CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA COUNCIL CHAMBER March 7, 2006 A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Peoria, Arizona was convened at 8401 W. Monroe Street in open and public session at 7:02 p.m. Following a moment of silence, Councilmember Hunt led the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Mayor John Keegan; Vice Mayor Bob Barrett; Councilmembers Cathy Carlat, Patricia Dennis, Joan Evans, Vicki Hunt, and Carlo Leone Members Absent: None Other Municipal Officials Present: Terrence Ellis, City Manager; Susan Thorpe, Deputy City Manager; John Wenderski, Deputy City Manager; Steve Kemp, City Attorney; Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk; Constance Copeland, Assistant City Clerk; David Leonardo, Bob McKibben, Grady Miller, Dave Moody, J.P. de la Montaigne, David Nakagawara, Steve Burg, and Walt Begley. Audience: Approximately 20 individuals were present. Note: The order in which items appear in the minutes is not necessarily the order in which they were discussed in the meeting. CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed with a “C” are considered to be routine or have been previously reviewed by the City Council, and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember so requests; in which event the item will be removed from the General Order of Business, and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda. CONSENT – New Business: Mayor Keegan asked if any Councilmember wished to have an item removed from the Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Councilmember Leone, seconded by Vice Mayor Barrett, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted, with the exception of Item 7C which was carried over to a future date. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 1C MINUTES: Study Session – January 17, 2006 Regular Meeting – January 17, 2006 2C Grant, State Homeland Security, CBRNE Response Vehicle Approved the acceptance of a 2005 State Homeland Security Grant in the amount of $125,000 for the purchase of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive response vehicle (CBRNE) (LCON02106); and Approved the re-appropriation of $115,000 from the 2004 State Homeland Security Grant allocation to purchase a second CBRNE response vehicle. 3C Rio Vista Community Park Litigation Authorized the City Attorney to file litigation against Olssen & Associates for recovery of funds expended by the City of Peoria in Rio Vista Community Park due to an erroneous soil report. 4C Contract, Maricopa County, Electronic/Digital Recording of Documents Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office to permit the City of Peoria to electronically/digitally transmit documents for recording. (LCON02206) 5C Contract, Deer Valley School District, Access Easement, Parking and Landscaping Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Deer Valley School District for an access easement, parking and landscaping south of the existing Terramar Park parcel and within land owned by the District. (LCON02306) 6C Contract, City of Phoenix, Dial-Ride Bus Replacement Authorized an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Phoenix to provide $208,000 for replacement of four Dial-a-Ride buses and $36,720 in capital maintenance funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to the City of Peoria by a pass through from City of Phoenix Grant AZ-90-X074. (LCON02406) 7C Contract Amendment, FS Systems, Financial System Upgrade The award of Contract Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $188,500 to FS Systems for professional consulting services to assist in the upgrade of the PeopleSoft financial system (ACON00906B); and the authorization to use General Fund Reserves and transfer the amount of $188,500 from the General Fund Contingency Account to the Information Technology Projects Fund – Other Professional Services Account was carried over to a future date not specified. 8C Maintenance Improvement District No. 125, Hunter Field Estates, 85th Avenue and Deer Valley Road RESOLUTION NO. 06-32 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, FOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN AN AREA IN THE CITY OF PEORIA AS DESCRIBED HEREIN; ADOPTING PLANS FOR CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 125, HUNTER FIELD ESTATES, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND DECLARING THE WORK OR IMPROVEMENT TO BE OF MORE THAN LOCAL OR ORDINARY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND THAT THE COST OF SAID WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PERFORMED UNDER ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-33 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE IMPROVEMENTS OF A CERTAIN AREA WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AND CREATING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 125, HUNTER FIELD ESTATES; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR, AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, SHALL BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-32 intention and ordering formation of proposed Maintenance Improvement District No. 125, Hunter Field Estates, located at the northeast corner of 85th Avenue and Deer Valley Road; and adopted RES. 06-33 ordering the work within the proposed Maintenance Improvement District. 9C Maintenance Improvement District No. 197, Vistancia Parcel C21, Trilogy Boulevard and Vistancia Boulevard RESOLUTION NO. 06-34 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, FOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN AN AREA IN THE CITY OF PEORIA AS DESCRIBED HEREIN; ADOPTING PLANS FOR CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 197, VISTANCIA PARCEL C21, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND DECLARING THE WORK OR IMPROVEMENT TO BE OF MORE THAN LOCAL OR ORDINARY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND THAT THE COST OF SAID WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PERFORMED UNDER ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-35 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE IMPROVEMENTS OF A CERTAIN AREA WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AND CREATING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 197, VISTANCIA PARCEL C21; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR, AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, SHALL BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-34 intention and ordering formation of proposed Maintenance Improvement District No. 197, Vistancia Parcel C21, located north of Trilogy Boulevard and south of Vistancia Boulevard; and adopted RES. 0635 ordering the work within the proposed Maintenance Improvement District. 10C Maintenance Improvement District No. 1033, Vistancia Parcel F-8A, Westland Road and Vistancia Boulevard RESOLUTION NO. 06-36 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, FOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN AN AREA IN THE CITY OF PEORIA AS DESCRIBED HEREIN; ADOPTING PLANS FOR CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1033, VISTANCIA PARCEL F-8A, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND DECLARING THE WORK OR IMPROVEMENT TO BE OF MORE THAN LOCAL OR ORDINARY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND THAT THE COST OF SAID WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PERFORMED UNDER ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-37 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE IMPROVEMENTS OF A CERTAIN AREA WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AND CREATING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1033, VISTANCIA PARCEL F-8A; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR, AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, SHALL BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-36 intention and ordering formation of proposed Maintenance Improvement District No. 1033, Vistancia Parcel F-8A, located on Westland Road east of Vistancia Boulevard; and adopted RES. 06-37 ordering the work within the proposed Maintenance Improvement District. 11C Maintenance Improvement District No. 1038, Vistancia Parcel F-7A, Westland Road and Vistancia Boulevard RESOLUTION NO. 06-38 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, FOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN AN AREA IN THE CITY OF PEORIA AS DESCRIBED HEREIN; ADOPTING PLANS FOR CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1038, VISTANCIA PARCEL F-7A, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND DECLARING THE WORK OR IMPROVEMENT TO BE OF MORE THAN LOCAL OR ORDINARY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND THAT THE COST OF SAID WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PERFORMED UNDER ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-39 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE IMPROVEMENTS OF A CERTAIN AREA WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AND CREATING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1038, VISTANCIA PARCEL F-7A; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR, AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, SHALL BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-38 intention and ordering formation of proposed Maintenance Improvement District No. 1038, Vistancia Parcel F-7A, located at the southeast corner of Westland Road and Vistancia Boulevard; and adopted RES. 06-39 ordering the work within the proposed Maintenance Improvement District. 12C Maintenance Improvement District No. 1041, Vistancia North Parcel G6, Westland Road and Lone Mountain Road RESOLUTION NO. 06-40 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO CREATE AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING INCLUDED WITHIN, NEAR AND ADJACENT TO A PARKWAY AND RELATED FACILITIES TOGETHER WITH APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, FOR MAINTENANCE WITHIN AN AREA IN THE CITY OF PEORIA AS DESCRIBED HEREIN; ADOPTING PLANS FOR CITY OF PEORIA MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1041, VISTANCIA NORTH PARCEL G6, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND DECLARING THE WORK OR IMPROVEMENT TO BE OF MORE THAN LOCAL OR ORDINARY PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND THAT THE COST OF SAID WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED WORK OR IMPROVEMENT SHALL BE PERFORMED UNDER ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-42 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS WITHIN THE PROPOSED DISTRICT AND THAT THE COST OF THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS, BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS CITY OF PEORIA STREETLIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 174, HUNTER FIELD ESTATES; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE ELECTRICITY REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-40 intention and ordering formation of proposed Maintenance Improvement District No. 1041, Vistancia North Parcel G6, located on Westland Road north of Lone Mountain Road; and adopted RES. 06-41 ordering the work within the proposed Maintenance Improvement District. 13C Street Light Improvement District No. 174, Hunter Field Estates, 85th Avenue and Deer Valley Road RESOLUTION NO. 06-42 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS WITHIN THE PROPOSED DISTRICT AND THAT THE COST OF THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS, BE ASSESSED UPON A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS CITY OF PEORIA STREETLIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 174, HUNTER FIELD ESTATES; PROVIDING THAT THE COST OF THE ELECTRICITY REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM BE ASSESSED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 2, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, AS AMENDED; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. RESOLUTION NO. 06-43 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA ORDERING THE IMPROVEMENTS OF CERTAIN STREETS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN AND CREATING AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF PEORIA STREETLIGHT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 174, HUNTER FIELD ESTATES, PURSUANT TO TITLE 48, CHAPTER 4, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING ELECTRICITY, WHICH INCLUDES A CHARGE FOR THE USE OF LIGHTING FACILITIES AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS TOGETHER WITH ALL APPURTENANT STRUCTURES AS SHOWN ON THE PLANS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Approved the Petition of Formation and adopted RES. 06-42 intention and ordering formation of proposed Street Light Improvement District No. 174, Hunter Field Estates, located at the northeast corner of 85th Avenue and Deer Valley Road; and adopted RES. 06-43 ordering the purchase of electricity for lighting streets and parks within the proposed Street Light Improvement District. 14C Final Plat, Desert Ranch-85, 85th Avenue and Monroe Street Approved the final plat for Desert Ranch85, located at the northwest corner of 85th Avenue and Monroe Street, subject to stipulations. (Project R040082) 15C Final Plat, Ventana Picachos, 89th Avenue and Hatfield Road Re-approved the final plat for Ventana Picachos, located at the southeast corner of 89th Avenue and Hatfield Road, subject to stipulations. (Project R040087) REGULAR AGENDA REGULAR - New Business 16R PUBLIC HEARING – Restaurant Liquor License, Sardella’s Pizza & Wings, 8278 W. Lake Pleasant Parkway Public Hearing: Mayor Keegan opened the Public Hearing and asked if any Councilmember or citizen wished to comment on the liquor license application for a new Restaurant Liquor License (Series 12) for Sardella’s Pizza & Wings located at 8278 W. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Suite #100. Applicant: David Sardella. LL#10005482. Staff Report/Public Comment: Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk, reported that the property had been posted, all reviewing Departments recommended approval, all fees were paid, and there were no comments received in the City Clerk’s Office. There being no comments from those present and none received in the City Clerk’s Office, Mayor Keegan declared the Public Hearing closed. Council Action: Motion was made by Councilmember Leone, seconded by Councilmember Carlat, to recommend approval to the State Liquor Board of a new Restaurant Liquor License (Series 12) for Sardella’s Pizza & Wings located at 8278 W. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Suite #100. Applicant: David Sardella. LL#10005482. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 17R Contract, City of Glendale, Surprise and Avondale and Maricopa County Community College District, Western Regional Public Safety Training Center An overview of the Regional Public Safety Training Center was presented by Fire Chief Bob McKibben. The City of Peoria currently utilizes the Phoenix Regional Training Academy for initial recruit training. The demand for training public safety personnel has exceeded the capacity of the Phoenix Training Academy. In response, several West Valley Fire and Police Departments collaborated on developing the Regional Public Safety Training Center to meet the increasing demand for training facilities. The facility will be constructed on an 80-acre site between the Glendale landfill and the Agua Fria River. Development of the training center is scheduled to be completed in three phases and upon completion, will include classrooms, dormitories, an auditorium and health center, a driver’s simulator, a drill tower, and training props. Chief McKibben explained that the City of Glendale will be the owner of the facility, and each of the partnering agencies will make capital contributions based on their percentage of use of the center. The City of Peoria contribution will be 6.5 percent, at a total cost of $5,181,789. In addition, Chief McKibben noted that each of the participating agencies will be assessed annual operating costs based on a pro-rata share of the established annual operating budget. The facility will be governed by an Operations Board, a Chief’s Board, and an Executive Board. Mark Nichols, Training Chief, will represent the City of Peoria on the Operation’s Board. The Fire Chief will represent Peoria on the Chief’s Board, and the City Manager will represent the City on the Executive Board. All decisions pertaining to the training center will require a unanimous vote of the members of the Executive Board. In response to questions from Council, Chief McKibben reported that the City’s share was based on training needs projected for the next 25 years utilizing a growth trends analysis and the Master Plan. In addition to the annual operating expenses, the City would be charged per head training costs for recruits attending the academy. Chief McKibben also explained that the City’s capital contribution would not automatically increase due to rising costs. City Attorney Steve Kemp addressed Council and clarified that in the event the Executive Board did not reach a unanimous decision, the City of Glendale would have final authority over the Capital Improvement Plan, the Operations and Maintenance Budget, the Operation’s Manual, and disposition or settlement of legal actions. Motion was made by Councilmember Carlat, seconded by Councilmember Evans, to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the Cities of Glendale, Surprise and Avondale and the Maricopa County Community College District to allow the City of Peoria Fire Department to participate in the use of the Western Regional Public Safety Training Center (RPSTC) (LCON01506). Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. 18R Contract, Emanuel Martinez, Pioneer Memorial Project, 83rd Avenue and Grand Avenue Grady Miller, Communications and Public Affairs Director, gave a synopsis of the Peoria Pioneer Memorial Project. In 2004, civic and community leaders established the Peoria Pioneer Memorial Committee with the support of the Peoria Historical Society for the purpose of creating a memorial to honor the contributions of the pioneer families who helped shape Peoria’s future and its history. Fundraising for the project involved financial contributions from civic leaders, businesses, and families in the community. The Peoria Arts Commission agreed to match the $50,000 raised by the Committee. In the summer of 2005, a nationwide call to artists was initiated, and 56 entries from artists as far as New York and Puerto Rico were received. A selection committee was created and included Councilmembers Pat Dennis and Vicki Hunt, Peoria historian Priscilla Cook, representatives from the Peoria Arts Commission and Peoria Historical Society, an artist, and City staff. After reviewing all of the statements of interest and ideas for the project, three outstanding artists were invited to present their proposals. Based on a very competitive process, the selection committee recommended Emanuel Martinez of Morrison, Colorado to create the Peoria Pioneer Memorial. Mr. Martinez proposed a four-sided bas relief sculpture, to be completed by December 2006, and will serve as a gateway to the downtown area near the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Grand Avenue. Each side of the 13-foot sculpture will depict various scenes including a farmer, a woman harvesting cotton, a man herding sheep, and the historic central school. A model of the proposed sculpture was on display in the lobby of City Hall for three weeks in February, and eight written comments from citizens in favor of the project were received. Priscilla Cook addressed the Council in support of the project honoring Peoria’s pioneer families. Motion was made by Councilmember Hunt, seconded by Councilmember Evans to: a) Approve the recommendation of the Peoria Arts Commission to commission artist Emanuel Martinez to produce a bronze bas relief sculpture to be located near the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Grand Avenue; b) Authorize the City Manager to execute an artist agreement in an amount not to exceed $100,000 plus tax (LCON02506); and c) Authorize a budget transfer in the amount of $54,000 from the General Fund Contingency Account to Capital Projects – Outside Sources to provide appropriation for the Peoria Historical Society’s portion of the project. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously. CALL TO THE PUBLIC: (NON-AGENDA ITEMS) Reports from the City Manager: Terry Ellis, City Manager, requested a status report on the construction of the Community Theater from Grady Miller, Director of Communications and Public Affairs. Mr. Miller reported that construction began in November 2005 and is expected to be completed in November 2006. Mr. Miller explained that in order to make sure the project remains on schedule, he and Ed Striffler, Construction Superintendent, have been meeting on a weekly basis with representatives of the architectural and construction companies, Westlake, Reed and Leskosky and Sletten Construction. In addition, meetings with the City Manager, Jack Lyttle, Executive Director of Theater Works, and Ron Reed, the principal architect are conducted monthly to discuss major milestones and issues. Mr. Miller further explained that a lot of time was spent on site preparation, including the relocation of an irrigation canal that ran down the middle of the project site. A major portion of the project is the orchestra pit, and Mr. Miller reported that the walls were completed in February. The footings and masonry was started, and the steel beams forming the columns were installed during the last week of February. Mr. Miller explained that although the prices for masonry and steel have been locked in, there is a huge demand for those products, and delivery has to be coordinated. Mr. Miller advised that there is a shortage of skilled labor, and while there are several subcontractors providing the trades, it is necessary to make sure schedules are adhered to in order to keep the laborers working. If the labor force was idle, they would be reassigned to other projects. Due to size limitations of the site, a partial closure of 84th Avenue from Peoria Avenue to Washington Street is being considered, but the driveway to the Peoria Café would remain open. Photographs were presented to Council and included the site preparation, the irrigation canal, the orchestra pit, and the proposed roof line. Reports from City Council: Councilmember Leone commented on a Relay for Life kickoff event held at the Community Church in February. Councilmember Leone noted that many cancer survivors were in attendance, and approximately 25 people spoke regarding their experience with cancer. Councilmember Leone spoke in support of the Cancer Fund and participation at the Relay for Life event to be held at the Peoria Sports Complex in April. Councilmember Leone also reported on a Town Hall meeting held at the Country Meadows Elementary School. There were 35 to 40 people in attendance who spoke regarding graffiti and curfew problems. Representatives of the Peoria Police Department were also in attendance and have been talking with kids in the neighborhood. Councilmember Leone reported that since the meeting, the neighborhood has been quieter; and he congratulated the Police Department on a job well done. Councilmember Leone attended a Pancake Breakfast at Country Meadows Park that drew a crowd of approximately 90 citizens. Also in attendance were members of the Peoria Fire Department, and Councilmember Leone applauded the work of the Peoria Fire Department. Vice Mayor Barrett thanked Grady Miller for the update on the progress of the downtown theater. Councilmember Evans commented that she spoke about City Government with four classes of eighth graders at the Cheyenne Elementary School. Councilmember Evans publicly recognized the students and thanked them for the beautiful floral arrangement she received. Coucilmember Dennis announced that she and Vice Mayor Barrett would be present at a public meeting to be held on March 8, 2006, at Desert Harbor Elementary School regarding the widening of Thunderbird Road and urged anyone affected by the widening project to attend. Reports from the Mayor: ADJOURNMENT: Being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was duly adjourned at 7:59 p.m. ______________________________________ John C. Keegan, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council of Peoria, Arizona held on the 7th day of March, 2006. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 18th day of April, 2006. (Seal) ______________________________________________ Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk