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The Fountain Hills Town Council is winding down its current session and has a lot to address in one of its final meetings Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The council will have an open meeting discussion of its conversation held in closed executive discussions related to a challenge by legislators of its decision not to fill a vacant council seat for the remaining meetings. Councilwoman Sharron Grzybowski resigned after the first meeting in September with four meetings remaining in her term. The council deadlocked on a motion to seat Councilwoman-elect Gayle Earle, who was the only candidate elected directly during the July primary election. A tie vote defeats the motion.
State Representatives Joseph Chaplik and Alexander Kolodin asked the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to investigate whether the action was a violation of state law calling for councils to fill vacancies.
The closed executive session is scheduled to take place just prior to the open meeting Tuesday.
The council will consider a professional services agreement to implement a wayfinding sign update for Fountain Hills. DunCor/Summit West Signs was the lowest of four bids at $296,744. The project was approved in the CIP budget for the current fiscal year. The bid total exceeds the budgeted amount by about $46,000. Staff is proposing a budget transfer to cover the difference.
Staff will present a professional services agreement to implement improvements to flood control structures within Golden Eagle Park. The town has been working to address this issue within the established detention basin behind Golden Eagle Dam since the park received major flood damage during a 2018 storm event.
The recommendation is to award the agreement to B4 Enterprises in the amount of $2.4 million.
Related to the same Golden Eagle Park project, the council will consider a professional services agreement with Wood Patel & Associates for construction management services. This contract is about $262,000.
The council will consider a budget transfer of $100,000 for the implementation of a recently approved Downtown Strategy. The funding is earmarked for a lighting project, design work, beginning efforts for a sign package and event programming and marketing.
Staff will present the council with an update to temporary use permit section of the Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the changes at its September meeting.
The council will consider transferring functions of the Public Art Committee to the History and Culture Advisory Commission.
The council will hear a staff presentation updating progress to implement capital improvement projects for the current fiscal year. Community Services Director Kevin Snipes and Public Works Director Justin Weldy will make the presentation.
Mayor Ginny Dickey has proclamations related to designation of October as Energy Efficiency Month as well as Italian American Heritage Month. She will also designate Oct. 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week in Fountain Hills.
The council will recognize the school district Stellar Students of the Month for October, and also recognize outgoing members of the Sister Cities Advisory Commission.
The Town Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in council chambers at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
The Town Council agenda and related documentation is available for public review at the town website, fountainhillsaz.gov/agenda.
The Times Independent invites readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Bob Burns can be reached at bburns@iniusa.org.
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