[00:00:01]
YOU SENT ONE BY ONE.A FEW OF THEM THAT CAME THROUGH, YES.
[1. CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE]
IT'S NOW FOUR 30.WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE ROLL CALL? MAYOR JALO.
[2. ROLL CALL/MOMENT OF ART]
UH, TWO, OUR ONCE A MONTH MOMENT OF ART N NANCY.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COUNSELORS.
OH, AND THANK YOU ANNETTE FOR DOING THE MOMENT OF ART.
LAST MONTH I WAS IN CALIFORNIA.
UM, THE PARANG PLAYERS WERE CREATED BY ELISE MONET, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES SEDONA.
SINCE 2018, ELISE IS RIGHT HERE.
THIS ORGANIZATION BRINGS MANY ART MEDIUMS INTO OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING CHILDREN'S THEATER, POETRY, MARTIAL ARTS, STORYTELLING, PUPPETRY, DANCE, VOCAL TRAINING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND MORE.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE VALUABLE SERVICES THANKS TO INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS.
AND A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE CITY OF SEDONA SEDONAS GOT TALENT WAS DIRECTED BY ELISE AND DANIEL GLICK, WHO'S OVER BY MUSIC.
UM, AND IT PREMIERED THIS YEAR WITH THE GRAND FINALE HELD AT THE SEDONA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON MAY 2ND.
CONTESTANTS WERE JUDGED 10 POINTS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STAGE, PRESENCE, SKILL, QUALITY, PREPAREDNESS, AND CREATIVITY.
THIS COMPETITION WILL BE ONGOING, AN ANNUAL EVENT GOING ON FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE.
SO FOR TODAY'S MOMENT OF ART, WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO GET THREE PERFORMERS WHO ARE NOT ON SUMMER VACATION YET.
AND, UM, THE FIRST I WILL JUST INTRODUCE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND THEN YOU'LL GO UP.
SO THE FIRST IS GOING TO BE LILO CORDOVA.
SHE'S FROM SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SHE PERFORMS A BALLET TO ONCE UPON DECEMBER, WHICH IS FROM THE DISNEY MOVIE, ANASTASIA.
SHE TOOK SECOND PLACE IN THE SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL COMPETITION.
THE SECOND PERFORMER WILL BE LENE LOPEZ FROM WEST SEDONA ELEMENTARY.
AND SHE'LL BE SINGING ADELE'S SET FIRE TO THE RAIN.
AND SHE TOOK FIRST IN WEST SEDONA COMPETITION AND SECOND PLACE IN THE FINALE.
AND FINALLY, KIANA CHRISTOFFERSON IS FROM SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL, AND SHE WILL BE PERFORMING HER CONTORTIONIST ACT TO THE MUSIC LUMINARY.
SHE TOOK FIRST PLACE IN BOTH SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL COMPETITION AND THE FINALE.
AND SINCE KIANA TOOK FIRST PLACE OVERALL, SHE WON THE SCHOOL TROPHY TO DISPLAY IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE AT THE SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL.
AND I WAS THERE AND IT WAS REALLY EXCITING.
THEY WERE ALL SCREAMING AND SO EXCITED THAT SHE GOT THE TROPHY FOR HER SCHOOL.
SO LET'S START AND BEGIN WITH LI LOU CORDOVA.
WHERE ARE YOU GONNA SING? AND THEN YOU CAN, THEN YOU CAN GIVE ME BOTH MIC FACE THAT WAY.
I GOTTA SIT DOWN A CHARTER SCHOOL.
AND HOW OLD ARE YOU, LEE? LOU? I'M EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I'M GOING TO THIRD GRADE NEXT YEAR.
BALLERINA, YOU WANNA START HERE? OKAY.
[00:05:22]
AND, AND WARM.I GO TO WESTONA SCHOOL AND I WILL BE GOING INTO SIXTH GRADE NEXT YEAR.
AND UNTIL YOU KISS MY, YOU'D SAY YOU WOULD ALWAYS, ALWAYS WIN.
[00:10:02]
YOU ALWAYS ALWAYS WIN.BUT THE SOMETHING I KNEW THAT WAS THE LAST, THE LAST SOMETIMES I EXCELLENT.
AND OUR FINAL ACT IS OUR CONTORTIONIST.
NANCY, DID YOU WANNA PUT AN APPLE ON YOUR HEAD?
I GO TO S SEDONA CHARTER SCHOOL AND I AM 11 YEARS OLD.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, KIANA JUST INJURED HER FOOT TODAY AND SHE WENT, THE SHOW WENT ON.
THANK YOU NANCY, FOR ANOTHER GREAT, UH, MOMENT OF ART FOR US.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON
[3. CONSENT ITEMS - APPROVE]
TO CONSENT ITEMS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE, UH, COUNSEL, THE STAFF HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER PULL, UH, ITEMS TO, UH, FOR ANY ITEM, UH, OF INTEREST.I KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY WANTS TO PULL ITEM D.
SO I NEED, UNLESS THERE'S A, UH, REASON I'D LIKE, UH, TO PULL SOMETHING, I WOULD LIKE A, A, UH, MOTION FOR ITEMS A, B, C, AND E.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS. A, B THREE, A, B, C, AND E.
[3.d. AB 3069 Approval of a Resolution authorizing the City of Sedona to enter into a development agreement with Blueflagiris, LLC, Redrockiris, LLC, Alkemista, Inc, and Alkemista Brew, Inc. for the development of a mixed-use project at 2144 W State Route 89A and 40 Goodrow Lane with lease term restrictions for the multifamily units and shared parking agreements and restricted hours of operation for the commercial uses.]
MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COUNSELORS.UH, THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR ALCHEMIST IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR DIFFERENT LLCS INVOLVED IN THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
UH, THIS HAS NOT BEEN TO COUNCIL, UH, BEFORE IT WAS, UH, IT WAS ALREADY ZONED
[00:15:01]
COMMERCIAL.UM, BUT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT, THEY NEED THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BOTH FOR THE SHARED PARKING COMPONENT, THE, AND THE, THE MORE DENSE, UH, HOUSING COMPONENT.
IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, THEY ARE WILLING TO, UH, RESTRICT THE, UH, HOUSING TO BE FULLY, UH, RESTRICTED FROM BEING USED AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND TO THAT POINT, COUNSELOR FURMAN RAISED A COUPLE ISSUES WITH THE, THE WAY THE LANGUAGE WAS WRITTEN OUT.
AND SO TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR, I'VE SUGGESTED THESE CHANGES, UM, IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO THAT'S ON THEIR SCREEN HERE, AND WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNSEL HAS REGARDING, UH, THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR THE PROJECT.
SO THIS WAS, THIS WAS EMAILED BEFORE.
WE'RE MAKING 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY.
SO INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT OPEN ENDED AS TO WHETHER IT COULD BE AGREED UPON BY THE CITY.
AND IN FACT, THE LANGUAGE BEFORE WAS PERMITTED, UH, BY THE CITY SINCE WE DO PERMIT SOME SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UH, AS WE'RE, WE'RE REQUIRED TO BY THE STATE.
UH, IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT UP PROHIBITION.
UH, AND THEN THE, THE DOWN HERE, THE 90 DAYS WAS WE GENERALLY DON'T GET INVOLVED ABOUT SUBLEASING, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A PROCESS WHERE SOMEONE'S SUBLEASING, UH, REPEATEDLY FOR, FOR LIKE A WEEK PERIOD OF TIME.
SO NOW THE, THE SUBLEASE HAS TO EITHER, HAS TO BE A MINIMUM 90 DAYS, UM, OR IT COULD BE LONGER IF IT'S THE REMAINDER OF A TERM, BUT THE, AN ORIGINAL TERM HAS TO BE AT LEAST 90 DAYS.
SO, AND IT WON'T BE AT LESS THAN 90 DAYS.
IS THE, IS THE RESULT, UH, THIS HAS BEEN SENT OVER TO CHEA AND THEY ARE FINE WITH THESE CHANGES AFTER SOME DISCUSSION? MM-HMM.
DO YOU WANT A MOTION? UH, YES.
IF YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU.
I, UH, MOVE TO APPROVE, UM, ITEM 3D AS AMENDED.
WELL, COUNCILOR DUNN WILL BE THE SECOND IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AND THE OPPOSED? WE ARE UNANIMOUS.
[5. SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS BY MAYOR/COUNCILORS/CITY MANAGER & COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS]
CURRENT EVENTS, UH, BY THE MAYOR, THE COUNCILORS OR CITY MANAGER OR, OR ON OUR COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS? JESSICA? YES.THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, BECAUSE OF CONTINUED ILLEGAL DUMPING AT THE, UM, RECYCLE FACILITY LOCATED AT RED ROCK LOOP ROAD IN THE CULTURAL PARK, THAT FACILITY'S GOING TO BE CLOSED, UM, BECAUSE OF CONTINUED ILLEGAL DUMPING.
SO THAT'S THE SECOND ONE IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS BE, UM, THAT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR THIS REASON.
AND THAT LEAVES THE, UM, RECYCLING FACILITY IS WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO RECYCLE.
NOW, UM, PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THERE'S SOME MAGIC INVOLVED THAT IF THEY DUMP IT THERE, THE, THE DUMP FERRIES TAKE CARE OF IT.
UM, ACTUALLY THE RECYCLE CENTER HAS TO MOVE IT AND PAY FOR IT TO BE, TO BE MOVED.
THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE SITE.
MY SECOND ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE YAVAPI COLLEGE, WHICH IS I REPORTED ON LAST WEEK, LAST MONTH, LAST WHENEVER IT WAS, HAS CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO, UH, PROVIDE SERVICES OR FACILITIES ON THIS SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN WHILE SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE, ON THE PRESCOTT SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TO ENHANCE THAT FACILITY.
UM, WHILE THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE RESPONSIVE, I'M JUST GOING TO REPORT THAT THIS AFFECTS SOME OF OUR LOCAL, UM, SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE TO SEND THE PARAMEDICS FOR THEIR REQUIRED TRAINING OVER THE MOUNTAIN TO PRESCOTT, UM, REGULARLY, UM, IN ORDER TO GET TRAINING.
THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE EITHER UNDERSTAFFED HERE FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, OR THEY HAVE TO PAY OVERTIME FOR THAT.
THE, I KNOW ONE OF THE FIRE CHIEFS IN THE VERDE VALLEY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN ASKING THE COLLEGE TO AT LEAST ALTERNATE THESE TRAINING SITES SO THAT SOMETIMES IT'S ON THAT SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SOMETIMES IT'S ON THIS SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
SO FAR, THE COLLEGE HAS FAILED TO, TO, TO ACCOMMODATE THAT APPARENTLY VERY REASONABLE REQUEST.
[00:20:02]
THE THIRD HAS TO DO WITH A REPORT, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS.CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VIEW CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I THINK 18 WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS MENTIONED.
WHAT THEY FAILED TO MENTION, OR MAYBE DIDN'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, WAS THAT THE NUMBERS THEY WERE LOOKING AT WERE JUST THE NUMBERS OF THE VIEWS ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
THEY WERE NOT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LOOKED WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING RIGHT NOW ON A LIVE STREAM.
SO, UH, FOR REASONS WHICH I WON'T WANNA SPECULATE, IT WAS A MISTAKEN KIND OF IMPRESSION THAT, THAT THERE WERE VERY FEW, UM, VIEWERSHIP OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
UM, THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE LIVE USERS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS NOT, IS NOT AVAILABLE.
UM, IF IT WAS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THIS MORNING.
UH, ANNETTE AND I WENT TO YA BY COUNTY FOR OUR, OUR, UH, QUARTERLY MEETING WITH OUR TWO, UH, COUNTY SUPERVISORS THAT ARE ON THIS SIDE OF THE MIGO MOUNTAINS AND ALSO THE MAYORS AND, UH, MANAGERS IN THE VERDE VALLEY.
AND, UH, THERE WAS A PART ON NACOG MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH WE'RE GONNA BE COVERING LATER ON IN THIS AGENDA.
AND THEY, THEY'RE REALLY SCOPING OUT THE ENTIRE, UH, REGION HERE, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT LATER.
UH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AS WELL TO DO A LOT OF THIS WORK.
UH, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS TO, FOR COUNCILOR, UH, WILLIAMSON'S POINT IS YAVAPAI COUNTY WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT, UM, THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF TRAINING, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, I'M SORRY, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, THERE WERE TWO, UH, PEOPLE THERE, UH, WHO SPOKE ABOUT THAT AND TOOK IN THE INFORMATION AND WHO KNOWS WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO WITH IT.
BUT THEY, BETWEEN EITHER SIDE OF THE MINGUS MOUNTAINS, THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE ENOUGH, UH, STUDENTS FOR PARAMEDICS, UH, AND FIRE SCIENCE, A CLASS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MINGUS.
AND THEY'RE, AS OF NOW, THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.
SO, UH, THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, UH, STAFF HOUSING, UH, MORE ON THE MINGUS, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MINGUS MOUNTAINS AND LESS HERE.
SO IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING MEETING.
AND THEN, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAD TO LEAVE TO COME BACK HERE FOR SOME OTHER MEETINGS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO QUARTERLY.
IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY INTERESTING.
AND COULD I ADD ONE THING TO YOUR REPORT? SURE.
I JUST, ON, ON YAVAPAI COLLEGE, UM, THEY'VE BEEN ASKED, WE ASKED THEM, UM, ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TO COME AS, AS COUNCIL ASKED AND MAKE A PRESENTATION, UM, THE, WHAT IS SHE? THE PRESIDENT? THE DEAN, THE, NOT THE DEAN.
AND WHILE THEY SAY THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING THAT, WE HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN ANY ACTUAL INFORMATION ON WHEN, IF AT ALL, THEY PLAN TO, TO, TO FULFILL THAT REQUEST AND THAT, YES.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR JALO AND COUNSELOR.
UM, WE, UH, HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO SCHEDULE THAT PRESENTATION.
AND THE INFORMATION I WAS GIVEN BY THE COLLEGE IS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS PLANNING A ROAD SHOW, SO TO SPEAK, TO GO TO ALL THE CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AND ONCE THEY'VE DETERMINED THAT SCHEDULE, THEY WILL LET US KNOW.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR, AND I'VE GIVEN THEM SOME DATES OF YOUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
OKAY, SO WE'LL CLOSE OUT, UM, ITEM FIVE TO ITEM
[6. PUBLIC FORUM]
SIX IS PUBLIC FORUM ITEM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY CARDS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO, UH, ITEMS ON THE AGENDA? DO YOU? THANK YOU.JEN FARNSWORTH WILL BE, BUT JEN, IS THAT, UH, RELATED TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA? TOTALLY UNRELATED.
START WITH YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT AN ARTICLE THAT I SAW THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION IN THE SEDONA RED ROCK NEWS DATED MAY 1ST, UH, COUNCILMAN PETE FERMAN ASKED ABOUT THE TIME INVOLVED IN REVIEWING PERMITS.
MERTIS NOTED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL CODE
[00:25:01]
CHANGES THAT WILL REQUIRE A LEARNING PROCESS IN THE COMMUNITY AND A LITTLE BIT LONGER LEAD TIME.AS A RETIRED ARCHITECT, I HAD TO COME SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
UM, I PRACTICED IN THE DES MOINES SUBURBS AND DES MOINES, IOWA, GREATER PUB METROPOLITAN OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.
WE SUBMITTED WHAT WE CALLED A BUILDER, SET OF DRAWINGS.
THERE'S MANY COMPANIES THAT ALSO PROVIDE DRAWINGS FOR COMPANIES.
UM, I CALLED OUR CHIEF INSPECTOR I WORKED WITH OVER A DECADE IN DES MOINES.
TODAY, THEY STILL TAKE THE SAME BUILDING SET.
THEY GET THE PERMIT TO PEOPLE IN FIVE TO 10 DAYS.
I ADDED A 15 BY 30 ADDITION ON THE BACK OF MY HOUSE.
I, AS AN ARCHITECT DID THE DRAWINGS.
I HAD 57 COMMENTS COMING BACK, INCLUDING I NEEDED A COMPLETED COMPLETE PLUMBING PLAN AND PIPING PLAN.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.
I HIRED AN ARCHITECT OF PAID $10,000 TO DRAW UP MY DESIGN.
UH, AND I FINALLY GOT A BUILDING PERMIT.
I SERVED ON THE CITIZEN BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE TWO YEARS AGO, A GREAT PROCESS.
I BENT KAREN OSBORNE'S EAR AND BASICALLY SAID, THIS PERMIT PROCESS IS OUTTA LINE.
TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE GOING THROUGH THE SIMILAR PROCESS AND TOTALLY AGREED.
ONE GENTLEMAN WANTED TO PUT A DOOR TO THE OUTSIDE FROM AN EXISTING ROOM.
HE THOUGHT HE NEEDED A PERMIT.
KAREN SAID, JUST PUT IN THE DOOR.
UH, WHEN SHE MENTIONED A POSSIBLE TASK FORCE, I WENT AHEAD AND CALLED ARCHITECTS IN THE AREA.
ONE SAID HE WAS RETIRING BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANNA PUT UP WITH THE CRAP ANYMORE OF SUBMITTING DRAWINGS.
TWO OTHERS SAID THEY CAN PUSH STEVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE, IN MY OPINION, THE STANDARD OF CARE IS DETERMINED BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL AND NOT THE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE THEIR NAME ON THE LINE.
I PROPOSE YOU RECREATE A TASK FORCE.
UH, SEDONA IS KNOWN TO BE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH, AND UNLESS YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS DEALT WITH THIS FOR MANY YEARS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS ARE OUT OF LINE WITH THE PROJECT TYPE.
I'D BE GLAD TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK FOR THIS PARTICULAR, UH, POINT? THE PUBLIC FORUM NEEDS TO FILL OUT A CARD NOW.
UH, OTHERWISE, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH, WITH JEN.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE DRILL NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SEDONA, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M SPEAKING ON THE PARKING GARAGE.
I'M WONDERING IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ASKED RESIDENTS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, IF THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE $26 MILLION GARAGE PROJECT, THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN BY THE CITY.
BECAUSE WITHOUT EXCEPTION, EVERYONE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, WHETHER THEY SUPPORT THE GARAGE OR NOT BELIEVE THEY DESERVED THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON THIS ENORMOUS $26 MILLION PROJECT, A PROJECT THAT WILL IMPACT ALL OF OUR LIVES, OUR HELP, OUR SAFETY, AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I, AND SO MANY OTHERS I TALK WITH SAY THE ENTIRE PROCESS HAS LEFT THEM CONFUSED, EXCLUDED, MARGINALIZED, DECEIVED, AND ANGRY.
HOW IS THIS HAPPENING? IN A CITY OF JUST 9,600 RESIDENTS, I UNDERSTAND THE CITY IS DETERMINED TO BUILD THE GARAGE AND NO AMOUNT OF RESIDENT CONCERN, NO AMOUNT OF HEALTH, SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE, OR CONCERNING FINANCIAL MODELS ARE GOING TO STOP IT.
RESIDENTS NEVER GOT THE SURFACE LOT, THE SIDEWALKS OR THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, WHICH WE WERE PROMISED RESIDENTS NEVER GOT THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND POTENTIAL LOCATION ASSESSMENT WE WERE PROMISED.
WE NEVER GOT THE REAL EVACUATION STUDY AND MODELING THAT WE WERE PROMISED.
NEITHER ARE RESIDENTS GOING TO GET FREE PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES, WHICH THEY WERE PROMISED AT THE ONE AND ONLY TIME.
THE GARAGE ITSELF WAS ACTUALLY VOTED ON BY A DIFFERENT COUNCIL BACK IN 2021.
THERE WILL BE FEWER SPACES AND LESS CONVENIENT PARKING SPACES.
ALL THE PARKING IN UPTOWN WILL NOW BE FEE-BASED, FURTHER ALIENATING RESIDENTS WHO ONLY VISIT UPTOWN ON OCCASION.
NOW, THERE WILL BE MORE CONGESTION, MORE CONFUSION, AND THE MAJOR IMPACT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY FOR ALL OF US WHO LIVE AND WORK IN UPTOWN.
BUT I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF THIS BEFORE AND YOU HAVE PROVED THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITHOUT GETTING THE DUE DILIGENCE YOU REQUIRED FROM CITY STAFF.
I SAW A LOT OF OUTRAGE LAST MONTH FROM COUNSELORS, ABOUT $3,000 TOILETS, BUT NOT ONE WORD OF CONCERN.
THAT NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE ITEMS. YOU, BY MAJORITY CONSENSUS DIRECTED TO BE STUDIED AND BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL BEFORE DECISION MAKING.
AND THOSE ITEMS MATTERED TO US BECAUSE THEY WERE A PART OF YOUR PROMISE TO US FOR FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
BUT RESIDENTS WHO'VE BEEN EXCLUDED AND MARGINALIZED FOR YEARS FROM EVER HAVING A REAL VOICE ON THIS PROJECT AND
[00:30:01]
SO MANY OTHER CITY DECISIONS WILL NOW NOW FIND NEW PLATFORMS TO, TO ENSURE WE DO HAVE A VOICE.WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC FORUM.
ITEM SEVEN, PROCLAMATION, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS.
[8.a. AB 3055 Presentation/discussion by Arizona Public Service (APS) regarding their fire mitigation efforts and summer readiness program.]
EIGHT, A AB 30 55 PRESENTATION DISCUSSION BY ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE A PS REGARDING THEIR FIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS AND SUMMER READINESS PROGRAM.YOU WANT TO COME TO THE TABLE, FRANK OR
WHICHEVER YOU'D LIKE ME SIT DOWN.
DOY, YOU WANT TO GO UP WITH FRANK? NO.
OH, SINCE WHEN ARE YOU SHY? I DON'T KNOW.
UH, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL, IT IS MY, UH, PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
UH, AS YOU MAY KNOW, MAY WAS, UH, WILDFIRE, UH, PREPAREDNESS MONTH.
UH, MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, TOOK ON ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY FOR THIS WILDFIRE SEASON.
AND, UH, A PS UH, HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING, UH, THEN AND ALL YEAR LONG, UH, THERE'S MANY TIMES, UH, UH, THE UTILITY GETS, UH, TAGGED WITH RELIABILITY BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, UH, TO, UH, ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE.
UH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE IS ONE THING THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RELIABILITY.
AND THAT IS THE SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY, UH, THAT WE SERVE.
UH, JUST LIKE OUR, UH, MISSION STATEMENT, WE DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR, UH, THE PEOPLE IN PROSPERITY OF ARIZONA.
AND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO.
AND WE CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS WE GET FURTHER INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE FIND OUR OURSELVES IN AS A STATE.
FROM 2023, AS A STATE, WE EXPERIENCED 1,557, UH, WILDFIRES THAT BURNED OVER 204,000 ACRES ACROSS ARIZONA.
AND, UH, WITH OUR VAST SERVICE TERRITORY, ONE IN THREE OF THOSE FIRES, UH, IMPACTED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE UTILIZE TO SAFELY AND RELIABLY SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.
ALONG WITH THE, THE FIRE SEASON ALSO COMES THE HEAT.
UM, KNOWING THIS AND KNOWING WE'RE, UH, PROJECTED TO HAVE ANOTHER DRY HOT SUMMER, UM, OUR GOVERNOR, UH, CREATED THE EXTREME HEAT PREPAREDNESS PLAN ALONG, UH, WITH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT HEALTH OF APPOINTING THEIR FIRST HEAT OFFICER.
AND SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, WITH RELIABILITY, FIRE AND HEAT, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE, UH, KEEP, UH, THE LIGHTS ON FOR OUR CUSTOMERS SO THAT THEY CAN STAY COOL, THAT THEY CAN STAY SAFE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, THE WAY A PS APPROACHES, UH, WILDFIRE SEASON IS, IS A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.
AND THAT IS TO PREVENT, MITIGATE, AND RESPOND.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IN YEARS PAST WHERE WE'VE COME AND, AND TALKED HERE, UH, THE, SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE PREVENT THAT IS WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST VEGETATION, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, WE'VE PARTNERED, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH, UH, THE FOREST SERVICE AND, UH, WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS RUNNING THROUGH, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES IN OUR, THE PLACES WE LIVE.
UH, WE, UH, INSPECT THAT, MAKE SURE THAT ANY DEBT OR DYING, UH, VEGETATION IS OUT OF THE WAY, WILL NOT FALL INTO OUR, UH, OUR ASSETS.
AND THEN ALSO, WE'VE EVEN, UH, BEEN ABLE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS SO MUCH THAT WE CAN GO OUTSIDE OF OUR, UH, RIGHT OF WAY.
AND ANYTHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN SOME SCENARIOS WHERE IT'S SO TALL THAT EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, IT COULD FALL IN, UH, TO OUR STUFF.
AND WE, WE MANAGE IT THE RIGHT WAY.
WE WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE'RE, WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE REALLY RAMPED UP AND AND WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL YEAR IS OUR PATROLS.
UH, WE HAVE EMPLOYED A LOT OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY, NEW TECHNOLOGY, WHETHER THAT BE DRONES, UH, HELICOPTERS, FOOT PATROLS, UH, UTVS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT, UH, THE WEATHER IS COMING, THE HEAT IS COMING, AND, AND THE RISK IS HIGH, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS, IS ROBUST
[00:35:01]
AND READY TO HANDLE THE SEASON.UH, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA THROW SOME MORE FIGURES AT YOU.
UH, WE HAVE PATROLLED OVER 1900 MILES OF OVERHEAD, UH, FEEDERS, AND WE'VE INSPECTED 38,000 MILES OF POWER LINES.
AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH OUR ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.
UH, WE HAVE EMPLOYED, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGY, UH, WITH WHETHER THAT'S RELAYING, UH, SOME OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THE MARKER BALLS OR, OR WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK ARE CAMERAS OR, OR SOME CRAZY THING THAT, THAT LIGHT UP
UM, WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THOSE POWER INTERRUPTIONS ARE INCONVENIENT, ANNOYING, AND, AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE NEED TO, UH, GET INTO ACTION, WE CAN PINPOINT THE ISSUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE FROM A, A PREVENTION STANDPOINT IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS DSAP, AND THAT'S DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND POLES.
UH, AND AS, UH, RECENT AS THE PIPELINE FIRE, UH, WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT SOME AREAS WHERE WE HAD, UH, MADE THOSE DEFENSIBLE SPACES AROUND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THAT BE POLES OR SUBSTATIONS.
UH, THE FIRE DID GO THROUGH AND IT DIDN'T DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE OF THE PREVENTION, UH, THAT WE HAD PUT IN PLACE THERE.
AND WE WERE TO MORE EASILY ABLE TO GET OUR CUSTOMERS BACK ON BECAUSE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NOT DAMAGED.
UH, THE OTHER THING, WE ARE A STRONG SUPPORTER OF RIGHT TREE AND RIGHT PLACE.
UH, I KNOW AT MY HOME, UH, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE LAWNMOWER WITH THE CHAINSAW AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST PULLING WEEDS.
UH, AND WE SUPPORT ANY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, UH, AREA TO CALL HOME.
AND WE PUT THOSE THINGS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, UH, TO LESSEN THE RISK, UH, FROM A MITIGATION PERSPECTIVE, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU IN THE PAST HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROTOCOL.
WE, UH, MONITOR THE CONDITIONS, UH, ALONG WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, AND WE GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS.
WE CALL THEM PREPAREDNESS LEVELS.
AND AT DIFFERENT TIMES, DEPENDING ON HOW DRY, UH, THE FUELS, UH, WE WILL MOVE UP TO DIFFERENT LEVELS, LEVELS OF PREPARATION TO WHERE IF WE'RE OUT DOING WORK, UH, WE HAVE CERTAIN EQUIPMENT ON OUR TRUCKS THAT CAN, UH, EXTINGUISH OR FIGHT A FIRE IN THE INCIPIENT STAGE.
UH, WE ALSO CHANGE AROUND OUR, UH, RELAYING, UH, TO A NO RECLOSE STRATEGY.
UM, THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN THIS IS, UH, I'M SURE MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE YOU'VE LOST POWER AT YOUR HOME, AND THEN A FEW MINUTES OR SECONDS LATER, IT COMES RIGHT BACK ON.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A RE-CLOSING DEVICE.
DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR WHEN THE FIRE RISK IS, UH, MORE PREVALENT, WE DISABLE THAT RE-CLOSING, AND WE DO A FULL INSPECTION OF THAT FEEDER OR THAT CIRCUIT BEFORE WE TURN IT ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, UH, YOU KNOW, START ANY UNNEEDED UH, WILDFIRES.
UH, AGAIN, LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, WE CALL THOSE FAULT INDICATORS.
AND WHAT THOSE DO IS THOSE ALLOW OUR TROUBLE MEN OR, OR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BREADCRUMB TRAIL STRAIGHT TO WHERE THE ISSUE IS.
AND WE'VE INSTALLED OVER 2,500 OF THOSE ACROSS OUR SERVICE TERRITORIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE PROBLEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, AS WE KNOW THAT, UM, POWER OUTAGES ARE FRUSTRATING, UH, WE HAVE, UM, EXCUSE ME, UM, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT DEVICES THAT CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE ARE, UH, BUT WE ALSO RELY ON OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL.
WE HAVE A, A ROBUST COMMUNICATION, UH, CHANNEL.
UH, IF YOUR, IF YOU OR ONE OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCING AN OUTAGE, PLEASE, UH, TAKE THE TIME, UH, TO CALL US.
UH, WE HAVE ROLLED OUT A NEW OUTAGE MAP THAT IS MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY AND, AND IS ABLE TO TELL YOU WHERE, UH, THE OUTAGE IS OCCURRING AND THE ETA ON WHEN WE'D BE ABLE TO GET THAT BACK.
UH, FROM A RESPONSE PERSPECTIVE, UH, WE HAVE BUILT OUT OUR FIRE MITIGATION TEAM, UH, SUBSTANTIALLY.
WE HAVE ADDED, UH, METEOROLOGISTS, UM, THAT ARE LOOKING AT WEATHER PATTERNS SO THAT WE CAN PREDICT, UH, WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GET MORE RISKY.
UH, WE RESPOND, UH, TO WILDFIRES JUST AS, AS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND CITIES DO.
UH, WE'VE BUILT VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND PLANS, UH, WITH THOSE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SO THAT WHEN, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE TALKING TO US AND WE CAN BE A PARTNER, UH, WITHIN
[00:40:01]
THEIR INCIDENT COMMAND.UH, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD 60, UH, A PS EMPLOYEES GO THROUGH THE WILDFIRE ACADEMY, UH, THAT IS HELD AT EMBRY RIDDLE EVERY YEAR.
AND IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NETWORK, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND FIRE MANAGEMENT, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TEAMS. AND, UH, IT HELPS US TO, UH, HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND BE READY TO RESPOND WHEN, WHEN THEY GIVE US THE CALL.
UM, ONE FINAL THING FROM A, A RESPONSE PERSPECTIVE, AND, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, UH, LATELY, UM, WE'RE DEPLOYING A NEW TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX.
UH, SOME OTHER UTILITIES HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST.
UH, WE WANTED TO TAKE A REALLY, UH, GOOD LOOK AT IT, MAKE SURE THAT WE LEARN FROM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER UTILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE PAST.
AND THAT TOOL IS CALLED PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF.
AND WHAT THAT IS, IS, AND I'LL TRY TO PUT THIS IN AS YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I'M NOT THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE WORLD EITHER, UH, BUT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, A COMPUTER SYSTEM, UH, THAT CAN LOOK AT THE PAST, UH, FIRES.
IT CAN LOOK AT THE TERRAIN, IT CAN LOOK AT FUEL, IT CAN LOOK AT MOISTURE CONTENT, IT CAN LOOK AT WIND, UH, BOTH PAST AND PREDICTED IN THE FUTURE.
AND TELL US WHEN THE FIRE RISK AND WHERE THE FIRE RISK IS GOING TO BE MOST SUBSTANTIAL.
UH, FOR 2024, UH, WE, WE BEGAN MAY 1ST, UH, AS OUR, OUR PROGRAM, WE IDENTIFIED 13 CIRCUITS WITHIN OUR, UH, SERVICE TERRITORY.
UH, AND ALL OF THOSE 13 CIRCUITS EXIST IN NORTHERN ARIZONA.
UH, SOME ON THE, THE WEST SIDE AND SOME ON THE EAST SIDE.
UH, AND WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF IS, IS IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO PREDICT AND THEN TO MITIGATE THE BEST WE CAN.
UH, ANY FIRE THAT MAY START FROM, UH, OUR SYSTEM, UH, BY SHUTTING IT OFF FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE CUSTOMERS, UH, THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, UH, IN THIS AREA.
THERE IS, THERE IS NO CUSTOMERS WITHIN SEDONA PROPER THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.
UH, THE TWO AREAS ARE OFF OF OUR SEDONA 14 FEEDER, WHICH IS UP OAK CREEK CANYON, UH, AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, AREA IS, UH, OFF OF OUR CAPITAL BUTTE FOUR FEEDER, UH, WHICH IS NEAR ENCHANTMENT.
UM, IN ENCHANTMENT THERE'S A TOTAL OF TH 33 CUSTOMERS AND, UH, OFFICE SEDONA 14, IT'S 165 CUSTOMERS.
AND THE WAY THE COMMUNICATION WILL, UH, WORK IS AS, AS THAT PREDICTS OUT, WE WILL KNOW FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS BEFOREHAND.
AND THOSE CUSTOMERS, IF IT LOOKS, YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER, IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS, UH, THEY WILL BE COMMUNICATED WITH EVERY DAY.
UH, SO TTT MINUS SEVEN ALL THE WAY TO T ZERO.
UH, WE HAVE INITIATED A ROBUST COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION PLAN WITH OUR, UH, MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, WITH FIRE DISTRICTS AND WITH OUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW PEOPLE ARE PREPARED AND PEOPLE ARE COMMUNICATED WITH, UH, AS WE GO THROUGH THAT.
UH, THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS THAT THIS IS A TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX.
UH, THIS, UH, WE LOOKED AT FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, UH, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WHERE WE THINK WE MIGHT HAVE CALLED THIS ON A CERTAIN PARTICULAR CIRCUIT.
AND IT WAS, UM, FOUR TO FIVE TIMES WE WOULD'VE DONE THIS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ON, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE CIRCUIT VERSUS THE, THE WHOLE 13 CIRCUITS ACROSS, UH, THE STATE THAT WE'RE MONITORING.
UH, SOME OF THOSE OUTAGES WOULD LAST UP TO 20 HOURS.
UH, WE HAVE ABO UH, EXCUSE ME, A ROBUST PROGRAM THAT AFTER THAT TIMEFRAME, UH, WE HAVE PATROL ROUTES SET UP SO WE CAN PATROL THOSE AREAS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, USING DRONES, HELICOPTERS, LINEMEN ON THE GROUND, UH, UTVS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET THAT UP AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, ONE THING I DO, UH, BEFORE I OPEN TO QUESTIONS IS I WANT TO THANK THIS GROUP HERE AND THE OTHER, UH, LEADERS WITHIN YAVAPAI COUNTY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS.
IT'S A REAL RISK, UH, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT A PS TAKES IT SERIOUSLY.
[00:45:01]
WE ARE INVESTING HEAVILY IN THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CUSTOMERS SAFE.AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, LAST THING.
YOU MENTIONED THE 20 HOUR SHUTDOWNS.
ARE THE FACILITIES, THE CIRCUITS RESPON, ARE THEY SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIRES? IS THAT THE REASON THAT YOU'RE SHUTTING DOWN? I'M A LITTLE UNCLEAR ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIRE DANGER AND THOSE PARTICULAR FACILITIES.
UH, THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP.
BASICALLY, IN A SCENARIO LIKE THAT, YOU WILL HAVE VERY HIGH WIND AND SO, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH IT, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY FACTOR THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE, UH, ONE OF THE BIG DETERMINING FACTORS, UH, THAT WOULD WEIGH HEAVILY.
AND AS WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UH, MONSOONS OR LIGHTNING OR THINGS LIKE THAT, IF, BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, UH, IN A VERY HIGH, UH, RISK FIRE PERIOD OF TIME, IF IT WERE TO KNOCK DOWN A CONDUCTOR OR BREAK A POLE OR SOMETHING LIKE, SO WE PREEMPTIVELY SHUT IT OFF THAT WAY.
IF IT DOES DO THAT ON THE PATROL, WE CAN FIND IT, REPAIR IT, GET EVERYBODY BACK ON AND NOT START THAT ANSWERED, ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
THANK YOU MAYOR FRANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS GIVE, UH, OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR CUSTOMERS.
AND I KNOW WE SHARE ALL THE SAME CONCERNS.
QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK, YOU DID A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT YOUR TOOLBOX, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR WHETHER UNDERGROUNDING POWER LINES WAS AN ELEMENT IN YOUR TOOLBOX.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I SPECIFICALLY THINK ABOUT THE LANA EXPERIENCE IN PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, WHERE EVACUATION ROUTES WERE BLOCKED BY FALLEN POWER LINES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING OCCURRENCE IN AN EVACUATION.
I, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, THAT WE IN THE COUNTIES, UH, HAVE GONE THROUGH AN A, A NEW EVACUATION LOOK.
AND I'M WONDERING IF A PS HAS SAT DOWN WITH THOSE COUNTIES YET AND LOOKED AT OUR EVAC ROUTES AND THOUGHT ABOUT OVERHEAD LINES AND WHETHER, YOU KNOW, I GET OVER OVERHEAD, UH, BEARING OVERHEAD LINES IS A SUPER EXPENSIVE THING TO DO.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT EVERYWHERE, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME PRIORITIZATION.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT AP S'S POSITION AS ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO SEDONA.
AND DEFINITELY UNDERGROUNDING IS A TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX.
UH, I BELIEVE AT THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS INCLUDES OUR METRO AREA, ABOUT ABOUT 80% OF OUR FACILITIES ARE UNDERGROUND, UH, FOR THE STATE REGION AREA, NOT HERE.
UH, SO WE, WE GOTTA KEEP THAT IN MIND.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AS BEST I CAN IS YES, WE DO LOOK AT IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT IS A POSSIBILITY AND, AND IT DOESN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY FROM A FINANCIAL COST BASIS, UM, THAT WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT IN MIND, BECAUSE IT IS FROM A, A FIRE PERSPECTIVE, UH, UNDERGROUNDING IS, UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST, UH, FOR THAT TYPE OF A THING.
UH, WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT, UH, I'LL CALL 'EM MUNICIPALITIES AND, AND COUNTY GROUPS TO LOOK AT INGRESS AND EGRESS, UH, OF, OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, POWER POLES ARE, UH, AN OBSTRUCTION OR A POTENTIAL OBSTRUCTION IN CERTAIN CASES.
UH, ONE THING, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND LOOKED AT THE DATA, THE, THE NICE THING AND, AND I I I CAVEAT THIS A LITTLE BIT, UH, WITH HAVING, UH, POWER POLES NEAR THE ROAD, UM, IS ONE, THE VEGETATION CLEARING IS A FIRE BREAK.
AND, AND THERE ARE OFTEN USED AS FIRE BREAKS BY OUR, UH, FIRE SERVICE.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THEM BEING NEAR A ROAD, IT MAKES ACCESS VERY, VERY, UH, EFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REMOVE THAT.
UM, WHILE, UH, I WON'T SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GO IN AND UNDERGROUND EVERYTHING, WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT.
AND THEN IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR A ROAD IN A FIRE AREA, WE, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNERS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE, UH, THE INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR AN EVACUATION IS, AND THAT WE HAVE, UH, RESOURCES AVAILABLE
[00:50:01]
TO RESPOND AS NECESSARY.SO HAVE YOU HAD SPECIFIC MEETINGS YET, OR ARE THERE PLANNED MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW EVAC PLAN FOR OUR AREA? HAVE YOU SAT DOWN WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOLKS YET? YEAH, SO WE ACTUALLY, IT'S EITHER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK, UH, WE HAVE A TABLETOP EXERCISE THAT WE WILL SIT DOWN, UH, ASHLEY FROM THE COUNTY HAS IS PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND WE ARE GONNA RUN THROUGH SCENARIOS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE IDENTIFYING ANY GAPS IN THAT PLAN AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
KATHY, UH, TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID TO, WITH THE COUNTY, WHICH COUNTY? UH, YAVAPAI.
AND, AND WE ALSO ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE COCONINO, UH, COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND THERE ARE PLANS TO RUN THROUGH THE SAME TYPE OF TABLETOP.
BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE SPLIT BETWEEN.
UM, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THE GOVERNOR, UH, PUT OUT NOW A HEAT PREPAREDNESS PLAN AND DEVELOPED A NEW POSITION.
I DIDN'T CATCH THE TITLE OF THAT POSITION.
UM, SO IT'S BASED ON, ON THE ARTICLE I HAVE HERE, BUT IT IT'S A STATEWIDE HEAT OFFICER, HEAT OFFICER TO GET, YES.
AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU A COPY OF THIS FEE IF YOU'D LIKE.
UH, WELL, I GUESS WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS, WILL THAT PERSON BE INTERFACING DIRECTLY WITH A PS OR IS THAT PERSON WHO WILL BE INTERFACING AND AVAILABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUPS? I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S A, A NEW WAY OF COMMUNICATION, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I THINK DARLA LOOKS LIKE SHE WANTS TO CHOMP AT THAT ANSWER.
SHE CHOSE TO, TO STAY BACK THERE.
UM, YEAH, IT'S NOT DIRECTLY TO, UH, INTERFACE WITH A PS PER SE.
IT'S MORE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CONSTITUENCY OF, OF, YOU KNOW, LOCAL GOVERNMENT IT POSITION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANT THING THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING HOTTER AND HOTTER SUMMERS, I MEAN, THE LAST WEEK.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE POWER IS, YOU KNOW, AFFECTS THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, WE WANT TO BE VERY, UH, ENGAGED IN THAT AND, AND VERY AWARE OF WHAT THE, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE AND THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PART WE PLAY.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE DOING THOSE PATROLS AND YOU MENTIONED HOW MANY, UM, OVERHEAD LINES AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS 1900, I THINK, UH, FEED OF THAT YOU DID IN 38,000 MM-HMM.
UH, BUT HOW, HOW, WHEN A PATROL IS DONE OF AN AREA, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CIRCLE BACK TO THAT AREA FOR A FOLLOW UP PATROL TO MAKE SURE THAT CONDITIONS HAVEN'T CHANGED OR CONDITIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO CHANGE HAVE CHANGED? A ABSOLUTELY, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO, UH, FROM, WE, WE SPLIT OUR SYSTEM INTO, SO WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A DISTRIBUTION LINE INSPECTION, AND THAT INCLUDES ALL OF OUR FEEDERS, WHETHER THEY'RE IN A, WHAT WE CALL A FIRE MITIGATION AREA OR NOT, UH, WITH OUR FIRE MITIGATION FEEDERS, WHICH, UH, FOR US HERE IN THE NORTH IS JUST ABOUT EVERY FEEDER.
AND WE'RE, THAT'S ON A, ON A YEARLY, UH, PROCESS.
UM, WE, THROUGH OUR, WE HAVE MULTIPLE PATROLS THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UM, EACH, EACH DEFECT OR EACH, UH, IDENTIFIER THAT WE SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO COME BACK AND FIX THIS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S AFTER A SNOW STORM OR AFTER A MONSOON, COME BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.
UM, THEN EVERY TIME, UH, BASICALLY THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATIONS, UH, EACH OF THOSE FEEDERS ARE GETTING PATROLLED, UH, SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THEY ARE DOING PATROLS AS THEY GO.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY IDENTIFY SOMETHING, A WORK ORDER'S WRITTEN, THEY PLAN IT OUT.
THEY GO OUT, GET THE PERMITS AND GET, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT IS FIXED.
SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU CORRECTLY, FEEDERS SERVING SEDONA GET PATROLLED SEVERAL TIMES IN A YEAR? OH YEAH.
AND MY, UM, LAST QUESTION IS, UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND POLES.
UM, COULD I ASK YOU TO MEET, I THINK AS YOU TRY TO EXIT, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE CORNERED BY SOME PEOPLE IN OUR AUDIENCE.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE MEET WITH THEM, HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, LOOK AT THE PICTURES THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE.
AND, AND IF WE COULD, IF YOU COULD HELP GET ATTENTION TO THOSE AREAS THAT WE ARE SPECIFICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
[00:55:01]
TO BE CLEAR, THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND POLES, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY POLES, THE ONES WE START WITH ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE DEVICES ON THEM.SO TRANSFORMERS, RECLOSERS, FUSING, UH, ALL THOSE HISTORICALLY ARE SPARK EMITTING DEVICES.
AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE'VE STARTED.
UH, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORMERS HAVE OIL IN THEM, UH, FUSES WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY BLOW, UH, AT LEAST THE OLDER FUSES.
UM, SINCE WE STARTED OUR FIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS, WE'VE GONE TO A NON-PAR EMITTING FUSE.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE ONES WE'RE DOING FIRST, BUT I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY, GET ADDRESSES OR WHATEVER.
BRIAN, WE HAVE A VERY INFORMATIVE CONSTITUENCY.
I CAN CROSS THAT ONE QUESTION OFF OF MY LIST TOO.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UPTOWN
SO I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE IT WAS YOU WHO WAS PRESENTING THAT A PS PRESENTED, WE DID TALK ABOUT UNDERGROUND UNDERGROUNDING.
THAT'S A NEW TERM I JUST LEARNED FROM YOU, PETE.
UH, AND AT THAT POINT THERE WAS, THERE WAS REALLY NO INTENTION TO LOOK AT IT.
HAS THAT CHANGED? AND HOW DO WE GET UPTOWN AS, YOU KNOW, HIGH ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST? OKAY, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THAT THE BEST I CAN.
SO, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENTS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE PUT INTO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE SERVICE TERRITORY WITHIN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.
UH, KNOWING THAT THAT'S A HIGH FIRE RISK.
UM, THE THINGS WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AS WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT AREAS FOR REBUILD, FOR UNDERGROUNDING, FOR, UH, UPGRADE, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UH, ONE OF THE ONE, I I WOULD SAY THE TWO BIGGEST CHALLENGES, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DECIDING UNDERGROUND OR OVERHEAD, IS SCARRING, UH, OF THE, THE AREA BECAUSE, UM, WHILE, WHILE I, I THINK MANY WOULD AGREE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDERGROUND IS, IS BETTER 'CAUSE YOU DON'T SEE, YOU DON'T SEE IT, IT DOESN'T PROVIDE THE OVERHEAD, UM, AESTHETICS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT WITH THE TYPE OF SOIL WE HAVE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF, UH, OR THE SIZE OF THE TRENCH THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE INVOLVED, UH, PUTTING MANHOLES IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS AND HAVING ACCESS TO THAT, UH, DOES HAVE A NEGATIVE, UH, IMPACT ON, UH, THE, THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE, THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER THING, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY PLAYS A A PART IN IT IS THE COST.
UH, AND IS OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, TWO TO THREE TO FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT WHICH, YOU KNOW, TRANSLATES INTO OUR CUSTOMER'S, UH, YOU KNOW, RATES AND, AND WE WANT TO BE AS GOOD A STEWARDS AS WE CAN WITH THAT, THE ENVIRONMENT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BALANCING IT ALL OUT.
UH, BUT I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO, TO LOOK AT THE AREA AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, DO AN EVALUATION OF WHEN, WHEN WAS IT BUILT, WHAT, WHAT'S THE LOADING THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO PARTNER? THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.
AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE SO YOU CAN SEE THEM AND TALK TO THEM AND SET UP YOUR MEETING TIMES.
SO FRANK, LET'S CONTINUE ON FROM THAT TO THE VICE MAYOR'S POINT.
UH, I THINK THAT, UH, THE KNOWING THE RESIDENTS IN UPTOWN THE WAY I DO, THEY WOULD RATHER DEAL WITH THE GROUND, WITH THE GROUND SCARRING FOR THE TIME BEING AND HAVE THE WIRES UNDERGROUNDED.
I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, I, I'M SPEAKING OUTTA TURN.
I THINK THAT THAT'S HIGH ON THEIR PRIORITY 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALL CONCERNED.
BUT UNTIL THAT WOULD BE DONE IF, IF IT WOULD BE DONE, THE UNDERGROUNDING, THE POLES THAT ARE THERE, THEY, THEY'RE NOT FIREPROOF, RIGHT? NO, THEY'RE NOT.
BUT, UH, HOW, WHAT DID IT TAKE TO HAVE, AND ACCORDING TO WHAT, UH, WHETHER PETE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, POLES HAVING, UH, NO, THAT WAS ME.
I WAS JUST LIKE, OKAY, YOU DON'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE YOU GLASSES CATCH ALL US APART.
BUT, UM, AND THAT WAS, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU HOW OFTEN YOU DO THE, UH, UH, CLEAR THE GROUND COVER.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT, IT, IT MUST TAKE YOU YEARS TO GET ONE WHOLE TOWN, BUT IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UH, THE BRUSH
[01:00:01]
AND IT WOULD BE AN, UH, SOME KIND OF SPARK, HOW QUICK CAN THOSE POLES LIGHT UP? IS IT EASY, HARD? UH, IT, IT'S A LITTLE HARDER THAN, YOU KNOW, YOUR NORMAL VEGETATION.ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS PART OF OUR, UH, PREVENTION, UH, TOOLBOX FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, UH, IS THEY, WE HAVE RECENTLY ADOPTED A STANDARD OF WHAT'S CALLED, UH, FIRE MESH.
UH, YOU WRAP THE POLE WITH THIS FIRE MESH, IT'S A HEAT DISSIPATION, UH, PRODUCT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE, UH, TESTING IT IN THE YARD AND, AND THEY'LL PUT A TORCH ON IT FOR A WHILE AND PULL IT OFF AND YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND RIGHT ON IT AND IT, AND IT DISSIPATES THE HEAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES, UH, OR WORKING ON, UH, NORMALLY WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GRASS, UH, VERSUS, YOU KNOW, LIKE TREES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, OUR OUR VEGETATION PATROLS ARE VERY, UH, FOCUSED ON THINGS FALLING INTO THE LINE, UH, VERSUS, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THERE'S GRASS AROUND THEM.
AND SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE A DISTINCTION, UH, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE.
SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE THAT MATERIAL WRAPPED IN THE POLES, AROUND THE POLES? IS THAT A BIG EXPENDITURE OR BIG UNDERTAKING? IT'S A LOT LESS, UH, DIFFICULT THAN UNDERGROUNDING THE WIRES, I WOULD THINK.
AND UH, OUR, OUR CURRENT APPROACH RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE SHIFTING OUR, UH, STANDARD IN THE NORTH TO BE, ANYTIME WE CHANGE OUT A POLE, IT, IT IS ALREADY WRAPPED, IT'S DONE.
UH, WE ARE DOING SOME PROACTIVE, UH, WRAPPING, UH, AS PART OF THE DSAP PROGRAM AND THAT'S POLLS THAT HAVE DEVICES ON THEM.
UM, BUT I I, I'D BE WILLING TO CONSIDER, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A BUDGETARY, UH, PORTION TO THAT, THAT WE'D HAVE TO BE VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, COGNIZANT OF, UH, THAT THAT WOULD GO INTO THE DECISION MAKING.
BUT I, I'D BE OPEN TO TALK THROUGH WITH ANYBODY AND SEE, YOU KNOW, ANY WAY WE CAN PARTNER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH DOLLAR ON HAVING, UH, WHAT DO THEY CALL THOSE POLES THAT THEY'VE BEEN CUT, THE TOP HAS BEEN CUT OFF, THEY'RE TRANSITIONING TO ANOTHER POLE.
THEY'VE, THEY TWIN POLES, WHAT DO THEY CALL THOSE, UH, UH, JOINT USE POLES? YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE.
WELL, NOT A JOINT USE ONE'S DECOMMISSIONED NEXT TO A NEW POLE.
AND TO GET THOSE DECOMMISSIONED POLES DOWN IS AN ACT OF CONGRESS CERTAINLY ABOVE OUR PAY GRADE.
BUT, AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH, UH, POWER COMPANY, IT'S MORE THE OTHER UTILITIES THAT ARE ON THOSE POLES.
IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK AND SOMETIMES IT COULD BE 10 YEARS, BUT IF, IF THERE'S AN AREA SUCH AS EBOLA HILLS OR ALL OF UPTOWN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHAT IS, COULD IT BE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, FOR REPLACEMENT SOONER? YEAH.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR, FROM A REMOVAL PERSPECTIVE, IF, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT A NEW POLE IN, UH, THAT, AND I'M JUST GUESSING FOR A, A TELCO TYPE SCENARIO IS STILL ON THERE, UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, AN OFFICE WITHIN, UH, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION THAT HAS, UH, RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE ENTITIES AND, AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND, AND GET THAT REMOVED.
SO IT, IT REMOVES AT LEAST THAT HAZARD.
AND WHAT ABOUT CHANGING THE POLES TO METAL? BUT I KNOW SOME OF THE METAL POLES IN UPTOWN ARE, I DUNNO, 20 FEET TALLER THAN THE REGULAR WOOD POLES.
AND THE CHALLENGE IS, UH, I WOULD IMAGINE IN SOME SCENARIOS, MAYBE NOT ALL, BUT IN SOME SCENARIOS, UH, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE POLE.
UH, WE CANNOT CLIMB A WOOD, OR EXCUSE ME, A STEEL POLE.
AND SO, UH, OUR STANDARD IS TO PUT IN AND REPLACE WITH STEEL POLES, BUT IN AREAS WHERE WE CAN'T GET OUR BUCKET TRUCKS TO IT, OUR LINEMEN HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB THE POLE.
AND SO THAT MAKES IT NECESSARY TO PUT AS GOOD OF A WOOD POLE WITH, WITH AS MUCH PROTECTIONS ON IT AS WE CAN.
AND THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE DEAL WITH THERE.
SO WITH THE, UH, ALL HAZARDS EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND REENTRY PLAN THAT WE HAVE, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, WERE YOU PART OF THE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE OR NOT.
WELL, JUST A PS IN GENERAL, BUT, UM, IF THERE'S, DO, DO, UH, WIRES NORMALLY CROSSROADS YES.
SO IF YOU CONTACT, OR, UH, AT LEAST IN THAT TOWN, IT WOULD BE WEST FROM COCAINO COUNTY, AND YOU FOUND THAT THERE ARE WIRES THAT GO OVER THE ROUTES THAT WE WOULD USE FOR EVACUATION, COULD THOSE
[01:05:01]
SPECIFIC POLES ON EITHER SIDE, UH, ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, COULD THOSE BE FOCUSED ON TO LOOK AT, BE LOOKED AT FIRST AS A PRIMARY, UH, CONCERN? YEAH, I, I THINK WE COULD PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON THAT.UM, I, I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, IN WORKING WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARTNERS, IDENTIFY THAT AS, UH, YOU KNOW, A POSSIBILITY.
UM, WHAT I CAN COMMIT TO IS, IS MAKING SURE WE TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT.
I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IS DIFFERENT, SO, UH, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT JUST BY THE FACT OF YOU BEING INVOLVED, IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
UM, SO EBOLA HILLS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALL UPTOWN, HAS A PROBLEM WHERE IF THEY LOSE THEIR POWER, THEY LOSE THEIR WATER AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.
SO, UH, NOT ONLY FOR, UH, DOMESTIC WATER, BUT THEY LOSE THE WATER FOR THE FIRE HYDRANTS.
SO WOULD YOU, UH, IF I, IF YOU WANT, I CAN GET YOU THE NAME, UH, JOHN SNICKERS AND GET YOU HIS CONTACT INFORMATION TO MAYBE WORK WITH ARIZONA WATER, BECAUSE THAT'S A, A PROBLEM WHERE FOR WHATEVER REASON, A REGULAR OUTAGE, THEY LOSE THE WATER.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF ARIZONA WATER IS LIKE THAT, BUT WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE FROM LAST YEAR THAT THAT DOES HAPPEN.
BUT, UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLICS TWO BEFORE WE GO? TWO, TWO QUICK FOLLOW UPS.
UM, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT A SECOND, DO YOU EVER, DO YOU EVER PARTNER WITH, UM, AN LIKE ARIZONA WATER COMPANY IN THIS INSTANCE TO HELP PROVIDE GENERATORS IF THEY WOULD NEED ONE AS A BACKUP IN CASE THE POWER GOES OUT? IS THAT SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU COULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ARIZONA WATER TRYING TO GET A GENERATOR TO ENSURE THAT THAT POWER IS NOT INTERRUPTED? CAN THEY, CAN YOU WORK WITH THEM? CAN THEY WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU TO TRY AND HELP WITH THE SITUATION? IT'S A VERY THREATENING SITUATION.
I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE, THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE, THE CONTACT INFORMATION.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UH, UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THE SCENARIO THEY'RE IN DURING A POWER OUTAGE, UH, IF THEY PUT TOGETHER A PLAN WHERE THEY WANT TO INSTALL A, A GENERATOR, UM, I CAN WORK WITH THE VERDE, WHAT WE CALL THE VERDE DOCK.
UM, AND IT, WHEN THEY REQUEST TO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, SET UP TO BE ABLE TO RUN A A GENERATOR, WE CAN HAVE THOSE PROJECT MANAGERS WORK WITH THEM, UH, MAKE SURE THEY'RE SET UP CORRECTLY AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, WE HAVE IT AT TIMES, UH, WORKED THROUGH, UH, WE DON'T PERSONALLY HAVE A BUNCH OF GENERATORS THAT WE CAN JUST GO STICK ON.
IT DEPENDS ON THE VOLTAGE AND, AND WHAT KIND OF FLOW, THE HORSEPOWER, THE MOTOR.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE REALLY, UH, ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL, UH, DIFFERENT GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE AS FAR AS THIS VERY, UH, ISSUE GOES, GETTING THEIR EQUIPMENT SET UP TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCESSIBLE, UH, TO A GENERATOR AND MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S EASY.
IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A PERMANENT ONE, IT MAKES IT EASY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HOOK UP TO ONE.
I, I, AGAIN, JUST I WOULD ASK THAT SOMEHOW WE PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH JOHN SNICKERS FROM ARIZONA WATER, AND THE TWO OF YOU PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP EACH OTHER TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN TO US.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEHOW THAT THAT INTRODUCTION TAKES PLACE.
AND THE SECOND FOLLOW UP HAS VERY QUICK, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STEEL POLES WEREN'T CLIMBABLE, BUT BACK EAST I USED TO SEE THE ONES WITH THE LITTLE FOOT RUNGS ON THEM.
DO YOU NOT USE THOSE, UH, CURRENTLY WITH THE, THE WAY? SO THERE'S, WITHOUT GETTING TOO FAR INTO IT, THERE'S DIFFERENT, UH, GROUNDING STYLES AND, UH, SAFETY PROTOCOLS, UH, THAT OUR LINEMEN ARE TRAINED TO DO CURRENTLY WITHIN OUR SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
WE DO NOT CLIMB, UH, STEEL POLES BECAUSE THEY'RE CONDUCTIVE.
UH, AND SO, UM, IT, THAT THAT'S WHEN IT, NOT, NOT TO SAY THAT IN THE FUTURE THAT MIGHT CHANGE, UM, BUT, UH, CURRENTLY, YOU KNOW, FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T CLIMB, UH, STEEL POLES.
THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
SHE'LL, YOU CAN ASK HER, RIGHT? YOU CLIMB THE POLE.
WELL WHAT, WHEN YOU EXERCISE, BUT THE POWERS OUT.
JESSICA, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A, A FOLLOW UP? I, WELL, I, I GUESS I AM, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE AS OPPOSED TO JUST UPTOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, I UNDERSTAND
[01:10:01]
UPTOWN HAS MADE ITS ISSUES KNOWN.UM, DO WE KNOW IF ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY, THE, WHEN THE ELECTRICITY GOES OUT, THE WATER GOES OUT TOO? WE, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.
HOW WILL WE DO THAT? I'LL MAKE A PHONE CALL AND FIND OUT.
IT'S JUST A QUESTION YOU CAN CALL AND ASK AS WELL.
IS THAT THE ONE YOU WOULD KNOW? THAT'S THE ONE.
BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF SEDONA IS AT RISK OF FIRE.
AND, UM, I, I DON'T WANNA LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT, THAT THE COUNCIL IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH, WITH ONE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR GETTING WRAPPING OF POLES AND CLEANING OF VEGETATION AND UNDERGROUNDING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I JUST WANT SOMEHOW TO HAVE A, A WIDER VIEW.
AND, UM, AND IF I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THAT'S A CITYWIDE PROBLEM OR IT'S JUST LIMITED.
IT, IT WOULD BE NICE EBOLA HILLS.
IT, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW, BUT I THINK, UH, I KNOW OUR EMERGENCY EVACUATION, UH, AND REENTRY PLAN IS FLUID AND IT'S ALWAYS EVOLVING.
SO I'M SURE THAT THAT COULD BE, BECAUSE IT'S NEVER GONNA BE DONE.
I JUST, I JUST WANT THAT, OF COURSE.
AND ANNETTE IS, IS SAYING SHE'S GONNA DO IT.
UM, JOE, DO YOU HAVE CARDS? NO, MA'AM.
I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND SEEING NO ANYBODY WANT TO, TO ADDRESS THIS NOW IS THE TIME.
NO CARDS, NO ONE'S STANDING UP.
NO ONE'S WAVING THEIR HANDS TO ME.
SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
SO WHY DON'T WE GO WITH, UH, COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE COMMENTS ON EITHER SIDE? NO, FRANK, WE ARE GOOD.
I WAS REALLY, UH, UH, VERY AFFIRMATIVE.
I THINK DOLA KNOWS JOHN SNICKERS, SO SHE'S SHE'S GOT THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.
[8.b. AB 3046 Discussion/possible action regarding the adoption of a Resolution approving the sale and execution and delivery of Excise Tax Revenue Obligations, Series 2024, in an amount not to exceed $18,000,000; approving the form and authorizing the execution and delivery of necessary agreements, instruments and documents; delegating authority to determine certain matters with respect to the foregoing and declaring an emergency.]
B, AB 30 46.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THIS, UH, THE SAFE, UH, THE SALE AND EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE EXCISE TAX REVENUE OBLIGATIONS SERIES 2024 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 18 MILLION, APPROVING THE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EX EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF NECESSARY AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND DOCUMENTS.
DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE CERTAIN MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE FOREGOING AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
SO, UH, ANNETTE, DID YOU WANT TO JUST TOUCH ON THIS BEFORE WE BEGIN OR AFTER THE, UH, WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE PRESENTATION.
I BELIEVE THAT MR. LEPER WILL TOUCH ON A NUMBER OF THE, UM, UM, ITEMS RELATED TO THIS, THE FACTUAL ITEMS RELATED TO THIS, AND I'M HAPPY TO CHIME IN AT THE END IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, MR. MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK LEPER.
I WORK FOR A LOCAL INVESTMENT BANK, UH, BASED OUTTA PHOENIX CALLED STIFEL.
UM, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED AS THE UNDERWRITER ON THIS BOND TRANSACTION.
UH, I'VE GOT A FEW SLIDES FOR YOU TONIGHT.
UH, SOME OF THEM ARE A REPEAT FROM, UH, LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
FIRST OFF IS THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS, UM, FOR THIS PROPOSED FINANCING.
SO, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST MONTH, THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO USE ABOUT $18.6 MILLION OF UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS FROM THE 2022 SALE, UH, IN COMBINATION WITH AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 4000004.08 MILLION, UH, DOLLARS OF BONDS TO FUND THAT 22.6, UH, MILLION DOLLAR PARKING GARAGE PROJECT.
UH, THAT NUMBER WAS SHARED AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
UM, IN ADDITION, THE $12 MILLION FOR THE FOREST ROAD PROJECT WILL ALSO BE FINANCED WITH THESE BONDS.
SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRINCIPLE WE'RE EXPECTING AT THE MOMENT, UH, TO COMPLETE THIS FINANCING, THE PARKING GARAGE AND THE FOREST ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, IS APPROXIMATELY 16.3, UH, MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT $16.3 MILLION ALSO COVERS THE ESTIMATED COST OF ISSUANCE AND UNDERWRITER'S DISCOUNT, UH, FOR THE TRANSACTION.
UH, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR SPREADSHEET TO WHAT YOU SAW LAST MONTH, UH, DETAILING THE PLAN OF ALLOCATING THE $4 MILLION THAT YOU CAN SEE IN COLUMN FIVE FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.
UM, WE'RE COMPARING THAT TO THE NET ESTIMATED
[01:15:01]
REVENUES OF THE PARKING GARAGE, UH, CURRENTLY ESTIMATED BY STAFF IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $1.6 MILLION A YEAR.UH, THE PLAN IS TO MOVE, UH, ABOUT 72%, OR THAT $18.6 MILLION FROM THE 2022 TRANSACTION TO BE PAID BY THE PARKING GARAGE REVENUES, UH, STARTING IN FISCAL 27.
SO WITH THESE ESTIMATED NET REVENUES OF THE, UH, PARKING GARAGE, THERE'S, UH, ENOUGH COVERAGE TO PAY, UH, THAT PORTION OF THE BOND DEBT SERVICE.
NOW, IN COLUMN EIGHT, WE HAVE THE $12 MILLION FOR THE FOREST ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THAT WOULD BE PAID FROM THE GENERAL FUND, SHIFTING THAT $1.3 MILLION FROM THE PARKING GARAGE THAT WAS BEING PAID BY THE GENERAL FUND OVER TO THE PARKING GARAGE.
UH, AND THEN USING THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FOREST ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY $335, $335,000, UH, PER YEAR IN SAVINGS FOR A TOTAL, UH, ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF 5.3 MILLION.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE, UH, TOTAL FINANCING, THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE TRANSACTION IS INCLUDED THERE IN, UH, COLUMN 10.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW ON THE BOND MARKET.
UM, AS IT STANDS TODAY, WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE TOP IS A, UH, LOOK AT THE BENCHMARK TAX EXEMPT INTEREST RATES SINCE JANUARY OF 21.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD VERY LOW INTEREST RATES BACK THEN, UH, DURING THE COVID CRISIS, AND THEY STARTED TO INCREASE RATHER QUICKLY STARTING EARLY.
UH, IN 2022, YOU ACTUALLY COMPLETED THAT $25 MILLION FINANCING JUST BEFORE IN INFLATION REALLY STARTED TAKING OFF, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO LOCK IN VERY LOW RATES, UH, ON THAT TRANSACTION.
SO AS, UH, THESE, THESE MMD YIELDS THAT I'M SHOWING HERE ARE THE TAX EXEMPT MARKETS EQUIVALENT TO US TREASURIES.
SO IN MOST OF THE FINANCIAL MARKETS, EVERYTHING'S BASED OFF OF THE TREASURIES SPREADS TO TREASURIES WHERE TREASURIES ARE.
BUT SINCE INVESTORS OF US TREASURIES PAY INCOME TAX ON THEIR INTEREST EARNINGS, IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD COMPARABLE.
SO WHAT THE TAX EXEMPT INDUSTRY USES IS THEIR OWN AAA MM MD METRIC.
AND WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY IS, IS THE YIELDS ON THE HIGHEST RATED, HIGHEST CREDITS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, UH, THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND ARE USED AS AN EXAMPLE.
UH, THOSE, THOSE ARE SORT OF THE, THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES THAT A MUNICIPALITY CAN GET.
SO THEN EVERYTHING IN OUR INDUSTRY IS SOLD AT A SPREAD TO THOSE AAA MDS.
SO THE TOP GRAPH IS JUST A, A HISTORY OF THOSE SINCE 21.
UH, YOU CAN SEE RATES DROPPED QUITE A BIT IN LATE 2023, BUT HAVE STARTED INCHING BACK UP AS INFLATION CONTINUES TO BE, UH, SORT OF A, A STICKY, UM, METRIC.
UH, STRONG JOBS REPORTS, UH, CONTINUE TO GIVE, UH, THE FED JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT CUTTING RATES AND LEAVING THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, IN FACT, THERE'S A, A FED MEETING TOMORROW WHERE WE WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
UM, ORIGINALLY WE HAD EXPECTED A HANDFUL OF CUTS THIS YEAR, BUT SO FAR NONE HAVE HAPPENED.
AND THERE'S SOME WHISPERS OF RATES EVEN POTENTIALLY BEING INCREASED.
UM, BUT WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET ANY HINTS AT THE FED MEETING.
THE BOTTOM CHART IS A HISTORICAL RANGE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS FOR EACH PRINCIPAL MATURITY.
SO EACH OF THESE BONDS IS IT, EACH PRINCIPAL PAYMENT IS ITS OWN BOND OF ITS OWN MATURITY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE YEARS ONE THROUGH 29 AND THE BARS ARE THE RANGE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.
AND THE SOLID BLUE LINE IS WHERE WE ARE NOW IN TERMS OF MMD.
SO, UM, CERTAINLY WE'RE NOT AT RECORD LOWS LIKE WE USED TO BE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT, UH, WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RANGE NOW AND IT REMAINS A GOOD TIME, UH, TO BE ISSUING, UH, MUNICIPAL DEBT, UH, AS FAR AS THE BOND PROCESS IN CASE IT'S HELPFUL.
UM, I JUST WANTED A QUICK GO OVER, UM, WHERE WE ARE.
UH, THE INITIAL PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
WE'VE COLLECTED, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION FROM THE CITY TO INCLUDE IN THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT, UH, WHICH IS THE OFFERING DOCUMENT SHOWN TO INVESTORS.
UH, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE, THE FUNDING NEEDS, UH, THAT SOURCES AND USES TABLE.
I SHARED, UM, ON THE FIRST SLIDE, AND WE'VE COMPLETED THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED TO THE RATING AGENCIES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.
[01:20:01]
BE USED TO, UH, SEND OUT TO THE OVERALL MARKET AND GET INVESTORS, UM, SOLICIT, UH, ORDERS FROM INVESTORS.UH, GROUP TWO DUE DILIGENCE, UH, COMPLETION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE AS PART OF YOUR PACKET.
THE DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS, UH, THE DRAFT PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
UH, THE TEAM HAS CONDUCTED DUE DILIGENCE, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WHERE WE GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT AND MAKE SURE ALL THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IS ACCURATE.
AND, UH, GROUP, REALLY GROUP FOUR IS WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT, COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO THIS IS WHERE THE FINANCING TERMS AND RELATED FINANCING DOCUMENTS ARE APPROVED, AND THAT FORMALLY, UH, DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO STAFF TO COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION.
UM, WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, UPON APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT, UH, WE WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE TO GROUP THREE AND WE WILL, UM, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN SPEAKING WITH RATING AGENCIES, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER A RATING PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE FINANCIAL STRENGTHS, METRICS, UH, LOCAL ECONOMY, STRONG DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE OF THE CITY.
UH, AND WE PLAN TO HOLD THOSE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK AFTER WE HAVE THOSE MEETINGS.
IT TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT A WEEK TO GET THE FINAL RATING BACK AND THE RATING REPORT, WHICH INVESTORS WILL ALSO, UH, THEY LIKE TO READ THAT IT'S USUALLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR PAGES HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW.
THE CITY IS CURRENTLY THEIR EXCISE TAX CREDIT, UH, IS CURRENTLY RATED AA MINUS FROM S AND P.
UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT UPGRADED TO AA.
CERTAINLY THE CITY HAS VERY STRONG FINANCIAL METRICS.
UM, IN THE PAST, UH, RATING AGENCIES TEND TO NOT DOCK THE CITY, BUT TEND TO DISCOUNT, UH, TOURIST ECONOMIES.
WHAT WE'LL WANNA DO IS REALLY DRIVE HOME THAT THE SEDONA TOURIST ECONOMY IS SPECIAL.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, A A IT, IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS OF ARIZONA THAT THE TOURIST ECONOMY'S NOT, UH, A LIABILITY BY ANY MEANS.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, PUT FORTH THE BEST STORY.
WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET YOU AN UPGRADE, UH, IN THE EVENT THAT THAT AA MINUS, UH, IS AFFIRMED OR REASSIGNED.
UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST ON THE 2022 TRANSACTION IS YOU CAN PURCHASE AA RATED BOND INSURANCE FOR A ONE-TIME INSURANCE PREMIUM PAID OUT OF THE, UH, BOND FINANCING.
SO ESSENTIALLY, UH, YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO LOWER INTEREST RATES AT THAT AA LEVEL THAT EXCEED THE COST OF THE INSURANCE, UM, FOR SAVINGS TO THE CITY AND THE TAXPAYERS.
ONCE WE'VE GOT THE RATING, WE'LL PUBLISH THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT, START THE MARKETING PROCESS.
UH, STIFEL HAS A VERY VAST DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.
WE SELL TO ALL KINDS OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, RETAIL INVESTORS, UM, UH, MUTUAL FUNDS, BOND FUNDS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, UH, ALL KINDS OF INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH, UM, WITH LARGE TAX LIABILITIES BECAUSE THEY GET TO AVOID PAYING INCOME TAX ON THEIR INTEREST.
EARNINGS ARE REALLY LIKE THESE CREDITS.
THE HISTORY OF DEFAULTS OF MUNICIPAL DEBT IS VERY, VERY LOW, UH, OVER THE, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED YEARS THAT MUNICIPAL DEBT HAS BEEN ISSUED.
UM, SO THE ACTUAL PRICING DAY, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS OVER TWO DAYS.
SO THERE'LL BE A PRE PRICING DAY WHERE CITY STAFF, UH, GET ON THE PHONE WITH OUR UNDERWRITERS WHO WORK OUT OF A UNDERWRITING DESK IN DENVER, AND WE'LL DISCUSS THE PRELIMINARY, UM, INTEREST RATES, COUPONS, YIELDS, UH, WHAT KIND OF INVESTORS ARE INTERESTED IN THE BONDS.
UM, THEN THE NEXT MORNING, VERY EARLY, EARLY IN THE MORNING, 'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S DONE ON NEW YORK TIME.
UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THERE'S NO SURPRISES IN THE MARKET.
NO, YOU KNOW, GEOPOLITICAL EVENTS THAT COULD THROW OFF THE PRICING.
AND IF THE, UH, THE WATERS ARE CALM, WE'LL ENTER THE MARKET.
TYPICALLY A 90 DAY OR A 90 MINUTE ORDER PERIOD WHERE INVESTORS CAN SUBMIT THEIR ORDERS FOR SPECIFIC MATURITIES IF CERTAIN MATURITIES ARE OVERSUBSCRIBED.
SO THERE'S MORE DEMAND, MORE ORDERS FOR MATURITIES THAN THERE ARE BONDS IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKET.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECREASE SPREADS OR LOWER YIELDS.
UM, SO WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A, A SUPPLY AND DEMAND IMBALANCE, UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.
UH, THIS SLIDE I ALREADY SORT OF COVERED, UH, MOST OF THESE ITEMS, UM, TYPES OF BUYERS, HOW WE MARKET THE BONDS, UH, WHY CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS ARE INTERESTED IN A, A CREDIT LIKE, UH, SEDONA.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ORDER PERIOD,
[01:25:02]
UH, ON THAT PRICING DAY.AFTER WE MAKE THOSE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS, OUR ROLE AS UNDERWRITER IS TO ESSENTIALLY LOCK IN THE RATES FOR YOU SO YOU NO LONGER HAVE INTEREST RATE, RISK OF ANY KIND.
UH, IN THE EVENT THAT SOME MATURITIES AREN'T FULLY SUBSCRIBED FOR, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUR UNDERWRITER IS TO PURCHASE THOSE OURSELVES AND TAKE THEM INTO OUR INVENTORY AND WORK THEM OFF AS WE CAN.
SO ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE REMOVING RISK FOR YOU NOT RECEIVING THE AMOUNT OF PROCEEDS YOU NEED.
AND WE'RE LOCKING IN RATES WITH INVESTORS ON THAT PRICING DAY.
THIS IS, UH, A VERY SMALL SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THAT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE.
THE, THE PRE PRICING, THE RELEASE IN THE MORNING, AND THE POST PRICING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PROBABLY VERY TOO SMALL TO READ, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT'S A LITTLE BIT, YOU CAN SEE, CAN YOU PACKET PAGE 2 56 IF YOU WANNA, MAYBE I CAN.
SO IN THIS EXAMPLE TRANSACTION, THE X COLUMN REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT OF OVERSUBSCRIPTION WE HAVE FOR EACH MATURITY.
SO TWO TIMES OR TWO MEANS TWO TIMES OVERSUBSCRIBED, 3.2, 3.2 TIMES OVERSUBSCRIBED, ET CETERA.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OVERSUBSCRIPTION LEVEL AND THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE MAKE FOR FINAL PRICING.
YOU CAN SEE ON THIS TRANSACTION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOWERING CERTAIN MATURITIES BY FOUR BASIS POINTS, AND THAT, UH, FOUR BASIS POINTS MEANS 0.04%.
IT SEEMS LIKE A SMALL NUMBER, BUT WHEN YOU'RE PAYING DEBT OFF OVER 20, 25, 30 YEARS, UH, THOSE BASIS POINTS MATTER.
SO WE CERTAINLY WANT TO, UH, ACHIEVE AS LOW OF A BORROWING COST AS WE CAN.
UH, REAL QUICKLY, THE CLOSING PROCESS.
ONCE WE LOCK IN RATES, WE'LL COMPLETE THE, THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
UH, BOND COUNSEL WILL SEND THEM OUT FOR SIGNATURE, UH, FROM THE VARIOUS PARTIES.
ON CLOSING DAY, STIFEL WILL WIRE THE TOTAL PROCEEDS OF THE TRANSACTION TO A TRUSTEE BANK, UH, WHO WILL PAY THE COST OF ISSUANCE, AND THE CITY WILL SUBMIT, UM, REQUESTS TO USE THE BOND PROCEEDS FOR, UH, THE PROJECTS.
THE CLOSING TYPICALLY HAPPENS ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT PRICING DATE AS WELL.
AND THEN REAL QUICK, WE'VE JUST GOT OUR FINANCING CALENDAR.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING UNDER, UH, OF COURSE, WE'RE HERE, UH, TONIGHT ON JUNE 11TH FOR THE, UM, COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION CURRENTLY INCLUDES AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE, UM, WHICH IF APPROVED, WOULD ALLOW YOU TO ENTER THE MARKETS, UH, AS SOON AS REALLY WE RECEIVE THAT FINAL RATING.
UM, THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING THAT MANY MUNICIPALITIES IN ARIZONA DO, UM, BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UM, THE MARKET CONDITIONS AS THEY ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO YOU.
IF IT ALLOWS US TO LOCK IN THOSE RATES, IF WE EXPECT THEM TO RISE MATERIALLY AND IMMINENTLY, IT ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THE MARKET AND LOCK IN THOSE RATES.
UH, CONVERSELY, IF THERE'S A RALLY IN THE MARKET, IF RATES DROP 10, 15, 20 BASIS POINTS DUE TO SOME, UH, FINANCIAL OR GEOPOLITICAL EVENT, IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO ENTER THE MARKET QUICKER, UH, RATHER THAN WAITING AND RESULT IN SAVINGS FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
UH, WITH THIS CURRENT SCHEDULE, WE PLAN TO PRICE AFTER RECEIVING THE RATING, UH, EARLY JULY.
EARLY JULY IS A GREAT TIME TO PRICE BECAUSE A LOT OF INVESTORS ARE GETTING THEIR PRINCIPAL BACK ON OTHER BONDS THAT THEY OWN.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO REDEPLOY, UM, THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
THEY'RE RECEIVING JULY ONE, UH, IN NEW BONDS.
SO OFFERING, UM, SEDONAS BONDS EARLY JULY, UH, COULD BE PRETTY ADVANTAGEOUS.
UM, JUST CREATING THAT SUPPLY AND DEMAND IMBALANCE SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN TIGHTEN RATES, UH, AS BEST WE CAN.
AND THEN AGAIN, TWO OR THREE WEEKS AFTER WE CLOSE AND THE TRANSACTION, UH, IS COMPLETE.
UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, COUNCILOR WILLIAMSON, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR ATTORNEY ABOUT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE AND WHETHER WE'VE USED IT IN THE PAST.
JUST EXPLAIN, I KNOW YOU EXPLAINED IT, BUT, UM, I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM, FROM OUR ATTORNEY ABOUT, ABOUT ITS USE IN, IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
[01:30:02]
SURE.THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILORS AND COUNCILOR WILLIAMSON.
SO IN THE, IN THE, IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, THERE HAVE BEEN, AND I WAS TRYING TO COUNT THEM ALL, BUT THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST 24, AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ACCURATE.
I DON'T KNOW THERE'S BEEN ANY EXTRA, UH, 24 BOND ISSUANCES AND REFUNDINGS, MOSTLY REFUNDINGS OF PRIOR BONDS AS INTEREST RATES GOT, WERE IMPROVED AND OF THE 24, 23 WERE APPROVED, UH, WITH AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
THE ONE EXCEPTION WAS A 1992 REFUNDING.
UM, THAT WAS NOT, UH, ALTHOUGH THE COUNCIL PACKET ACTUALLY DID SAY IT WAS INTENDED TO BE DONE BY EMERGENCY DECLARATION, THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN IN THE RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL WILLIAMSON, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? UM, I THINK
IN TERMS OF ITS FINANCES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST OF, OF, THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.
COUNCILOR WILLIAMSON AND ALSO THE, UH, IT LOCKS IN INTEREST RATES.
UH, WHEREAS IF, IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY, THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT INTEREST RATES THE CITY MIGHT ACTUALLY GET WHEN THAT WERE TO COME UP.
UM, BOND COUNCIL'S ALSO HERE, UH, AND PAUL, AND HE'S ABLE TO TALK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HE SEES AMONG OTHER CITIES.
IT'S COMMON FOR CITIES TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE.
DID YOU WANT HIM TO ANSWER THE QUESTION? WHY? WHY DON'T YOU, UH, JUST GIVE, START WITH YOUR NAME.
YEAH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSELORS, UH, PAUL GALES WITH GREENBERG CHARGE WE'RE RETAINED A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO HIS FINANCING.
UH, JACK AND THE CITY ATTORNEY GAVE A GREAT DESCRIPTION OF WHY THESE ARE USED.
UH, AND YES, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, THEY'RE COMMONLY USED BY CITIES, TOWNS, COUNTIES, ACROSS THE STATE.
THERE MAY BE MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UH, UM, YEAH, I FIGURED THERE WOULD, UH, COUNCILOR PETE.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP JUST BASED ON YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'D LIKE TO START BACK ON YOUR PAGE FIVE, YOU CONFUSED ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GROUP FOUR VERSUS GROUP THREE, AND PAGE FIVE IS KIND OF LAID OUT IN A, IN A FLOW, AND YOU SAID WE WERE IN GROUP FOUR, WE'RE GONNA BACK UP TO GROUP THREE, AND THAT KIND OF, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD BE GOING BACKWARDS IN A PROCESS.
YEAH, MAYOR, COUNSELORS, UH, SOME OF THESE ARE, UH, THIS IS SORT OF THE, I WOULD SAY TYPICAL ORDER, BUT GROUP THREE AND GROUP FOUR CAN OFTEN, YOU KNOW, UM, SWAP ESSENTIALLY, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THE RATING PROCESS FINISHED BEFORE A COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION.
IN FACT, SOMETIMES, UH, IT'S GOOD TO WAIT FOR THAT APPROVAL FROM COUNSEL BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RATING PROCESS, JUST BECAUSE SOME FEES ARE INCURRED WHEN YOU START THE PROCESS.
AND IF A FINANCING WERE NOT TO NOT GO FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE A SUNK COST.
SO GROUP THREE AND FOUR, UH, ARE INTERCHANGEABLE AS, AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE, AN ARTIFACT OF POWERPOINT AND THOSE FANCY ARROWS, I THINK.
NOW THE NEXT QUESTION, YOU TALKED ABOUT PLACEMENT RISK.
JUSTIN TALKED ABOUT HOW MUNI BONDS ARE PRETTY SAFE.
IS THERE ACTUALLY ANY RISK PLACEMENT RISK HERE? HAVE YOU HAD VERDE, VALLEY CITIES, S SEDONA, OTHER PLACES THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY PLACE ALL THE BOTS WHEN IN THE WINDOW? IT'S, IT'S, IT IS UNCOMMON.
UM, BEFORE WE START SORT OF THE, THE FINAL PRICING PROCESS, WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO OUR SALES FORCE, OUR TRADERS, OUR UNDERWRITERS, THEY'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH INVESTORS.
THEY ALREADY SORT OF KNOW WHERE THE INVESTORS ARE EXPECTING THE RATES TO BE, WHERE WE CAN PUSH THEM, WHERE THE DEMAND IS.
SO IT'S VERY UNUSUAL FOR US TO ENTER THE MARKET AND HAVE, UM, DRAMATIC UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.
THERE ARE CASES WHERE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE YIELD CURVE, CERTAIN MATURITIES BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.
UM, WE AS UNDERWRITER, WE MAY MARKET THOSE AGGRESSIVELY BECAUSE WE THINK THE PRICING'S APPROPRIATE, BUT INVESTORS MAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE VERY SHORT END OF THE CURVE, PREFER, YOU KNOW, UH, A 5% US EVEN PROBABLY OVER A 5% US TREASURY VERSUS MAYBE A MUNICIPAL JUST HOW THE, WHATEVER THEIR TAX LIABILITY IS.
SO CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CURVE WE CAN SEE AN UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.
AND AGAIN, OUR ROLE AS UNDERWRITER IN THAT CASE IS TO, TO STAND BY OUR PRICING AND ESSENTIALLY TAKE THOSE INTO OUR INVENTORY IF NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE THE, THE FULL FINANCING.
THIS IS WHY WE, AND WE HIRE YOU GUYS TO ADVISE THIS.
HAVE, HAS SEDONA EVER HAD ANY PLACEMENT RISKS THAT, UH,
[01:35:01]
YOU GUYS HAVE HAD TO ABSORB AND DISTRIBUTE LATER? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYTHING BEFORE THE 22 SALE.UH, WE DID A COUPLE PRIVATE PLACEMENTS WHERE THAT'S NOT REALLY A FACTOR.
YOU'RE PLACING IT WITH A BANK, BUT THEY, IF I RECALL, THE 22 SALE, UH, WAS VERY HIGHLY OVERSUBSCRIBED AND AGGRESSIVELY PRICED TO BEGIN WITH.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, ADJUST THOSE SPREADS DOWNWARD AS WELL.
SO THEN MY, MY NEXT QUESTION REALLY JUST A, A COUPLE PROBABLY HERE IS REGARDING THIS EMERGENCY DECLARATION, AND WE DO SAY IT'S TO SECURE ECONOMIC TERMS, AND I DON'T KNOW, I I STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE LINKAGE THERE.
CAN YOU DEFINE VERY FOR ME, IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA OR IN THE VERDE VALLEY IN PARTICULAR, MR. MAYOR, COUNSELORS? NO, I CAN'T.
UM, I, I WOULD SAY JUST OFF THE CUFF, GREATER THAN 60, 70%, MAYBE EVEN MORE OF THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR FINANCINGS INCLUDE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
AND, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND JACK DESCRIBED THE RATIONALE, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO ACCESS THE MARKET IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND THE IDEA BEING THAT YOU CAN LOCK IN LOWER INTEREST RATES, THAT'S A LOWER DRAG ON THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY, WHICH IS A BENEFIT TO THE, TO THE TAXPAYER.
SO JUST A FOLLOW UP ON THAT, KURT, HAVE YOU DONE A SURVEY IN THE VERDE VALLEY IN TERMS OF THE VARIS? I HAVE, I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT COTTONWOOD OR CAMP VERDE.
UM, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF, IF THE, THE RATIONALE IS ABOUT INTEREST RATE RISK, IS IT YOUR TESTIMONY HERE TODAY THAT OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS THERE'S A LOWER RISK OF ADVERSE INTEREST RATE CHANGES THAN 30 DAYS OUT FROM NOW? UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSELOR, UH, FURMAN, IF I COULD PREDICT INTEREST RATES, I'D BE SITTING ON A BEACH SOMEWHERE.
BUT, UH, TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, UH, IT JUST GIVES THE FLEXIBILITY TO ATTACK THE MARKET WHEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS THAT KNOW ABOUT THE, THE DOLLARS AND THE INTEREST RATES, UH, DEEM IT APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
SO, N NO, I, I CAN'T GIVE TESTIMONY AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH INTEREST RATES, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE CAN, UH, ATTACK THE MARKET EXPEDITIOUSLY.
NEITHER CAN I LESS THAN YOU PROBABLY, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UM, I, I GUESS I, I'LL HAVE MORE COMMENTS TO MAKE ABOUT, UH, THIS ELEMENT OF, OF THE RESOLUTION HERE TODAY, BUT THAT'S MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW, MAYOR.
ELLA SURPRISED I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE USE OF THE TERM EMERGENCY.
UH, SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE SAME ACTION COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT INVOKING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION, BUT IT WOULD DELAY EVERYTHING 30 DAYS.
IS THAT ACCURATE? WHAT I, HOW I DESCRIBED IT, UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSELOR, I'M PULLING UP THE CALENDAR HERE.
THE SAME ACTION COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT ADOPTION OF THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
I WOULD DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THE PROCEDURE FOR THAT.
UM, BUT WHAT IT WOULD DO IS DELAY THE ITEM THAT'S CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR JULY 2ND OR JULY 8TH, THE SALE OF THE BONDS.
WE WOULDN'T DO THAT FOR 30 DAYS.
UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE 31ST DAY WE'D BE OKAY TO GO INTO THE MARKET FOR THE SALE OF THE BONDS, BUT THAT IS WHAT WOULD BE DELAYED.
WE COULD CLOSE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY QUICKLY THEREAFTER, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE STEP IN THE PROCESS THAT WOULD BE DELAYED FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ADOPTION.
UM, SO THAT JUST PUTS US AT, AGAIN, AS I THINK IT WAS SAID, THAT THERE IS A, SOME HAS BEEN A SOMEWHAT OF AN EXPECTATION, ALTHOUGH THAT EXPECTATION HAS NOT BEEN MET OF LOWERING INTEREST RATES.
SO IF WITHOUT THAT CLAUSE WE CANNOT, IF INTEREST RATES DO DROP, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT IN THE TIMING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, ALSO, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY THIS WOULD DELAYS ACTUALLY AFFECT THE FINANCING OF THE FOREST ROAD PROJECT CONSTRUCTION HASN'T BEGUN YET ON THE GARAGE, BUT WE'RE IN A CONTRACT.
SO, BUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
IS THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THAT.
I THINK MAYBE OUR CITY MANAGER.
UM, COUNSELOR KINSELLA, UM, YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.
FOREST ROAD IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.
UM, AND AT THE COUNCIL'S, UM, DIRECTION OF APPROVAL AT THE LAST, UH, CONVERSATION ON THIS, UM, THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT WILL BE USED TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
THE ESTIMATE IS THE NEED IS THE 12 PLUS MILLION.
[01:40:01]
UM, JEAN MCGANN, OUR INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR IS HERE, AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THAT PROJECT TEAM TO ESTIMATE, I BELIEVE THE CASHFLOW, UM, REQUIREMENTS ON THAT PROJECT.IT COULD PROBABLY SPEAK MORE SPECIFICALLY TO THE TIMING NEED OF WHEN WE NEED THE NEXT INFUSION OF FUNDS TO KEEP PAYMENTS GOING ON THAT CONTRACT.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'LL NEED TO DO IS WE'LL NEED TO UTILIZE, YOU KNOW, CASH RESERVES THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS TO UPFRONT, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THE FOREST ROAD UNTIL, UM, THE BOND PROCEEDS ARE RECEIVED AND THEN THE CITY WILL BE REIMBURSED WITH THOSE BOND PROCEEDS.
IS THERE A NEGATIVE IMPACT FINANCIALLY ON THE CITY IF THAT HAPPENED? NO, WE DO HAVE SUFFICIENT INADEQUATE, UM, LIQUID CASH IN ORDER TO COVER THAT, AND IT WOULDN'T AFFECT ANY INTEREST THAT WE'RE GETTING ANYWHERE OR ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD'VE TO PAY MORE.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT Y YEAH, THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THREE, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT INTEREST LOST ON, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SAVINGS ESSENTIALLY WHERE THE, THE, THE DOLLARS ARE INVESTED RIGHT NOW.
SO IT WOULD BE AN INTEREST LOSS IN THAT RESPECT, BUT YET YOU AREN'T GOING TO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PAY FOR IT OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
AND THE BOND PROCEEDS ITSELF WILL REIMBURSE THE ACTUAL COSTS, BUT NOT THE LOST INTEREST INCOME.
AND SO, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE DISTINCTIONS IS THAT WE WERE ALREADY PLANNING TO CARRY THE PROJECT FOR THE INITIAL COUPLE OF WEEKS IF THE, UM, RESOLUTION WAS PASSED WITH THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE THAT WE COULD BRIDGE THAT GAP.
IF THERE IS NO EMERGENCY CLAUSE, THEN WE NEED TO COVER THAT GAP FOR THAT MUCH LONGER OR 30 DAYS LONGER, OR, UM, MORE DEPENDING ON WHAT CAME OUT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
SO IT DOES PUT MORE OF A PRESSURE ON THOSE RESERVES THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.
MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
UH, BRIAN WISHED AWAY YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO, UH, STICKING ON THAT CHART THAT YOU HAVE UP RIGHT NOW.
SO IF WE DID NOT, UH, INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IN THE RESOLUTION, IF I'M HEARING THIS RIGHT, REALLY, IT'S A DELAY OF ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU COULD ACTUALLY SELL THE BONDS, RIGHT? UH, COUNSEL, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT REALLY 30 DAYS EVEN, RIGHT? UH, COUNSELOR, UH, COUNSELOR FOLTZ, UH, IT WOULD BE 30 DAYS FROM, UH, TODAY'S DATE AND WITH THE WEEKENDS AND THAT YOU TYPICALLY PRICE ON TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
THE SOONEST YOU'D BE ABLE TO PRICE IS JULY 16TH.
SO IF WE, IF WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE, CORRECT.
SO THAT'S ROUGHLY ONE TO TWO WEEKS, RIGHT? JULY, JULY, JULY OVER, AND IT'S OVER A MONTH.
UM, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILOR FULTZ, I THINK WHAT HE'S SAYING HERE IS THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED PRICING FOR JULY 2ND TO JULY 8TH.
SO MOVING IT TO JULY 16TH WOULD PUSH IT BACK A WEEK OR TWO.
IS THAT YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
UM, AND LIKE YOU COUNSELOR, I DON'T LIVE ON A BEACH BECAUSE I CAN'T PREDICT INTEREST RATES, BUT EVERYTHING I SEE SUGGESTS THAT WE'RE IN A RELATIVELY STABLE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT.
SO, UM, I MEAN, SO REALLY ANY INTEREST RATE RISK TO THE CITY OVER A TWO WEEK DELAY, A ONE TO TWO WEEK DELAY, EFFECTIVELY, IF WE HAD DROPPED THIS EMERGENCY CLAUSE, UH, MAYOR, COUNSELORS, UH, IT'S UNLIKELY, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE WORLD THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE.
BUT YES, SOME MATERIAL CHANGE IN INTEREST RATES, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND JULY 16TH, UNLIKELY BUT POSSIBLE.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, NOT TO ME, BUT TO THE AUDIENCE HERE AND AT HOME, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND EXCISE BONDS AND WHY ONE IS, UH, REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL AND ONE DOES NOT.
UH, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR PLU, GREAT QUESTION.
UM, THE WAY THIS FINANCING IS STRUCTURED, UH, AS YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHO HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND HAVE DONE A FEW OF THESE, UH, WHAT IS PLEDGED IS A BASKET OF REVENUES THAT WE COLLECTIVELY CALL EXCISE TAXES.
[01:45:01]
SETTLED LAW ON ARIZONA HAS BEEN FOR 45 YEARS THAT YOU CAN PLEDGE THOSE AMOUNTS, UH, WITHOUT ANY REQUIREMENT UNDER STATE LAW OR THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION FOR VOTER APPROVAL OR AN ELECTION BECAUSE THE, THAT PLEDGE IS NOT A PLEDGE OF THE GENERAL CREDIT OF THE CITY, THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE CITY, THE VALOREM PROPERTY TAXING POWER OF THE CITY, BECAUSE INVESTORS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.ALL THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IS THE EXCISE TAXES.
THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT OF, OF VOTER APPROVAL OR AN ELECTION.
THE, THE EXAMPLE YOU GAVE IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF VOTER APPROVED, UH, DEBT THAT WE SEE FOR MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY'RE CALLED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
THOSE ARE PAYABLE FROM A PROPERTY TAX, ARIZONA CONSTITUTION.
AND STATE LAW IS CLEAR THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTION TO APPROVE PROPERTY TAX BONDS.
SO THESE ARE NOT SECURED BY PROPERTY TAXES.
INVESTORS HAVE NO CLAIM ON PROPERTY TAXES ON THE GENERAL FUND, ON THE, ON THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE CITY.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO ELECTION REQUIREMENT FOR THIS TYPE OF FINANCING.
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE PROPERTY TAXES, CAN WE ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS? WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE A PROPERTY TAX TO PAY IT.
MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR PLU, ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION.
UH, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T HAVE A PROPERTY TAX NOW, YOU COULD GO OUT, HOLD AN ELECTION, UH, THAT HAS TO BE HELD IN EVERY NOVEMBER, BUT YOU COULD HOLD AN ELECTION FOR, UH, A PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
IMPLICIT IN THAT IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO LEVY A SECONDARY PROPERTY TAX TO REPAY THOSE BONDS.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE A PROPERTY TAX IN ORDER TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION REALLY GOES TO KURT, AND THIS IS ABOUT, UH, THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM SOME FOLKS THAT THEY THINK THAT IF WE WOULD APPROVE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE, IT WOULD EXTEND TO OTHER POWERS OF THE CITY UNDER AN EMERGENCY.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? YES.
SO MAYOR AND COUNSELOR AND, AND VICE MAYOR, THIS EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS ONLY SPECIFIC TO THIS RESOLUTION.
IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY OTHER, UH, EMERGENCY AUTHORITIES THAT THE CITY HAS INCLUDING, UH, AUTHORITIES THAT THE MAYOR MIGHT HAVE.
UH, I, IF THE CONCERNS WERE RELATED TO THE LAST TIME THE CITY ISSUED EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS DURING THE COVID, UH, 19 PANDEMIC AND MASKING AND, AND, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THIS DOESN'T EXTEND TO ANY OF THOSE ITEMS AT ALL.
SO IT ONLY PERTAINS TO, UH, THE EMERGENCY BEING THE, THE TIMELINESS NEED TO, TO LOCK IN INTEREST RATES AND, AND GET THIS DONE BEFORE THOSE COULD CHANGE OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE COUNCIL EXPECTS.
SO THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH WE WOULD DO THIS IF WE DECIDE TO DO THIS, DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE CITY, WHICH IS WHAT THE MAYOR'S AUTHORITY WOULD FALL UNDER, NOT IN THE SENSE OF, YEAH, SOCIAL DISTANCING, UM, MASKING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITY IN REGARDS TO THE NEED TO BE CERTAIN ON THE, THE FINANCING AND THE THE INTEREST RATES.
SO HERE'S MY QUESTION BACK TO, TO YOU GUYS.
WHAT IS THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS, UH, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE WOULD ALLOW THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MARKET MARKET CONDITIONS, POTENTIALLY A COUPLE WEEKS, UM, SOONER THAN IF THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS NOT ADOPTED.
SO FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT, THIS GIVES YOU THE FLEXIBILITY, UH, AND STAFF THE FLEXIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH THE TRANSACTION IF THERE'S A MARKET BENEFIT TO THE CITY.
SO THAT'S FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
OH, I DO HAVE ONE MORE, SORRY.
UH, THIS, ANDY, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, I'VE ALSO HEARD OF THE, UM, I DUNNO IF I WOULD CALL IT AN ACCUSATION, BUT A CLAIM THAT WE DID NOT, THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE CMAR CONTRACT THAT WE ISSUED A CONTRACT WITHOUT ANY, UH, ANY, UH, RFP PROCESS OR ANY PROCESS TO DETERMINE THAT THE CMAR, WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT, HAD NO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND IT, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? SURE.
SO THE SELECTION OF OUR CONTRACTOR WAS THROUGH THAT CMAR PROCESS, WHICH IS COVERED BY STATE STATUTE.
UM, THE, THAT SELECTION PROCESS IS A QUALITY, UM, QUALITY BASED, UH, SELECTION PROCESS.
SO THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR IS THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS.
[01:50:01]
THE FIRST, UM, STEP IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A, A CMAR UH, DEVELOPMENT IS, IS TYPICALLY WITH A DESIGN CONTRACT WITH THAT CONTRACTOR.SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN A TYPICAL TRADITIONAL BID BUILD.
UH, DESIGN BID BUILD, UH, TYPE OF CONTRACT.
UM, BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, IT, UH, THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OUT TO THE PUBLIC WAS PROVIDED THAT DID GO TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT SELECTION PROCESS, AGAIN, WAS BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS DEFINITELY A, A PUBLIC PROCESS.
AND IN THAT PUBLIC PROCESS, THE, UH, IT WAS NOTED THAT IT WOULD START AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
I COULD DESIGN AND THEN MOVE THROUGH BASED ON VARIOUS STEPS.
YOU HAD THE OPTION OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT CMAR OR NOT GOING BACK OUT TO BID? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, ONE THING I WOULD THROW OUT IN ADDITION TO THAT IS THAT THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE OR THE CONTRACT VALUE, THE, UH, CMAR CONTRACTOR IS WORKING THROUGH SUBCONTRACTOR BIDDING DURING THAT PROCESS.
AND, AND THERE WAS, I DON'T RECALL THE NUMBER, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IT IN THE LAST MEETING, BUT THE, UM, LEVEL OF BIDDING WITH SUBCONTRACTORS WAS, WAS PRETTY, UM, SIGNIFICANT.
AND WHY, WHY DO MUNICIPALITIES USE THAT PROCESS VERSUS THE ONE YOU DESCRIBED BEFORE? DESIGN BUILD? THE, THE MOST COMMON REASON IS BECAUSE BY BRINGING IN A QUALITY CONTRACTOR AND GOING, UH, ALLOWING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS, YOU REDUCE THE RISK TO THE CITY.
UM, THAT RISK BEING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF CONTRACTOR OVERSIGHT OF THE DESIGN, AND, UM, THAT, THAT YOU HAVE LESS CONTROL OVER THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR THAT YOU SELECT.
HAVE WE USED A CM MORE BEFORE? WE HAVE MANY TIMES.
UM, TYPICALLY ALSO, UM, THE MORE COMPLEX THE PROJECT, THE MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO USE THE CMAR PROCESS.
YOU USED THE, THE PHRASE, UM, THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR WHO ASSESSES THE QUALITY OF THE CONTRACTOR.
HOW IS THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO YOU THAT THIS IS A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR? IS THAT A STATE? IT'S A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS.
IT'S, UM, PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO THAT RFP, UM, AND THEN IT'S EVALUATED BY A TEAM OF, UH, EVALUATORS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
UH, SO THE VICE MAYOR ANSWERED MANY OF MY QUESTIONS, SO I'M NOT GONNA BE LATER LABELED THE, UH, THE QUESTION, UH, PERIOD.
SO, PETE, WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE AND THEN JESSICA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR CAUGHT HER.
ONE MORE QUESTION, BUT I CROSSED MY BOX OFF WITHOUT ASKING IT.
SO HERE IS THAT LAST QUESTION I HAD, UM, ABOUT THIS, UH, EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
I'M CURIOUS, UH, I SAW THAT THE WORDS FOR THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION ARE IN OUR DOCUMENTS.
IT'S OUR RESOLUTION IN OUR STAFF REPORT, AND IT'S NOT IN YOUR BOND DOCUMENTS.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER THE BOND BUYERS WOULD REACT IN A CERTAIN WAY KNOWING THAT THERE'S AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUANCE OF A BOND.
DOES IT SPEAK TO THAT WE NEED THE MONEY WORSE, AND PERHAPS THEY DON'T GIVE US THE BEST NUMBER? IS THAT, DOES TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
UH, YEAH, MAYOR, UH, COUNSELORS, GOOD QUESTION.
UM, LIKE PAUL SUGGESTED PRETTY COMMON, UH, MECHANISM USED BY ARIZONA MUNICIPALITIES.
WE DON'T DISCLOSE THAT IN THE OFFERING DOCUMENT.
UH, IT'S NOT REALLY MATERIAL TO INVESTORS, AND I DON'T THINK, UM, THEY WOULD HAVE ANY, UM, STRONG OPINIONS ON HOW THE, THE BOND RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW, UH, COMMON IT'S USED.
SO THAT'S NEVER BEEN A, A DISCLOSURE ITEM OR AN ITEM OF INTEREST TO BOND INVESTORS.
UH, MR. MAY, I'LL JUST ADD ONE THING TO THAT.
UH, AS JACK NOTED, IT'S NOT DISCLOSED AND WHEN THE, WHEN THE INVESTORS ARE GOING TO THE OFFERING DOCUMENT, THEY'RE GOING STRAIGHT TO THE TABLE THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH YOUR EXCISE TAXES ARE, HOW MUCH YOUR COVERAGE IS.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S A LESS IMPORTANT FACTOR.
I'VE NOT HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE.
JESSICA, I JUST WANTED IT TO BE REALLY CLEAR
[01:55:01]
TO ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING THAT EMERGENCY, THE POWER OF EMERGENCY, THE ONLY THING IT APPLIES TO IS WE HAVE TO WAIT 50, 30 DAYS IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT.IT JUST ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS EVEN SAID WHAT THE EMERGENCY ACTUALLY ALLOWED THE CITY TO DO.
AND THAT'S ALL IT DOES IS WAVES THE 30 DAY, UH, WAITING PERIOD FOR, UM, RESOLUTIONS.
WHAT ARE THEY CALLED? IS IT A QUESTION OR THE COMMENT? THAT'S A COMMENT.
CAN YOU SAVE THAT FOR A COMMENT PERIOD? NO, I JUST DID IT SO I WON'T ASK ANY MORE COMMENTS.
UH, BEFORE WE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, ANNETTE, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
COUNSEL, UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO MOVE FORWARD AS PROPOSED WITH THE RESOLUTION INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
THIS IS BASED ON THE ADVICE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS AND LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND WITH, UH, KEEPING IN MIND, UM, THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE FUNDING AND TRYING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES.
UM, IT'S PURELY A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DECISION AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR THE, UM, CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN, UM, TAKE CARE OF THESE PROJECTS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BOND MARKET, UM, TO THE CITY'S BENEFIT.
SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE RESOLUTION AS IT IS.
UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANNETTE BEFORE WE OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT? SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT THIS IS FUNDING, AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT VERY BRIEFLY, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH SURE.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROPOSING THIS BOND SALE, WHICH THE RESOLUTION TALKS ABOUT UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $18 MILLION.
BUT ON THE MOST RECENT CALCULATIONS HERE, IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING LESS.
UM, SO, UH, YOUR INITIAL, UH, INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVED THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WILL, THOSE COSTS ARE A LITTLE BIT LESS NOW.
UM, AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO, UM, PAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FOREST ROAD PROJECT WITH THESE PROCEEDS.
UM, WE ARE USING ALREADY ISSUED AND RECEIVED BOND PROCEEDS FROM 2022 TO PAY FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.
THE BULK OF THAT PROJECT, THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT LEFT OVER THAT'S PROPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BOND, UM, SO THAT, UH, WE COULD APPROVE THAT CMAR CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD KNOWING WE HAD THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.
UM, AND SO THIS BOND ISSUE, THE SMALLER ONE, IS PRIMARILY FOR THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION TO BE COMPLETED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ANNETTE? OKAY, THEN LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, BILL NUNAN.
UH, FIRST BE FOLLOWED BY ALLISON NICHOLS.
UH, MR. NUNAN, YOU, YOU MEMBER OF THE PROCESS NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENT, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
BILL NOONAN, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF SEDONA, OR AS THE MAYOR IS FOND OF SAYING I'M A NEW RESIDENT OF SEDONA BECAUSE I'VE ONLY LIVED HERE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, PERHAPS IT'S BECAUSE I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THAT I'M STILL CAPABLE OF BEING SURPRISED BY THINGS THAT, UH, THE CITY DOES.
UM, MY PRIMARY CONCERN, UH, ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT IS THE SAME ONE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE ADDRESSED, WHICH IS, UH, DECLARING IT AN EMERGENCY.
UH, SEDONA CITY ORDINANCE IS VERY CLEAR THAT EMERGENCIES, EMERGENCY ORDINANCES THAT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY ARE, ARE LIMITED TO THOSE SITUATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE IMMEDIATE PRESERVATION OF THE PEACE, HEALTH, OR SAFETY OF THE CITY.
THE ONLY JUSTIFICATION THE CITY IS GIVEN, UH, FOR DECLARING THIS AN EMERGENCY IS THE FINANCIAL CONVENIENCE OF THE CITY.
UH, BY NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION DOES THE FINANCIAL CONVENIENCE OF THE CITY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE IMMEDIATE PRESERVATION OF THE PEACE, HEALTH, OR SAFETY OF THE CITY.
UM, SO, UM, I I JOIN YOU IN HAVING, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
I'VE, I'VE LISTENED TO SOME OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS, UH, FOR DOING THIS.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT THE CITY HAS IGNORED THE LAW MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, AND SO SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE PRESENT.
UM, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A CREATIVE DEFENSE, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S VERY
[02:00:01]
CONVINCING.AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, TO REMOVE THE, UH, EMERGENCY DESIGNATION, UH, FROM THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, THERE'S ONE OTHER POINT THAT'S THAT I WOULD ASK, AND I KNOW I CAN'T ASK YOU QUESTIONS FROM THE PODIUM, BUT, UH, IT'S, I'VE HEARD THE CITY MANAGER AND OTHERS TONIGHT SAY THAT THIS, THESE BONDS ARE REQUIRED, UH, TO FINISH THE FOREST ROAD.
BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOREST ROAD IS BEING FUNDED WITH THE 2022 ISSUANCE.
UH, AND SO THE, UH, IT APPEARS THERE ARE SUFFICIENT FUNDS, UH, TO FINISH THE FOREST ROAD FROM THE EXISTING 20 20 22, UH, BOND ISSUANCE.
AND SO, UH, IT'S SOMEWHAT CONFUSING, UH, TO MANY PEOPLE, UH, THAT WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS REQUIRED TO FINISH THE FOREST ROAD.
SO IF AT SOME POINT DURING YOUR DISCUSSIONS TONIGHT YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT POINT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
ALLISON NICHOLS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE WISE.
NOW, I COULDN'T HEAR, I'M SORRY.
YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MIC BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S NOT RECORDED AND WE CAN'T HEAR, WE CAN'T HEAR.
SO, ALLISON, YOU NOTE TO START WITH YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.
UPTOWN SEDONA, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THAT I'M GONNA PASS, UH, MY COMMENTS ARE MORE GENERAL AND MY CONCERNS WERE ABOUT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE AS WELL.
SO IF YOU COULD, THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO SAVE THE TIME.
UH, MIKE WISE, START WITH YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE, PLEASE.
COUNSELORS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I WOULD JUST SIMPLY LIKE TO STATE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ADOPT AB 3 0 4 6, UH, EXECUTION OF TAX REVENUE OBLIGATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO, UH, FUND THE UPTOWN PARKING GARAGE AND THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL, WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
UH, ANNETTE, DO, DO YOU WANNA ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE, UH, OR QUESTIONS THAT WERE POSED? SURE.
UM, THE QUESTION I HEARD WAS A CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OF, UH, OR HOW THE PROCEEDS FROM THE 2022 BOND SALE ARE BEING USED AS COMPARED TO THIS NEW BOND SALE.
UM, YOU'LL RECALL THAT WHEN WE PRESENTED TO YOU, UM, GOSH, BACK IN MAY, UH, ON THIS PROJECT, UH, STAFF AND OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND MYSELF HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO SAVE THE CITY APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION IN INTEREST PAYMENTS, THAT, UM, IT MADE SENSE TO FUND THE PARKING GARAGE WITH THE 2022 BOND PROCEEDS ALREADY IN HAND.
AND THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL REASON THOSE BONDS WERE ISSUED, WAS TO PAY FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.
UM, THERE WAS A PAUSE IN THE PROCESS OF APPROVING THE CONTRACT FOR THE PARKING GARAGE.
AND DURING THAT INTERIM TIME PERIOD, UH, STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED, DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHETHER THAT PARKING GARAGE CONTRACT WAS GOING TO BE APPROVED AND WHEN THAT WE SHOULD UTILIZE THE 2022 PROCEEDS FOR FOREST ROAD TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD MEET THE SPEND DOWN REQUIREMENT OF THE THREE YEAR WINDOW.
UM, THE COUNCIL DID REVISIT, AS YOU KNOW, THE PARKING GARAGE CONTRACT AND AWARDED IT IN A TIMELY MANNER SUCH THAT THE USE OF THOSE 2022 PROCEEDS ON FOREST ROAD WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY BECAUSE WE COULD STILL MEET THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE 2022 BOND TO SPEND IT ON THE PARKING GARAGE WITHIN THE THREE YEAR DRAWDOWN PERIOD.
SO WE RECOMMENDED GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THOSE BONDS TO SPEND ON THE PARKING GARAGE.
AND INSTEAD, UH, OR BY DOING SO, WE WOULD INSTEAD RECOMMEND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, WHICH IS DO A MUCH SMALLER BOND ISSUE TO COVER FOREST ROAD, AND THEN THE SMALL PORTION NEEDED FOR THE PARKING GARAGE THAT THE 2022 DIDN'T COVER.
UM, THE ALTERNATIVE THAT YOU CONSIDERED WAS TO KEEP THE 2022 PROCEEDS DEDICATED TO FOREST ROAD, UM, AND ISSUE A $26 MILLION BOND.
UM, A MUCH LARGER BOND TO COVER A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PARKING GARAGE, WHICH HAD HIGHER COSTS TO THE CITY, OBVIOUSLY 'CAUSE WE'RE, WE WOULD BE BORROWING MORE MONEY.
AND SO STAFF'S OPINION WAS, IT'S MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE 22 BONDS, WHICH HAVE A LOW RATE TO FUND THE GARAGE AS INTENDED ISSUE A SMALLER BOND TONIGHT FOR FOREST ROAD.
[02:05:01]
SAVE, AS I SAID BEFORE, THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF INTEREST SAVINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY BY DOING THIS IS OVER $5 MILLION.UM, AND THAT IS WHY WE PROPOSED THAT.
AND SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT IT COULD BE CONFUSING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW THAT, UM, UM, CHANGE THAT WE PROPOSED.
UM, BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY WE RECOMMENDED IT.
SORRY, CAN YOU KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN THE BACK OF THE ROOM PLEASE? IT'S, IT'S DISTRACTING.
SO, UH, WHY DON'T WE START WITH COMMENTS? ANY PARTICULAR SIDE.
UH, THE, THE CITY'S EMERGENCY POWERS CODE OR ORDINANCE WAS CITED BY ONE OF THE TESTIFIERS, BUT YOU SAID THAT WE WERE OPERATING UNDER A STATE STATUTE.
CORRECT, BUT THERE'S NO SUB SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS, UH, EMERGENCY CLAUSE VIOLATES THE CITY ORDINANCE ANYMORE THAN IT DOES THE STATE LAW.
THE STATE LAW'S A RS 19 1 42, I THINK, UH, RE UM, THAT REQUIRES, UM, UH, IT DESCRIBES THE REASON FOR, UH, EMERGENCY AND IT REQUIRES A THREE FOURTH VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
UM, THREE-FOURTHS WOULD BE SIX MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR.
UM, SO IF EITHER THE MAYOR OR ANY TWO COUNSELORS, UH, WERE TO OPPOSE THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE, THEN IT WOULD, THE, OR THE MOTION COULD STILL PASS AND THE BON GO FORWARD, BUT IT MAY NOT HAVE, WOULDN'T INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
UH, YOU COULD TALK TO JESSICA LATER.
UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UM, LIKE DR.
NUNAN SAID, IT IS A BIT CONFUSING EVEN, UH, HAVING, UH, BEING PRIVY TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT ALL'S GOING ON.
AND I WAS NOT PART OF THE 2022 BOND DECISION.
SO THIS IS MY FIRST, UM, GO AROUND WITH, UH, VOTING ON A, A BOND ISSUANCE.
THE, UH, THIS, THIS WHOLE EMERGENCY CLAUSE THING, LIKE, IT, IT JUST IS CONFOUNDING TO ME BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTANDS FULLY THAT THIS EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS BEING USED BY MUNICIPALITIES ALL THE TIME, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS ODD.
UM, AND FOR AS MUCH AS THE STATE LEGISLATURE LOVES TO TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL, THEY'VE NOT SEEN FIT TO DO THAT ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT.
WHICH, AGAIN, IS CONFOUNDING, QUITE FRANKLY, OR WHY ISN'T THERE A MORE DISCREET, UH, A RS STATUTE THAT SPEAKS TO GIVING THIS AUTHORITY TO BASICALLY FAST TRACK, UM, WITHOUT USING LANGUAGE THAT, AGAIN, HAS BEEN POINTED OUT AS QUESTIONABLE.
SO I, I'M, I'M JUST CONFOUNDED BY IT.
I WANNA VOTE FOR THE BOND TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THIS EMERGENCY CLAUSE THING, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A ONE TO TWO WEEK, YOU KNOW, RISK, UM, THAT WE'RE TAKING OUT BY UTILIZING THAT EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
I'M NOT PARTICULARLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT ONE OR TWO WEEKS UNDER TODAY'S CIRCUMSTANCES.
IF IT WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THE FED KEPT BUMPING UP INTEREST RATES, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE ALL OVER IT FOR SURE.
SO I MAY HAVE MORE COMMENTS AFTER I LISTEN TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, AT THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I WANNA MOVE FORWARD AND THIS EMERGENCY CLAUSE THING IS JUST GOOFY AS ALL CAN BE TO ME.
SO FIRST OF ALL, AS HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT, BUT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN SOCIAL MEDIA QUITE VOCALLY, AS MUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE VOCAL, UM, THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS NOT AN ISSUE IN THE SENSE OF EMERGENCY.
THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS BECAUSE IN THE PACKET IT STATES THAT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE MEANS THAT ONE APPLIED, WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S HAPPENING IS EXEMPT FROM REFERENDUM.
AND THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
AND THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF WE ISSUE THIS WITH THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE, THEY CANNOT TRY TO DO A REFERENDUM TO STOP THE BOND.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS REALLY CLEAR
[02:10:01]
HERE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS AS BEING AN EMERGENCY HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, DELAYING THIS BY A YEAR OR MORE, IN ORDER FOR US TO GO TO A SPECIAL ELECTION OR WHATEVER ELSE WOULD BE NECESSARY, SHOULD A REFERENDUM BE PROVIDED, AND I'M NOT AGAINST REFERENDUMS, THAT'S FINE.HOWEVER, THERE IS A HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A FISCAL RISK TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE FISCAL RISK AS FAR AS THE, UM, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE IS, I, I I BELIEVE THAT BOTH THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION AND THE GARAGE, WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE WAS HOPING THAT THIS BOND WAS FOR, SO THEY COULD STOP THE GARAGE TO BE BLUNT.
UM, I THINK THAT THESE ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND LET ME SHARE SOME REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TRUE.
UM, FIRST, THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION WILL REDUCE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN UPTOWN BY PULLING VEHICLES HEADED TO UPTOWN, NOT THROUGH UPTOWN TO THE CANYON IN POINTS NORTH, UM, SOONER.
THIS IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE CONGESTION BACKUP ON COOKS HILL AND ALONG MAIN STREET.
THE GARAGE SITUATED AT THE END OF FOREST ROAD EXTENSION WILL CONSOLIDATE THE PARKING IN A SMALL AREA, WHICH IS UPTOWN.
IT IS A SMALL GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ROAMING THROUGH THE STREETS, LOOKING FOR PARKING, INCREASING THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
THIS WILL ALSO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST WITH ITS HEAT AND POLLUTANTS BEING PUT INTO THE AIR, IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS, SOME OF WHOM ARE LIVING UP IN UPTOWN.
SEDONA IS IN A MOUNTAINOUS BOWL, AND THAT POLLUTION WILL EVENTUALLY DRIFT INTO WEST SEDONA AND IT WILL BE MAINTAINED IN PLACE WHEN THERE'S A HEAT DOME, SUCH AS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.
WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS AND USING ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF TRAVEL, WHETHER THAT'S ON FOOT OR ON BIKES, OR SHARED TRANSPORTATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE FOCUSING ON TRANSPORTATION AND WHY FINISHING FOREST ROAD EXTENSION IN THE GARAGE ARE NECESSARY COMPONENTS OF THAT PLAN.
SECOND, THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE GARAGE AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH RESTRICTED ON STREET RESIDENT PARKING BECAUSE LIKE MS. FARNSWORTH HAS SAID, WE EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE THAN JUST THE GARAGE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PACKAGE AROUND UPTOWN, AND I'M LOOKING AT ANDY WHEN I SAY THAT WE WANT THE THIS TO, UM, ADDED TO THIS, WE'LL HAVE THE CONSOLIDATED PARKING FROM THE LOTS AND THAT'LL BE OFFERED BY THE GARAGE.
AND THIS WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES PARKED ON THE SMALL STREETS ACROSS UPTOWN AND ILLEGALLY PARKED IN OTHER AREAS OF UPTOWN.
THIS WILL ALLOW EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO MOVE EASILY TO GET TO THE TARGET LOCATIONS, WHEREAS NOW STREETS MAY BE TOO NARROWED WITH VEHICLES OR CONGESTED WITH PEDESTRIANS.
THIS IMPACTS THE WELFARE OF THE UPTOWN COMMUNITY.
FURTHER, THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF PEOPLE STEPPING INTO THE ROAD BETWEEN CARS WILL BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED.
THIRD, WITH CONSOLIDATED PARKING, VISITORS WILL KNOW WHERE THEY ARE PARKED.
AND IN CASE OF A LIFE-THREATENING NATURAL EMERGENCY SUCH AS A FIRE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THEIR VEHICLES AND GET OUT OF THE AREA MORE QUICKLY AND SAFELY.
THIS ALSO IMPACTS RESIDENTS ABILITIES TO GET OUT OF THE AREA MORE QUICKLY AND SAFELY.
THE GARAGE WILL IMPROVE THE WELFARE AND SAFETY OF UPTOWN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN OUR MOST FEARED NATURAL DISASTER SCENARIO.
THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN MOVING GARAGE CARS OUT OF UPTOWN.
WITHOUT IMPACTING OTHER ROUTES, WHICH RESIDENTS MAY KNOW TO TAKE NOT COMPLETING, THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION WILL ENDANGER THE RESIDENTS OF UPTOWN IN CASE OF NATURAL DISASTER OR AND FIRE.
FOURTH, THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GARAGE WILL PROVIDE A FASTER, MORE ORGANIZED WAY FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE TOWN UPTOWN SAFELY AND QUICKLY WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ASSISTANCE.
BECAUSE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WILL HAVE FEWER AND KNOWN ROUTES ALONG WHICH TO SEND INDIVIDUALS, ALONG WITH PEOPLE GETTING TO THEIR VEHICLES FASTER, THIS IMPACTS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, AND VISITORS ALIKE.
FIFTH, NO ONE CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT HOW INTEREST RATES WILL FARE.
NO ONE CAN PREDICT THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY GIVEN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD INFLATION RECESSION.
LOWER PRICES OR LOWER RATES, THEY'RE JUST NOT PREDICTABLE.
IF WE WAIT 30 DAYS OR SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, THE RATES MIGHT BE LOWER, THEY MIGHT BE HIGHER, THEY MIGHT BE UNCHANGED, BUT THE PRICE OF GOODS AND SERVICES MAY BE HIGHER COSTING THE CITY MORE.
TO FINISH THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION FURTHER, WE WILL INCUR A FINANCIAL PENALTY FOR PENALTY FOR BREAKING THE CONTRACT ON COMPLETION OF THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION AND LOSE AS SURETY OF WORK BEING COMPLETED AS AVAILABILITY OF BUSINESS SERVICES ARE MOVED ELSEWHERE.
FINALLY, MAKING DECISIONS THAT IMPACT
[02:15:01]
OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS MY COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE, IS WHAT THE COUNCIL IS MEANT TO DO.SOMETIMES THOSE DECISIONS ARE HARD AND COME AT A POLITICAL COST, BUT I AM CERTAIN TOURISM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
I AM CERTAIN THAT UPTOWN WILL REMAIN A DESTINATION FOR VISITORS.
I AM CERTAIN PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO PASS THROUGH UPTOWN TO POINTS NORTH VIA 89 A AS A CRUISE, THE ROD RED ROCK SCENIC BYWAY.
I AM ALSO CERTAIN THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HOMES IN UPTOWN, WHETHER RENTAL OR PRIVATELY OWNED.
I BELIEVE IT IS MY JOB AND THE JOB OF THE COUNCIL TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS MEANT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST NOW, BUT ALSO FOR THE FUTURE.
CENTRALIZED SELF-FUNDED PARKING IN UPTOWN, ALONG WITH THE MEANS TO REDUCE IDLING TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC BACKUPS, AND MOVE VEHICLES OUT OF UPTOWN AT A FASTER, MORE ORGANIZED MANNER, SOONER RATHER THAN DELAYED TO LATER, IS ONE OF THESE HARD DECISIONS.
I REGRET THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE TO GET THIS DONE NOW, BUT I BELIEVE COMPLETING THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION WHERE MOST OF THIS FUNDING WILL GO ALONG WITH THE GARAGE ARE IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN UPTOWN NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
MY VOTE WILL REMAIN IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION AS CURRENTLY WORDED.
VICE MAYOR
IT WAS AN ORGANIZED SPEECH, UNORGANIZED RAMP.
DID, DID THAT COVER YOUR, OKAY, GOOD.
UM, YEAH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION AS IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
I, UM, I THINK WE'VE SEEN WHAT DELAY HAS COST JUST IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT WENT UP, WHAT, $8 MILLION OR SOMETHING.
AND IF WE DELAY IT FURTHER, IT'S GONNA GO UP ANOTHER $8 MILLION.
AND WE'LL HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE SITTING HERE WHO HAVE SAT HERE AND COMMENTED VERY STRONGLY WITH THEIR OPINIONS, WHICH I, I DO UNDERSTAND THEIR FERVENT BELIEF THAT THEY DO NOT WANT A PARKING GARAGE.
I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS LACK, RELUCTANTLY, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE PARKING GARAGE, UNDERSTANDING THE REASONS IT'S NECESSARY.
IT'S NECESSARY NOW, IT WAS NECESSARY FIVE YEARS AGO, AND IT'LL BE NECESSARY FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT THAT'S IN, IN WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, AND I SEE NO REASON, NO REASON AT ALL, NOT TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A CLAUSE THAT'S BEEN IN EVERY SINGLE, UH, EXCEPT ONE, WHICH APPARENTLY IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, THAT IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THAT ONE.
UM, WITH EVERY, AND MOST OF THE CITIES IN ARIZONA DO IT THIS WAY.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THE FISCALLY, UH, FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL THING, WHICH IS TO GIVE THE CITY FLEXIBILITY, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTEREST RATES, UM, AND TO PRESERVE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY.
UM, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
IT'S ONE NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO MAKE, I THINK.
AND THEN 95 MILLION MEETINGS WE'VE HAD ABOUT IT, NOBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT SPENDING THIS MONEY.
NO ONE IS EXCITED ABOUT HAVING COMMITTED PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO FIRMLY AND FERVENTLY BELIEVE IT IS THE WRONG WAY TO GO.
WE, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA DO.
WE WOULD, WE WANT, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE HAPPY.
UM, BUT I THINK WE REALIZE THAT, ONE, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE YOU HAPPY ON THIS ISSUE.
AND TWO, THAT THE GARAGE IS, IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EMERGENCY
[02:20:01]
CLAUSE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING THIS PROJECT TO ITS LONG AWAITED FRUITION.WELL, I'LL START BY SAYING I'M IN FAVOR OF ISSUING THE BONDS.
WE TOOK THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BUILD THESE PROJECTS, AND FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU PASSIONATELY ARGUED FOR, YOU KNOW, WE'D MADE THOSE HARD DECISIONS.
UH, BUT I PREFER THAT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE BE REMOVED FROM THIS ACTION.
GOVERNMENTS MOVE SLOW FOR GOOD AND FRUSTRATING REASONS.
RIGHT? AND WE ALL TALK ABOUT THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
BUT THIS, UH, EMERGENCY CLAUSE, UH, AS WAS STATED ON THE DAIS, THAT THE ONLY THING IT DOES IS DELAY THE TIME.
NOW, MELISSA CORRECTED THE RECORD ON THAT.
SO WE NEED TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT A TWO WEEK DELAY IN INTEREST RATE RISK HAS MADE THE CASE FOR ME THAT WE SHOULD REVERT TO A EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SOMEWHAT BETTER JUSTIFICATION IN DIFFERENT TIMES.
I THINK, NO, YOU CAN'T PREDICT RATES, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES THINGS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHERS.
AND, AND, AND PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
BUT I, I'M WORRIED ABOUT CHANGING THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND REGULAR ORDER.
AND IF WE WANNA DO THAT, THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT IS A REGULAR ORDER, AND WE'VE DONE IT BY DEFAULT OVER TIME.
BUT WE SHOULD ESTABLISH A POLICY THAT SAYS, THIS IS WHAT WE DO, AND THEN WE CAN REFER TO THAT POLICY.
SO I'M ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE DECISION TO PUT, UH, THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IN HERE IS LEGAL.
I, I, I, I'M NOT DEBATING THAT, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAN AND SHOULD.
AND I THINK THAT STICKING TO A REGULAR ORDER AND HAVING GOOD JUSTIFICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY USES IS A BETTER, UH, PUBLIC PROCESS.
SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE BOND GOING FORWARD.
I WANNA REALLY THANK, UH, COUNCILOR FULTZ FOR POINTING OUT THAT THIS IS ANOTHER CONUNDRUM THAT HAS BEEN THRUST UPON US BY THE STATE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, DOES NOT LIKE TO GIVE POWERS TO LOCALITIES, BUT IN THIS CASE, IGNORES THE FACT THAT THERE IS A POWER THAT IS BEING USED NOT AS POTENTIALLY INTENDED.
UM, I REALLY THINK IT'S A BLIND EYE THAT THEY'VE TURNED.
I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE EARLIER WHERE I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE STATE ON THIS LEVEL, AND THAT THIS WORDING, IF YOU WANT US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF RATES THAT ARE FAVORABLE, EMPOWER LOCALITIES TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
IT'S A, IT'S A SILLY OBSTACLE COURSE THAT'S BEEN SET.
THAT BEING SAID, I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.
I THINK THAT I REALLY THANK COUNCILOR DUNN'S ELOQUENCE ON THIS AND FOR BEING ORGANIZED
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE GARAGE, THIS IS ABOUT FOREST ROAD.
IT MIGHT BE ABOUT THE GARAGE AS WELL.
BUT YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THAT YOU, THIS WILL IMPACT FOREST ROAD, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT GREATLY ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE.
AND I DO BELIEVE, I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR DUNN, THAT I DO THINK THAT THE GARAGE, BY ELIMINATING CIRCULATING TRAFFIC AND BEING ABLE TO, UH, CONSOLIDATE, DOES GIVE US A ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR.
UM, SO I, I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF, OF THESE PROJECTS.
I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THE BOND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE ACT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE UP HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.
GOING AHEAD WITH THIS BONDING MOVE THIS WAY SAVES $5 MILLION THAT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
I DO NOT AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE EMERGENCY LANGUAGE IN THERE.
UM, I HAVE A FEELING THERE'S GONNA BE ADDITIONAL COMMENT I WHERE WHEN THE RESOLUTION IS MADE, UH, WHEN THE MOTION IS MADE, I'LL BE SUPPORTING A MOTION TO PROCEED.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DICKER A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON THIS ABOUT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE IN THERE OR NOT, WHICH I, AT THIS POINT, I COULD GO EITHER WAY ON.
SO, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, I AM CONCERNED WITH THE POINTS THAT COUNSELOR
[02:25:01]
HAD DONE RAISED.IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
NO, IT SEEMS THAT WAY ON PAPER.
IT'S ABOUT THAT, YES, SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN THAT COULD DELAY THIS FOR UP FOR A YEAR, AND THEN THAT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO SEE A VERY DIFFERENT UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATE, UH, FINANCIAL CLIMATE.
SO I WANT TO PROTECT US AGAINST THAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S TAKING CRYSTAL BALL AND SAYING WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN, WHAT THE CITIZENRY DECIDES TO DO.
THE FACT THAT THERE'S A DEFINITE TWO WEEK DELAY IS NOT AN ISSUE TO ME.
IT, IT'S AN ISSUE OF HOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GOVERN THESE LARGE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD? DO THEY REMAIN AT COUN WITH COUNCIL? DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE? OR DO WE ALLOW THINGS TO BE DELAYED IN A WAY THAT THEN HARMS OUR CITY FINANCIALLY? SO THAT'S THE CONUNDRUM THAT WE ARE IN.
UM, I THINK, WHAT WAS THE WORD THAT YOU USED? UH, CONFOUNDED.
THE, THE EMERGENCY PART OF THIS IS CONFOUNDING AND COMPLICATING THIS SITUATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICATED.
IT'S, IT'S CLEAR WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE BONDING AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE FOREST ROAD NEEDS TO CONTINUE.
AND I BELIEVE THE, THE GARAGE IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, UH, WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID, MOST THINGS SAID ON THIS DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING.
IT WAS MENTIONED HERE THAT WE WERE, WE'RE CHANGING THE ORDER IN WHICH THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE WOULD BE, UH, USED WHEN IN FACT, IN THIS CASE, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST EXCEPT FOR ONE QUESTIONABLE ISSUE, UH, THAT, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ADDRESSED.
BUT WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR PAST PRACTICES.
I'M ALL ABOUT PAST PRACTICES AND SETTING PRECEDENTS.
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILOR F WHO SAYS THE STATE DOES EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO TAKE AWAY OUR LOCAL CONTROL.
AND YET THEY'VE CHOSEN TO LEAVE THIS AS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE NEED OF BEING ABLE TO GOVERN AND FUND PROJECTS.
SO, UH, TO ME, AS FAR AS, IT'S JUST A, A TERMINOLOGY, UH, EMERGENCY, UH, UH, BEING USED IN THIS CASE, MAYBE THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE NAME, BUT STILL ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND GOVERN, UH, IN THIS KIND OF CASE.
SO I OF COURSE, WILL SUPPORT THIS AS WRITTEN.
SO, ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE WE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANNETTE.
SO LET'S JUST GO WITH WHAT COUNSELOR DUNN SAID COULD BE A SCENARIO.
WHAT IF THIS PROJECT WAS DELAYED FOR A YEAR? TELL US THE HARM OR NOT THAT WOULD OCCUR WITH THE CITY.
'CAUSE I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT TO DECIDE WHETHER I'M GONNA ACCEPT AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE OR NOT.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR AND, UH, VICE MAYOR PLU.
UM, SO I WILL START, BUT I WOULD WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES TO JUMP IN.
IF THERE IS A POINT THAT I DON'T THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD HERE, UM, AS I'M LISTENING TO YOUR DISCUSSION AND, UM, WITH COUNSELOR DUNN RAISING THE, UH, CONCEPT OF A POTENTIAL REFERENDUM, UM, WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT IF THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE IS NOT USED, AND WE HAVE FOLKS WHO I HAVE HEARD HAVE PULLED OR ARE ABOUT TO PULL PACKETS TO CREATE A REFERENDUM ON THIS DECISION, UM, THAT INTRODUCES MASSIVE UNCERTAINTY INTO THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF THE VOTERS WILL VOTE IT DOWN.
UM, IT COULD BE MORE THAN A YEAR DELAY.
I MEAN, YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT GETTING TO THE POINT OF AN ELECTION AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
YOU'VE RECENTLY BEEN FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION, AND YOU HAD TO CHOOSE, WOULD YOU IMPLEMENT A PROJECT IN THE FACE OF A REFERENDUM LOOMING AND YOU CHOSE NOT TO.
I WOULD BRING THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU.
IF A REFERENDUM WERE FILED ON THIS ASKING YOU, DO YOU WANT THE CITY TO CANCEL $12 MILLION WORTH OF OTHER PROJECTS TO SEE THIS ONE THROUGH TO COMPLETION WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE BOND? UM, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DIALOGUE WITH YOU ABOUT COMPLETING FOREST ROAD NOW.
MM-HMM,
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE A MASSIVE DISRUPTION AND CONTINUED DISRUPTION TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THIS AREA AND PUTTING UP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND SO THAT WOULD, THAT'S MY INITIAL REACTION, IS I THINK IT'S A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT.
AND IT'S PUTTING ANOTHER MASSIVE DECISION ON YOU.
[02:30:01]
DECISION BY LEAVING OUT THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.WE WILL BE BACK TO YOU TO FIND OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA FINISH FOREST ROAD WITH OTHER MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE BOND WILL COME.
UM, SO I'M JUST GONNA PUT THAT OUT THERE VERY BLUNTLY.
UM, AND THAT IS PART OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT OF THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
IT'S PROVIDING CERTAINTY FOR THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT.
UM, BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT THAT, YOU KNOW, OPEN UP THAT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, UM, AND PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS OUT TO VOTE, IT WAS PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IF THAT'S YOUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE PEOPLE VOTE ON MAJOR PROJECTS, PROBABLY DO THAT BEFORE YOU START A PROJECT INSTEAD OF IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
BUT, UM, THOSE ARE MY FIRST REACTIONS TO, TO THE, TO YOUR QUESTION.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OR ANDY WHO'S DEALING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SIDE OF IT, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING.
BUT THAT'S MY INITIAL THOUGHT IS, UM, I WOULD NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU WHAT THE OPTION IS TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
AND THEN IF THE BOND CAME THROUGH LATER, GREAT, WE'D REIMBURSE THINGS.
WE WOULD RESTART WHATEVER PROJECTS WE CANCEL.
BUT I WOULDN'T TAKE THE RISK ASSUMING THAT THE BOND WOULD PASS.
UM, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE SMART FROM MY CHAIR TO ROLL THE DICE ON THAT FOR FOREST ROAD.
SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING, WE DON'T MIND GO RIGHT AHEAD, IS THAT WE ARE PUTTING, WE WOULD BE PUTTING THE FOREST ROAD PROJECT AT RISK AND THAT WOULD COST US MONEY.
PLUS, UH, AS COUNSELOR DUNN SAID, THE HEALTH AND POTENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, EVERYBODY IN UPTOWN WANTS FOREST ROAD EXTENSION.
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WANTS THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION.
SO I THINK COUNCIL WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY CONTINUE THAT PROJECT.
AND SO $12 MILLION OF OTHER THINGS WOULDN'T GET DONE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AM I HEARING IT CORRECTLY? YES.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE MONEY FROM OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR THE BOND, IS WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, SO WE NEED TO FINANCE THE PROJECT.
AND THE GARAGE WOULD BE, WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE EXISTING BOND.
SO A REFERENDUM WOULDN'T REALLY ELIMINATE THE GARAGE, IT WOULD JUST ELIMINATE ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS OR YEAH, I MEAN, WE WOULD, WE HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU THAT YOU GO BACK AND YOU'VE ALREADY MADE THE DECISION TO USE THE 2022 BONDS FOR THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE, WHICH IS THE GARAGE.
UM, SO, SO THAT IS OUR, THAT WE VOTED ON THAT AND THAT IS OUR, YES, YOU GAVE US THAT DIRECTION AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE TO RESTRUCTURE THE USE OF THOSE BONDS ALREADY, WHICH WAS ALLOWABLE USE, THE ORIGINAL ATTENDED USE.
THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE FORMALLY OTHER THAN TO GET YOUR DIRECTION TO GO WITH THIS PACKAGE TONIGHT TO FUND THE FOREST ROAD PROJECT.
AND DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN, UM, JUST ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS OF THE CONTRACT, WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THERE'S, THERE'S BECOME A REAL DIFFICULTY IN GETTING GOOD QUALITY CONTRACTORS HERE TO BID OUR PROJECTS.
IMAGINE WHAT THIS WOULD DO TO, TO FURTHER THAT ISSUE.
YOU YOU MEAN OUR REPUTATION, WHAT CONTRACTOR IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BID OUR PROJECTS QUALITY CONTRACTOR, VICE MAYOR.
DOES THAT ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, IN THE FOREST ROAD EXTENSION, THERE WAS A PROBLEM MIDWAY THAT CAUSED THE PROJECT TO DELAY.
WAS IT, IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A PS AND THE POWER, UH, CABLES THAT WERE IN THE GROUND.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME RIGHT.
AND THEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER DID IT TAKE? CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, TO START THE PROJECT UP, GET ALL THE EQUIPMENT BACK TO THE CITY, AND THEY, I BELIEVE THEY HAD, THEY LEFT ANOTHER JOB.
DO WE WANT FOREST ROAD, UH, DELAYED ANY FURTHER? I THINK NOT.
THAT IS THE EPITOME OF EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND, UH, CONVENIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO TO ME, I, I SEE, UH, A PROBLEM IN NOT MOVING FORWARD AGAIN.
[02:35:01]
READY FOR A, A VOTE? CAN I HAVE A, A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, PLEASE.I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024 DASH 1313 APPROVING THE SALE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF EXCISE TAX REVENUE OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCING A PROPORTIONATE INTEREST OF THE OWNERS' THEREIN IN A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY, APPROVING THE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUCH PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND OTHER NECESSARY AGREEMENTS FOR SUCH SALE, DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN TERMS THEREOF, AUTHORIZING THE TAKING OF ALL OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE RESOLUTION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? UH, COUNCILOR FURMAN.
I WOULD, UH, I, I CONTEMPLATED MAKING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT HERE TO ELIMINATE THE EMERGENCY CLAUSE HERE, BUT I KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THAT'S GONNA GO.
I'VE PROVEN MYSELF THAT I'M A BAD SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I BELIEVE IN STARE DECISIS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING IS NOT A GOOD REASON TO CONTINUE TO DO IT.
OTHER CITIES IN THE VERDE VALLEY DON'T DO THIS.
ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, FLAGSTAFF DOESN'T DO THIS, COTTONWOOD DOESN'T DO THIS.
MY RESEARCH COULD BE WRONG, BUT I CALLED AND TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE.
I, I SUGGEST THAT WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO NOT DO THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS IN THE FUTURE.
I THIS DECLARING AN EMERGENCY FOR CLEARLY NOT AN EMERGENCY, JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TRUST IN OUR, IN OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THIS BOND MOVE FORWARD, BUT I REALLY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE ALL THINK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
ANY OTHER? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, VICE MAYOR, AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNSELOR.
I, I THINK THAT, AND, UH, COUNSELOR, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY.
IT'S VERY NO, IT'S VERY, I COULD, YOU KNOW, I GO THIS WAY, I GO THAT WAY.
I DON'T LIKE TO SUBVERT THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY OF THE PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROJECT, AND I, AND I, I AGREE WITH ANDY.
I, I, IF I WERE, IF I WERE
I'D RUN AS FAST AS I POSSIBLY COULD.
UH, AND YOU JUST, JUST CAN'T, YOU CAN'T DO THIS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE WE ISSUED BONDS FOR THE GARAGE.
THEN WHEN THE GARAGE, WE TOOK A RE WE, WE, WE LOOKED AT IT THEN WE USED THE MONEY.
WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO FIND ANOTHER MEANS TO USE THE MONEY.
AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO HAVING IT, UH, FOR ITS ORIGINAL INTENTION, WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS THE GARAGE.
SO I, I, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUBLIC'S CONFUSED.
I'M CONFUSED,
WE'RE SAVING $5 MILLION AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST BAD.
IT'S JUST A BAD WAY TO PROCEED.
AND I DON'T WANNA DO THIS AGAIN EITHER, UH, BUT I AM GONNA VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION JUST BECAUSE OF, OF THE HARM TO THE CITY.
SHOULD IT FAIL? AND SHOULD WE HAVE TO DELAY EVEN MORE? THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF EVERYTHING IN FOREST ROAD, WE HAD TO PAY A PENALTY FOR STOPPING IT.
SO I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE IF WE STOPPED IT YET AGAIN, AND WHO WOULD WE GET TO DO THE WORK.
SO, BUT I DON'T LIKE IT AS WELL.
NO, I'M JUST SAYING, I JUST WANTED YOU TO LOOK AT MY WAY.
UH, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR FURMAN, UH, AND THE VICE MAYOR.
AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, UH, AGENDIZED IN THE FUTURE, UH, SO THAT, UH, WE'RE BETTER MANAGING THESE EXPECTATIONS.
COUNCIL DUNN, AND THEN CA WILLIAMSON.
SO I JUST WANT IT CLEAR I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE USE OF THE TERM EMERGENCY, BUT WE'RE TOO FAR ALONG.
WE HAVE TO FINISH AT THIS POINT.
[02:40:01]
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AROUND ARE THERE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN DO THIS GOING FORWARD? WHETHER THAT'S TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GONNA NEED BONDS WAY IN ADVANCE OF PROJECTS, AS WAS MENTIONED.THERE ARE OTHER WAYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN IN BONDS OR INVOLVED IN A BOND DISCUSSION BEFORE.
UM, BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE DECLARED THIS AN EMERGENCY, BUT I THINK THAT IT DOES IMPACT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY IF WE DON'T COMPLETE IT.
FINAL COMMENT FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAMSON.
GOVERNMENT MOVES SLOWLY, BUT IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS.
UM, AND SOMETIMES COUNSELOR WHILE DOING THINGS, UM, ACCORDING TO PRECEDENT IS NOT A GOOD WAY.
OTHER TIMES IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO PR MOVE FORWARD.
UM, IT, HAVING A HARD AND FAST RULE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AGAINST OR FOR PRECEDENTS DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, WORKAROUNDS REALLY ARE WHAT MAKE THE MOST SENSE, AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DO THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
FINALLY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DID KNOW AND PLAN FOR BONDING.
WE BONDED IN WELL AHEAD OF PROJECT STARTING IN 22.
WE DO, YOU KNOW, THAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN DONE.
UM, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND IT'S PERHAPS IT'S THE WORD EMERGENCY AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE DONE ABOUT IT.
BUT THE, IT'S BEING DONE THIS WAY FOR A REASON, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD REASON AND I TOTALLY SUPPORT IT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE WORD EMERGENCY.
SO WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE? YES.
WE'LL BE TAKING A, A 20 MINUTE, UH, BREAK.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK AT SEVEN 30.
I USUALLY, ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, LET'S GO BACK INTO SESSION.
IS THAT THAT KURT HARRIS TALKING OUR TURN AGAIN? GEEZ.
WHAT? I DON'T HAVE A, WHAT ARE WE GOOD IN? OKAY.
[8.c. AB 3059 Discussion/possible action regarding the approval of a Resolution adopting the City’s Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Pension Funding Policy for fiscal year 2024-2025. ]
C, AB 30 59.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SEEDS, PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL RETIREMENT SYSTEM, PENSION FUNDING POLICY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 DASH 25.
WHO'S GONNA, I WONDER WHO? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, HOW ARE YOU? VICE MAYOR, COUNSELORS, THANKS FOR STICKING IT OUT FOR US.
SO I HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU TWO POLICIES TO REVIEW THIS EVENING.
UM, EXHIBIT B HAS UNDER THE SECTION FOR ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS ABOVE THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION, THERE IS A BULLET HERE, OPTIONALLY CONTRIBUTE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT ANNUALLY TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL DOLLAR PAYMENT TO MAINTAIN FULLY FUNDED STATUS IN EXHIBIT C.
THAT SENTENCE IS JUST COMPLETELY REMOVED, SO IT'S UP TO YOU, WHICHEVER POLICY YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT.
I'LL BRING A NEW POLICY TO YOU NEXT YEAR TO ADOPT AS WELL,
SO, UM, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, UH, RENEE, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCE, LIKE WHERE THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THOSE TWO POLICIES SO IT'S CLEAR TO COUNSEL WHAT THAT ONE SENDS DIFFERENCES? CAN THAT HAPPEN ON SCREEN? UM, SURE.
DID YOU HAVE IT IN THE PRESENTATION PROGRAM? I DON'T, BUT I COULD JUST LOOK UP MY COMPUTER OR WE COULD JUST PULL IT UP UNDER THE FINALS.
WE CAN JUST, YOU WANNA JUST PUT ON MY COMPUTER AND WHILE THE, THEY'RE PULLING THAT UP, I WOULD SAY LIKE 99% OF THE TWO POLICIES BETWEEN EXHIBIT B AND C ARE IDENTICAL.
IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF SENTENCES THAT ARE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, UM, IN REGARD TO HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FULLY FUNDING THE LIABILITY.
[02:45:02]
OKAY.DOWN UNDER THE SECTION, COUNSEL HAS TAKEN THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS ABOVE THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION ON EXHIBIT B, WE HAVE THIS SENTENCE HERE.
OPTIONALLY CONTRIBUTE AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT ANNUALLY TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL DOLLAR PAYMENT TO MAINTAIN FULLY FUNDED STATUS.
SO I LEFT THE WORDING AS THIS IS AN OPTION FOR YOU TO DO.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO PAY OFF THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
SO IT'S JUST LANGUAGE LEFT IN THERE FOR THIS YEAR, IF AS JUST PART OF THE POLICY.
AND THEN IN EXHIBIT C, YOU CAN SEE UNDER THE SAME SECTION.
I'VE JUST REMOVED THAT ALTOGETHER, THAT BULLET POINT.
OH, I THOUGHT YOU STILL HAD MORE TO GO WITH.
SO I, I, IN EXHIBIT B, IT'S OPTIONAL EXHIBIT C, IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, BUT JUST BY NOT NOT ADDRESSING IT, IT STILL WOULD EXIST AS AN OPTION.
SO IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THERE REALLY IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN B AND C, I READ THEM TH THREE TIMES AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE MISSING LINE.
AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW EITHER REALLY AFFECTS ACTUAL POLICY, BECAUSE AS I SAID, ONE SCENARIO, IT'S OPTIONAL.
AND THE OTHER SCENARIO, IT'S NOT ADDRESSED.
SO YOU CAN EITHER DO IT OR NOT.
SO HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? MAYOR AND COUNCIL? IF IT'S NOT ADDRESSED, THEN THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO THIS YEAR.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE POLICY.
WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT'S IN THE POLICY THIS YEAR, MEANING FISCAL YEAR, THIS, THIS COMING FISCAL, YEAH.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY VOTED TO ALLOCATE.
NO, I'M SAYING YOU SAID THE OPTION ISN'T, ISN'T THERE.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL.
SO COUNSELOR, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, UH, JOB LOW AND COUNSELOR KINSELLA.
I BELIEVE WHAT WE HEARD AS, UM, YOUR INTEREST IN THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WAS THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MADE THE ONE TIME PAYMENT, WHICH IS IN BOTH OF THE EXHIBITS, THE 4.1 MILLION.
AND THEN WE HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS INTEREST IN COUNSEL HAVING THE OPTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS PAYING, UM, AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE FULLY FUNDED STATUS AND NOT LET THE LIABILITY START ACCRUING AGAIN.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WAS WHAT, UM, RENEE WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS BULLET.
UM, ADDING THAT IN TO REFLECT THE COUNCIL'S INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP IT PAID OFF.
UM, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN ANNUAL POLICY THAT YOU'RE ADOPTING EACH YEAR, IT'S REALLY ONLY APPLICABLE TO THIS BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IS YOU ARE ACCOMPLISHING THAT WITH THE ONE TIME $4.1 MILLION PAYMENT.
SO, UM, BUT I THINK WE HAD HEARD FROM YOU THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICY ALLOWED YOU THE OPTION TO MAKE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS IF THEY WERE NEEDED, IF THE ACTUARIAL STUDIES OR SOMETHING CAME BACK REQUIRING MORE FUNDING THE WAY THAT IT'S WORDED, IF THE OPTION IS INVOKED, DOES IT MEAN YOU HAVE TO THEN FUND THE ENTIRE BALANCE? OR YOU COULD STILL DO PARTIAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING UP UNTIL THIS YEAR WHERE WE DID EVERYTHING, WE WERE ALWAYS CONTRIBUTING MORE AND, AND DOWN, WHICH I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS REASONABLE.
SO I I I, I JUST C COUNCILLOR KINSELLA, THE, THE WAY IT READS TO ME IS IT WOULD, IT'S OPTIONAL.
AND SO IT'S ALSO, THE AMOUNT'S ALSO OPTIONAL.
IT'S HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL COUNSEL DECIDES TO CONTRIBUTE WOULD BE COMPLETELY UP TO COUNCIL.
PETE, PETE, YOU'RE ON THE P-S-P-R-S BOARD, RIGHT? RIGHT.
SO I'M SURE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD PREVIOUS, I, I, I AM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I ACTUALLY PREFER THE VERSION THAT LEAVES THAT OPTION IN THERE, BUT I STILL THINK THE WORDING OF THE OPTION IS, IS A LITTLE ODD BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A LEVEL PAYMENT SYSTEM, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO CALCULATE A LEVEL PAYMENT BECAUSE YOU'VE DESIGNATED A NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT, YOU SPREAD IT OUT OVER THE YEARS, THAT'S LEVEL FUNDING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
[02:50:01]
WORDING JUST IS A LITTLE AWKWARD.I DON'T THINK IT, IT'S SIGNIFICANT FOR THIS YEAR.
I WOULD THINK I WOULD ENCOURAGE US FOR THE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICY, TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT A, IN ANY GIVEN FUTURE YEAR, IF THERE'S AN UNFUNDED AMOUNT, WE, WE TARGET HOW MANY YEARS IT IS, WE WANNA LEVEL FUND IT AND, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR 10 YEARS OR SOME RATIONAL NUMBER OF YEARS.
I THINK THIS LANGUAGE SUPPORTS THAT, BUT IT'S JUST NOT COMPLETE YET.
AND IT SAYS THAT WE WILL DO A LEVEL, FUNDING DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND IT'S UP TO US TO DESIGNATE, UH, WHAT THAT IS.
AND I WOULD LIKE IN THE FUTURE FOR US TO ACTUALLY HAVE A, A MORE DEFINED TARGET THAT'S JUST NOT OPEN-ENDED.
SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY, LET'S DO A 30 YEAR LEVEL FUNDING THING AND IT PUSHES IT WAY OUT IN THE FUTURE AND IT DOESN'T HELP US.
INSTEAD OF A, A MORE TARGETED AMOUNT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT, UH, I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN KEEPING IT IN.
SO WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY NEXT YEAR IN CASE GOD FORBID, THAT THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, ELEMENT OF UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
I, I JUST, SO ANOTHER QUESTION I'VE GOT THOUGH IS WHY IS THAT LANGUAGE STILL JUNE 30TH, 2036? BECAUSE WE'RE FULLY FUNDING THIS THING.
AND, AND THEN AGAIN, A VERSION OF THIS IS OUR GOAL WAS IN THE PAST TO GET TO A HUNDRED PERCENT, WE'RE GONNA GET TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND THE FUTURE GOAL SHOULD BE TO MAINTAIN 95 TO 1 0 5 OR WHATEVER THIS NUMBER IS THAT WE WANNA PICK OF, OF RIGHT.
THAT IS AN ELEMENT OF A POLICY GOING FORWARD.
SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE AWKWARD.
I DON'T THINK IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THIS GIVEN YEAR.
LET'S GET A POLICY IN PLACE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT IT TO LOOK FORWARD, LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD.
I, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOOD TO BE DOING.
RIGHT? SO, BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE IT'S BROUGHT US.
JESSICA, YOU HAVE ANYTHING, ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
HOLLY WAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE AND WORK OUT.
I GUESS MY QUESTIONS ARE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND YOU ARE NOW THE CHAIR OF THE P-S-P-R-S.
ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT? YEAH, I THINK WE ARE.
SO WHAT THEY SAY,
OPTION B, THAT'S, THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.
EXHIBIT B THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR WE ACTUALLY TRY TO BLOW THE POLICY, GIVE MORE MEAT ON IT NEXT YEAR.
COUNCILOR FOLTZ? NO QUESTIONS.
I AM MUCH LESS CONFOUNDED NOW.
AND I AGREE WITH MY TWO COLLEAGUES SINCE THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS, UH, QUITE SOME TIME NOW, BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
UH, ANNETTE, DID YOU WANNA WEIGH IN ON THIS AT ALL? UH, NO SIR.
I PUT MY RECOMMENDATION IN THE AGENDA BILL, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS RECOMMENDING EXHIBIT B AS WELL.
UH, JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF A CHANGE OR NOT.
UM, LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY COURTS? NO, MA'AM.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND ARE THERE ANY, UH, COMMENT STATEMENTS? I CAN MAKE A MOTION IF YOU LIKE.
THIS IS FOR JUST PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ONLY.
AM I ON MOTION FOR ACTION? I'M ON THE WRONG PAGE.
SO, UH, COUNCILOR KINSELLA, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE THE MOTION, SINCE I DON'T REALLY NEED IT FOR THIS, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024 DASH, IS IT 14? 14.
UM, ADOPTING EXHIBIT B TO THIS AGENDA BILL AS THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM PENSION FUNDING POLICY.
YOU HADN'T DONE THAT IN A WHILE.
ANY OPPOSED OR UNANIMOUS? OKAY.
[8.d. AB 3072 Discussion/possible action to approve the Notice of Intent to Increase Wastewater Rates and set the public hearing date regarding the same. ]
AB 30 72.DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE.
AND THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCREASE WASTEWATER RATES AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE REGARDING THE SAME.
THIS TIME? WHAT'S THAT? I SAID IT'S THE FINANCE SHOW TONIGHT.
[02:55:05]
WELL, I HAVE A, I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION IN REGARD TO, UM, WATER RATES AND, LET'S SEE HERE.I AM JUST ONE MOMENT I THOUGHT WAS GONNA SHARE.
SO, UH, SHORT PRESENTATION ON WASTEWATER RATES.
UM, JUST A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
UM, I KNOW THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS ALL ABOUT THE WASTEWATER THAT IS AN ENTERPRISE RATE, BUT I THOUGHT IT'D BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ACTUALLY OPERATES.
SO THE WASTEWATER FUND IS CONSIDERED AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
AND WITH THAT, AN ENTERPRISE FUND HAS TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY, UH, USER RATES.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, UM, THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE, UM, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE UM, WAGES, BENEFITS, LABOR, SUPPLIES, OPERATIONS, THE WHOLE BIT.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT, UM, THE FISCAL YEAR END FROM JUNE 30TH, 2022, AS WELL AS 2023, BOTH YEARS DO REFLECT A NEGATIVE OPERATING INCOME BASED ON THE AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT OVER PROBABLY THE LAST SIX YEARS, THERE'S BEEN ABOUT A 22%, UM, INCREASE JUST IN ALL OF MATERIALS OPERATIONS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
NOW THE LAST RATE INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE WASTEWATER FUND WAS IN 2014.
AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INCREASED AT A RATE OF 6% FOR SIX YEARS.
BUT IN RESEARCHING THIS A BIT, THE RATES WERE LAST INCREASED IN 2017.
SO THAT 6% INCREASE ONLY LASTED FOR FOUR YEARS.
UM, THERE WAS A RATE STUDY DONE IN 2019 AND RESULTED IN JUST THE RESTRUCTURE OF THE CAPACITY FEES.
IT DID NOT THERE WHEN THE RATE STUDY WAS DONE.
NONE OF THE MONTHLY RATES WERE ACTUALLY EVALUATED.
NOW DURING A, UM, THE WORK SESSION, A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON APRIL 18TH, THE CITY COUNCIL HAD TALKED ABOUT A 3.6% INCREASE JUST BASED ON THE CPI OR CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IN 2025.
THERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE RATE STUDY THAT IS PLANNED NOW TO TRY TO GIVE SOME KIND OF AN IDEA AS TO THE, THE NUMBER OF SERVICES BILLED.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF FOCUSING IN ON RESIDENTIAL, AND I'LL GET INTO THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS 3.61% INCREASE WOULD BE TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
UM, IN MAY THERE WAS 66,895 SERVICES BILL.
WELL, 143 HAVE, UH, OF THESE BILL HAVE MULTIPLE SERVICES.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOOKING AT RESIDENTIAL BREAKDOWN, THERE'S TWO TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL BILLS.
THERE'S A STANDARD BILL AND THEN THERE'S A LOW FLOW BILL.
AND WHEN YOU BREAK THAT OUT, 34% OF RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE ON A LOW OR ON STANDARD AND 64% ARE ON LOW FLOW.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INCREASE, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT 3.61%, THE CURRENT RATE FOR STANDARD IS $61 AND 11 CENTS.
SO THEY'RE GONNA SEE A MONTHLY INCREASE OF $2 AND 20 CENTS.
NOW A LOW FLOW, THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT 47 52 AND THEY'LL SEE AN INCREASE OF A DOLLAR AND 71 CENTS.
UM, SO A COUPLE OTHER, UH, POINTS THAT I DID THINK THAT IS NOT IN THE PRESENTATION I THOUGHT THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN IS WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WASTEWATER WATER RATES ARE, UH, FOR CITIES TO RIGHT AROUND SEDONA.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, IN 2023, 'CAUSE THAT WAS THE LATEST INFORMATION, WE HAD A AVAILABLE, UH, PRESCOTT WAS AT, UH, $54 AND 97 CENTS.
UM, PRESCOTT VALLEY WAS AT 27 77, COTTONWOOD
[03:00:01]
WAS AT 48 75.AND THEY KIND OF RANGE, YOU KNOW, ALL OVER THE PLACE.
UM, AND THE AVERAGE, IF YOU LOOK AT, WE HAVE ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT CITIES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 46 44 JUST TO TRY TO GIVE SOME COMPARATIVES OF WASTEWATER RATES.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS NEAR AND DEAR TO PEOPLE'S HEARTS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR MONTHLY BILLS.
UM, WE DO HAVE CASHFLOW INFORMATION THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER IS OUT ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
AND, UH, THIS EVENING, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO INCREASING RATES, A NOTICE OF INTENTION MUST BE ADOPTED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE SET AT LEAST 60 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
SO CURRENTLY THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 13TH AND IF APPROVED, THE NEW RATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN EFFECT FOR THE OCTOBER, 2024 BILLING CYCLE.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
JESSICA, PETE, UH, COMMENT, NO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.
KATHY, BRIAN, I GUESS THE ONE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, EDUCATING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, THE ENTERPRISE FUND, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAID IT EXACTLY IN THIS WAY, BUT IT IS REQUIRED TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE LOSSES WITH GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS.
THAT IS A ENTERPRISE FUND IS SUPPOSED TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE SERVICES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING FOR THEM.
SO WE'VE GOTTA STOP DOING THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCILOR DUNN.
WHAT HE SAID, I'D LIKE TO VICE MAYOR.
SO THIS RATE INCREASE COVER, EXCUSE ME, COVER THAT GAP.
THIS RATE INCREASE IS A START.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE RATE STUDY BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE OPERATIONS, THIS WILL, THIS IS JUST THE START.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE FORECASTING AS TO, UM, THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, INFLATIONARY INCREASES ON THE OPERATIONAL SIDE.
UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL GAP.
WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT RATE STRUCTURES OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THOSE RATE STRUCTURES ARE ACTUALLY STRUCTURED.
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS COMPREHENSIVE RATE STUDY IS SO CRITICAL.
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS PARTICULAR INCREASE WILL NOT COVER THE GAP.
WE HAVE LOW FLOW THAT IT'S WHAT, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE? UM, THE LOW FLOW IS I BELIEVE 64%.
ULTIMATELY, WHEN THAT AS WE HAVE NEW BILLS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE NEW TOILETS AND LOW FLOW ARE GOING IN.
SO ULTIMATELY THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO RISE.
THEN IT'S NO LONGER HELPING TO FUND BECAUSE THE, THE, UH, REGULAR FLOW WOULD BE DROPPING DOWN.
SO WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE AT THAT POINT IN TIME? THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE UP THE LOW FLOW? WELL, ULTIMATELY IF THE STRUCTURE REMAINS THE SAME, ALMOST EVERY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL BE ON LOW FLOW.
RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS COMPREHENSIVE RATE STUDY COMES INTO PLAY.
BECAUSE THERE'S MANY COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR, UH, WASTEWATER CHARGES BASED ON WATER CONSUMPTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENTIALS, WHETHER IT'S INSIDE THE HOUSE OR IF IT'S WITH A SWIMMING POOL OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT THIS.
AND AS THEY GO THROUGH THAT RATE STUDY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE, UM, BRINGING FORWARD A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER.
I REMEMBER WITH A CO, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR IT WAS, WHERE IT WAS LOOKED AT REMOVING POOLS AND IRRIGATION FROM THE, THE EQUATION, BUT IT REALLY WASN'T SCIENTIFIC.
IT WAS A SORT OF WING IT AT LEAST FROM, I MEAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I DUNNO, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, MAYBE MORE.
SO IS THERE A WAY OF REALLY DIALING THAT IN? MM-HMM.
SO MAYBE IS IT NOT PUTTING A, A METER ON THE WASTEWATER, UH, LINE? RIGHT.
WE CAN'T, THAT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO.
THAT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO DO.
SO JUST SOMETHING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, COUNCILOR KINSELLA AND THE COUNCILOR WILLIAMSON.
ON, UM, YOUR SLIDE FOUR, THIS IS JUST A QUESTION.
RESIDENTIAL STANDARD AT 34% RESIDENTIAL LOW FLOW AT 64% IS 98%.
[03:05:01]
ROUNDING ERRORS? AND THERE'S, THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL PENALTY.2% IN ROUND ENVIRONMENTAL, THERE'S, WELL YOU WANT TO SPEAK INTO THAT.
THERE'S A FEW ACCOUNTS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL PENALTY.
THERE'S UM, PEOPLE ON DEFERRAL AND THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE ON SUBSIDY.
SO IF THEY'RE LOW INCOME, THEY'RE SUBSIDY THAT PICKS UP TO 2%.
SO THERE IS AN ACTUAL THIRD CATEGORY OF RATES.
SO JUST CLARIFY THAT THIS RATE INCREASE IS BASED ON JUST A COST OF LIVING THREE, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
AND THE DISCUSSION Y'ALL HAVE NEXT YEAR ABOUT SETTING A COMPREHENSIVE RATE WILL PRESUMABLY BE WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING IT UP OVER STAGES OR ALL AT ONCE IF YOU'RE FEELING REALLY, RANDY.
OKAY, LET'S GO BACK WITH, UH, COMMENTS.
UH, PETE, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING.
AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE UA, THE NORTHERN ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USER ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS A TOPIC OF CURRENT CONVERSATION, UH, AND THE NUMBERS THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE CONSIDERING FOR WASTEWATER RATES.
THERE'S CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WATER RATES AS WELL THAT WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN, BUT THERE, THERE'S SIGNIFICANT INCREASES COMING ACROSS ALL OF NORTHERN ARIZONA AND ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS REALLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, HANG ON TO YOUR HATS.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE.
IS THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RA RAISE THEIR RATES ACCORDINGLY? LIKE WE DIDN'T? YEAH, I THINK EVERYBODY'S SEEING THE SAME LABOR RATES, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, TIME TO REPLACE THINGS, RIGHT? YEAH.
IT'S ALL, ALL KINDS OF REASONS AND, AND REALLY THERE'S BEEN A, A DIVERSITY OF NUMBERS TALKED ABOUT.
SOME PLACES ARE NOT THAT BIG AND OTHER PLACES ARE REALLY LARGE INCREASES PROPOSED.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT OURS, BUT WE'LL BE OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE, UH, ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVERS, UH, THAT ALWAYS WATER, UM, TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE FACING OUR NEW RULES COMING TO US FROM THE EPA, UM, THAT WILL REQUIRE MORE ROBUST TREATMENT STANDARDS TO ADDRESS PFAS AND OTHER ELEMENTS IN WATER THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REGULATED BEFORE.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS ALL OF THE INDUSTRY IS GEARING UP TO HAVE, UM, ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, UM, FUNCTIONALITY AT THEIR SYSTEMS. SO, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF WE LOOK AT NEW TANKS, INJECTION WELLS, THAT WOULD ALSO EVEN RAISE IT UP EVEN MORE.
UH, FINAL COMMENTS ON THIS SIDE? ANYTHING? OH YES, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO YOU.
WHERE IS HE? NO, UM, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A PRUDENT THING TO DO.
IT HASN'T BEEN RAISED IN, IN A VERY LONG TIME AND IT'S NOT VERY MUCH MONEY AND UM, I'M CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS REASONABLE AND PRUDENT RATE INCREASE.
SO THIS IS FOR PRESENTATION DISCUSSION.
ONLY IF THERE'S ANY FINAL COMMENTS.
NO, THERE'S A MOTION TO BE MADE.
WHAT AM I LOOKING AT? WHAT THE, WHAT THE HELL? WE'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
MAYOR, GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION.
DID EVERYBODY GET THEIR COMMENTS IN? YEAH.
UH, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCREASE WASTEWATER RATES AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 13TH, 2024 SECOND.
[8.e. AB 2953 Presentation/discussion regarding the March 2024 Sales and Bed Tax Report.]
E, AB 29 53.PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MARCH, 2024 SALES AND BED TAX REPORT.
UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THE MARCH SALES AND BED TAX REVENUES.
UM, SO AS YOU ALL LIKELY ALREADY KNOW THIS, THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR THIS REVENUE IS A TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX.
NOW WE ALWAYS REFER TO IT AS THE SALES AND BED TAX REVENUES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO, RIGHT? UM, AS WE REVIEW
[03:10:01]
THE MARCH INFORMATION, I'LL POINT OUT A FEW SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME DIFFERENT TRENDS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.SO AS YOU LOOK AT THE COMPARATIVE TO PRIOR YEAR IN BUDGET AND THE TOTAL SALES TAX AND BED TAX IS OVER THE FISCAL YEAR, YEAR TO DATE BY $2,000,057 SEVEN $2,057,769.
AND IT'S OVER FISCAL YEAR 24 YEAR TO DATE BUDGET BY 3.8 MILLION.
SO, UH, EVERYTHING IS COMING IN WAY OVER WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROJECTED.
NOW THERE HAS BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, CONCERN OF COURSE WHEN COVID HIT THAT, ARE WE GOING TO GET BACK TO PRE COVID NUMBERS? UH, 'CAUSE EVERYBODY WAS STAYING HOME AT THAT POINT.
NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, UM, MARCH, 2019 FOR SALES TAX WAS AT 2.3 MILLION.
MARCH OF 2024 WAS AT 3.7 MILLION AND INCREASE TO 61% FAR EXCEEDED THE PRE COVID NUMBERS AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT FISCAL YEAR 2020 YEAR TO DATE, 15 MILLION FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO DATE, 24 MILLION, 58% CHANGE.
SO, UM, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO LOOK AT THESE TYPES OF COMPARISONS AND, UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS I WAS PUTTING THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER IS IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO CONTINUE DOING THE COMPARISONS TO PRE COVID NUMBERS OR IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT, UM, THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOOD AND WE CAN CONTINUE JUST TO LOOK FORWARD.
SO THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME TO MIND AS I WAS PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT HISTORICAL TRENDS, UM, MARCH OF 2024, THE SALES TAX IS THE HIGHEST DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THE CITY HAS RECEIVED IT A MONTH LOOKING BACK TO 2014, EVER.
THE SECOND HIGHEST WAS APRIL OF 2023 AND MARCH OF 2024 EXCEEDED APRIL OF 23 BY 6.8%.
SO THE SALES TAX REVENUE DOES CONTINUE TO GROW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BED TAX REVENUE, UH, MARCH OF 2024, THAT WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST BED TAX REVENUE.
LOOKING BACK IS 2004, MARCH OF 24, EXCEEDED MAY OF 22 BY 19.6%.
SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE TRADITIONAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE, UM, IN MARCH OF 2024, THE OCCUPANCY WAS ABOUT 80%.
MARCH OF 2023, OCCUPANCY WAS ABOUT THE SAME.
SO RELATIVELY STABLE AS FAR AS OCCUPANCY IS CONCERNED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE, THOUGH, YOU'LL SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.
IN MARCH OF 24, THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE WAS ABOUT $425.
AS OPPOSED TO MARCH OF 2023, THAT WAS ABOUT $375.
SO THOSE DOLLARS HAVE WENT UP QUITE A BIT.
SO IF WE LOOK AT THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TRADITIONAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL HOTEL ROOM RATE, SO THE AVERAGE HOTEL OCCUPANCY YEAR TO DATE IS AT 65% COMPARED TO 62% LAST YEAR.
AND THE AVERAGE HOTEL DAILY RATE IS AT APPROXIMATELY $324 THIS YEAR AND WAS AT ABOUT 300 LAST YEAR.
SO WE ARE SEEING INCREASES YEAR OVER YEAR.
SO IF WE LOOK AT THE REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM AND THE AVERAGE, I'M JUST GONNA FOCUS ON THE, UH, REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM.
'CAUSE THE LAST SLIDE COVERED THE OTHER, THE REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM IS UP SLIGHTLY FROM LAST YEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 213 COMPARED TO ABOUT $190 LAST YEAR CHAIR.
SO HERE I WANTED TO SHOW YOU IN MARCH OF 2024, THERE WAS ABOUT $4.9 MILLION COLLECTED.
NOW YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT YEARS THAT ARE REFLECTED HERE AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE BREAKDOWN NOW, SOME OF THE REVENUE IS FROM PAST YEARS WHERE PEOPLE EITHER FILED LATE OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME MIS FILINGS OR SOME DELINQUENCIES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT OVERALL, UM, IN MARCH OF 2024, THERE WAS $4.9 MILLION
[03:15:01]
COLLECTED.SO THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT TO SOME OF THE PERCENTAGES AND THE NUMBERS THAT REALLY KIND OF TELL THE ENTIRE STORY.
SO IF YOU COMPARE MARCH OF 23 TO MARCH OF 24, UM, WE'RE UP BY ABOUT 16%.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASES ARE THE RESTAURANT AND BARS AT A 23% INCREASE AND HOTEL MOTEL AT 25% COMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES WERE DOWN EACH DOWN BY 11% AND CONSTRUCTION BY 1%.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YEAR TO DATE, 2024 TO 2023 WERE UP BY 6%.
HOTEL MOTEL TAX IS UP BY 11% AND THE RESTAURANT SLASH BAR AND CONSTRUCTION ARE UP BY 10%.
SO THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, THE PRIMARY HIGHLIGHTS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS TO BE LOOKING AT.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST JUST TO GO ON THOSE HIGHLIGHTS.
AND HERE AGAIN, UH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
YOU WANNA GO BACK? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
YEAH, WE CAN'T REALLY TELL FROM THESE NUMBERS IF I'LL USE RESTAURANTS AS AN EXAMPLE.
IF THE REVENUE IS INCREASED BECAUSE THE PRICE OF FOOD, YOU KNOW, THE CHARGES IN A RESTAURANT HAS INCREASED OR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EATING OUT HAS INCREASED.
AND THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WE WOULDN'T BE PRIVY TO BECAUSE WE ONLY, WE ONLY GO BY, YOU KNOW, THE, WE ONLY GET THE INFORMATION ON THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT COMES IN.
WE AREN'T PRIVY TO THE OTHER INFORMATION.
BUT IF YOU, IF YOU DO THAT COMPARATIVE THOUGH, AND YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, NUMBER OF BEDS, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL TAX NUMBER OF BEDS THAT ARE OCCUPIED, THAT WOULD TYPICALLY REFLECT THAT PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME AT RESTAURANTS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN THAT RESPECT, THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS WERE UP AS WELL.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF, SINCE WE HAVE THIS NEW PLATFORM SYMPHONY PLATFORM, RIGHT, WE'RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE NOT DIRECTLY THROUGH THIS REPORT, BUT THROUGH LOOKING AT THE DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING THERE, COMBINED WITH SOME OF THIS DATA JUST SO WE HAVE A FEEL FOR, AGAIN, WE ARE ALWAYS STRUGGLING FOR INFORMATION ON TOURISM GROWTH, RIGHT? AND SO EACH INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY THAT'S RELATED TO THAT IS, IS INTERESTING ON ITS OWN, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TELL US THE OVERALL STORY.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TOURISM GROUP COULD SEE HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO COMPILE THAT OR HOW DIFFICULT.
UH, MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR PLU, UM, I BELIEVE THAT UH, OUR TOURISM BUREAU MANAGER, LAUREN DOES TRY TO DISTILL THAT DOWN.
UM, BUT I WOULD ACTUALLY DEFER TO COUNSELOR FOLTZ, WHO I BELIEVE HAS UM, BEEN WORKING WITH LAUREN ON MORE SPECIFIC DATA BREAKOUTS FROM SYMPHONY.
I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT YET, BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THAT YOU TRY TO MATCH THESE UP AND TELL THE WHOLE STORY FOR SURE.
YEAH, VICE MERIT IS THE ONGOING CHALLENGE STILL.
SO THE DATA RUNNING THROUGH SYMPHONY DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UH, COSTS SO THAT YOU REALLY CAN GET AT PROFIT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM A PROFITABILITY STANDPOINT.
SO, UH, YOU'VE GOT, UM, ALL, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY ALL THE OCCUPANCY A DR REVPAR INFORMATION THAT'S EXACTLY SAME SOURCE.
UH, SO THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH SYMPHONY, RIGHT? AND THERE'S SPENDING DATA THAT IS CAPTURED, BUT IT HAS LIMITATIONS TO IT AS YOU'VE HEARD IN OTHER MEETINGS, RIGHT? SO THERE THERE'S NO HOLY GRAIL ON REALLY UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE OUR BUSINESSES REALLY DOING BETTER OR NOT? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT TOP LINE GROWTH.
SO, AND JUST TO ANSWER ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR ME ON A SIMILAR TOPIC.
SO HOTEL MOTEL AND DOES THAT INCLUDE THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, PETE? IT DOES.
I JUST WANT THE POINT TO BE SURE.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM HOTELS.
WE, WE STILL HAVE NO WAY OF SEPARATING THAT.
WELL, THEY DO, BUT THEY ARE MAYOR.
WELL, NO, BUT I GET THAT AND WE DO NOT.
JUST WANT, MAYOR, MAY I, IF I MAY PLEASE.
[03:20:01]
FROM THE SYMPHONY PLATFORM, THERE IS BOTH HOTEL AND SHORT TERM RENTAL DATA THERE AND WITH SOME MATHEMATICAL MANIPULATION, ONE COULD BACK INTO, UH, SOME UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS COMING IN FROM THOSE TWO CHANNELS.SO THAT IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S AT AN AGGREGATE LEVEL FOR THE CATEGORY.
PETE, WHICH DOES SPEAK TO US MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF KIND OF MERGING THESE TWO TYPES OF ANALYSIS THAT WE DO, I I REALLY THINK IT'S TO GET THERE WOULD BE GREAT SOON.
AND HERE AGAIN, IT'S JUST A COMPARATIVE TO THE PRE COVID AND ONCE AGAIN, UM, THE NUMBERS ARE ASTRONOMICALLY OVER PRE COVID.
AND LASTLY, JUST TO DO THE OVERALL COMPARATIVE, UH, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SALES TAX, IT'S $1.4 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR.
BED TAX IS 637,000 OVER LAST YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR.
AND WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO BUDGET SALES, TAX REVENUE IS OVER BUDGET BY 2.6 MILLION.
BED TAX IS 1.2 MILLION OVER FOR A TOTAL OF 3.8 MILLION OVER BUDGET.
SO THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT WAS ALL OF THE INFORMATION I HAD TO SHARE ON THE SALES EVENT TAX.
QUESTION JESSICA, WELL, I'D LIKE TO SETTLE.
WHAT, AND FOR ALL, WHETHER WE EVER HAVE TO LOOK AT PRE COVID ANYMORE.
IS THAT PART OF WHAT KATHY, THAT I WOULD VOTE, VOTE YES, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S STILL A GOOD BENCHMARK.
IS IT, IS IT TROUBLE? A, A QUESTION, HOW DIFFICULT WOULD IT BE TO CONTINUE THE, THE PLOTS? OH, IT'S NOT DIFFICULT WHATSOEVER.
I WAS JUST ASKING THE QUESTION IF IT WAS, UM, WHETHER THERE'S RELEVANT OR NOT PRUDENT INFORMATION FOR THE, FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
I I WOULD ARGUE THAT, UH, IT SHOULD BE DROPPED AT THIS POINT.
I MEAN, WE ARE SO FAR, FAR ABOVE THOSE NUMBERS THAT IF THEY, IF THAT COMPARISON BECAME RELEVANT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, GOD HELP US ALL.
UM, I THINK IN THAT REGARD, SO UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO SOMEHOW MAKE POLICY STRATEGIC DECISIONS OF SOME SORT BASED ON THAT, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S RELEVANT ANYMORE.
THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED.
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD EVER GET BACK TO PRE COV LEVELS HAS BEEN ANSWERED.
IT'S BEEN ANSWERED YES, DEFINITIVELY.
I, I LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY AS WELL.
IT'S A PRE COVID NUMBER, BUT IT'S FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND I LIKE TO HAVE THAT KINDA DATA TO LOOK AT, TO SEE TRENDING, SO I WOULDN'T THINK OF IT.
MAYBE A WAY TO THINK OF IT IS NOT PRE COVID COVID, BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT A TREND.
SO WE COULD PICK A NUMBERS FIVE YEARS, RIGHT? IS FOUR YEARS, RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO SEE TRENDING.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO PRESERVE, WHICH, WHICH REALLY SPEAKS, I I GET IT.
THIS BAR CHART THAT WE USE IS DIFFICULT TO DO MORE THAN THOSE NUMBERS A YEARS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ANOTHER PRESENTATION OF DATA THAT CAN GET AT THE HISTORICAL NUMBERS IN A GIVEN CATEGORY OVER A GREATER NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, LOOKING AT HISTORICAL RATES OVER 10 YEARS IS, IS A REASONABLE THING TO DO, MELISSA, SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING HISTORICAL TRENDING.
IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF NICE TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HISTORY OR WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST, BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THIS HAS TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO SAY, THIS ISN'T ABOUT PRE COVID VERSUS NOW IT'S ABOUT HOWEVER MANY YEARS WE THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HISTORICAL TRENDS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THINGS ARE CHANGING IN THE CITY.
THERE'S GONNA BE THIS BIG, LIKE DROP OFF POINT AND WE'RE ALL GONNA KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
I THINK, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE BEYOND THAT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS OF YEARS.
UM, BUT I'M OKAY WITH DOING HISTORICAL TRENDING TO UNDERSTAND JUST SORT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH GROWTH AND, AND LACK OF GROWTH VICE.
I THINK BRIAN HEAD I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I MEAN I LIKE THE HISTORICAL TRENDING.
I MEAN, AND, AND YOU'VE GIVEN US THAT.
I MEAN, IT JUST HAPPENS TO A LINE RIGHT NOW WITH RIGHT COVID
[03:25:01]
AND POST.'CAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT FISCAL 20 THROUGH FISCAL 24 NOW, SO YEAH.
BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILOR DUNN JUST SAID THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT PRE YEAR POST COVID ANYMORE.
JUST, BUT LET'S HAVE THAT TRENDING.
I'D LIKE THE COVID TO COME OUT 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK IT REALLY HAS ANY RELEVANCE.
WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD A DIP.
AND IF WE LOOK AT IT, WE'LL KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO THE TRENDING, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANY RELATION TO COVID OUT.
SO HOW MANY YEARS OF TRENDING DO WE WANT TO BE SHOWING? THINK AT LEAST FIVE.
FIVE FITS ON ONE PAGE NICELY, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
I KNOW I MORE DATA YOU, BUT 30 YEAR.
BUT, BUT, BUT NOT ON THIS MONTHLY VARIATION.
FIVE YEARS IS GOOD ON THAT MONTHLY VARIATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CATEGORY ANNUALLY GO BACK 10 YEARS.
IS THAT, WE'RE FINE WITH THAT.
HOW MUCH WORK IS THAT FOR YOU GUYS? IT SHOULDN'T BE A BIG DEAL.
'CAUSE WHEN WE'RE OVER PUTTING TOO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE, YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW
SO THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
NOW THAT I'M ON THE, SO ARE WE FINISHED WITH? YES.
CAN I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT? YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THIS.
IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING, I THINK, FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO, TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, WITH OUR REVENUES AND, AND SO FOR SO ON.
AND I BELIEVE I HEARD, UM, THAT COUNSELOR FURMAN WAS GONNA HELP YOU SET UP THAT, UH, FORMULA
JUST SAY IT FURMAN AND HE WOULD DO IT TOO.
UM, SO THEN WE'LL MOVE, MOVE ALONG.
I THINK YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
IF YOU WANNA STICK AROUND, YOU CAN FOR ANOTHER COUPLE HOURS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY NOT NINE BY NINE.
[8.f. AB 3074 Discussion/possible direction regarding transportation projects that will be submitted to NACOG for funding opportunities.]
AB 30 74.DISCUSSION POSSIBLE DIRECTION REGARDING TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO NACOG FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT'S WHAT S BEEN WAITING FOR.
ANDY, THANKS FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH US.
AND KURT, HE DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THIS ITEM IS IN RELATION TO A REQUEST FROM NA NACOG, THAT'S THE NORTHERN ARIZONA COALITION OF GOVERNMENTS FOR COUNSEL.
FOR OUR INTENT IN HOW TO PROCEED WITH ONE OF OUR PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.
IT'S ALSO A REQUEST FOR ALL TRANSPORTATION RELATED PROJECTS IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE ALSO PUT THIS ITEM TOGETHER TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL CITY SUPPORT FOR A REGIONAL CONNECTION OR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY AND THE WEST END, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR BYPASSING CONGESTION.
THE REQUEST FROM NACO IS REGARDING THE CITY'S INTENT WITH WHAT TO DO WITH LAST YEAR'S REGIONAL PRIORITY PROJECT LIST PROJECT.
THIS WAS THE SR 1 79 FOREST AND RANGER INTERSECTION PROJECT.
THIS IS THROUGH, UH, AS I MENTIONED, THE REGIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS LIST.
WE DID APPLY FOR THAT LAST YEAR AND WERE NOT GRANTED THAT REQUEST.
SO OUR INTENT IS TO ROLL THAT FORWARD TO FY 25.
A FEW PROJECTS THAT WE ARE ALREADY IN THE NACOG TIP, THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES SHELBY PHASE TWO.
WE STARTED OFF, YOU CAN SEE A PHOTO THERE
[03:30:01]
OF, UH, SHELBY PHASE ONE INTENDING TO USE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECT SPENDING, WHICH WE ALSO, UM, HAD APPLIED FOR.UH, ACTUALLY, SO ONE, ONE THING I I DIDN'T MENTION IS THE REGIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS LIST.
THE INTENT OF THAT PROGRAM IS TO PRIORITIZE, UH, WHAT PROJECTS WE HAVE WITHIN THE NACO REGION AND ULTIMATELY APPLY FOR THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECT SPENDING FUNDING.
SHELBY PHASE TWO HAD RECEIVED THAT CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECT SPENDING FUNDING.
HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM WASN'T, UM, ADMINISTERED IN A A A A TIMELY WAY THAT ALLOWED US TO SPEND THE FUNDING ON THAT PROJECT.
ADA AGREED THAT WE COULD ROLL THE, THE FUNDING FORWARD INTO A PHASE TWO.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S HOW THAT'S ENDED UP IN THE TIP.
AND, UH, THAT'S ALSO, UM, FUNDED IN THE TIP IN FY 25.
ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IS THE BREWER ROAD SHARED USE PATH.
WE APPLIED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO ALTERNATIVES FUNDING FOR THAT.
IT IS, UH, IT WAS AWARDED AND, UH, IS IN THE TIP IN FY 25.
AND THEN FINALLY WE DO HAVE A PLACEHOLDER OUT ALL THE WAY OUT IN FUTURE YEARS IN FY 29, ORIGINALLY IN STBG FUNDING, SURFACE TRANS, UH, TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT FUNDING, WHICH, UH, WE HAVE, UM, AGREED WITH NAAG WILL ACTUALLY ROLL INTO A PROGRAM, UM, WHICH IS THE HERF EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS THE STATE TO TAKE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY'RE USING ALREADY, LIKE STBG AND EXCHANGE THAT WITH HF SO THAT IT, IT TAKES AWAY THE FEDERALIZED ASPECT OF THAT AND ENDS UP BEING STATE FUNDING AND ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS US TO NOT HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH SO MANY HOOPS IN USING THAT FUNDING.
SO, AND THE THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.
THE HF COMES FROM TAX ON THE GASOLINE.
SO HOW, WHEN IN THE CONVERSATION ARE THEY GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE LOSS OF REVENUES FROM THE CONVERSION OVER TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES? THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON AND, AND LOOKING AT TRYING TO ADDRESS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE HERF EXCHANGE, THE STATE HAS MUCH MORE FUNDING THAN, THAN THE CITY DOES.
AND THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO ALLOW THIS HERF EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO WORK.
IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR ALL PROJECTS.
WE DID APPLY FOR THAT, UM, OR WE GAVE THE INTENT THAT THAT WOULD BE, UM, HOW WE WOULD USE OUR FUNDING AND IT'S BEEN APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT, IN THAT FASHION.
SO IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER ON THAT PART OF OUR PRESENTATION, JUST HAVE A, ANDY, CAN YOU JUST GO BACK TO, FOR THE SHELBY, UH, CHANGE IT IS REALLY HARD FOR US TO SEE IT.
COULD YOU JUST DESCRIBE FROM WHERE TO WHERE WHAT OH, SURE.
SO PHASE ONE LEFT OFF RIGHT AROUND THE RE UH, RECYCLE CENTER AT THE SOUTH END OF SHELBY DRIVE.
THE PHASE TWO PROJECT WILL RUN FROM WHERE PHASE ONE LEFT OFF AT THE RECYCLE CENTER ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTH TO 89 A.
THE HERF EXCHANGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 20, THAT'S THE ROTATION THAT THE CITY, SEDONA IS WITHIN NACO.
SO THAT'S JUST THE TIMING OF THAT PROJECT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S PUSHED OUT THAT FAR.
AND THEN HF IS A REMINDER HIGHWAY USER REVENUE FUNDS HASN'T CHANGED SINCE 1994 AND THE STATE IS LACKING IN THAT.
I'LL SAY VICE MAYOR HAS A QUESTION THOUGH FOR YOU, ANDY.
HOW DID YOU DETERMINE WHICH PROJECTS YOU PUT ON THE LIST THEY GIVE YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR PRIORITIES AND YOU FIT OUR PROJECTS WITHIN THOSE? OR WERE THEY JUST BASED ON OUR PRIORITIES? TYPICALLY, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO SOME OF THESE, UM, FUND OPTIONS LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE, WE'RE FITTING THE PROJECT TO, YOU KNOW, THE CRITERIA BASED ON THAT FUNDING.
SOME, SOME FUNDING OPTIONS ARE STRICTLY SAFETY RELATED, FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT FORTUNATELY THE CITY, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MANY AREAS WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION THAT FIT THAT KIND OF CRITERIA.
YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK AT A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BASED ON TYPICALLY NUMBER OF CRASHES, SEVERITY OF CRASHES.
WHILE SOME FOLKS DON'T LIKE OUR ROUNDABOUTS HERE, THAT'S
[03:35:01]
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF OF HAVING THEM, IS WE TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE, UH, A HIGH NUMBER OF SEVERITY, UH, SEVERE CRASHES IN OUR JURISDICTION.SO THE UNFORTUNATE THING THERE IS WE DON'T, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE FUNDS.
WE, WE ARE STILL, I KNOW KURT AND HIS TEAM ARE, ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SAFE, UH, SAFETY RELATED FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE WILL STILL CONTINUE TRYING TO PURSUE THOSE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, THE SAME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY THAT SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS WOULD HAVE.
MAYOR, IF I MIGHT YES, PLEASE.
JUST ONE THING I WOULD ADD IN A LITTLE MORE COLOR FOR THAT.
SO ON THE SAFETY FRONT, SO CAMP VERDE HAS THE, THE NORTHBOUND I 17 EXIT RAMP ONTO TWO 60 IS LIKE, LIKE DEATH TRAP FOR SEMIS COMING OFF TOO FAST, DON'T STOP AND PLOW INTO VEHICLES.
AND THAT'S ONE OF 'EM THAT GOT SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FUNDING.
UM, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE 1 79 I 17 PROJECT BY CHANCE? NO.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A SITE OF FATALITIES, BUT IT'S THE ONE IN CAMP VERDE AT TWO 60 THAT, 'CAUSE IT'S AT ANOTHER DOWNHILL EXIT RAMP AND THAT'S GOTTEN SIGNIFICANT FUNDING.
SAME SCENARIO WHERE THEY MISSED THE TRUCK.
SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE PRIORITY GOES.
I MEAN, LIKE IT'S UNMISTAKABLE PRIORITY.
AND IT'S MULTIPLIERS OF THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT.
SO IF THERE'S A FATALITY, IT HAS A HUGE MULTIPLIER THAT THEN REALLY CHANGES THAT, UM, RATIO.
SO, UH, I KNOW WE SENT, I SENT A LETTER, UH, FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR 1 79.
UH, THEY'RE DOING THE INPUT FOR THAT NOW, I BELIEVE.
AND WHEN WILL THAT DISCUSSION BE, UH, INFORMATION BE RELEASED? THE OUTCOME OF THAT DISCUSSION? IT'S GONNA BE A LONG PROCESS AS I RECALL.
UM, IT WAS, UH, BIG PARK COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A PROJECT THAT WE DID, UM, LIKE TO SUPPORT.
SO, AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO WE ALMOST LOST A FIRETRUCK AT THE SAME SPOT.
SO ANOTHER UM, ASPECT OF THIS IS A O'S REC OR A O NCOS REQUEST FOR, UH, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT THE CITY HAS IN OUR CIP.
UM, THIS IS JUST A QUICK LIST HERE.
NOT INTENDING TO HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING.
UM, JUST NOTING THAT, UH, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 39 PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, NOTIFYING THEM ABOUT.
THE INTENT OF THIS ALSO IS TO INDICATE TO THE STATE ADOT, UM, THE LEVEL OF NEED THAT THE NACO REGION HAS, INCLUDING SEDONA AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE NEED FOR FUNDING.
THE FINAL ASPECT OF OF THIS ITEM IS RENEWING A DISCUSSION ON A NEED FOR A REGIONAL CONNECTION.
IN 2018, WE COMPLETED THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN.
AND ONE OF THESE STRATEGIES WITHIN THAT MASTER PLAN WAS CEM 13.
THAT PARTICULAR STRATEGY DID IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC QUE UM, CONNECTION, UH, SPECIFICALLY AT THE RED ROCK CROSSING.
THAT THAT IDEA THOUGH BEING THAT THERE IS A NEED TO CONNECT FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY TO THE WEST END, THIS WOULD BE A CONNECTION THAT ALLOWS FOR BYPASSING CONGESTION.
UM, AT THE TIME WE DID, UM, THROUGH OUR ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT THIS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE A CONGESTION RELIEF DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT WOULD BYPASS, UH, THE CONGESTED AREA.
JUST NOTING THAT IF YOU HAVE FOLKS ALREADY COMMITTED TO 1 79, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WOULD TRAVEL THROUGH WEST SEDONA TO GET TO THE NUMBER, NUMBER ONE DESTINATION AREA OF SEDONA BEING THE, THE Y THE Y AREA OR, OR THE, UH, BUSINESS DISTRICT.
AND THAT BEING A SMALL, A SMALL NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT WOULD DO THAT, IT'S MORE OF A CONVENIENCE ALTERNATIVE FOR RESIDENTS, OUR COMMUNITY AND FOLKS THAT WANNA BYPASS CONGESTION.
[03:40:02]
SO WHILE, UH, SIM 13 DID IDENTIFY THAT SPECIFIC CONNECTION, AND YOU GOT A QUESTION? QUESTION, I'M SORRY.I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WHILE, WHILE THAT PARTICULAR STRATEGY DID IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC CONNECTION, THIS RENEWED DISCUSSION IS REALLY CENTERED ON LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF MULTIPLE CON POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS AND, AND, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WANTS TO ADVOCATE TO YAVAPAI COUNTY, UM, THE, THE POSSIBILITY, POSSIBILITY OF ANALYZING THOSE ALTERNATIVE CONNECTIONS IN, UH, IN A STUDY.
THIS WOULD BE WITH COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, IT WOULD BE NOTIFIED TO BOTH NACOG AND THE VERDE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION, WHICH THE CITY PARTICIPATES IN.
AND BOTH NACOG AND V-V-T-P-L ARE PURSUING A VERDE VALLEY, UH, TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN UPDATE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THE CITY WOULD NOTIFY THEM ABOUT THE CITY'S DESIRE TO PURSUE THIS.
JESSICA, THE, SO ARE WE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY INDEPENDENTLY NO.
DO A STUDY? NO, I, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
SO WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IS THAT THE DIRECTION BE TO, UM, COMMUNICATE WITH YAVAPAI COUNTY, THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE PURSUED AND THAT, UH, FEEDBACK BE PROVIDED TO BOTH NACO AND V-V-T-P-O.
THAT IT IS A DESIRE OF THE CITY TO HAVE THIS BE PURSUED.
SO IT'D BE IN BOTH THOSE DIRECTIONS BECAUSE RECENT, NOT RECENTLY, I MEAN, EVERYTHING SEEMS RECENT.
UM, THERE WAS A, A VERDE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION STUDY DONE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS THAT MANY YEARS AGO.
WAS IT FIVE NOW THAT LONG WHERE THESE THINGS WERE RAISED AND, AND, AND DISMISSED.
SO, WELL, I THINK, ARE YOU REFERRING TO SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE FORMER COUNTY SUPERVISOR DID FOR VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL ROAD DOWN TO THE NO, IT'S NOT, IT WAS, IT WAS ALL VERDE VALLEY.
SO THERE WAS A, A TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN FOR THE VERDE VALLEY, RIGHT.
YOU FEEL LIKE IT WAS LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO WE'RE RESAYING WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THE OPTIONS AND THAT WE'RE NOT PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDING RED ROCK CROSSING, BUT WE'RE RE BUT WE WOULD LIKE SOME ANALYSIS OF, OF THAT DONE.
AND I'M GONNA GO THANK YOU MAYOR.
ANDY, WHEN WE DO THESE TYPES OF ANALYSIS, DO WE JUST LOOK AT ROAD CONNECTIONS OR IN THIS ENLIGHTENED AGE, DO WE ALSO NOW LOOK BROADER BEYOND JUST MULTIMODAL CONNECTIONS? YES, I THINK TRAILHEAD CONNECTIONS, BIKE TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
I I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOTH, WHETHER THAT BE, YOU KNOW, A CONSOLIDATED ALIGNMENT OF BOTH MODES OF, OF TRAVEL BEING ACCOMMODATED AND ONE RIGHT OF WAY OR TWO SEPARATE, UM, CONNECTIONS THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET.
I I THINK THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKED AT THROUGH THAT ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS, WHICH, WHICH COULD, I MEAN, IF, IF TWO ROAD CONNECTION ALTERNATIVES WERE KIND OF EQUAL IN THEIR MERITS, THE ADDITIONAL MULTIMODAL CONNECTION COULD WEIGH A DECISION.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE RED ROCK CROSSING? SURE.
SO HOW WOULD WE HAVE ANY STANDING TO MOVE FORWARD? I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER I LIKE THE IDEA, I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA, BUT IT'S OUT OF OUR CITY.
CAN WE DO THAT IN A, IN THE COUNTY, AND I'M GOING BACK, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO, BUT I JUST MENTIONED THAT, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR GARRISON DID A STUDY OF, I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT MAGNITUDE RIGHT.
BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT WAS KILLED THEN WAS THE PEOPLE ON VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL ROAD WOULD HAVE TO FUND IT.
IT WOULD BE A SPECIAL USE TAX, DISTRICT TAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT ALSO THOSE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT THE EXTRA TRAFFIC GOING DOWN VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL ROAD.
AND I, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT SAME PUSHBACK IS GONNA MATERIALIZE AGAIN.
SO WOULDN'T IT, AND I'M NOT SAYING I WOULD, WOULD WE HAVE A PLACE IN THE CITY, ALTHOUGH THERE'S BEEN ONE OR TWO SUGGESTIONS IN THE PAST, HOW WOULD WE DO SOMETHING TO, TO THAT MAGNITUDE OUTSIDE THE CITY? SO I I, I'LL ACTUALLY STEP BACK IN ANSWERING THAT A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE RECENTLY COMPLETED
[03:45:01]
THE VOL VOLPE REPORT AND ONE OF THE SECTIONS WITHIN THAT REPORT WAS LOOKING AT THE NEED FOR REGIONAL CONNECTIONS.SO THIS, THIS IS ALREADY SATISFIED BY A REGIONAL, UH, REGIONAL LOOK AT THIS AREA, AT THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE.
SO JUST CITING THAT EFFORT, UM, I, I THINK WE WOULD GO TO THE COUNTY AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE CITY'S SUPPORT.
IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE VOLPE REPORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, UH, MAYBE ADVOCATING FOR CERTAIN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT MIGHT BE UTILIZED WITH THIS SORT OF EFFORT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER OTHER CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENTS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT JUST YET, BUT JUST MAKING IT CLEAR TO THE, TO THE COUNTY THAT THE CITY IS, IS AT THE TABLE AND WILLING TO HELP IN WHAT WAY WE CAN.
I THINK, I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF DIRECTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL YEARS AGO TO GO DOWN, I WANNA SAY POCO DIABLO IN THAT AREA AND AROUND TO COME DOWN, UM, SUNSET RIGHT DOWN AT THE DEAD END OF SUNSET.
IS THAT A REALISTIC BACK THEN, I BELIEVE IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS KILLED RIGHT AWAY BY SOME PUSHBACK.
ACCORDING TO A FORMER, VERY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO TOLD ME ABOUT IT.
IS THAT THE TOBIAS FLYNN? NO, NO, NO.
THAT WAS JUST TO GIVE THEM, AND I WAS ON COUNCIL FOR THAT.
THIS WAS AN ACTUAL, AND THAT WAS GONNA JUST GET THEM OUTTA THEIR LANDLOCKED PROPERTY UP TO POCO DLA.
THIS WAS BASICALLY THE SAME SPOT, BUT TO TAKE THE ROAD AROUND.
I, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN BEFORE MY, I DON'T RECALL THAT.
IT WASN'T YOU JUST, IT'S A LONG TIME AGO.
AND I HAD THE INFORMATION AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WITH IT, BUT I MEAN, OTHER THAN THE, UH, GOING ACROSS THE CREEK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, OPTIONS THERE? THERE COULD BE.
YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE THE, THE INTENT OF THE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS IS TO LOOK AT WHAT OPTIONS THERE MIGHT BE OUT THERE.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S PART OF THE, UM, PARTNERING THAT WE DO WITH THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE ACTUALLY WITHINS, UH, CITY JURISDICTION AS WELL.
SO MY QUESTION TO, UH, LAST QUESTION TO KURT.
CAN WE ENTER INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS A A JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND IF WE HAD TO FUND IT? 'CAUSE THE COUNTY'S DEFINITELY NOT GONNA FUND IT.
WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY DEFINITELY.
I DON'T THINK, UH, THERE'S, THEY'RE NOT DOING, UH, FINANCIALLY WELL, BUT, UH, CAN WE FUND THAT AND NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UH, CLAUSE, GIFT CLAUSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? TAX OF ANY WAY? SO THE, THE CITY CAN, EXCUSE ME.
UH, YES, THE CITY CAN ENTER INTO AN IGA OR JOINT FUND AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE COUNTY.
THE CITY COULD ALSO ANNEX, UH, ROADWAYS OUTSIDE OF CITY UNITS.
WE, AND JUST ANNEX THE ROADWAYS.
IT DOESN'T FOLLOW AFOUL OF LIKE STRIP ANNEXATION REQUIREMENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE MY OWN, EXCUSE ME, MY OWN MIND.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY ALL I HAD FOR PRESENTATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO COMMENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, HEARING NONE.
LET'S OPEN THE, UH, DISCUSSION.
LARS, YOU WANNA STEP UP? YEAH.
UH, NAME CITY OF RESIDENCE, UH, ALL THAT GOOD KIND OF STUFF.
SO, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
WE GOT THE NEW NUMBERS ON THE, ON THE WALL NOW.
LARS ROEG, CITY OF SEDONA AND, UH, MY IT IS SUPPLEMENT HERE, ALSO REPRESENTING THE VERDE VALLEY CYCLIST COALITION 5 0 1 NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES, COULD YOU RAISE YOUR MIC UP? THANK YOU.
SO LARS ROIG, CITY OF SEDONA AND I'M HERE ALSO REPRESENTING THE VERDE VALLEY CYCLISTS COALITION, THE NONPROFIT THAT ADVOCATES FOR CYCLING IN THE GREATER VERDE VALLEY.
UH, JUST HERE TO COMMENT ON THIS, I THINK THAT THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT HAS FAR REACHING ABILITIES TO REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE HOW SEDONA OPERATES, GET PEOPLE OUTTA CARS AND REALLY INCREASE THE ABILITY FOR LOCALS TO BE ABLE TO RECREATE AND COMMUTE AROUND TOWN.
UH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF NOTES HERE TO KEEP ON THIS.
UH, THE VERITE SERVICE COALITION HIGHLY SUPPORTS THIS, THIS IDEA OF MAKING REGIONAL CONNECTIONS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE VOLPE REPORT, WHICH WAS JUST, JUST COMPLETED.
UM, I ALSO WANT US TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE CHAVEZ CROSSING BY THE TOBIAS FLYNN THAT YOU REFERENCED, MAYOR.
THERE'S ALSO THE POTENTIAL TO GO ACROSS ON US FOREST SERVICE LAND JUST SOUTH OF POCO DIABLO ACROSS TO THE CHA,
[03:50:01]
THE OLD CHAVEZ CROSSING, WHICH WOULD ONLY BE ON US FOREST SERVICE, WHICH MIGHT AVERT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TOBIAS FLYNN AREA.UM, IF WE HAD THAT CHAVEZ WITH BOTH CONNECTIONS POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE, THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE PRESSURE AND POTENTIAL POLITICAL KICKBACK ON VERDE BY SCHOOL ROAD.
SO I THINK LOOKING AT ONE OR THE OTHER, OR BOTH, IT COULD ALSO MAKE A HUGE CHANGE FOR THE SHUTTLE ASPECT.
THIS WOULD CREATE A CIRCULAR ROUTE THAT WOULD GO AROUND THE AIRPORT MESA AND WILL ALLOW THE SHUTTLES TO GO IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET OFF AT DIFFERENT DROP POINTS AROUND THAT, ALLOWING VISITORS AND LOCALS TO RECREATE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT MANNER.
AND ALSO COMMUTE AROUND TOWN IN A, IN A BETTER, A BETTER WAY.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD THINK TOO, THAT WE DO THIS, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT AREA IS SITE HARDENED REALLY WELL.
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE SEE IN THAT AREA CURRENTLY DOWN BY CRESCENT MOON RANCH AND OUT ON DRY CREEK, AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED 'EM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SITE HARDENING WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ROADSIDE PARKING EVERYWHERE ALONG WITH REALLY GOOD ROBUST, UM, MULTIMODAL ACCESS, WHETHER IT BE TRAILS ALONGSIDE OR BIKE LANES.
UM, AND THEN THE ONE OTHER THING I WANNA MAKE SURE TOO, WITH THESE, WITH THE MULTIMODAL ASPECT OF IT FOR CYCLING THAT WE DO OURSELVES, THE CITY PLANNING OR PUSHING THE COUNTY THAT IT'S LOOKED AT THROUGH THE LENS OF LIKE A, A MOM TRYING TO SEND A KID OUT.
LIKE IF YOU'RE GONNA SEND YOUR SCHOOL AGE KID OUT TO GO REC MOVE THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO KIND OF MATCH THAT SO THAT IT'S REALLY ENTICING FOR A CYCLIST TO USE IT.
UM, THIS AREA ALSO, WE SHOULD PROBABLY NOTE THAT WHEN THERE'S THE COORDINATION FOR THIS, THE US FOREST SERVICE, THE RED OAK GRADUATE DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT THIS FOR THE UPCOMING WRAP OAK CREEK WRAP PROJECT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN PURSUING THE VERDE VISA CYCLES COALITION WITH THEM IN REGARDS TO THAT PROJECT.
BUT YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL WITH THE REST OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO.
YEAH, I ALMOST GOT ALL OF IT AND YOU KNOW WHERE TO CONTACT ME.
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO DO THAT TOO.
UH, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND AN EMAIL TO ALL OF US AS WELL.
ANYBODY WANNA JUMP? PRIDE, READY TO JUMP AND TAKE THE LEAD? YEAH.
WELL FIRST OFF, JUST TO THANK LARS FOR PATIENTLY WAITING OVER, I'LL SAY OVER FOUR HOURS TO, UH, HAVE THREE MINUTES.
SO I WOULD'VE GIVEN YOU MORE LARS JUST SAYING
UH, YEAH, I MEAN I'M SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE SIM 13 NOTION OF TRYING TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
SO I THINK WE DO OWE IT TO LOOK AT THAT PERIODICALLY.
I WISH I HAD BETTER FAMILIARITY WITH THE TWO CHAVEZ CROSSINGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, LARS.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO CONNECT SOMETIME, UM, TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
AND I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, I USUALLY CALL IT THE LARS ROIG PLAN FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, CATHEDRAL, UH, ACCESS THE ALTERNATIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT PLAYS A PART IN ANY OF THIS IF IT DOES, BECAUSE IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT PROBABLY DOES NECESSARILY, UH, FOR THIS TOPIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, I I WANNA SEE US PUSH THE FOREST SERVICE ON THAT.
OKAY, MELISSA, I, I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO COMMENT HERE.
UM, AS FAR AS DIRECTION IS CONCERNED, I WOULD SAY ANYTIME WE CAN MAKE DIVERSIONARY TACTICS FOR MOVING TRAFFIC IN PEOPLE, UM, AROUND THE CITY, IT'S A GOOD THING.
UM, AND WE HEAR ABOUT THIS A LOT.
UM, SO I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE I AM NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE IT'S ALL GONNA BE ON CITY PROPERTY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES ACTUALLY RUN NEXT TO THE STATE PARK, UM, ON RED ROCK STATE PARK.
SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME INFRINGEMENT INTO THEIR LANDS AS WELL.
SO, WELL YOU'RE, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, LAURA, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ROUTES THAT PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT, THAT ACTUALLY DO TALK ABOUT THE OLD RED ROCK CHAVEZ CROSSING, WHICH ACTUALLY CROSSES THE CREEK.
UM, THAT'S NOW PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO THE RED ROCK STATE PARK.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS, IT COULD, IT COULD BE A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED AS WE TRY TO MANIPULATE AND MOVE THROUGH THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH AN INVESTIGATION.
WE HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
AND, UM, IF WE CAN CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS, IF WE CAN EVEN CONNECT SOMETHING THAT'S QUITE, NOT QUITE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE THE FAR END BY VOC UP AND AROUND, I THINK THAT
[03:55:01]
WE, WE JUST IMPROVE HOW WE CAN MOVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.YOU KNOW, FOR MANY YEARS IT'S ALMOST BEEN A SACRED COW TO NOT DO A BYPASS, RIGHT? FOR ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
THE, THE BENEFIT TO THE FEW VERSUS THE MANY, THE COST, THE FACT THAT IT WAS HARD TO DO TOO MANY STAKEHOLDERS AND WE'D GO FOR THE LOW HANGING FRUIT.
WELL, I THINK THE LOW HANGING FRUIT IS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
AND IT IS TIME BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG PROCESS.
IT IS TIME TO GET STARTED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WILL GIVE THE RED ROCK NEWS CREDIT FOR POUNDING US ON THIS AND WE'VE JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT OUR, FOR OUR HANDS OVER OUR FACE, GO AWAY.
WE'RE YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW THESE PROJECTS, THESE SIM PROJECTS ARE INCREMENTAL AND THEY ARE, BUT DOING ALL OF THEM ONLY GETS US SO FAR.
I THINK WE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET AND FIND A WAY BECAUSE AS WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE INCREASE IN TOURISM AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE VISITING US IN THE FUTURE, AS PHOENIX CONTINUES TO GROW, IT'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO JUST BITE THE BULLET, I THINK, AND, AND GET STARTED.
'CAUSE IT'S PROBABLY A FIVE TO 10 YEAR PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THOSE PROJECTS.
KATHY, WHY DON'T YOU GO FIRST AND WE'LL END UP WITH THANK YOU WITH JESSICA.
I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC SPECIFICALLY, AND I THINK IT'S JUST WORTH NOTING THAT I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN, WE, WE, THE COMMUNITY HAVE GOTTEN BOGGED DOWN, UH, IN DISCUSSIONS AT TIMES BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS CENTERED AROUND ONE LOCATION OR ANOTHER LOCATION.
IT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT AS THERE NEED TO BE FOUR, SIX, WHATEVER LOCATIONS LOOKED AT ALL AT ONCE TO SAY WHAT IS FEASIBLE AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE AT EACH TO WHAT CAN BECOME A REALISTIC PROJECT.
THIS IS A PERSONAL PRIORITY NOW FOR ME THAT I'VE, I'VE ESTABLISHED FOR MYSELF THIS YEAR TO, TO REALLY HAVE US PICK UP THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ALTERNATE WAY TO GET AROUND SEDONA.
IT'S AN ISSUE OF, UH, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT'S AN ISSUE OF, UH, TRAFFIC MITIGATION, WHICH IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AS WELL.
AND THERE'S JUST CAN'T PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND ON THIS ANYMORE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING OPEN TO THAT AND PUTTING THIS ON THERE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, USING THIS OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THESE VENUES, THE VP, UH, TPO NACOG USING THE VOLPE REPORT TO TALK TO THE COUNTY, I THINK THE, THESE ARE, YOU HAD GREAT IDEAS ON HOW TO MOVE DIALOGUE ON THIS FORWARD, AND IT'S REALLY TIME TO GET THAT DIALOGUE BACK ON THERE WITHOUT IT BEING AS AUTOMATICALLY DIVISIVE, UM, AS IT'S BEEN BEFORE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE FELT THAT YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT MY LOCATION AND HOW IS THAT IMPACTING ME AND WHY SHOULD MY ROAD BEAR THIS FOR THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, FINANCIALLY RELATED OR TRAFFIC RELATED.
SO BY SHOWING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AND ALSO WILLINGNESS TO SPREAD THE FINANCIAL BURDEN BETWEEN THE PARTNERS AND I, ONE OF THE POINTS WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED BEFORE MAYOR WAS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT RED ROCK CROSSING BEING OUT OF THE CITY LIMIT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONNECTION FROM WITHIN CITY LIMITS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
SO THERE, THERE, THERE IS, I THINK, UM, THERE'S JUST REAL VALUE IN PARTNERING ON THIS AND MAKING THIS A REGIONAL QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S FOREST SERVICE, IT'S COUNTY, IT'S US, IT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S NEVER GOING TO IMPROVE IN THE AREA UNLESS WE CAN REALLY OPEN UP DIALOGUE ON THIS.
IT'S BEEN SORT OF THE STOP CONVERS CONVERSATION STOPPER BEFORE AND WE NEED TO BE A CONVERSATION STARTER.
SO I THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS AND GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU NEED SUPPORT THAT WE CAN DO AS WE GO OUT AND SPEAK IN THE COMMUNITY OR WITH COLLEAGUES AT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
I, I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET THIS CONVERSATION ROLLING.
SO THANK YOU PETE DITO,
THIS IS INDEED A HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE ITEM THAT WE COULD GET BEHIND, UH, AND LEVERAGING THE VOLPE REPORT AND CONTINUE IN THAT ENERGY AND DIRECTION IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, JESSICA.
WELL, I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO WHAT WE'VE
[04:00:01]
DONE INTERNALLY TO SHOW THAT WE'RE JUST NOT TRYING TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEM, THAT WE'VE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND NOW IT HAS TO BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE.AND I'M, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE WHOLE TRANSPORTATION, THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A REGIONAL SYSTEM AND, AND ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THE
THE OTHER THING I REALLY LIKE, AND I THINK SOME MIGHT HAVE SOME PROMISE WOULD I LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT JUST ONE, BUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, BRINGING DIFFERENT MODES AND IN, AND THEN IT'S NOT JUST A QUESTION OF ONE PERSON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A QUESTION OF FOUR PEOPLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I'VE ALWAYS LOVED SPREADING IT AROUND.
SO I THINK, I THINK REGIONALLY IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO AND, UM, I THINK IT WILL BE A LONG HARD AND IF THE COUNTY'S NOT BEHIND IT, NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY, BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN BEHIND A REAL, A REAL EFFORT BEFORE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A QUESTION OF MONEY AND THE COUNTY'S NEVER HAD ENOUGH.
SO I HOPE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THIS CONVERSATION GOES.
SO I WANNA GO BACK IN TIME, ANDY, YOU WERE AROUND, YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF JESSICA WAS, THAT WAS DURING YOUR HIATUS IN BETWEEN A COUPLE, UH, TOURS, BUT, UH, UH, TIMES ON COUNCIL.
BUT WE DISCUSSED THE CHEVRON'S RANCH CROSSING AND WELL, LET ME PREFACE THIS.
I GET WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND, NOW IS THE TIME.
BUT GOING BACK IN TIME FOR ME, THE CHEVRON'S RANCH CROSSING, WE ENCOUNTERED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK AND THAT WAS, HMM, WHAT I'D SAY WERE YOU ON THE COUNCIL FOR THAT ONE? OKAY, SO THAT WAS, SO I THINK I'M THE ONLY ONE IN ANDY, YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY OTHER ONE IN HIS ROOM THAT WERE HERE FOR THAT.
AND I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE PUSHBACK WE'RE GONNA GET.
AND AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE THE REALTOR THAT WAS INVOLVED IN SHE'S RANCH CROSSING, UH, WAS GONNA PAY FOR MOST OF IT.
AND THE FOREST SERVICE PUSHBACK, RIGHT? YOU REMEMBER? MM-HMM,
AND, UH, I THINK THEY TOOK THE, THE, THE LAND OR THEY, THEY BOUGHT THE LAND FROM THE REALTOR.
UM, I REME TO, TO ADDRESS SOMETHING JESSICA SAID, THE COUNTY, IF THEY'RE NOT BEHIND IT AND THEN THEY REALLY AREN'T BEHIND ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UH, NOW AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THE AMOUNT, THE FUNDS THAT THEY NEED.
THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS, BUT THEY, UH, RANDY GARRISON DID DO A STUDY.
THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK THEN FOR, UH, VERDE VALLEY SCHOOL ROAD TO THE LOW WATER CROSSING TO, UH, LOWER RED ROCK LOOP.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA GO, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
I WOULD SUPPORT DOING THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT THE AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK OF NOT MY BACKYARD, I DON'T WANT THE TRAFFIC.
IF IT DOESN'T GO, LIKE IF IT GOES DOWN BY POCO DIABLO AND AROUND AND NOT ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.
THAT'S WHY I WANNA SEE WHERE THIS GOES.
BUT, UM, WE, ASIDE FROM JUST AS A STOP GAP TO RELEASE THE TRAFFIC, TO HAVE ANO ANOTHER WAY FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATION, EVEN IF IT'S FROM ONE END OF TOWN TO THE OTHER END OF TOWN, IT'S STILL ANOTHER WAY TO GET AWAY FROM A DISASTER.
SO, ALRIGHT, UM, YOU HAVE YOUR DIRECTION, RIGHT? UH, LET'S MOVE ON.
[8.g. AB 3027 Discussion/possible direction/action regarding proposed State legislation, short-term rental legislation and State budget and their potential impact on the City of Sedona.]
AB 30 27 DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE DIRECTION AND ACTION REGARDING PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION, SHORT TERM RENTAL LEGISLATION AND STATE BUDGET AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SEDONA.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO JUST, UH, REAL QUICK UPDATE.
STILL NO MOVEMENT ON THE BUDGET, OR AT LEAST PUBLICLY, NOTHING'S BEEN, UH, DISCLOSED.
UH, UH, TWO GOOD NEWS, NEWS, UH, ITEMS ONE, SB 10 52, THE OHV WEIGHT LIMIT INCREASED BILL THAT DIED.
UM, THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ROCK, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH DEAD.
IT FAILED 19 TO 39 IN THE HOUSE, SO PRETTY SOLIDLY THE, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST IT.
AND THEN REPUBLICANS, A NUMBER OF THEM VOTED AGAINST IT 'CAUSE OF THE, UM, THE REQUIREMENT THAT
[04:05:01]
THERE'D BE SOME FUNDING, UH, FOR LOCAL SHERIFFS TO HELP ENFORCE OHV.SO THEY SAW THAT AS LIKE A TAX INCREASE IN VOTED AGAINST IT.
AND THEN, UH, SB 1567, WHICH WAS THE OHV EDUCATION BILL, WHICH THE CITY SUPPORTED, UM, SPONSORED BY SENATOR CARROLL, UH, PASSED, UH, 35 TO 25 AND THAT INCLUDED THE OHV EDUCATION, UM, SOME SAFETY MEASURES AND THEN ALSO, UH, CLOSED THAT LOOPHOLE ABOUT HAVING AN OPEN CONTAINER OF ALCOHOL IN OHVS.
SO THAT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT, UH, AS WELL.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT.
UM, I THOUGHT ON THE LAST ONE, THERE'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT NOW THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE CORRECT.
IN ORDER TO DRIVE, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T LET YOUR KIDS TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT ON THE ROAD.
THAT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY IMPACTFUL ON SOME OF THESE OHV TRAILS.
UM, AND IF A 12, OR I SUPPOSE UNDER 12, UNDER 12 IS CAUGHT DRIVING, THEN THE PARENT GIVES A CITATION.
IF IT'S BETWEEN THE PERSON DRIVING IS BETWEEN 12 AND 15, THEN IT'S THE CHOICE OF THE OFFICER WHETHER TO CITE THE PARENTS OR THE OPERATOR.
UM, MOVING ON, THIS IS A LONG ITEM.
ITEM H, AB 30 66, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING FUTURE MEETING AND AGENDA ITEMS. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING? NOTHING.
THAT GUY, BRIAN IS REALLY GOOD WITH THAT.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW AT THREE O'CLOCK.
[10. ADJOURNMENT]
IS ADJOURNED.