (6,795 burial plots surveyed, 1,038 markers need 
repair, 217 high priority, 53 displaced lot markers) 
o Types of Damage and Treatment Approach 
o Phased Implementation Plan 
o Strategic Focus & Next Steps (preservation first, visitor experience, infrastructure resilience, 
operational efficiency) 
o Timeline (July 2026 – Phase 1 and 2 of construction – evaluate budget for Phase 3 – ongoing 
improvements and maintenance)  
 
• 
Board members asked questions and made comments about: 
o If you follow this plan, technically, could you cover the costs and complete the project in a few 
years? 
▪ 
You’re feeling confident Historical Preservation can meet the 217 high priority markers at 
least? 
▪ 
The Brock Foundation could potentially dedicate the donation money somewhere else 
(just to markers, redo the roadways, place stipulations, etc.).  
o In the December 2025 Parks Board meeting, we voted unanimously for the information from 
Double Butte Cemetery study to be shared with the public. We also voted on coordination 
between Logan Simpson report from Tempe Historic Foundation, as well as the one just 
conducted. Included in the vote, we said we wanted the cemetery improvements to be shared 
similar to a parks improvement project (public outreach session, recommendations, solicit 
input). We asked our citizens for bond money and they approve it. Board member does not see 
a downside in involving the public in this process, it seems to be very transparent and would 
generate excitement from all the people here; not just to view the cemetery, but as an asset. 
Like Chris Sar mentioned, activate the space by holding events there. Maybe have a committee 
from the Historic Preservation Commission, Preservation Foundation, and maybe this board 
participate. She is wondering if staff could look at that possibility and involve the public in 
obtaining input. 
▪ 
After staff look at it and come up with recommendations, that would then be shared with 
the public for input. What would you do for a park remodel? 
▪ 
Since we have limited funds, I see the benefit with the public knowing that and assessing 
priorities. I think that would be valuable to know.

4 
 
 
▪ 
Another board member understands the need to manage expectations, as we are not 
the forefront stakeholders in this situation and are managing the decision. Her family is 
not buried there; she is curious to hear the community’s perspective to guide the final 
decision. She agrees for input for prioritization to guide final decisions and solicit 
feedback for informed decision making.  
o You mentioned money going toward preservation, how much money is available for just 
infrastructure (drainage, roadways, etc.). No restrictions with that money, only for the next two 
years budgeted? Anything beyond that you are aware of? This is tied more towards markers. 
o A board member brought this up five years ago, it would be a very low priority, but what would 
be the possibility of having a noise/visual barrier on the east side? There is an ADOT fence 
installed, but it is not good enough. I did not see it in the study, are you unable to get a wall or 
dirt berm? Loved ones that are on that side, it is noisy with no peace or tranquility being next to 
the freeway.  
 
Agenda Item 4 – Aquatics Update (moved from Agenda Item #5) 
Shawn Wagner introduced Evelyn McNeil to present information related to aquatics programming.  
 
• 
Presentation Information 
o Performance Measures 
o Overview (Asset Preservation, Project Updates, and National Water Safety Month – May) 
o Splash Play (Jaycee, Esquer, and Parque de Soza refresh projects) 
o Kiwanis Indoor Wave Pool 
o McClintock Pool 
o Escalante Pool 
o Clark Park Pool 
o May is Water Safety Month (ABC’s of water safety) 
 
• 
Board members asked questions and made comments about: 
o What are people dissatisfied with? 
o Do you offer CPR classes at pools? 
 
Agenda Item 5 – Events & Parks Ordinance Public Outreach Update (moved from Agenda Item #3) 
Craig Hayton presented an update following the public outreach from the events and parks’ ordinance efforts. 
 
• 
Presentation Information 
o Scope of recent meetings 
o Why these updates now 
o Draft direction 
o Code updates (Chapter 5: Special Events & Chapter 23: Parks & Recreation) 
o Rules for Use in Parks & Preserves 
o Beer & Wine / Amplified Sound

5 
 
 
o New Park Permit Options 
o Food Distribution Permits 
o Overview of outreach and public survey 
 
• 
Board members asked questions and made comments about: 
o City of Phoenix redid their codes – are we using theirs as an underlying basis or as a general 
theme? 
o Before, there was just one permit regardless of the event (for example, Oktoberfest), now it’s 
different depending on size? 
o Is a parking lot considered a park? For instance, Daley, if I pull up to the field, that is the park. 
o Do you think it will be done/approved by the end of the year? Would you anticipate that August 
1st will roll out? 
o Who enforces these codes in Parks? Is it posted so visitors can do a check on the 
rules/regulations? 
o If you need to reserve a space for 50+, one would need to fill out a 10+ page document to 
qualify? 
o Where is the governance process for approving/denial of a permit? Is it in the code or 
elsewhere? 
Agenda Item 6 – Recreation Programming (POSTPONED) 
Shawn Wagner will present Recreation Programming at the June 10, 2026, meeting. 
 
Agenda Item 8 – Future Agenda Items 
Lane Waddell and board members decided to skip the meeting in the month of July for a “summer break” and 
resume in August. 
 
Agenda Item 9 – Public Meeting Attendance, Notices, & Announcements 
Alex Jovanovic announced Susan Carlson’s resignation. Lisa Zyriek asked for an update on the Cardinals 
property, to which Alex stated there is no new information on the matter.  
 
Meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.  
Prepared by: Shelbie Meyer, Administrative Analyst, (480) 350-8353 
Reviewed by: Alex Jovanovic, Deputy Community Services Director- Parks, (480) 350-5811