CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA PINE ROOM June 20, 2006 A Study Session Meeting of the City Council of the City of Peoria, Arizona was convened at 8401 W. Monroe Street in open and public session at 4:10 p.m. Members Present: Mayor John Keegan, Vice Mayor Vicki Hunt; Councilmembers Cathy Carlat, Patricia Dennis, Joan Evans, Patrick Hickson, and Carlo Leone. Members Absent: None Other Municipal Officials Present: Terrence Ellis, City Manager; Susan Thorpe, Deputy District Manager; Carl Swenson Deputy City Manager; John Wenderski, Deputy City Manager; Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk; Constance Copeland, Assistant City Clerk; Stephen Bontrager, J.P. de la Montaigne, David Leonardo, Brent Mattingly, Grady Miller, Sandy Teetsel, Glen Van Nimwegen, Neil Mann, Bob McKibben, Dave Moody, John Schell, Jeff Tyne and Chad Daines. Audience: Approximately 21 Subject for Discussion only: County Island Annexation Strategies Carl Swenson, Deputy City Manager, reported that staff proposed pre-annexation bridge-building efforts designed to remove obstacles to annexation, make annexation more attractive to county island residents and foster a cooperative approach to address county resident concerns regarding annexation. Chad Daines, Planning Manager, explained that three bridge building efforts would be made to address concerns about land use and community facilitation, infrastructure and public safety. The Communications and Public Affairs staff will develop a plan to use the website, newsletters, public meetings and other methods to communicate with county island residents. The bridge building activities and informational efforts are designed to demonstrate to county island residents the City’s goal in preserving and protecting the unique lifestyle of these county island areas. In response to questions by Councilmembers, Mr. Daines explained that the standards would be reviewed to protect residential integrity of each area. Two focus group meetings were held and staff would continue to work with residents to develop two separate neighborhood character plans. Discussion ensued regarding some of the concerns raised by county residents about solving drainage problems, streets, routing school buses, and current land use. The current uses in the county would be protected and provisions for one acre and half acre properties would be made. Non-conforming uses would be allowed unless there was an interruption of business for six months. A comprehensive public relations campaign would be created to ensure a smooth process. Council directed staff to identify a group of residents from each area to help identify specific elements they particularly liked in their neighborhoods so that efforts could be made to protect these valuable community elements. Mayor Keegan explained that this would be a positive process to ensure the best interest of the City and to ensure county residents will be welcomed into the community. Councilmember Evans explained that the preservation of this rural area was important. In response to questions by Councilmembers, Mr. Bontrager explained that the City would not require county residents with functioning septic systems to connect to the City sewer system. The current code does require residents to connect if they are within 1320 feet of the sewer. Mr. Bontrager suggested that City Code be amended to not require residents with a functioning septic system to connect to the City. If a county resident desires City sewer service and there is an existing sewer in front of their property, the resident would need to pay the prevailing development fee and connect at their own cost. If the sewer would need to be extended to serve their property, that would be done in accordance with current City Code extension policy. This is at the residents’ cost. An individual may decide to connect or an improvement district could be formed. Councilmember Dennis stressed that the septic tanks would have to be functioning per City Code, Section 25-85. Brent Mattingly, Director of Finance, discussed capital and on-going costs, reduction in homeowners insurance and additional amounts for fire services. Neil Mann, Public Works Director discussed road maintenance concerning 15 miles of county roads. Mayor Keegan discussed the importance of the continuity of services for public safety, roads and drainage. Councilmember Carlat commented that until now these residents had not been able to vote on Peoria issues but now their voices could be heard. Mayor Keegan declared a short recess at 5:22 p.m., and reconvened the meeting at 5:38 p.m. Review of Current City Policy - Fire Department Response to County Islands Bob McKibben, Fire Chief, reported that Rural/Metro currently offered “fee for service” subscriptions to provide fire fighting and emergency first aid services to County residents. Nonmembers are billed by Rural Metro for using fire or EMS services. May 1, 2003, the Council directed Peoria Fire to respond only to County island areas if there was an immediate life threat. Calls for service have since decreased. The average response time to County islands is three minutes longer than responses to the City. Chief McKibben reported that the average response times were as follows: Rural Metro, 20+minutes; Peoria (County), 7.58 minutes and Peoria (City) 4.33 minutes. Rural Metro responds from Litchfield Park. Peoria County Island response currently lags Peoria City response by over three minutes. Additional time was needed for Rural Metro to assess the situation and request assistance. In response to questions by Councilmembers, Chief McKibben explained how standard responses were handled. ADJOURNMENT: Being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was duly adjourned at 5:55 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 20th day of June, 2006. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 21st day of August, 2006. (Seal) ______________________________________________ Mary Jo Kief, City Clerk