Regular Meeting - 2/21/2023 6:30:00 PM

foreign
foreign
if I could give everybody a 30 second
morning and have the council members
please take their seats
good evening everyone welcome to the
February 21st 2023 Gilbert Town council
meeting I would like to go ahead and
call this meeting to order thank you for
your patience we were upstairs in an
executive session meeting the first item
on our agenda this evening is student of
the student student citizen of the month
Awards and our vice mayor will run that
presentation
thank you mayor
um
good evening I am vice mayor Kathy tolki
and it is my pleasure to announce the
names of the Gilbert student citizens of
the month the recipients were nominated
by their teachers and principals for
demonstrating good citizenship and
character we appreciate the opportunity
to not only recognize these hard-working
students but to also thank all of the
teachers and school administrators in
the community we appreciate all your
efforts to educate and influence our
young residents our schools are some of
Gilbert's finest and greatest assets at
this time we are going to begin our
student citizen of the month
presentation
please enjoy and for those of you who
are receiving an award tonight a
certificate and packet will be delivered
to your school so we're going to begin
with the elementary schools
let me get my little paper here Ashland
Ranch Elementary Josie miles
Bridges Elementary Harrison Cantrell
Burke Elementary Piper De Young Carol
Ray Ranch Elementary price Harrington
Centennial Elementary Rhys de Hoyas
Chaparral Elementary John Locke McCombs
Charlotte Patterson Elementary Bond
Anderson
Christ Greenfield school
Ela
sorry Isla grendela
edu prize School Gwen Steff
Gateway Point Elementary Chloe Zimmerman
Higley Traditional Academy Aaron Sanchez
Islands Elementary Lucas
Garay
Leading Edge
Academy Elementary Adeline Headley
Mesquite Elementary Chloe Carr
Neely Traditional Academy Lily Shepherd
Brown
Oak Tree Elementary Jack White
Patterson Elementary Melanie
or I had this earlier rain
on
oh sorry I'm sorry
um Pioneer Elementary Jack's Claire
Playa del Rey Elementary Cameron Fowler
Quartz Hill Elementary
degree bush
Riggs Elementary Emily Anderson Santan
Elementary Grant Jessup
settlers Point Elementary
drotham apachito
Sonora Sonoma Ranch Elementary Sophia
Valenzuela Aguilar
Spectrum Elementary Jade Cassius
Town Metals Elementary
kainoa torbent
Val Vista Lakes Elementary Olivia Cates
Weinberg gifted Academy
Levi ramsley
and now we'll honor our Junior High and
high school students
American Leadership Academy Easton obarn
Campo Verde High School Daniel
for
for zaka
Canyon Valley High School Paige Davis
Cooley Middle School Cooper Forester
class Gilbert Classical Academy James
pester
Gilbert High School
Dane Richards Higley High School Avery
Jackson
Leading Edge Academy Early College
Kira
piristani
Mesquite High School Lucy Lohman
South Valley Junior High Avery LeBaron
let's take a moment to give everybody a
round of applause
and I want to thank all the students for
your patience as I tried to get through
those names and I hope I did all right
thank you mayor you know that's your
worst nightmare vice mayor
next on our agenda that we have our
invocation this evening will be by
Pastor Terry Bowman of Life Church
Pastor if you could come down to the
podium please thank you for being here
this evening
press the button to turn your microphone
on there we go thank you
thank you for the invitation to offer
the invocation can we pray
our great God we come to you in
Thanksgiving and we praise you for this
town and its inhabitants this governing
Council
thank you for the privilege of living
here and the freedoms that we enjoy As
Americans and every blessing that has
been given to us
we come tonight in humility asking your
favor in our hour of need
forgive us for our sins bringing
restoration to the broken
the hurting in our community and in our
world
we pray for those who are suffering in
war
those who are living without the basic
necessities of life
and those who are suffering loss from
earthquakes destruction their homes
and the loss of family and friends be
with them and comfort them let Aid and
assistance be delivered speedily to them
we also pray for the needs of our
community
bless the many groups who are providing
services and assistance Empower them
and provide the needed resources to
accomplish their mission
we pray for the deeper spiritual needs
of our community as well
you are Lord of all and you know the
heart of each one I pray for those who
are filled with anxiety that you will
bring peace for those who are suffering
broken hearts
that you will bring peace in in healing
in their lives for the sick and the
disease that you'd bring help and
healing
May the same spiritual renewal that is
happening in Asbury University in
Kentucky and many other universities and
churches in our nation
break out in our community and let there
be a spiritual hunger in thirsting for
your Holy Spirit
change and transform us in your presence
let this area be a Beacon of Hope and
healing to our nation as we seek to
honor you in all we do
I pray for the city manager the mayor
This Town Council that each one would be
empowered to accomplish the many tasks
that come before this growing City
May their decisions be for the good of
our community Inspire them with
creativity and assist them as they
conduct business
Lord in your word the Apostle Paul wrote
that petitions prayers intercession and
Thanksgiving be made for all people for
kings and for those in all authority
that we may live peaceful and quiet
lives and godliness and holiness
dear God we want to pray that request
and honor you in this city and
throughout the East Valley
we pray that your will be done and your
Kingdom Come On Earth as it is in heaven
in the name of the Lord Jesus we pray
amen
thank you so much Pastor thank you again
for joining us this evening next we will
have a pledge of allegiance led by
council member Buckley and her
granddaughter Olivia Drummond
you ready
pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands
one reason under God indivisible with
liberty and justice for all
thank you Olivia and council member
Buckley Olivia is seven years old and
has a birthday coming up on February
27th we hope you have an amazing
birthday Olivia
and thanks for joining us this evening
next we will have town clerk Herrera
conduct the roll call please
mayor Bridget Peterson here vice mayor
Kathy tilkey
here council member Scott Anderson
council member Chuck Bon Giovanni here
council member Bobby Buckley here
council member young kaprowski here and
councilmember Jim Torgeson here a quorum
is present thank you very much and now I
will come down to the floor for the
first proclamation of the evening
for women
good evening our first Proclamation for
this evening is the Go Red For Women
month I believe there's somebody here to
accept there you are to accept this
Proclamation this evening
whereas February 2023 is American Heart
month an annual campaign designed to
encourage heart-healthy sleep physical
activity and nutrition healthy habits
since the American Heart association's
mission is to help build longer
healthier lives free of cardiovascular
diseases and whereas the 2023 Go Red For
Women be the beat campaign focuses on
helping women find a new rhythm of
healthy habits since a global pandemic
interrupted Wellness goals and good
health is a journey and not a
destination and whereas in the United
States heart disease is the number one
killer of women causing one in three
deaths each year approximately one woman
every 80 Seconds and whereas in Arizona
on average nearly 16 women die every day
from heart disease or stroke each day
and whereas women have a higher lifetime
risk of stroke than men with different
heart attack symptoms that are often
misunderstood and now therefore I
Bridget Peterson mayor of the town of
Gilbert Arizona do hereby Proclaim
February 2023 as Go Red For Women month
and encourage residents of Gilbert to be
a part of the American Heart
association's national movement to end
heart disease and stroke in women
everyone is encouraged to make a change
for Better Health with physical activity
healthy eating lowering their blood
pressure and teaching children the
importance of staying active and making
healthy food choices how are you thank
you I'd like to have you introduce
yourself okay great
thank you my name is Stacy Johnson I'm a
volunteer with the American Heart
Association and we do proclamations like
this to build awareness about heart
disease you heard a lot of stats the
main thing is that 80 percent of your
risk factors can be mitigated by
lifestyle changes and choices and we
need to get the word out
thank you let's get a quick photo
thank you so much
next next is it Sergeant Bill Campbell
next Sergeant Bill Campbell if you would
please join me down the front gosh I
can't believe I have to read this about
Bill
congratulations Sergeant Bill Campbell
as mayor of the town of Gilbert is my
just
it is my distinct pleasure to express
our heartfelt congratulations to Gilbert
Police Department Sergeant Bill Campbell
upon his retirement from the town of
Gilbert for over 30 years Sergeant
Campbell has dedicated his career to
serving the town of Gilbert in the
police department it is with immense
gratitude and appreciation that we
recognize and commend him for his
extensive and valuable service to the
community after successfully completing
a six-year tour in the United States
Marine Corps Bill Campbell was hired by
the Gilbert Police Department in
December of 1992. as a police officer he
served as a patrol officer bike patrol
officer DARE officer SWAT team member
crime suspension suppression officer and
as a recruit training officer in the
police academy in 2007 he was promoted
to the rank of Sergeant and supervised
teams on patrol SWAT crime suppression
and Advanced Training the primary focus
of Sergeant Campbell's career has been
in developing the police department's
tactical training Sergeant Campbell's
expertise in police firearms training
and throughout his career he has built a
reputation as a leading Firearms trainer
Across the Nation Sergeant Campbell
created Gilbert's
Patrol rifle training program as well as
the SWAT Precision Marksman program
sorry I don't have my glasses on
Sergeant Campbell's Patrol rifle program
known as the Gilbert model of Patrol
rifle training has been requested and
shared with over four thousand police
agencies Across the Nation Sergeant
Campbell has served as the Department's
subject matter expert in firearms
training since 2001 and in 2019 he was
selected by Arizona post as the chairman
of the state's subject matter expert
Committee in Firearms Sergeant Campbell
has received multiple Awards and
commendations through his career
including civilian honors with the
awards of the Gilbert Chamber of
Commerce heroism heroism award and the
sons of the American Revolution officer
of the year award
Sergeant Campbell was very involved in
the design and construction of the new
Public Safety Training Facility with
special involvement in the design of the
large indoor shooting ranges Sergeant
Campbell is retiring as the Advanced
Training Sergeant supervising all
in-service police training and
proficiency skills training in the
Gilbert Police Academy at the end of
this month Sergeant Campbell will retire
from employment with over 30 years of
service
to the town of Gilbert despite his
retirement he intends to continue to
serve Gilbert as a volunteer Reserve
officer continuing to assist in training
our police recruits and in-service
officers we wish him all the best in his
retirement and future endeavors in
witness thereof I am here on to set my
hand and have caused the official seal
of the town of Gilbert to fix this 21st
day of February 2023 Bridget Peterson
foreign
I also want to mention his beautiful
bride sitting over here because they
both have dedicated their lives to
Public Service
Diane retired three years ago four years
ago Diane three years ago I was right
the first time three years ago from
dispatch in the City of Tempe
and I think that being married to law
enforcement is one thing having to live
with it every single day is another
thing I respect both of you and
everything that you do for the community
another little known fact is
um Sergeant Bill Campbell thinks he's
Batman
he is Batman and actually if you
attended the Gilbert Police Department
trunk or treat across the street he was
dressed as Batman and Diane was dressed
as Wonder Woman and they make a
wonderful pair when they are able to get
out and do that within our community
bill and I also share a birthday not the
same year but where two of about six of
us I think I think there's five in the
police department that have the same
birthday that we discovered and he was
completely instrumental in the ranges
and I'm so pleased that you held off
your retirement to be able to actually
teach in the public safety training
facility and then it came to fruition
for you I'd love for you to say a few
words
uh I love Gilbert I've been here forever
and um I have this this place this city
is rare I teach all over the country and
I would say there are very few
communities like this one
um my heart is here I live here
um I've given my life to this town and
uh I am so proud and honored to have
represented you around the nation and
also to have served you as long as I
have thank you
let's get a photo
let's get one with Bill and I and then
please ask Chief Solberg to come up and
join us is there is there other Command
Staff here
if there's other Command Staff that
would like to come up and join us
actually anybody that's in the police
department that would like to come up
and join us I think that's appropriate
but they all come look at my team look
at this come on over here
[Laughter]
we gotta move up
chief commander chief chief
just for you thank you you're welcome
Chief hold on I have to go give your
bride a hug
I'm good how are you
[Applause]
so next up is like the world correct
so if you didn't know we have been
honored to be able to be the the
location most years in the olive State
of Arizona for the light the world
Campaign which is the giving machines
that have been located in downtown
Gilbert under our water tower and our
water tower Park
this year there was a couple of
locations in the state of Arizona which
was new
but
we were still able to raise a lot of
money
and I want to invite Fran and Steve
Lowder up to give us a rundown and I
know they have some very large checks to
give out to some very grateful
organizations this evening
yes yes
other
John Lewis
all those good names too John would look
you like to tell them about that oh no
please oh
if you haven't seen or been a part or
participated in the giving machines they
are vending machines where individuals
and families can experience christ-like
love and giving in an instant by
donating to Charities that are wonderful
and that are all of our heroes
next year you'll be able to see them
again so I encourage that
we have
click
click is there a clicker
oh there's a clicker yeah very good
I know this is what they look like if
you haven't been able to see them before
with cards in the machines that
represent items that you can give to
charities
like soccer balls or
yes in the past we have had livestock
this year we had education for girls we
had meals we had shoes I get a little
teary-eyed because they're all over
there and they are the ones that are in
the trenches each and every day and we
are blessed to have them represented in
these wonderful giving machines this
year
we'd like first to thank all of Gilbert
for letting us have these machines
starting five years ago and then all the
way through now because they've grown
and each year they've been better and
better so if we could just applaud the
town of Gilbert that would be great
um
we have with us many of those who helped
with the giving machines and we want all
of them to stand so you know who you are
just stand up and don't sit down because
we know you do you want we'll point you
out stand up
stand up
stand up Candace oh sorry
everyone who assisted
thank you thank you very much for that
we have with our thank yous we did want
to explain how and what happened to the
giving machines this year it was amazing
that because of what happened in Gilbert
the powers that be John is our presiding
Authority and those who work with us
worked out that we could move machines
around throughout all of Arizona because
of how strong Gilbert was so what
happened was we have machines in
Flagstaff in Glendale in Tucson and in
the Gila Valley that all participated in
this year's work we expanded our local
charities from 4 to 25 throughout the
State of Arizona which was exciting and
they all received great donations
[Applause]
as we look at those donations what we've
realized is that we've touched over 650
000 people in Arizona and lifted them in
one way a note just in Arizona
through all the Charities that we've uh
that you've given to and that though
those nations were made to which another
that's amazing as well and we might be
under counting that it could be close to
three quarters of a million people that
were touched by this donations which is
a lot
we raised in Gilbert
you get to read it you want to read it
read it one million 38 38
274 dollars
[Applause]
our our Gilbert residents are very
generous I know and I want to say
something before I give the mic back to
you
um these folks
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints put these machines out and they
send volunteers to them every hour that
the machines are open they pay for every
cent of delivery they pay for every
everything that has to go into the
machines taking the machines down
putting the machines up every single bit
of aspect they pay for the church pays
for and every dollar that is raised in
those machines goes to the Charities
Gilbert's machines had Charities local
to Gilbert glendale's machines had
Charities local to Glendale same with
Flagstaff they're not trying to donate
all over the world necessarily there are
some national Charities involved but the
for the most part you are going to see
the checks handed out to the local
charities that are right here that we
talk to and deal with every single day
to affect those 650 000 lives
[Applause]
we love to support that
um Elder Lewis would you like to read
the worldwide total
six million two hundred thousand dollars
and one million in Gilbert
there were 25 other cities 25 other
cities that were a part of this and so
our representation is pretty good
so including cities like Kansas City and
big cities in California Las Vegas yeah
no competition here
just a little
here are some of our Charities as you
see our five local charities and then
African girls hope which is our national
charity we'll be bringing them up in
just a second for their checks
we'd like to
well uh
can't go back
we'd like to bring up one other member
of of our team who represents all of the
missionaries who helped hundreds of
missionaries that helped and that's
Elder and sister cook if you could come
up and join us and be a part of this uh
president and sister cook sorry
[Applause]
all right first charity baby here you go
you want to announce it and I'll give it
yes okay you announce it okay all right
our our first one is House of Refuge so
if the House of Refuge will make your
way down here
and our total for House of Refuge is
Kayla you want to read it
73
743 dollars
[Applause]
and there's the check
perfect
congratulations she gets to keep the
check and take it with her
and then inside the boxes are actual
cards that were in your machine this
year so they're a little banged up and a
little beat up but you get them you get
your cards
okay the next one that is coming up is
um Special Olympics
this is the first year for all of these
Charities to be in the giving machines
so it's exciting for them and exciting
for us to make new friends and be a part
of their lives
so the total
totals in
568 dollars
[Applause]
over there
yeah
everywhere Robinson
thank you
[Applause]
our next one is ascend
Ascend and your total
yeah this is a big one
Trinity
101 thousand dollars 350.
there you are my friends
[Applause]
thank you oh my gosh unbelievable you
guys and the Newbie Ariel she's new
as you can tell these aren't Small
Checks now on the top of the box that
they're getting is also a Christmas
ornament a light the world Christmas
ornament that we'll give more of those
to you so that you can hand them out to
some of your volunteers too
okay our next one is gathering Humanity
come on down
okay Gathering Humanities total is a
hundred and two thousand two hundred and
seventy eight
woo
[Applause]
hold on
perfect thank you Robin
congratulations ladies congratulations
okay this one is our International
charity this is the African girls Hope
Foundation so Miss Grace they provide
education for girls in Africa who are
not
currently allowed to go to school
[Applause]
so they're totally total entered in um
we have a house of refugees I mean
Gathering a hundred and sixteen thousand
seven hundred
[Applause]
[Laughter]
[Applause]
[Music]
we got it we got it
[Applause]
now African girls Hope was in two other
cities and their grand total ended up
being just about 150 000 so we're
thrilled for them
with that one
oh
and now
we would like Midwest food bank to come
up not that there's a winner but they're
the last check so
now Midwest has been with us for how
many years now in Gilbert for oh six
years
yes six years
these are some of the best people you'll
know
[Applause]
so Midwest Food Bank
their total was 129
435 dollars
make sure everybody's in yeah
they love it I love it I love it
congratulations congratulations
thank you
and we've got an ornament for each
member of Town Council thank you so much
for allowing us to have these giving
machines in this incredible and amazing
town and I have one complaint you're
tearing up our Park
so we gotta find another place
so I think we've got Parks and Rec is
out there searching for a very special
place for us so that's where we'll be
next year
find your machine
[Laughter]
oh thank you
oh I don't have to do that down here
they'll come to the microphone
questions
I'll give them a second just to make
their way out
next on our agenda
we will have a presentation from Gilbert
sister cities we have an annual update
by the Gilbert sister cities board and
tonight that will be by Christina
Sanchez hi Christina
turn this on hello is there a clicker
thank you and hello mayor Peterson vice
mayor tilkey council and guests for
those of you that I have not met yeah
I'm Christina Sanchez president of
Gilbert sister cities and tonight I'm
going to present the year in review for
what we've done what we did 2022.
so each year we kick off our year with
an east east to west Gilbert Fest we
celebrate this not only the Chinese New
Year but it's our opportunity to honor
our partnership and friendship with our
sister city of lashon guests are treated
to some fantastic in
entertainment there's a silent auction
and it's a fantastic celebration of the
Chinese New Year this year we celebrated
or last year we celebrated the year of
the Tiger
in the spring with the support of the
town of Gilbert our generous sponsors
and help from countless volunteers the
Gilbert sister cities friendship Garden
came to life at Gilbert Regional Park
this is something that we're very proud
of the garden honors the diversity and
Rich culture of the global friendships
shared between the town of Gilbert
Andrew Newton Abbey Northern Ireland and
lechon China
here's an early drone picture of the
garden it actually looks so much better
now that the plants and trees have
matured if you haven't been out there we
invite you all to come and see it it's a
beautiful space and wonderful place to
reflect meditate or just take in the
beauty of our desert with regard to the
garden and our ongoing partnership with
the town Greg tilkey will continue to
partner with Parks and Rec to work on
any ongoing maintenance construction or
necessary improvements one example is
that we've noticed that the Chinese
bridge is showing some wear and we
discussed at our last meeting putting
together a plan for either refurbishment
or replacement of the bridge and our
generated friends from the garden event
will assist with this project
we're currently Midway through our 2023
youth youth Ambassador application
process we will be sending four
ambassadors this year to Antrim Newton
Abbey and none to lashon due to the
restrictions by the U.S on returning
travelers from China we felt it best to
wait another year before sending
ambassadors in the meantime we have
recently met with our lechon
counterparts and are working on an art
exchange a student art exchange with
schools here that will be showcased at
an upcoming event in lechon China
we did however have two 2022 youth
ambassadors traveled to Antrim Newton
Abbey this past summer and they also
hosted their Northern Ireland Ireland
counterparts here in Gilbert we did not
have any youth Ambassador Travel to
lashon last year either as there were
continued covid restrictions hopefully
next year
later in the year our board and
membership celebrated the Gilbert sister
cities Irish holiday social this honors
our long-lasting friendship as sister
cities with Antrim Newton Abbey Northern
Ireland this is always a special
celebration for our members to end the
year and well it's also the first time
that our board generally gets to meet
the following Year's youth Ambassador
candidates
I've saved the best for last in the fall
of
2023 we celebrated our first ever a
night at the Garden this is where we
thanked all of our Gilbert sister cities
friendship Garden donors and volunteers
as well as our fantastic Parks and Rec
Department
Partners the event coincided with the
delegation visit from Northern Ireland
and provided a wonderful
ceremony following the recertification
of our commitment as sister cities
at the event guests were treated to
Fantastic entertainment keynote speakers
and some heartfelt recognition we plan
on making this an annual event
and though we will move it to the spring
beginning in 2024.
just a quick board update in our recent
meeting we addressed Greg tilkey's
retirement from the board created a new
Emeritus board with Greg as the first
member voted in we also welcomed
councilwoman kaprowski as our Council
liaison and held Board elections for new
members and executive positions as
you're most likely aware we are planning
on having representation at the upcoming
delegation to Antrim Newton Abbey in
September this concludes our update we
appreciate your time and continued
partnership with the town of Gilbert and
we look forward to another year of
Community Connection friendship and
cultural experiences thank you
thank you Christina any comments
excited to see the changes going on with
Gilbert sister cities I love being a
part of it and being the liaison for so
many years and really excited for
councilmember koprowski now to take over
where vice mayor tilkey left off and I
think you're doing great things and the
kids this year are as amazing as the
kids in the past so I don't know how you
choose we're extremely proud and it's a
very very hard choice but thank you
thank you again thank you
before we move to Communications from
citizens vice mayor tilkey asked if she
could move her comments from council
member to the start of the agenda so
vice mayor please
thank you mayor um I think we're gonna
get rid of this I just wanted to let
everybody know early in the meeting that
our subcommittee for on Communications
has been working and
um we are going to be hosting three town
hall meetings that is open to all of the
public and those are the dates and the
times
up on the screen also we are conducting
a town-wide survey to get feedback from
our all of our citizens and there's a QR
code there in the back there is a a
flyer if you'd like to take that if you
can't attend the meetings please take
the survey we will be gathering all of
that information and bringing it back to
the full Council in May with some
recommendations and so thank you mayor
for allowing me to announce that thanks
for sharing that information and now
Communications from citizens so you're
up again great thank you mayor
um first I'd like to just read a
statement regarding the communications
from citizens
the Gilbert Town Council values citizens
comments and input anyone wishing to
speak before the council must fill out a
request to speak card for each item they
wish to speak on and submit it prior to
the beginning of the meeting the
communications from citizens portion on
the agenda provides citizens an
opportunity to identify for the Town
Council matters of Interest or concern
related to town government than not that
are not on the printed agenda under the
provisions of the Arizona open meeting
law the Town Council is prohibited from
responding to issues that have not been
properly noticed therefore the Town
Council may only listen to citizens who
wish to address them in a non on
non-agenda items at the conclusion of
the open call to public response is
limited to individual members of the
council responding to criticism made by
those who have addressed the public body
asking staff to review a matter or
asking that a matter be put on a future
agenda when your name is called please
come forward to the podium state your
name and place a residence and then
begin speaking all speakers are expected
to observe common standards of decorum
and courtesy personal attacks political
speeches or threats of political action
are inappropriate in this forum and will
be grounds for ending the speaker's time
at the podium
the first person to speak this evening
is Steve Cisco so if you would come up
to the podium and following will be
Brandon riff and you will have three
minutes that will begin and you'll see
that on the clock all right more than
enough my name is Steve Cisco I live in
the Carriage Lane subdivision I've been
a Gilbert resident for 18 years for two
and a half years since August of 2020 a
high volume four profit Banning Clinic
has been operated by my next door
neighbor I'll leave his address out in
violation of Gilbert licensing codes and
noise regulations for residential
neighborhoods nearly every day from 8
A.M to 8pm sometimes earlier sometimes
later my family and other neighbors must
endure the loud unusual unnatural
recurrent cracks of a bat hitting a hard
baseball the sound bouncing off of block
fences and stucco walls these cracks are
well documented in a range of 85 to 100
decibels we're constantly being woken up
an evening resting or napping during the
day is impossible I apologize if I sound
frustrated in angry or a bit emotional
because I am this isn't how I wanted to
spend the evening in my 62nd birthday we
never know who's sitting in vehicles
parked on the street for extended
periods of time
unlike the homes to the north my family
doesn't have to deal with the errant
balls Landing in our yard and the bright
lights hung 12 to 15 feet to illuminate
the batting cage during evening hours so
the business can be extended I think
we'd have a hard time selling our home
if someone heard this
recurrent noise the business owner
claims he's operating a charity and not
subject to licensing regulations or
codes the town States based on a visit
that the owner claims his operation is
for his son and the neighborhood kids
both are simply not true I've counted up
to 12 customers a day and the business
averages 45 to 50 customers a week I
have recordings of his customers stating
that they pay 70 or more for each 20 to
30 30 to 40 minute lesson I've shared
some of these recordings with Town staff
and I believe all yourselves council
members
when this business was starting up the
owner had a magnetic sign on his truck
advertising Hitman baseball coach with
his phone number his Facebook page also
includes a solicitation for customers
I've shared the name and address and
phone number of two additional
individuals whose homes on Santa Rosa
border this business on the North both
have stated they are impacted by the
business one of these individuals was
supposed to be here with me tonight I
don't know if he is
I'll close with and this business needs
to be licensed which will solve the
noise problem because it can't exist
based on the codes I interpret what a
reasonable person would honestly believe
that charging what reasonable person
would honestly believe that charging for
a service week after week month after
month year after year is not operating a
business subject to licensing and codes
I'll tell you only someone
trying to get away with ignoring
Gilbert's licensing and code regulations
and avoid and avoiding payment of taxes
that's who
I'm done I just wish and hope the city
can do something about this
thanks thank you Mr Cisco and I know
this isn't a where you want to spend
your birthday but I'd like to say happy
birthday to you
now you're talking
thank you very much Mr Cisco um Brandon
riff
thank you
good evening mayor and Council
for the past three years groups of
teenagers and some young adults haven't
continued to terrorize Morrison Ranch
residents and local stores a few dozen
teenagers who are underage unlicensed
and uninsured are ripping through our
Parks common areas and residential
streets with unregistered uninsured and
not street legal dirt bikes in a
dangerous and Reckless manner destroying
property and depriving people of the
peaceful enjoyment of their homes some
residents have become so frustrated by
all this they're now resorting to
vigilantism someone pounded Nails into a
sheet of plywood and buried it under the
grass by the silos hoping it would pop
their tires problem is all of our
children run and play in that field if a
child were to fault it could kill them
and if they caught whoever did this to
my knowledge the answer is no over the
past couple years now we've had our home
and vehicles vandalized dumpsters set on
fire in front of our home commercial
grade explosives detonated next to our
home bolt cutters used to shut off our
power indecent exposure public urination
and defecation drag racing reckless
driving drug use drug deals and multiple
assaults in one example teenage thugs
held down a younger boy and proceeded to
shoot him repeatedly with high-powered
air guns leaving his body covered with
bruises and welts just four days ago my
neighbor and I witnessed a truck drive
through the grass by the silos trying to
run over a bunch of kids I ran over to
help and luckily he missed and everyone
was okay
while standing outside waiting for the
police a different vehicle pulled up and
shot me right in the face with water and
some sort of maester pepper spray it
took 90 minutes before we finally saw an
officer then despite providing the
officer with a plate number and high
definition video of both crimes being
committed to my knowledge no arrests
have been made no one has been held
accountable taking 90 minutes to respond
to an emergency call is unacceptable the
taxpayers deserve to know why this
happened I asked the mayor and Council
to please seek out some answers to be
clear I place zero blame on the officers
who Brave bravely and selflessly serve
our community I do blame these soft on
crime policies that give criminals the
upper hand and leave law-abiding
citizens vulnerable and at risk I do
blame misguided policies that make many
officers afraid to even do their jobs
because they don't want to get in
trouble or get fired take a look at the
About Us section on the town's Police
Department website all you'll see is a
bunch of negativity not much positive or
in support of our amazing police
officers who seeing this would want to
work for an organization that focuses on
everything police do wrong and nothing
about the critical role these Heroes
serve in our communities the police
policing policies seem to abandon
traditional justice as in enforcing the
laws maintaining order and keeping
people safe the current Mission talks
about holding police Personnel
accountable for their actions
limiting exposure
to liability
maintaining transparency and focusing on
professional reputation for professional
Excellence respectfully that's one of
the most worst mission statements I've
ever heard whatever happened to protect
and serve the mission for our Police
Department literally says nothing about
Public Safety we can and must do better
enforcing the laws for the sake of
Public Safety needs to be top priority
and the core element of the mission for
the police department let's get back to
protect and serve and restore Law and
Order and Morrison Ranch thank you
thank you Mr Roof
mayor with that that is all of the
communications from citizens we have
thank you vice mayor now on to the
consent calendar and you'll be handling
that also
thank you mayor we have one request to
pull item number seven and uh by council
member Bon Giovanni
so with that I'd like to make a motion
to approve the consent calendar items
number five six
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 and 16.
I have a motion by vice mayor telkey can
I have a second second
I have a second by council member
Anderson please vote
who somebody hasn't voted
who is it saying I can't read it it's
not showing up on here oh there we go
it's it was
motion passes seven zero
um Town Staff last meeting I had the
voting board on here so I could see it
and this year this time it was not so I
couldn't see who was not voted yet thank
you now
um
um item number seven
um council member Bon Jovani
I just wanted to make a a couple of
comments about item number seven
um you know many times people talk about
I have concerns about government
spending and we're spending too much
money and I agree in many things that we
do but rarely do we hear about
um behind the scenes and some of the
heroes that we have behind the scenes
here
uh in this project they put out a RFP
initial RFP that came back at 1.3 about
1.3 million dollars and the staff said
that was way too much so they waited put
a second RFP which came back at 980 000
uh at a more than 300 000 savings
um if we would have gone with the first
RFP the contingency they'd be asking for
would be about 300 537 thousand dollars
instead of the 235 000 that they're
requesting
um from the contingency fund at a lower
rate of the second RFP so I just want to
um command Parks and Rec and purchasing
department for protecting Gilbert's
taxpayers and with that I want to put a
motion in to approve the general fund
contingency in the amount of 235 703
motioned by council member second by
council member koprowski please vote
motion passes 7-0
moving on to I thank you vice mayor
moving on to our public hearing portion
of our agenda items will be heard at one
public hearing at which
sorry excuse me yes um I believe the
motion that councilmember Bon Jovani
said was to approve subsection B the
contingency did it also include a the
approval of the contract if not could we
clarify that correct yes
would you like a second motion for item
seven for item seven a seven eight just
to clarify okay so uh bo should you
approve 7A also
I'm a motion by council member Bon
Jovani second by council member Torgeson
please vote
motion passes 7-0 thanks for that catch
catch Chris
when it's a multi-part we have to be
careful to make sure that both are
covered thank you for that moving on to
the public hearing portion of our agenda
I will go ahead and open the public
hearing we have three liquor licenses
and the ranch with a request to be
tabled
um we have the code of a code of Gilbert
potential resolution ordinance excuse me
ordinance and we have three fees would
anyone like to we have we have comment
cards for item 21 the code of Gilbert
ordinance is there anything else that
anyone would like a presentation or to
comment on or would anyone like to cover
all of these with one motion except for
the code
you'll have to turn your microphone on
um
okay items 22 23 and 24 can can we
discuss those yes I can keep those
separate that's what I was asking if you
would like to keep those separate yep
okay so then I'll if anyone would like
to I'll close the public hearing if
anyone would like to make a motion for
item 17 18 19 and 20 which would be
tabling the ranch case and the three
liquor licenses
summer a second I have a motion by vice
mayor tilkey a second by council member
Bon Giovanni please vote
motion passes 7-0
now we will move on to item number 21
I'll open the public hearing and I know
we have some residents that would like
to speak on this issue it's Dakota
Gilbert conduct a hearing and consider
adoption of an ordinance amending the
code of Gilbert Arizona by amending
chapter 62 traffic and vehicles as
stated in the agenda
um I don't think we have a presentation
on this I'd be happy with just going
right to the public comment with the
public hearing open is does that is that
good for the council
vice mayor you have the statement the
comment guards thank you mayor and I'd
just like to
um confirm that they will each have
three minutes each
um so when I call your name if you'll
come forward and state your name and
place a residence you'll have three
minutes that will show on the clock so
first up is Andrea Wolverton
followed by Shane
Andrea or okay
foreign
on for you yeah
there you go
mayor council members
I was here
oh sorry Andrea Wolverton I'm a resident
of Gilbert
I was here August 9th
the then city council or Town Council
was questioned about the light rail or
commuter rail we the citizens were told
unequivocally that the town of Gilbert
was not looking to put in a light rail
or a commuter rail even though countless
studies on such had been completed we
were assured that nothing of the sort
was being planned imagine my dismay to
hear that commuter rail was on the
calendar again for tonight just six and
a half months later
I hate being lied to
I absolutely hate it especially to my
face
I need you to do better I need you to be
better
and not lie to us
it's why nobody believed you when you
told us that it wasn't going to be on
the calendar ever in the future that it
wasn't being planned and here we are six
and a half months later talking about it
that's all
thank you Miss Wolverton we're going to
ask that we do not clap during this
presentation we want to ensure that
every speaker has the opportunity to
come forward and I believe this is Shane
is that right
yeah thank you mayor Peterson council
members my name is Shane krauser I'm a
resident of Gilbert we live over on
Greenfield and Pecos we've been here for
nearly two decades we've raised all six
of our children here in this community
and we have deep roots in this community
dating back to 1981 with our family and
I'm here to speak in support of the of
the amendment to chapter 62 which would
prohibit local funds from being utilized
to fund or maintain a commuter rail or
Light Rail and two reasons I want to
speak to just briefly number one this is
not something that the taxpayers wish to
support and if a light rail or commuter
rail were to be implemented into this
town taxpayers would in fact pay for it
and
um
I think it's important to look at other
places that are equivalent in size and
density in population to Gilbert you can
look at Philadelphia or excuse me
Pittsburgh and Cleveland we are a town
of about 70 square miles Cleveland is
about 60 square miles and Pittsburgh is
about 60 square miles
all of these places have a population of
around a quarter million to 350 000
people when you look at what goes on in
Cleveland and Pittsburgh every time
someone steps on their commuter rail or
light rail they are losing about three
dollars per passenger per ride that is
incredibly expensive my source for that
is the Hamilton project where you can
look at commuter rail and Light Rail
systems throughout the country so that
there's no question that taxpayers would
ultimately pay for this and we don't
want to pay for it and so we're asking
that you support it as step one this
ordinance to ensure that local funds or
funds will never be used to support this
number two I would ask almost
rhetorically if this is such a great
idea why not privatize it this is an
action that's being taken that's taking
place across the country you can look at
Texas you can look at Florida and you
can look at Nevada they're all taking
measures to identify whether privatizing
commuter rails and light rails actually
work you can look to Asia and see where
it's working effectively and the bond
online as we all know that in the town
of Gilbert there's no private entity
that would come into this town and
actually submit a proposal because it's
a money suck for lack of a better term
it would not make money and as a result
of it not making money taxpayers
shouldn't be on the hook for that so we
stand in support of the ordinance to
ensure that local funds are not used for
this for a commuter rail or light rail
that's what I believe the citizens want
that would be good for Gilbert and it
would allow the government to actually
step into its proper role in this
capacity thank you so much
excuse me
please
thank you Mr krauser next up is Pamela
ingermanson and then following her will
be Sherry Brown
oh thank you I apologize I'm new at this
so uh thank you
um you do not really speak but you are
in opposition thank you and I believe
Sherry the same right thank you very
much for your patience so next will be
April tornquist
and followed by Ginger Smith
April okay
okay may I ask for a point of
clarification
yes
so by supporting
this amendment
of chapter 60 62 that is to prohibit the
funding for any sort of rail system is
that correct
okay it's my understanding yes thank you
and if you'll just say your name and
please I apologize I am April Turnquist
I am a resident of Gilbert
I have been here for nearly 20 years
raised my family here
um
I will keep it brief in the interest of
time
uh
my son spent a couple of years in Canada
Quebec
and I asked him about the homes there
and he said there aren't any homes there
are just apartments and they're just
Rail lines and I thought that was really
interesting and I started doing a study
um
and uh
researching
Freedom versus not free
social um socialism versus freedom
and the places that are socialists the
people don't own their homes and they
write on public transportation
we want to live in a country that's free
thank you
thank you very much Miss torquist Ginger
Smith and following Ginger is Aaron
accurso
just state your name and place a
residence please thanks
hello my name is ginger Smith and I am a
resident of Gilbert honestly just my
biggest concern with the light rail is
the amount of crime that will be coming
through it
um I I got the opportunity to take the
light rail coming back from Sky Harbor
one day
and when I sat down my seat was wet and
I don't know
what it was wet with
um I've seen people that are
intoxicated
possibly overdosing
homeless people
everything just
I don't want that near my children we
already have a huge human trafficking
situation going on in this area we don't
need to add to the high risk of that
that's all I wanted to say
thank you Miss Smith
Aaron accurso and then Amy yentis
good evening Council mayor and Council
my name is Aaron accurso resident of
Gilbert I want to encourage the council
to approve this this new ordinance
without amendment when there was
discussed last fall there was an attempt
to amend it and water it down I we need
to keep it as it is written with with no
Amendment
you might be concerned about contracts
that the that the town has already
signed on to with regards to possible
commuter stations Commuter Rail stations
Transit stations I believe that the cost
of breaking those contracts would be
much less than the cost of the upkeep of
those potential facilities in the long
in the Long Haul and the cost
that would be to the town is not just
what is TA is tax money or public funds
those public funds are our funds
citizens funds the taxes that we pay
taxes that we pay go to the town to
support something to that is subsidized
keeps us from being able to support
something like the light uh the the
machines that we were talking about
earlier this evening I would encourage
you to
pass this amendment to make sure that
any future Council who wants to do
studies on light rail Transit stations
or or Commuter Rail stations in the town
going forward they have to actually vote
to change this ordinance back so that
they go on record and not just slide uh
public funds going into studies and then
also potentially entering into further
contracts for for this type of situation
so I do encourage we don't want
commuter rail Light Rail any of these
type of Transit stations in the town of
Gilbert and I think I'm speaking for
quite a quite a majority of our town
residents thank you for your time
thank you Mr cruso Amy yentas you're
next
mayor council for the record amientes
Gilbert resident nice to be on this side
of the diocese nice to see everybody
tonight and uh I'd be just derelict in
my responsibilities as a taxpayer
resident if I didn't show up tonight and
urge this body to pass agenda item 21. I
think it's very important that this
community is proactive when it comes to
this policy and there's a lot more of
transparent discussion to be had but one
thing is we need to we need to be honest
about whether we think this is
this is really something that could come
to the community and I think 100 percent
that we need to be truthful that the
fact that that the powers that be in the
jurisdictions involved in making these
decisions absolutely is are putting the
pieces together to have this uh line
that runs from Tucson up through Queen
Creek and Gilbert into Phoenix to
fruition it's in the governor's budget
it's only 7 million sounds like just
about enough money to throw at
Consultants to to you know grease those
Palms but
um the other aspect of that is the
federal government is offering hundreds
of millions of dollars and so we can see
these out I can see these elements
coming together this is going to be a
reality it's something that the
community is going to have to deal with
so then the question uh that you can ask
yourself is uh because I think we can
say and plan on the fact that it is
coming uh what can Gilbert do what can
Gilbert not do and those are important
questions to ask one thing Gilbert can
do is pass a proactive ordinance to make
sure that as a previous obvious speaker
said Gilbert taxpayers aren't
subsidizing this if we don't think it's
right for our community which I don't
another thing Gilbert can proactively do
is make sure that we're not building
Transit facilities that accommodate
stops and boardings within our community
for a various number of good good
reasons policy reasons but I want to
address something else which is because
it seems like the the Sands have shifted
a little bit when this conversation is
uh has moved from no this isn't
happening to yes it might be happening
but it's outside of our control so then
the question really is you know this
development agreement that was adopted
back in 2008 and I I want to make it
abundantly clear that I think this
language in in this 2008 Cooley
development agreement is is quite plain
about what Gilbert's obligation is and
Gilbert is not obligated to build a
Transit facility it is not obligated to
accommodate commuter rail in one or two
of those abilities what it's obligated
to do is use all reasonable efforts and
authority to work and plan with ASU East
Valley Cities mag Phoenix Mesa Gateway
Southern Pacific air railroad the
Arizona rail passengers Association and
related stakeholders now
I won't uh
I don't know who to cast blame I don't
know in 2008 who wrote this development
agreement but I can tell you who was
left out of this required stakeholder
group and that was taxpayers and
citizens so now is kind of the
opportunity we have to vet through this
is that my three minutes already oh gosh
yes some things are easier to go faster
when you're on that side sure it does
um urge you to to vote for this I urge
you to be proactive and um
and happy New Year everybody nice to see
you
what do you think of the new digs Amy
very fancy
thank you Miss yantes and it was very
nice to see you and mirror with that
that all of the public hearing
great thank you
um bring it back to the diocese I will
I don't know that anyone has any
questions for staff at this point so I
think I can probably close the public
hearing and bring it back to the diocese
for discussion
I'd like to open that discussion and the
fact that I agree 100 with Amy the car
and Aaron acousters so the cost of
breaking a development agreement is far
less than the cost of dealing with the
rail it's the Light Rail and commuter
area are completely separate entities
and and yes Light Rail is pretty much
dead on the vine because it stopped at
Gilbert Road and Main Street
its initial plan was to come down power
road that was proposed 20 years ago it
stopped there I'm glad it stopped there
as a person who grew up in Los Angeles
when I go back to my hometown Glendale
California
uh Amtrak has Metrolink
it's a mess
it's ugly
it brings crime
it brings homeless
it's a step up from our light rail my
business is on the light rail
I challenged a uh
salesman has said that Mesa was one of
the safest communities in the country I
challenged to walk around my building he
found a crack pipe less than 20 feet
from my front door
so it was brought
by the same person the same people that
killed the man that fixes my shoes
lamb that there he's dead
I light rail is not truly the focus the
focus is commuter rail
I believe that uh if
any aggrieved parties exist from
breaking the development agreement that
the cost would be less
I feel it's to preserve the character of
this town we must
vote Yes on this this ordinance uh to
the first lady I don't believe uh
anybody was lying by bringing this up
and I hope you understand that I'm
bringing this up to try and make sure it
doesn't happen and I don't think a lot
of people here even understood that it
was written in by somebody in 2008 and
the stakeholders weren't you and they
should have involved you so with that I
I very much am in support of this
ordinance this resolution to uh to not
fund anything Light Rail and I agree
with missientes that I don't really
think it violates the agreement anyhow
councilmember Buckley
thank you I uh I don't think that's any
secret how I feel about light rail
because I've talked about it for the
last nine months
and I agree one thousand percent with uh
Amy yentis and what she said
I do not think that Gilbert is a fit for
commuter realm or Light Rail and as Jim
said I don't think Light Rail is really
the issue right now but even if you know
we've been told that commuterol is not
coming we need to vote Yes on this and
make sure that if somehow it does get
here in the future for for us for our
children for whoever that no Town money
no Town funds will be spent on commuter
rail
and I again I'm in full support of this
and thank you
so um I want to make it perfectly clear
that if we lose this amendment tonight
it does not mean
that we're putting in light rail or
computer rail I don't want any rumors
going out that we voted you know this
didn't pass
and that means we're building it
tomorrow
um win or lose I just want you all to
know that your voice was heard and it
isn't over and um I'm not a farmer but I
live by some really beautiful horses
down the street from me I'm a city boy
and I know that uh
if a snake has a potential to bite you
you don't talk about it you find a way
to kill it and that's how I feel about
this amendment and I'm fully in support
of it
councilmember Anderson
I have a question for
um Chris
there's been discussion about this
particular ordinance addressing the the
commuter rail and Community rail
facilities this is the language of this
cover commuter rail facilities
uh mayor councilmember Anderson I've got
it up right now let me just confirm I
believe the answer is yes
the prohibition would be
commuter rail or light rail located
within your the jurisdiction of the Town
prohibit the use of um or spending and
resources
expenditure monies accounts credit
facilities Vehicles Personnel equipment
buildings or any other thing of value
for the furtherance of commuter rail or
light rail within the jurisdiction of
the town including feasibility studies
stations designs and the like
thank you what I'm concerned with and
um
thank you for the clarification on the
language I was confused about that but
the thing I'm confused with we were
talking about Good policy or bad policy
I can tell you what bad policy was
when the town of Gilbert gave up a whole
stretch of freeway Frontage years ago
and lost the opportunity that Economic
Development could have been brought to
Gilbert but we gave it up to Mesa that
was bad bad policy
and I don't know that this is bad policy
or good policy I know
Amy brought that up about whether it's
there there are policies that we should
consider when talking about putting the
station in what I'm concerned with is if
it does happen in the future even if we
don't put any money into it
that's bad policy if we let that train
go through the town with no opportunity
to gain Economic Development from it
um that's my view
so I'm confused whether or not at this
point whether or not I would support
totally Banning any any uh opportunity
to at least locate the station in the
town if that happens in the future
councilmember Kapowski
so I think the ordinance as written is a
is too strict in its terminology because
it it says that no resources including
staff time could be spent on this topic
at all and a big part of the leadership
and why we sit up here as a
representative body is to plan for our
future residents we can't plan in a
vacuum or without the full spectrum of
information and we talk a lot about
public engagement but public engagement
occurs during the planning process and
during these planning studies that's a
big part of why they're done to cut off
the discussion about the future needs
really short changes our citizens and
the voters that were elected to
represent
when we think about other types of
development that can come into town of
Gilbert where we don't have a lot of
control we think we can use examples
like schools or religious facilities or
even 5G infrastructure we don't not talk
to them
we work with them even though they can
be built anywhere in our community we
don't ignore it we work with them to
reduce negative impacts and set
standards that'll meet our community's
needs
the future requires options and I think
that it's really important that we we
may not need or want passenger rail
today or in the future but to completely
remove alternative transportation
options for our future
and to not be able to even talk to
stakeholders about
what may come up
in the future it just limits our the
potential for Gilbert as councilmember
Anderson mentioned the economic
development potential it closes the door
for opportunity Coulee station is two
miles from ASU Polytechnic campus it's a
four minute drive
the Mesa Gateway Airport is three miles
away from that area a seven minute drive
even though those are located in Mesa we
have we are a stakeholder in the airport
and the ASU Polytechnic campus is a
regional economic driver that
we I think we we need to be thinking
about as we consider this ordinance or a
revision
um So currently I don't see any tangible
benefit to Gilbert residents to limit
the conversation or to limit our
understanding of the short-term or
long-term impacts and needs of
Transportation in our town so I don't
support the ordinance as written thank
you
I'll mentioned one more thing if it came
am I allowed to sure okay cool
um
you know it's it's true we don't we
don't know the future if you'd have said
me 15 20 years ago Chuck you're going to
use your phone and get into a car with a
perfect stranger and he's going to take
you around wherever you want to go I
would have said no way so we don't know
the future and and we're not saying in
this ordinance
that we're not we're not going to
support a Transportation Center because
Lord knows what will be in the future
that could be a maybe a spot where we
have electric Chargers it could be
whatever the you know we're looking at
10 20 years ago and The Innovation from
there from here till then until then I
just know the trains are in the past
that's all I know but I'm open to the
future and I'm not saying and the
ordinance isn't saying we're going to
not
get out of the contract and not build
a center it just says we don't want
trains in that Center
you know to that point
um it's 18th century technology we're in
the 21st century
that's that same commuter station could
be an EV charging station it could be
scooters it could be whatever
but
what it has proven to be
whether it's Los Angeles whether it's
Bart
wherever it is it hasn't proven to be
positive it does nothing but lose
taxpayer dollar there's not a single
place in the country where it breaks
even
and quite simply in your own words
councilman techie
a future
council could turn this right around
they could say that we were ignorant and
we were botching it and they could just
turn it right back around because
there's such great opportunities with
commuter rail that are coming forward
and Torgeson was just such a for
suggesting this so let the the future of
Gilbert ride on the next Council that
says no torgerson's an idiot Let's uh
let's have some commuter rail then so I
I think that in order to send the proper
message to this town to the people that
count on their safety the count on their
the the character of this town that we
need to give them that assurance
and if we don't I think we're
disingenuous as to representing them I
just do
council member Anderson Just a point of
clarification that Transit Center that's
identified in Coulee station is intended
for buses for scooters for all sorts of
Transportation it's not just rail
there's lots of transportation and that
developer is depending on that
and nobody's saying not to have a
transportation center there they're just
saying no commuter there and we can have
an ordinance that says I'm an idiot
anyhow in its own separate thing if you
wish that'd be fine but I'm standing by
what I am suggesting as something to
reassure the people of this town that
the character of their town and what the
the safety they expect is intact until
the some future Council finds it to be
absolutely abhorrent that this was
written
I suggest we move forward
councilmember Buckley
well I I would like I don't know
I know that council member uh kopowski
mentioned that this says that we you
know we do we're totally taking out
commuterol and this maybe Chris this
might be something for for you but it's
my interpretation of that is right we
don't want commuter rail but the main
purpose of this is so that no Town funds
are used should that happen down the
road and um and I I am one thousand
percent I do not believe that the town
should pay any of their funds and and
and I understand
what councilman Anderson was saying but
they're you know less yet the people
bringing the commuter rail in have them
pay for that if it were to ever come but
uh I I don't read that as being never
I'm I read that as the main part of this
is to not use
really we say Town funds that's really
the residence tax funds it's the
residence taxes that they're paying and
they will go up if that were to happen
the ordinance as written currently
states that staff resources couldn't be
expended either and I think that's my
biggest concern that we wouldn't have a
seat at the table for the conversations
and although it may seem like this is
solving a problem at this point the
conversations are starting now at this
level because these transit systems if
they're ever going to even be proposed
they will take probably over seven years
to even be developed before they're
implemented but the conversation start
now at this level and I think that's why
it's important for us to be open to the
at least having a seat at the table so
we can have the conversation and have
the proper public engagement versus
shutting off all connection to these
systems completely thank you
isn't it part of the code that that
staff can participate in conversations
where it's mentioned where it's
considered but it's not a staff resource
it has to be an ancillary subject
something of that nature I think if I'm
I can't find it looking at it but it it
I believe it states that
staff time yeah it says the town shall
not spend or use its resources including
the use or expenditure of money's
accounts credit facilities Vehicles
Personnel equipment buildings or any
other thing of value to the town for
furtherance
and beneath it it says they're not
forbidden for prison for the
participating conversation as an answer
of the subject isn't it
the section shall not be construed as a
Prohibition of participation by the town
its employees or its officials in state
Regional or local planning bodies
committees or boards that may
incidentally address or conduct business
pertaining to commuter rail or light
rail that's that's like me sitting on
Valley Metro that's what that speaks to
that's not having a conversation with
another outside group about this that's
how I read this that's my position on
the Valley Metro rpta board meaning I
can be part of those discussions that
are going on but to me this still
prohibits staff from being involved in
any other discussion that might be
coming to this area that's one of the
parts that concerns me the most I think
this is a I always refer to it it's a
pool offense ordinance it's a false
sense of security
no matter what we do here in the town of
Gilbert no matter what we restrict here
in the town of Gilbert Amtrak could
use the rail that comes through the
middle of Gilbert to put a passenger
rail on that train on that track and run
that train from Buckeye to Tucson and
back again every single day so
this ordinance won't stop any of that
we can't put a tax into effect for
commuter rail or light rail which light
rail is not even an option in Gilbert
without a vote by the voters that's
state law to put a new tax in place
where so we're we're trying to govern
something that already has restrictions
on it and I'm afraid that if we pass
something we're going to work ourselves
into a corner and my concern is like
council member koprowski has stated that
we're not going to be able to plan if
that rail does come through Gilbert how
do we plan for how that's going to
affect our community
whether we want the real or not we're
not paying for it we're not offering any
dollars to it we're not offering
anything to it we still have to be able
to plan for it to potentially come
through our community that's our jobs to
plan and and make sure that this
community is safe and well run into the
future and we don't know what those
items might be if we can't have the
conversations even with Amtrak this
would say we can't have those
conversations with Amtrak we can't be
involved in those conversations and that
concerns me from a planning perspective
for the future of this community and I
do think it's going to prohibit the
discussion of Transit stations and
whatever we call those it's a
Transportation Hub let's call it that
would potentially house electric
vehicles
Uber and Lyft
electric scooters maybe a Circulator bus
from the Heritage District to Coulee
station and back again that needs a
place to be able to start and end a bus
that would then continue on to Phoenix
Mesa Gateway or ASU that needs a place
to start and end and if we can't have
those conversations about those
locations or run a study for that
station that sits on land that we own
we are tying our hands
unresponsibly for the future of this
community
in my opinion but I think we're playing
behind the football here
um
the number of times I've heard from this
dice no way are we having light rail
okay so let's put our money where our
mouth is and solidify that
and say no there will be no Light Rail
and the ordinance will say no light rail
again I'm all for the other methods
you're talking about I see nothing in
the ordinance that says we can't spend
money on that it's just specifically
talking about
Light Rail and commuter rail and I
understand the the process if if Amtrak
says we want to have commuter rail here
yeah we probably do need to fund
something to see how that would base us
economically but let's kill the light
rail because it's been spoken on this
dice a number of times I don't want to
leave
you know today knowing that it's could
still be alive somewhere why don't we
just kill it and that's a great
possibility to do I am not going to sit
and edit this ordinance from the dice
that's poor management it's poor
leadership
if we have an opportunity to take this
original ordinance back and make some
changes to it like I saw in the second
version of this ordinance I would be
much more open to that discussion
and I think there's a way to get there
it's not by voting on this this evening
it's taking this and working with it
just like we did a year ago or almost
eight months ago at the study session
and said there are pieces of this that
we are not comfortable with that I need
to look at a little bit closer and then
we came back with something that was
better and we never had the opportunity
to talk about that because we were shut
down
by a technicality
and it just never came back I think more
of us were willing to discuss that that
evening and we didn't get the
opportunity to and now we're being
forced into making a decision on this
tonight that we're not comfortable with
this is the original version that we
were not comfortable with of course we
were handed it we were sent this version
sitting at the diocese that evening too
so we didn't get a chance to even read
it ahead but I've seen past Council
meetings where we've now we have been
involved we have
changed uh ordinances or suggestions for
ordinances before uh the golf cart on
the go-kart thing was discussed on the
dice changes were made from your
audience from the dice itself that's a
planning case it's a completely
different kind of situation this is
something that we would need to Tool
into a little bit better version of this
ordinance and I would be happy to work
on that
but I'm not comfortable with it the way
that it is this evening
well again to to reiterate it doesn't
prevent the discussion of a transit
station be clear about it it limits the
ability for light or commuter rail to be
part of that discussion it does not
prevent it from being a transit station
and
it can be overturned if somebody finds
something in the future we see I mean
Amtrak is just such a money loser it's
it's an insult to anybody that ever pays
the diamond taxes
and it doesn't bring anything we want
and
I I stand on on what I'm saying it's
it's something the people of Gilbert
don't want and they certainly don't
deserve the the ugly end of it that
comes with it
I'm never one to pass an ordinance that
I don't think can be enforced or
shouldn't have been passed in the first
place I am not for more government and I
think that we are sitting here trying to
massage something into something that we
can be comfortable with and that is not
the right way to do it from this dice I
would be very happy to say let's
continue this item and to come back with
something that is much more manageable
and workable that we can come to a
consensus on
okay that's what I'm asking for right
but that being said government wrote
this agreement somebody was responsible
for inserting that language in this
agreement and when you're saying you
don't want my government to say uh we
won't do this government created the
problem
Jesus Christ I have it on
you're on mic you have your mic on
wow wow wow um
just wow and I actually it's been so
long that it actually turned off the
mute
uh sorry about that I'm just saying I'm
just saying
that we have gone eight months so far
and there is nothing wrong with taking
this version back
and working with it to come to a place
that the majority of us can feel
comfortable with I was much more
comfortable with the second version of
this that we saw and you chose not to
bring the second version you chose to
bring the original version that we all
sat at the study session and said we are
not comfortable with this version
I would be very willing to take this
version back and work with it to bring
it back to a place that I think
everybody would be comfortable with and
we can make sure that it's worded
properly
that's what I'm asking
and we don't do that from the dice
but we can also call the vote and do
that you can make a motion well yeah
well I I want I want to clarify
something before that happens uh or it
doesn't happen uh you were talking about
uh Amtrak and the rails running earlier
I just want to clarify that we
understand that I do anyway I think the
other the other people understand that
that is federal there is nothing we can
do about that and and it's Federal money
that's used but that doesn't mean that
we should spend taxpayer money to build
Transit stations stop and drop stations
and and I and I realize you're saying
that you know there can be other things
but with what follows the rails like
that Amtrak commuter rail
those stations may not even be usable
for the everyday citizen the you know
it's going to be a hangout for for
panhandlers or who knows what so I but I
wanted to clarify that I know what
Amtrak is and I and that's not what
we're talking about today and that could
come and there's nothing we can do about
that
but um I you know I just don't feel like
we should spend taxpayer funds
for Transit stations or on anything that
has to do with commuter rail or light
rail
but what you just said was on Transit
stations and I just made the point that
a transit station could be something
completely different and so that's what
I'm concerned with I want to make sure
that this is worded properly that we can
still be able to do the things that we
need to do for planning in the area
especially when we're talking the Coulee
station area we have a responsibility to
do that we do have a development
agreement in place we have a
responsibility for that and it concerns
me that we all can't decide exactly what
this means sitting here tonight I want
to be clear about what it means before I
vote on it okay can can we ask Chris
what his legal version is of that
okay
I don't mean to put you on the spot but
can we ask you
on the resolution that's that's here
um can we ask your legal opinion of that
uh council member
I guess in in with regard to what
what it actually does with regard to the
um
it's the resolution right it's an
ordinance the ordinance yeah I'm sorry I
thought I said it wrong yeah the
ordinance for light rail that in there
that specifies the main thing that we're
wanting to make sure is that no taxpayer
funds are used to or will go toward any
commuter rail or light rail should it
ever come because we don't I I don't
feel comfortable that it's maybe isn't
going to get brought up again and maybe
it won't but I'm concerned that it might
get brought up again so the the
ordinance that's there
can you give your legal opinion of
things that the mayor is asking and why
and and wanting
to have in this
is this going to stop us then I guess
what I'm asking is this is this going to
stop us
at some point in the future
um
of doing anything else is there anything
legally in there that says you will not
be able to do anything else
so councilmember with regard to this
ordinance if this was passed in its
current form as was discussed the town
couldn't spend or utilize any resources
including
um you know staff time vehicle time to
further commuter rail or light rail in
the town of Gilbert
um there's the subsection C has that
exception for uh you know you could the
town or the employees or officials
public officials could continue to
participate in state local Regional
local planning bodies as was discussed
Valley Metro mag would be another one
that we could this would not prohibit it
prohibit current participation in that
generally but if it's with regard to
anything to do specifically with a light
rail or commuter rail we would be
prohibited from doing that so that's the
effect of this ordinance it also
prohibits assessing a tax or a fee
to fund any commuter rail or light rail
or anything associated with that
I'm 100 on board with not assessing a
fee
we can't pass a tax without going to the
voters to ask for a tax so that's
already taken care of under state law
I'm concerned with the part about
and it's very specific about
having a discussion about anything with
commuter rail that will affect this
community so I want to make sure that if
Amtrak calls us tomorrow and says we
just want to tell you that
we're coming together we can at least
send an employee to have that discussion
or one of us can go and have that
discussion without it being against the
law
that's what I'm concerned with
because that opens us up for those
discussions whether we agree with them
coming or not that we have the
opportunity to have those discussions
maybe it's not Amtrak maybe it's on
board America who knows
and mayor the ordinance as as written
would prohibit that discussion under
those circumstances that's what I
thought it would it would prohibit a
council person that's not technically a
well that's not a
per se a salaried employee I guess we
are in a sense so it would prevent a
council person from speaking to them it
says we're not technically employees in
that respect they're kind of Quasi
employees you are and you're not but
what it does say is anything of value if
you're using
maybe you're not you know considered
Personnel I guess we'd have to Define
Personnel if Council wanted to exempt
themselves but if you're using a town
email or a town phone that's a town
resource and that would be prohibited in
doing that under the code is written
see this is what's going to make us a
great Council discussions open
discussions and uh
you know we can always go back and and
make it clear take some things out
massage it but I'd rather call for the
vote on this now and then make a motion
to call on the vote for it
seconded
so we have a motion by council member
Bon Giovanni seconded by council member
torges and please vote like oh could I
excuse me but
councilman antipani was your motion to
call for the question or was your motion
to approve the ordinance upgrade the
ordinance yeah that's what I thought
okay
oh this is a first wait I hit the wrong
button uh
I knew I was going to do that because I
went X for no can what can I do
well we would have to clear it and
revote
sorry
the motion fails no for
yes three
so the ordinance as it stands this
evening fails to pass but we can work on
an alternative and bring it back so that
we are more clear and we don't
hinder business for the future of the
town of Gilbert I'm disappointed that we
took it to a vote but we will move on to
our next item moving on to item number
22 fees 23 fees 24 fees open the public
hearing on all three items I don't think
we have anything anyone to speak on
those three items
I think we have some questions perhaps
council member Buckley I I do
um
all the things of what I have seen is
that there are two
um
two fees that are going to increase the
utility rates we have three here we have
number
we have number 22 23 and 24. do we have
the amounts for each one of those
staff
mayor I had asked if staff would be able
to give a presentation on the the three
items would would that satisfy
let's let's start with the short
presentation from staff then since vice
mayor tilkey had asked for that so I
think that they're prepared and then
maybe you will get your questions
answered at that point council member
Buckley okay and if not then you can ask
your questions again okay thank you
good evening mayor and Council Leah
reinheimer assistant Town manager
we will try to make this as short as
possible but there is a lot of
information to cover
so tonight's conversation is to clarify
the rate history and process share the
rates needs and recommendations and then
the council adoption of recommended
rates before we begin that conversation
we start by stating the obvious and that
is that our community loves Gilbert
97 percent of our respondents gave
positive reviews of the town as a place
to live and the overall quality of life
and that was in our most recent National
citizen survey this did not happen by
accident it was significant efforts and
significant investments in planning
funding and maintaining our
infrastructure that supports this high
quality of life and you can see that in
the 95 percent of respondents who felt
very or somewhat safe from fire flood or
natural disasters and that 86 percent of
our residents rated the quality of
utility infrastructure as excellent or
good and when we talk about utility
infrastructure we're talking about our
water sewer storm water and
environmental compliance rates
now the presentation of rates tonight
and the vital needs that the additional
Revenue will fund will help to continue
to support these high satisfaction
ratings and the expectations of our
residents
the high quality of life for which our
community is known is primarily the
result of three things vision and
strategic planning consistent and
intentional Investments by our Council
leadership over the past several decades
investments in infrastructure and
resources and also just as importantly
sound financial policies and practices
adopted by the Town Council and here's
what I mean by that
oops
the Town Council adopted a policy
statement regarding user fees the
Wastewater fund and the Environmental
Compliance fund are what we call
Enterprise funds this means that user
fees needs to be collected to recover
the entire cost of operations this also
means that as a financial practice we do
not subsidize these utilities rates are
how we fund critical storm water and
wastewater infrastructure and services
tonight's rated option is absolutely
essential to ensuring Gilbert can
continue to provide these fundamental
services to our residents
now there is a misconception that growth
is behind tonight's rate adoption
and that is inaccurate utilities are
separate Financial entities under the
Gilbert umbrella they operate
independently financially and they are
not subsidized rates cover the cost of
operations but they are not used for
expanding the system to accommodate new
users or growth that is where our system
development fee are also known as impact
fees come into play
an additional policy statement that is
critical to Gilbert's Financial
stewardship is this policy regarding our
minimum unrestricted fund balance
fund balance is an important indicator
of Gilbert's financial position
maintaining reserves is considered
prudent management practice what's most
important about this slide is that
adequate fund balances are maintained to
allow Gilbert to continue providing
services to the community in case of
unexpected emergencies or or
requirements and or economic downturns
maintaining a minimum fund balance is
essential
so follow the following these key
policies is a key part of the reason
that Gilbert is rated AAA on our bonds
there are less than 50 communities in
the country that are rated AAA and
Gilbert is one of them this Elite rating
enables Gilbert to secure the best
interest rates when bonding and if we
stop following our adopted policies or
take actions that indicate we may have
difficulty repaying our bonds that could
impact our ratings and also the interest
that we may pay on future Bond issuances
so with the town's Financial policies in
mind this evening's actions pertains to
utility rates and generally speaking the
town has four utility rates water trash
and recycling which we refer to as
Environmental Services Wastewater and
environmental compliance which
encompasses our storm water management
and air pollution Etc
now depending on their needs the utility
bill that our customers receive will
have any between two and four of these
utility rates bundled on their bill
there is some confusion as to if Gilbert
just raised rates last year in the
spring of 2022 Council raised the water
and trash rates while leaving the
Wastewater and environmental compliance
rates untouched this year council is
asked to raise the Wastewater and
environmental compliance rates while
leaving the water and trash rates
untouched
this pattern is expected to continue to
be continued each year alternating the
review of these two utilities each cycle
why is this important
this allows for the impacts on the
customer our residents to be spread out
rather than large changes in one year
and none the next previously as you can
see from this diagram Gilbert went for
many years without raising rates and in
fact lowered rates in one area this has
contributed to the situation we are in
today
the need the rate increases that are
needed are now perceived to be even more
pronounced because of the previous
inaction
and unfortunately the last two rate
Cycles have left the town without many
auctions however the goal is that once
we make these tough but mandatory
Corrections and catch up with the market
forces that have been impacting These
funds the two-year cycle will eventually
lead us to more flexibility for how and
when to enact future rate increases in
the meantime at our present moment we
have to deal with what the historically
minor and infrequent changes have
occurred so that we can keep these
Services running at the level that our
residents expect
now in a moment Eric Brown is going to
walk through the business case and data
behind the rate adoption before you
tonight while that information is being
shared we know that top of mind for many
of you and many of our residents is
where does Gilbert stand in term of our
overall cost of service
so Gilbert has historically been one of
the very lowest in the region and we
know this ranking is important we also
know that it is a top priority for the
council and for our community that
Gilbert has and continues to maintain
quality infrastructure
I've often said there is a difference
between being Frugal and being cheap the
team strives every day for the former
and that is to operate at the lowest
possible cost without compromising the
integrity and the quality of the
infrastructure that serves our community
we know that if we do not adequately
fund the infrastructure the long-term
costs will be exponentially higher and
potentially disastrous for our community
understanding there is some anxiety
about adopting new rates this is a sneak
peek of what is proposed for adoption
the team will get will go more in depth
into this in later slides but the good
news is that despite the fact that we
must make these Investments we still
will offer one of the lowest costs of
service
of the communities in the valley
now why is reinvesting in infrastructure
so important we might all be familiar
with the current crisis in Jackson
Mississippi
computer was dying so that that's for
eign
we all might be familiar with the
current crisis in Jackson Mississippi
but as a reminder that water system has
actually been failing for many years
the less familiar part of the story is
how they got to where they are today it
was due to many years of skipped
reinvestment into the utility to keep it
in good working condition in the favor
of keeping rates low
the long-term cost is now come due and
their Community is suffering from that
our city of the future initiative is
meant to avoid exactly this scenario
The Establishment and continual funding
and use of operating and r r funds for
our utilities is a key component to our
long-term strategy there is the
potential that in our annual budget
adoption and revenue discussions to miss
the point of what we're actually tasked
with doing and that is to provide these
basic services to our community in
perpetuity at the high level that our
residents and businesses have come to
expect
with that Eric will walk through the
data behind the rate proposal
so as we talk about what these utilities
are it's not always common to understand
what goes into operating Environmental
Compliance fund our stormwater
infrastructure is vast and spread
throughout the entire Community often
right in front of our eyes we don't even
understand that that is what you're
looking at these beautiful retention
basins that we have in our community
double as storm water infrastructure
we've got pump stations throughout the
community two channels that convey water
through the community as well as two
Regional conveyance systems of washes
over 400 000 linear feet of storm pipe
all the way up to 10 foot in diameter
and 53 underground storage tanks that
our team
of four people total
operate and maintain
our Wastewater system is even larger
we've got 22 000 manholes that we use to
access our gravity sewer the 912 miles
of gravity sewer 30 miles of Force main
16 lift stations to pump that Wastewater
to our two wastewater treatment plants
once we have treated and purified that
water we deliver it through our
reclaimed water system to 65 reclaimed
water customers
and four recharge facilities that we own
and operate in Gilbert
all of those assets cost over 500
million dollars for us to install over
the last 40 years replacement of those
assets is a multiplier effect of that
500 million dollars so we have to have
good replacement fund on hand in order
to fund the the replacement of those of
those assets
prior to the the creation of our storm
water management team there was very
minimal maintenance done on our
stormwater infrastructure and you can
see the impacts of that clogged storm
water conveyance systems dry Wells that
do not work leading to to storm water
flooding in our community
now our team has gotten a better handle
of this and they actively go out and
maintain clean this infrastructure and
repair and replace it as it wears out
this is important not just for the
Aesthetics of our community but for our
own emergency response and for the
Commerce within Gilbert
the rate revenue
from these these increased rates are
intended to support critical projects to
enhance the these utilities
um shanoki wash is one of those Regional
water conveyances through Gilbert and
you can see standing water in that photo
of sanoki wash because over time the
banks have eroded and have we've
developed these low spots where the
water collects it's not just an
aesthetic issue it leads to health
concerns because of mosquitoes midge
Flies and other issues the sunoki wash
reconstruction project is planned for
fiscal year 29. that's how far into the
future we have looked on this with this
rate plan Council gave us the direction
to cash fund that project and so these
rates are intended to save up the
dollars over a a five-year period in
order for us to pay for that project
that project by the way we identified in
2014 as needed to be done so it will
have been 15 years by the time we
identified it to the time we were able
to pay for that project
of course the riparian preserve a
Beloved Community amenity it's not just
a beautiful Park it's also a water
resource
it is the the main area in Gilbert where
we recharge our reclaimed water that
comes out of our wastewater treatment
plant
the purple stripes that you see coming
out of the middle of The riparian
Preserve are the pipelines that we use
to to deliver the reclaimed water
throughout that facility it is
undersized meaning that we are not make
maximizing the water resource or the
land resource so we identified a project
in 2012 that we needed to expand the
distribution system at that facility it
has been continually put on hold due to
budget constraints
one last project I would describe for
you this is described as an odor control
project which seems purely aesthetical
however odors that are caused in our
sewer are from a highly corrosive gas
that eats away literally the inside of
our pipelines this one Odor Control
project is planned for the Guadalupe at
the Eastern Canal to dose chemicals into
the sewer to eliminate the that gas that
is both an odor as well as a corrosive
nature for our pipelines
you all are well aware of the pipeline
that runs along the western Canal the 36
inch pipeline that conveys three million
gallons of Wastewater per day through
the heart of downtown Gilbert if you've
ever been along the western Canal you're
probably aware of the odors as well so
this is a problem that we've identified
the rate Revenue would go
originally was planned to go to funding
this project for construction next year
the Environmental Compliance fund
um
all of the all of the the financial
policies are displayed essentially on on
this graph the horizontal line that you
see the black line is the the minimum
fund balance as calculated through the
the council Financial policy and the
orange bars are what happened with the
Environmental Compliance fund balance if
we go forward as with the current rates
in place and you can see that in fiscal
year 24 we are in a negative situation
immediately
um the yellow bars show what happened
with that fund balance under the
proposed rates and normally we would not
show a seven-year financial plan but for
the fact that we are saving up money for
projects in the sixth and the seventh
year of that financial plan so you see
the the balance Rises until fiscal 27
when we start to to do two large capital
projects the highway and then the sunoki
wash restoration now this is a long-term
financial plan but we will revisit this
as Leah mentioned earlier we'll revisit
this in two years as we get better
resolution on the cost of those projects
as well as what is happening with the
market forces affecting us so as we get
closer we'll be able to fine-tune as
needed so make sure that we don't over
collect or under collect in order to be
able to do these projects in a
timely manner
all of that is wrapped up into the in
the bottom line for our customers they
currently pay four dollars and 28 cents
per month
um and that that Environmental
Compliance fee is uh requested to to
rise by 2.51 to 6.79 Total it's a flat
fee residential non-residential alike
all pay the same amount
something has happened over the last
several months or year nearly since we
came to Council in the spring and um
Council gave us direction to develop
these rates
three things in fact that have affected
our ability even under the proposed
rates to execute the projects that I
just described
the first is operational cost increases
just like your household has seen
considerable inflation over the last 18
months our utilities have faced those
same pressures
costs of chemicals and materials have
skyrocketed in some cases
if you're a pool owner you probably have
felt something similar that bucket of
chlorine that used to cost seventy five
dollars now costs 75 or 225 dollars
we use chlorine in spades that is one
example of some of our costs have
skyrocketed I'll get into a little bit
more detail on some following slides
the same pressure your household faces
were facing
the construction Market has had extreme
volatility in it
this is of course an important part of
what we do is constructing and
reconstruction constructing our
infrastructure and so that has affected
our costs to operate our utilities
and then the last thing is um every five
years we do an integrated Water
Resources Master Plan update which helps
us guide our next 5 to 15 years of
future projects in those utilities we've
completed that update since the
springtime and it identified numerous
projects that are
are needed urgently for us to be able to
meet some deficiencies within our
utilities
so as we look a little bit closer at
those three items that are affecting the
Wastewater utility in particular
um
the cost of inflation
when you and I
receive a higher a higher gas bill we
make different choices about what we do
in our lives what vehicle we drive how
far we go on vacation
a utility cannot do that
our utility is facing the same pressures
we don't stop applying Pest Control to
our manholes
just because it costs twice as much we
foot the bill because that's what our
customers expect they don't want the
roaches the sewer roaches so we continue
to do that when we build a project we
don't use a cheaper incorrect backfill
material because if we do 50 years of
problems follow us
all of this is kind of summarized in the
cost
um the costs rising in every single area
of our Wastewater utility eight months
into the fiscal year you can see that
the cost of operating in all of those
areas have increased and some of them
quite dramatically that pattern of the
gray bar to the yellow bar
is going to continue upwards in fy24
with a similar size year-over-year
increase expected those are eating away
at the potential new rate Revenue
construction Market volunteer volatility
as I mentioned earlier construction and
repair repair and replacement is a big
part of what we do
there's a lot of individual Commodities
that are shown here some of them are
much more impactful to particular
projects than others so if we take a
look at the average of all of these
indices you can see a 55 percent
increase over the last three years
now our Capital Improvements team
does project updates every single year
for us
they typically use a four percent cost
inflation escalator in our capital
projects
last year they started to see the
beginning of this graph and they used 12
and a half percent which was
extreme
costs have risen by more than four times
what we have expected in that time
period
so clearly our best guess was not
sufficient enough
what does that actually translate to in
real dollars well this graph shows that
the capital projects that are planned
for fiscal year 24. on the left hand
side we show the budget for those
projects in FY 23 and on the right hand
side you see the new revised budget of
those same exact projects they have
risen by 14 million dollars
the riparian project is the one that is
in the hatch marks there that's what I
described earlier that was pegged as a
three million dollar project and today
is is is priced at nine million dollars
the rate revenue from this rate increase
a new rate revenue is 13 million dollars
we can't even pay for these projects
with this rate Revenue
this is all in the in the in terms just
to show what is happening to us that are
outside of our control
the last thing is the master plan
um
we have identified nine new projects
that are of immediate need
to the tune of eight million dollars for
fiscal year 24. that's on top of the 14
million dollar cost escalation so if
you're keeping track that's 22 million
dollars in capital alone
plus operational costs chemicals
reconstruction of facilities
so these rate Revenue that we are asking
for you to approve tonight is not
sufficient for us to do what we had what
we had planned to do however it is still
the step we need to take
we will review these rates again in phys
um in the in the two-year cycle in the
meantime
our operations team will make the budget
work
the way that they will do that is that
they will push off these projects that
will mean
that we're going to delay those
corrosion and Odor Control projects
the reclaimed water reuse projects
and the repair and replacement of those
aging components of the Neely wastewater
treatment plant
that's going to heighten our risk for
operational resiliency for our community
but it's the next step we have to take
so what does that mean to our customers
well our residents pay a flat fee of
24.73 per month and Eight dollar and two
cent increase will mean that that will
rise to 32.75 per month
our non-residential customers
um have a slightly different rate
structure they have a base fee that's a
flat fee and then they have a uh a flow
rate based on actual water usage inside
their their business so those rates will
adjust based on their actual water use
a reclaimed customers are also funded
outside or through the Wastewater fund
which is what this is the that kind of
third utility that you see as the motion
um we just separate that on the on on
the Motions for clarity's sake and for
um uh the best administration of those
resolutions our direct water use
customers on the reclaim side those are
our HOAs and our parks and our golf
courses
their rate would rise by 14 cents per
thousand gallons of water use which does
seem very small but when you consider
that those customers use upwards of a
million gallons per month that leads to
a large dollar amount and so for seeing
that we gave them as much notice as
possible we alerted those customers by
letter in May of the likelihood of a
rate increase of this size so that they
could build that into their planning
numbers
um a question that has come up is what
is where are we in cost comparison to
other communities that offer reclaimed
water service and there's two in the
neighborhood that also offer reclaimed
water service so if you compared our 54
Cent per thousand gallon rate for our
reclaimed customers
um Chandler's rate is 75 cents per
thousand gallons and Macy's is two
dollars and forty cents so we're very
cost competitive in that rate
again we don't strive to be the cheapest
we strive to be the best value and one
thing that we can say is that Gilbert
does an immense job at planning and
preparing for the future and not leading
ourselves down that path that Leah
described that the the utility in
Mississippi faced many years ago
um as a reminder this is where we stand
today the council consideration and
Adoption of these rates we started this
discussion back in March we've been very
open with this discussion with the
community posting all of our discussion
topics on our website all the videos all
of the information as well as the rate
study and the data that supports these
rates
one thing I just want to uh to to
reiterate is
um
we have to think about the desired level
of service that our community wants and
expects from us
we oftentimes get detached from that
when we talk about the budget numbers
what we have presented before you
was a plan to meet the desired level of
service from our community
the long-term funding of that plan is
essential to maintaining that foundation
for our economy and for our way of life
in Gilbert
with that I hope we answered a lot of
the questions that were already at your
fingertips but if you have anything else
please shoot very
cautiously
be nice to Eric is what he's saying
councilmember Buckley
thank you so much for that and um and I
will have to say I want the residents to
know that I had
an incredible tour of the Wastewater
facility and so my eyes were very open
and I I am and and I thank you for this
presentation because I it's not not only
reinforced what most of what I already
knew but I'm glad the residents had a
chance to to hear this and see what this
is but my question actually was
you're gonna love this no they're
they're and I don't know it's on the
agenda there are three fees here and we
discussed two of them so I'm not sure
what the third one is you know if we're
gonna vote on this and and and I agree
we it is a must that we keep our
infrastructure up and yeah and the and
even though it's Wastewater
infrastructure it's almost more critical
um than a lot of the other ones but so
what are the three fees because you did
discuss two of them the the 251 increase
and the 526. yeah uh mayor Peterson uh
councilmember Buckley um so the the
three fees the first one
um the Environmental Compliance fee
that's um encompasses the storm water
infrastructure that's the 2.51 increase
um the Wastewater fee is
um for a resident would be the eight
dollars and two cents uh per month
increase okay the 2.51 251 and eight
dollars
um and two cents
um the Wastewater fund also has within
it the reclaimed water
um utility that we only have 65
customers in that and that is the third
one
um that you see on the agenda is the
reclaimed water rates those are
contained within the Wastewater fund but
for the purpose of the resolution
we separate that out okay and so there's
not a third fee it's Incorporated with
the other one right okay okay and that's
I just wanted to know what the third fee
was yeah absolutely sure but thank you
thank you both so much
oh vice mayor tilkey I thought that was
the easiest way thank you mayor um Leah
and
um Aaron and the whole team I just want
to say thank you for this presentation
and I know it's late this evening but I
thought it was really important for
residents to understand what we go
through when we are not only providing
the service it really opens a lot of
people's eyes you don't think about it
when you turn the water on what happens
you know or when it rains but
um
that
what we do to keep the the the cost as
low as we can but the highest quality of
service and congratulations to you and
your team on um on doing that I know
we're going to have some harder
discussions as we move forward
um because of inflation and other things
like that but as as our community ages
and when you look at
the invisible aging to a community it's
underground and it is those these types
of infrastructure
um
items
they only last so long and we've all you
know you don't think 25 40 years is old
but it is for infrastructure and I I
appreciate that you are keeping an eye
on that and even when you have to bring
us the bad news but um I know you're
you're doing your best and keeping those
costs as low as possible and I want to
thank you
council member Bon Jovani yeah um me and
Eric of course you know no one wants to
pay more for services but at the same
time they don't want problems with their
services as you pointed out
um I want to congratulate both of you
and your team for really depicting
Gilbert's mission statement you know
anticipate create and help you
anticipated a problem
you created a solution for it although
it may not be a positive solution for
everybody and you did it to help
citizens
and I also went on that
Whirlwind tour of all these plants and I
was absolutely amazed at what I saw and
what pointed out to me the most was the
massive
uh infrastructure that we have cost
money to run and be a plus in Services
um so with that said I want to
congratulate you guys for for fighting
this problem out anticipating it and
finding a solution and helping citizens
with that
council member torrison
yeah I probably I just wanted to
recognize exactly how hard you do work
on that your entire team there I am
easily the most fiscally conservative
person up here and I have to recognize
that there's really there's no good
choice you have to go forward
um
and I wanted to say to Scott and former
councilwoman Linda Abbott were so
instrumental in the riparian
that uh to see it actually generate
something for the for the bottom line
you know is it's fantastic to see it
coming back in and uh you guys have
accomplished something to to me is
stunning and we still get water at a
rate and trash and bulk trash and other
things so you said the best service and
I believe by the time other
municipalities have done what you're
doing we will probably be the lowest
again and the best value so I just
you know your luck prepares the your
luck favors the prepared and uh I just
wanted to recognize that because it's
I'm not the warm and fuzzy guy up here
so I just wanted to recognize that
thanks
I'm shocked
um we have to have some laughs we do
some pretty serious work we have to have
some laughs I don't see any other
microphones turned on I'm going to say
um boy you know to have that crystal
ball right we had the opportunity back
in 2018 to lower our our rates we didn't
get any credit for that I didn't have
people storming in to say thank you for
lowering our costs and then who knew we
were going to face a pandemic and what
has happened through that pandemic and
what we're seeing within our country
with costs I mean Eric you put up Eric
eggs and tires and I was out
four-wheeling this weekend and tires was
a top topic that we talked about a lot
this weekend and um because they buy a
lot of tires let me tell you and they're
expensive and to to know that my husband
just bought tires I think a year and a
half ago or two years and they were 125
dollars and the same exact tire is going
for 250 right now so they've literally
doubled in price and nothing special
about them they're the same exact tires
they were a year and a half ago so we're
we're seeing those costs everywhere in
our lives and you know
we live in this community we have to
take these costs on ourselves anything
that we choose to do here on the dice
affects all of us here on the dice
because we're residents and we take it
very very seriously and we have changed
our policy as Council to make sure we
come back and review these more often so
that we don't find ourselves into in a
situation so that we can be more
prepared we look at these timelines and
and I look out to you know 2026 and 2028
and 2029 and I think
boy that seems so far away but it'll be
here like that because it was just 2018
in my mind right
um so I appreciate all of the work that
you go through and the costs that we pay
for services in Gilbert we might not be
the lowest number on that board but
we're providing more services to our
residents than the other cities and
towns around us so I hope everybody
realizes what we do with bulk trash and
the other options that you have here is
a Gilbert resident that's what you're
paying the lowest amount for more
services so I appreciate the new council
members um going on the tours of these
facilities and seeing the infrastructure
and the work that goes into running this
town on a daily basis I don't think
anybody that's sitting in the seats
thinks that this is happening it just
happens you turn your faucet on and
water comes out right but it's a big
process and there's a lot of people
behind it and a lot of cost that goes
into it and like vice mayor said you
don't think that 30 year old or 40 year
old infrastructure is old but boy it
ages quickly and a lot of it was built
all at the same time because of how our
community has grown so I appreciate
everything that you do great
conversation great discussion great
comments back to our team would anybody
like to close the public hearing I think
I didn't I don't think I did that close
the public hearing bring it back to the
dice if anybody would want to attempt
three separate motions please let's be
clear on 22 23 and 24.
anyone oh I see council member
Anderson's microphone on that's very
helpful I should say if you turn your
microphone on I know you want to talk
uh let's see item 22 I make a motion to
adopt a resolution establishing
increased Wastewater rates and fees
effective with Billings generated after
April 1st 2023. I have a motion by
councilmember Anderson
second by council member karprowski
please vote
motion passes 7-0 item 23
you want to keep going you want me to
keep going sure
I'll move adoption of a resolution
establish an increased reclaimed water
rates and fees effective with Billings
generated after April 1st 2023.
motion by councilmember Anderson
secondary council member please vote
I saw the microphone on
motion passes 7-0 one more councilmember
Anderson move approval of a resolution
establishing increased Environmental
Compliance fees affected with Billings
generated after April 1st 2023.
second motion by councilmember Anderson
seconded by council member koprowski
please vote
motion passes seven zero thank you all
moving on to administrative items item
number 25 Council Administration a
presentation of the annual audited
Financial reports for the fiscal year
ended June 30th 2022 and I believe I see
Hawken coming his way yep making his way
to the podium and be considered adoption
of a resolution confirming compliance
with Arizona rebuy statutes in
accordance with other Arizona reside
statutes I'm not going to read them all
turn your mic on Hawkins thank you thank
you mayor council uh yes please don't
feel like you have to read all of that
but we do appreciate you taking the time
to to understand and see what the uh
comprehensive annual Financial audit and
report look like uh we will be very
quick here it's been a long day already
we're just so proud of of our team in
Finance and Accounting and the work that
they do to make sure that we are
tracking everything
thousands and thousands of transactions
that we reconcile we make sure they're
processed correctly we put all that
together and then we have third party
Auditors come out and take a look and
see what what uh and test it and so
we're really proud of those results we
have our auditor also online to provide
a few comments
so again I won't get into this we're
super proud of our accounting uh we we
keep track of internal controls we
record everything we made sure we're in
compliance
um
we provide and and build uh the annual
financial report
that is
our budget document helps us plan and
prepare this is the document that shows
what actually happened and this is
what's also relied on really as a pair
document that are when we issue bonds
those investors look at this this is
another ability for transparency in
government
we take like I said literally hundreds
of thousands of records and we provide a
very concise report that that has a
tremendous amount of a very valuable
information also might help you fall
asleep at night if you're having
struggles in that area
um
really to the meat of it once again
we're able to announce that we have a
clean audit opinion which is our
expectation nothing less but it still
takes a tremendous amount of effort to
achieve that we also have no material
weaknesses which means that our Auditors
have reviewed our internal controls and
found that they are in the proper order
and that we're maintaining those
controls effectively and and then we
have reliable financial data
this was announced the council several a
month ago maybe is when we found out
about this award it is the highest award
for transparency in financial reporting
for accountants and we have received it
31 years in a row which is not it feels
mundane it is not and this really shows
we go above and beyond the minimum
requirements again in that name of
transparency making sure we're very
clear with the data and how it's
presented
um
and that's all that I have like I said
short and sweet super proud of our
accounting team Tanya Wright is our
manager Nick baldelli and Anthony St
George our our key members there too uh
but I will turn the time now to our
auditor who is online and I'll help
click through some slides uh just a few
quick slides there
thanks hockey uh good evening mayor and
members of the council thanks for having
me tonight to present the results of the
town's fiscal year 2022 financial
statement audit
um to begin I'd just like to give a
brief overview of the scope of our audit
there's really two main areas of focus
during the audit the first of which is
to apply on the financial statements
which are presented in that annual
comprehensive financial report or act
for that Hawking pointed out
um and it as the town's independent
Auditors our roles can to to conduct the
audit of those financial statements in
accordance with both generally accepted
auditing standards and government
auditing standards and then the issue
our Auditor's report which could be
found on page 11 of that act for in
addition the town is required to undergo
a uniform guidance audit due to the
amount of federal funding that is
receives
um during that portion of the audit we
are reviewing the town's compliance with
federal guidelines and compliance
requirements over its major federal
programs and then we issue our results
in the single audit report
so uh moving on to the results of the
audit we have as Hawking mentioned
issued an unmodified opinion on the
financial statements which means we
believe that they are materially correct
and free from misstatement we did not
identify any material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies in the town's
internal controls over financial
reporting and this is discussed on page
one of that single audit report
in addition we did not identify any
material weaknesses or significant
deficiencies in the town's compliance
with requirements over its major federal
programs which is also discussed in
single audit reports started on page
three
um and last we had no other audit
findings which would require us to issue
a management letter
few final items to note uh during the
course of the audit there were no
disagreements with management over
accounting reporting or audit manager
matters and as usual everyone we worked
with is very cooperative and helpful and
no timer we ever denied access to
information or records requested for the
audit
and at the conclusion of the audit we
received the required representations
for management that can be found a copy
that can be found in the communication
governance letter which I believe has
been distributed to the council
um and then also I'd like to point out
that as the as the town's auditors
there are a number of ethical
requirements we have to comply with one
of which is the continued assessment of
our relationship with the town to
maintain Independence
um and I'd also like to point you to the
communication and governance letter for
further details regarding our
independence
and with that uh I'll open it up to any
questions but before I do I just want to
offer a pet on the back to the finance
department on their clean audit and the
issuance of that high quality act for as
you can all see it's a very large
document and I know a lot of hard work
goes in preparing that so Kudos the hawk
and Tanya and the rest of the team
foreign
thank you Jim and yes Kudos Hawking to
your you and your team I think Tanya's
out right now but I bet she's watching
no matter what she because I know I know
Tanya yes and thank you to your whole
team for all you do in 31 years is just
phenomenal
any um comments or questions for Jim or
for Hawkins yes vice mayor thank you
mayor um I just wanna
also congratulate you and the team
this is a big deal anybody who's ever
gone through an audit it is very
extensive and to not have any findings
is really extraordinary and so I just
want to make sure we don't pass by
without expressing that that's really a
big deal for our community and thank you
for that and if there's no other
comments I'll make a motion to
um the adoption of the resolution
confirming compliance with Arizona State
statutes
I'll second I have a motion by vice
mayor tilkey seconded by council member
Bon Giovanni please vote
by the time I looked up people had
already voted you guys are fast
and that passes 7-0 thank you thanks
Hawkin now we will move on to item
number 26 on our agenda Council
Administration item discussion on
Ocotillo Road widening and 110 foot
right-of-way subject we have I think
three
flips from folks that would like to
speak Council would you like to let the
public go ahead and speak first before
we have a discussion
okay
vice mayor thank you thank you Marin
before we begin I want to confirm that
it is three minutes per person
okay wonderful so when I call your name
please come forward and state your name
and place a residence we will start with
Rich Robertson
to be followed by Terry Natty
and you'll want to turn your mic on
all set thank you mayor vice mayor and
vice marijuana I congratulate you on the
council committee subcommittee on
Communications
that certainly is an important issue and
and it's important because I I really
hope it's sincere uh because in our
experience that really hasn't been
happening uh in with the Ocotillo
project and others that I've heard
complaints about up here so I'm hoping
that that that produces some results
that you follow
um ironically
with that uh we recently became aware of
a document that was circulated among
Town Staff last September
we just now found out about this and
this document scores all of the
residents along Ocotillo Road
on a scale of one to four based on vocal
level
a scale of one to four misses this
document has a field in it called vocal
level in which they decide a scale of
one is the most vocal Terry Natty is the
number one along with a few others I'm a
number two and according to the notes
it's because I've been addressing the
council and written letters
a four on this list
this is a staff document a four on this
list are people who are considered to be
reasonable
the town of Gilbert has created
effectively an enemies list
why are we as residents who are trying
to exercise our rights are being ranked
by your staff
to on how compliant we are with you
this is
I suspect is not how the council really
wants its residents to be treated I
think it's it's outrageous
but I also want to be reasonable
I would like to be at least a three on
that list
last year the council told the staff to
look at other design options other than
65 feet the 130 foot option but there
was no instruction to involve the
residents instead all of it was done
behind closed doors and the results were
printed presented to the council behind
closed doors
so not surprisingly the result was that
the staff got what it wanted regardless
of what the neighborhood wanted
the staff says 65 feet is the desired
option
from an engineering standpoint but I
believe 55 feet is a viable option
even if it's less desirable
55 feet is certainly more desirable to
those of us who are facing bulldozers no
matter what the extent of that is
I'm hoping that there will be some
successful motion tonight to reevaluate
this project but this time with guidance
that the staff engage in some meaningful
and respectful involvement of the
residents that are affected
by the end of this I hope to eventually
become a four on my report card
thank you thank you Mr Robertson next is
Terry Natty and following Terry will be
Stephanie Robertson
I'm not as tall as he is
good evening my name is Terry Natty and
I live in the Gilbert planning area in a
county Island I am so thankful to be up
here talking to you real time about this
project thank you thank you thank you
thank you
um I
took a lot of time and I put together a
document based on the slides that you
were given back in I think August by
staff
and I I countered every single slide
almost some of them were like
fluffy
um and I really wanted to give you guys
a little more time to look at it but we
were close yesterday so you got them
this morning I really hope you've had a
chance to look at them
um you should have gotten a vanilla
envelope each one of you with this
so
I know
what staff wants
it's very obvious what staff wants
but if it couldn't be done at 55 feet
they wouldn't have shown you that it
could be done at 55 feet
just because they don't want it to be
done at 55 feet
doesn't mean it can't be done
I listened to Lee reinheimer say that
something was absolutely essential
with the Wastewater
and I agree I'll pay those fees I want
my water to come on I want my toilet to
flush
um but just because they think it's
absolutely essential
doesn't mean it's absolutely essential
to everyone
so I really urge you
to take a look at the document that I
spent a lot of time on I put my heart
and my soul and my emotions into this
and
there are parts of it that are not kind
but it's my truth
and I hope you'll understand that it's
my truth
okay
I'm pretty much out I have a minute left
I have a lot to say a minute won't cover
it
I would love to speak with you guys I
would love to be involved in the
planning process I know you can't speak
with me one-on-one and I I respect that
I understand it
but it's not just me if there's a whole
bunch of citizens
there's a whole bunch of people that are
affected with bulldozers and and we just
we want to keep our Slice of Heaven as
big as we can
you know we when I bought the property
in 1997
I didn't even know it was in the Gilbert
planning area I had a Chandler address
and this has all been quite shocking and
an eye-opening for me the people that
bought before I did
they they weren't planning on any of
this happening nobody saw a bridge going
over Ocotillo that was Farmland is
always going to be that way
so thank you
thank you Miss Natty next up is
Stephanie Robertson
I'm going to be fairly quick I live with
Rich we live on Ocotillo one of the
things that is so frustrating to me is
the lack of transparency
that we have had to deal with this has
been going on for oh since last summer
and we've been given different deadlines
we've been giving different things that
were going to be done
one person will tell us some one thing
the next one will tell us something else
we've had meetings set up with different
people who tell us different things we
had an appraiser out in January who said
there would be an appraisal in two weeks
I think it's sometime in the end of
February we still haven't heard nor have
most of us
the problem is there are not just three
people here who are grousing we are the
ones who have continued to come to try
and get some resolution to try and be
reasonable about this we understand how
government works both my husband and I
have worked in newspapers we know how
this stuff works
you guys are not doing what you should
be doing you are not being honest your
staff is not being honest I'm not sure
that you have given them instructions to
not be honest
that's the effect that we are dealing
with so when people come out and talk to
us
Lord knows what's really going to happen
or what they're really talking about or
what's really going to happen to us
it's so frustrating I wish that you
would come and talk to us and see what
we're dealing with we don't want to be
obstructionist
we just want to be treated fairly
unrespectfully which is what we have
been trying to do with you
and to find out that we have been
assigned numbers because we're trying to
use our rights to come and talk to you
and find out what's going on is beyond
offensive
we're not treating you that way
it's offensive you're treating us that
way
thank you Miss Robertson mayor that is
all of the request to speak
thank you vice mayor um bring it back to
the dice for any comments discussion
councilmember Bon Jovani
um
I'm normally a happy guy
as a matter of fact a council member
Torgeson collects a dollar every time I
say a bad joke
we'll probably give to charity about 10
10 grand by the end of the year
I'm not happy tonight
and um
we need to do a better job communicating
speaking to my neighbors on Ocotillo
um you've spoken passionately over those
man last year
about your concerns and and I'm proud of
your your Civic Unity of Hope
well why I'm not happy is that um this
project was voted on in January of 22.
and I personally found out today
that we have an ordinance
that states that any reconciliation of a
vote must occur
by the next town council meeting
um unfortunately because of that
ordinance
we're kind of powerless over any kind of
vote to make staff look at any kind of
potential changes
not happy about it and I wish we would
have communicated it to you guys earlier
but we just found out
councilmember Torgeson
he's so powerless
um
I am the only person up here that's ever
faced eminent domain and I don't like it
uh if you go down Higley Road our
property out that's on Higley you can
see where the sole reason there's a
visibility triangle on Higley near
Fairview
uh oddly enough we owned half of Higley
we found out during the process
um
I feel powerless I feel horrible
um
ah
half of me wants to cry
because it's wrong in my eyes and I have
sat and been given improper information
also
I actually got very upset about it in
our executive session
I was told something so specific that I
was able to do a math equation in my
head in seconds uh to just and oh that
wasn't said I don't even know what to
say
um
I won't stop fighting for the Fourth
Amendment although someone in our
meeting called it the fifth
um
because
it doesn't matter if you're a county
Island resident or a Gilbert resident
you're you're a neighbor
and we should be respecting your
property we should never be grading you
on how compliant you are
these are things that I I abort this is
exactly what I don't like in government
that's exactly why I'm sitting here
I respect your property I respect your
person I respect your opinion I hear you
I think I obviously appear you hear you
I am just absolutely flabbergasted that
I'm sitting here
as a stooge unable to help you
and I'm sorry
I really am
and uh
if I can do anything to help I will but
I don't know what I'm able to do at this
point and uh
sorry
councilmember Buckley
well as many of you know I followed
uh torges has gotten me emotional and I
get emotional easy
but I followed the Ocotillo widening
from uh probably when it started I was
in my campaign and I came to all of your
you know all of your
um
meetings and I was even there when I
think someone from the
the staff was showing I believe it was
maybe Noah was doing a presentation and
um
and and I'm I feel just like the other
two do I wanted so badly for this to
work out for you guys and and was hoping
that we could maybe get another person
to to
to see
what you guys are doing and to try and
and get this to work for you
and I you know and everything I've known
and and believe me I know about eminent
domain I back many many years ago uh I
had a property and uh so the uh SRP I
think it's SRP the great big tower lines
power lines
decided they wanted like to cut off a
chunk of our land and we didn't want
them to do that and we fought and we
fought and and then you know we
didn't reply back you know thinking well
we're going to go to court or something
and the next thing we got was a deed in
the mail that said you know this is now
your land parcel so it happens and it
happens to the best of us sometimes but
I I was always
taught and and you know in in my other
businesses and everything that
imminent domain
should should be used only only when all
other options have been
placed out there and and discarded
and I truly believe that this this
project could
fit in a smaller
amount of feet
that's my opinion and uh and I'm with
Jim here there's after
earlier tonight there's nothing left
that we can do to change this for any of
you that are going through this
and and uh we tried we've tried we
I still wish that they would go and do
55 feet and not 65 feet but that's not
going to happen just not going to happen
and I'm sorry for that as well and um
uh I don't know where everyone goes from
here other than the project will
probably go forward
any other comments
yeah
um
I don't know what she you received but
I'm
I'm sorry if that was circulating
through our town and through our staff
I've never seen anything like that I
apologize to you personally I don't know
where it came from it's not acceptable
I'm disappointed I don't know what else
I can say I haven't seen it
um
and yes I would love to see it you can
bring it to the clerk's desk and I would
love to see it but I haven't seen it I
don't know anything about it and I'm
just appalled that something like that
might be going around I do believe that
you don't deserve any of that and I
apologize for that
and
um
I think we've heard the comments from
the council members that place this on
the agenda this evening it was for
discussion only there isn't any kind of
an emotion that we can make and
I will go ahead and close this
discussion at this time thank you
you have to come to the podium Terry
because we have to get it on the record
turn them can you turn thank you sorry
too many rules I'm sorry I'm just fine
I'm
I know the date that you mentioned what
was the date
Chris can you look at the uh the date
that that vote came on since January of
22 I believe yeah it was it was January
2022 January of 2022. I found out about
this project
just before Mother's Day of 2022
how on Earth am I supposed to do
anything
to counter what your staff
deems appropriate
when I don't know about it
this is not okay
this is not okay and I will continue to
fight with every fiber of my being and
every last dollar I have because this is
not okay
I don't want to do this I don't want to
see Mr Payne in court
this is not okay
it's not it's not okay you're not you
lied to my face
[Music]
thank you Terry
I'll close that item on our agenda move
to the next item
boards commissions and committees any
reports from Council Liaisons
I will move to Communications report
from the town manager on current events
Patrick
oh
thank you very members of the council a
couple
employees that like to congratulate
first Michael Martella in our Economic
Development Department you earned his
certified Economic Development developer
designation from the international
Economic Development Council we're very
proud of Michael with that
accomplishment it's not an easy
certification to receive and we're
grateful to have Michael on our team
next uh Cindy Bethel price also in the
economic development department has has
been accepted to participate in the
international downtown emerging leaders
follow ship each year the Ida selects no
more than 30 participants from across
the globe for this week-long experiment
uh experience
yes professional development program
that positions urban place managers to
address complex issues and Leadership
questions involving diverse Community
stakeholders Community governance issues
and solving for various everyday Urban
challenges
next I wanted to thank
Leah Jessica Eric Brown Ken snow and
Kelly Foss for the work on the right
study there was a tremendous amount of
work that went into that and I
appreciate the very detailed
presentation they provided to council
and lastly Hawkins Johansen and Tanya
Wright and the entire team for the clean
audit uh that received for the 2022 or
2023 fiscal year thank you
thank you Patrick any I'm gonna add for
Mike Martella that um
that pass rate is less than 15 percent
to pass what he did so that's very
impressive Dan you please tell him that
we mentioned him this evening any other
report from Council on current events
councilmember caprese
good evening
um this week is Engineers week
celebrated nationally it's also called
e-week and it's dedicated to raising
public awareness of Engineers positive
contributions to quality of life
which we talked about earlier in some of
our conversations and is one of our
initiatives in future in the city of the
future as having exceptional
infrastructure e-week promotes our
Outreach to students as well to pursue
engineering careers
in our country and I wanted to highlight
that today I was attending an award
ceremony by the uh from the America
Arizona Society of Professional
Engineers and our very own Gene Jensen
CIP of Water Project Supervisor was
awarded the government engineer of the
year so that was super exciting
[Applause]
um so congratulations to Jean I also
have another separate update regarding
the Gilbert Symphony Orchestra the
Gilbert Symphony Orchestra is going to
be having their first concert of the
Season March 12th at the Higley Center
for Performing Arts that will be free
for general admission and there are also
options to be a patron or sponsor that
helped make that event possible the
website is
gilbertsymphony.org thank you thank you
councilmember any other
updates from Council on current events
report from mayor on current events I
went to a
groundbreaking in the rain this morning
mud lots of mud for Sky bridge out at
Phoenix Mesa Gateway it was a great
event even though we did it in the rain
I was pleased to be able to speak at
that event since I serve as the chairman
of the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport
Authority board and we have up on the
screen the community-wide food drive
that will be ending on February 26th you
can either scan that code or you can
visit
gilbertaz.gov forward slash feeding
families for more information there will
be donation locations available on the
weekend at least Friday and Saturday I
believe that we'll be live and I will be
stopping by some of them over the
weekend and then I wanted to note that
our Gilbert Police Department is having
coffee with a cop on Thursday February
23rd from 7 30 a.m to 9 30 p.m okay
how do you say this word
p-e-i-x-o-t-o that's the coffee place
Hoda pashoto
I don't drink coffee and it's prosciutto
I'm being told by Tom Blodgett pashoto
at um I think it's at agritopia I mean
excuse me the epicenter correct am I
saying Chief back there
um so if you would like to attend coffee
with a cop please visit them on Thursday
morning and
that
blood drive
I remember the date
Jim and I are sponsoring a blood drive
March
9th
um
and uh love to have you guys attend
blood's at a pretty small short supply
right now so we'll be sponsoring that uh
in March
is there is that a there a location or a
website who's who is the blood drive
through
sorry details I'm sorry it'll be at the
Southeast Regional Library okay and
Chuck and I are gonna
do a little advertising for it to try
and push it Beyond its limits
okay it could be between 1 and 6 30 I
believe great great thank you then
um all that meeting is adjourned