The Avenue of the Fountain median project will be moving ahead without changes to the tree scheme, a PA system, WiFi or a roundabout.

Citing feedback from the public, council members had asked staff to review those items to see if any project changes were feasible at this point.

Development Services Director Paul Mood said the tree palate was selected after consulting with the landscape architect and an arborist.

All the new trees are on the approved low-water plant lists for both the town and the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Calls and emails to council and letters to the editor in The Times prompted the review. The most controversial selection seems to be the sissoo tree, of which there are 22 planned for the project.

Robin Lueck spoke at the meeting and cited her own Internet research. She said sissoos are known for shallow roots popping up and damage to hardscape such as sidewalks and streets.

Councilwoman Cassie Hansen noted that a Desert Botanical Garden official in Phoenix said he would not plant a sissoo within 40 feet of a sidewalk.

Don Campbell, the landscape architect working on the Avenue improvements, said he has been using the sissoo for years and loves it.

“I’m really excited that people are actually taking note of what we are doing here,” Campbell said. “The sissoo is from Australia and is a great substitute for desert vegetation.”

It grows quickly and is a great shade tree for a project like the Avenue.

Campbell noted that he uses a deep watering infrastructure and a barrier to keep roots away from hardscape.

“The deep watering should address the root problem,” Campbell said. “I like the tree, it is fast growing and I have never seen root problems on any of my projects.”

“It really feels like a gamble to me,” Hansen said, “even with the precautions.”

With the design of the Avenue project being a shady green belt, commonly-used desert vegetation such as mesquite, palo verde and ironwood are not appropriate, Campbell said.

Those are really not trees, but are bushes and will not work well where there is surface watering, according to Campbell.

The council was satisfied with Campbell’s review and determined not to make any changes to the tree scheme.

PA system

Mood estimated that the cost for installing a public address system onto the Avenue would run between $75,000 and $100,000. It would also require additions to the current work that may not be practical at this point in the project.

Mood also said he believes that currently a PA system is used only for the two Chamber of Commerce art festivals, which use a portable.

“We could look at this as a separate project,” Mood said.

“I’m not really excited about spending $100,000 to provide something for Chamber use,” Mayor Linda Kavanagh said.

WiFi service

The possibility of offering WiFi service along the Avenue did have some appeal to council members, but it was decided it could be easily done separately from the current project and there is no need to force it into the work.

Peter Bordow, who is a member of the town’s Strategic Planning Advisory Commission, noted that WiFi is a very good economic development tool as many business people are looking for its availability.

“I agree with Peter,” Kavanagh said. “If we are looking to attract younger families they will want the technology.”

Roundabout

A roundabout intersection at the Avenue and La Montana Drive is an idea that has been discussed before but was stifled primarily by costs and controversy.

Roundabouts are not popular with many Fountain Hills residents, however, council members believe that intersection would be a good candidate.

Mood said the cost estimate provided by a consultant in 2007 for a roundabout at that intersection was $1.5 million. He said he has no idea how that compares with today’s dollars. He believes it could be more or possibly even less.

“This has been an issue for a long time and I would hate to be working on this (Avenue) project and say down the road we missed an opportunity to get this done,” Councilwoman Ginny Dickey said.

“I think the cost would be a little less (than the 2007 estimate).”

Mood said the timing is not good for working it into the current project, as it would be too disruptive to the work schedule.

“I wouldn’t mind keeping this in mind when we have the money,” Councilman Dennis Brown said.

Mood also said a roundabout project at this intersection is not in the town’s long-term capital improvement plans.