3 Councilmembers absent + 1 on-the-phone. It was almost a no-go Study Session yesterday, but Hizzoner John Giles got to call say "We have a quorum."
District 1 Councilmember Freeman did show up in-person, but Duff, Luna and Thompson did not. All four were at the same conference, leaving only two other councilmembers (including D3 Heredia) present in-person other than the mayor - it's your guess why/how this unusual circumstance happened. . .
There are so many important items on Monday's City Council meetings that certainly do deserve both more attention and more robust discussion and informed input from the public than was taken up at yesterday's study session.
It's doubtful based on past performances that Duff, Luna and Thompson would have brought up the issues or comments that District 2 Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker did on the phone with a bad audio connection to the Lower Chambers -
even if they could have taken the time to call-in.
Readers of this blog can access and view meeting details > CLICK OR TAP HERE
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BLOGGER NOTE:
This study session is one more example of what seems to be the current operating practice of city officials in management and budget called
"circling-the-wagons"
: : : : What does that mean!?
A clear example of this is the first item brought up by City Manager Chris Brady Item 7-a (see below), followed by another item, Item 6-a
< Item 6-a is the subject of a FrontPage feature story in this Sunday Edition of the East Valley Tribune
"High-end NE Mesa plan wows zoning panel" is only one piece of the story that city officials wanted to get told.
< The TOP HEADLINE - coincidence or not - is Item 4-h on Monday's agenda - it's for the third request for an increase of millions more that need to get approved for the Contract Manager At-Risk that had to get hired as a third-party buffer.
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HERE'S ONE MORE ITEM from yesterday's agenda that was brought up by the City Manager, refered to as "the Thomas & Recker Property"
As it turns out, there's been no closing on the sale and no developer agreement
Item 6-a
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STUDY SESSION AGENDA FOR THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2020 @ )7:30 am
Roll Call (City Council members participate in person or by telephone conference call.)
1 Review and discuss items on the agenda for the March 16, 2020 regular Council meeting.
2 Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended.
3 Scheduling of meetings.
ITEM 7-a
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MARCH 16 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING @ 5:45 PM
25 Items
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Meeting Agenda - Final Mesa Council Chambers 57 East First Street
STUDY SESSION
Monday, March 16, 2020 5:00 PM
Council Chambers - Lower Level
Roll Call (City Council members participate in person or by telephone conference call.)
1 Review and discuss items on the agenda for the March 16, 2020 regular Council meeting.
2 Presentations/Action Items:
20-0337 Hear a presentation on Proposition 400 (the Maricopa County half-cent Regional Transportation Sales Tax), and discuss and provide direction on projects to be considered by Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for the potential extension of the Proposition 400 sales tax, with a focus on transit projects. 2-a
20-0326 Appointments to the Parks and Recreation Board, Human Relations Advisory Board, and Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. 2-b
3 Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees.
3-a 20-0351 Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee meeting held on February 24, 2020.
3-b 20-0307 Economic Development Advisory Board meeting held on February 11, 2020.
3-c 20-0308 Historic Preservation Board meeting held on February 4, 2020.
4 Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended. 5 Scheduling of meetings. City of Mesa Page 1 Printed on 3/12/2020
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11 views
District 1 Councilmember Freeman did show up in-person, but Duff, Luna and Thompson did not. All four were at the same conference, leaving only two other councilmembers (including D3 Heredia) present in-person other than the mayor - it's your guess why/how this unusual circumstance happened. . .
There are so many important items on Monday's City Council meetings that certainly do deserve both more attention and more robust discussion and informed input from the public than was taken up at yesterday's study session.
It's doubtful based on past performances that Duff, Luna and Thompson would have brought up the issues or comments that District 2 Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker did on the phone with a bad audio connection to the Lower Chambers -
even if they could have taken the time to call-in.
Readers of this blog can access and view meeting details > CLICK OR TAP HERE
__________________________________________________________________________________
BLOGGER NOTE:
This study session is one more example of what seems to be the current operating practice of city officials in management and budget called
"circling-the-wagons"
: : : : What does that mean!?
: : : : In the settlement of the western part of the US, wagons of settlers and freight would form wagon trains to provide for mutual defense and navigation. When threatened by bandits or hostile indians, part of the defense strategy was to 'circle the wagons' so that there would be a protected perimiter that the travelers could get behind and use to fire their rifles at the attackers.
: : : In our now 'civilized' society, it is called circling the wagons to bring your people or team together, and agree on the story or the approach to fend off an impending or possible attack from the outside."
: : : In our now 'civilized' society, it is called circling the wagons to bring your people or team together, and agree on the story or the approach to fend off an impending or possible attack from the outside."
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Anyone who's been paying attention to Mesa City Council meetings this year and the prior three years or more, know that serious uncomfortable and well-documented questions from an analysis by Jeremy Whittaker have provoked defensive reactions on what can be generally termed "Truth in Accounting", specifically about Utilities, sales-and-use feels/charges and the methods, procedures and standards city officials use in finance documents used for budget hearings and propositions on the ballots in elections.
__________________________________________________________________________________A clear example of this is the first item brought up by City Manager Chris Brady Item 7-a (see below), followed by another item, Item 6-a
< Item 6-a is the subject of a FrontPage feature story in this Sunday Edition of the East Valley Tribune
"High-end NE Mesa plan wows zoning panel" is only one piece of the story that city officials wanted to get told.
< The TOP HEADLINE - coincidence or not - is Item 4-h on Monday's agenda - it's for the third request for an increase of millions more that need to get approved for the Contract Manager At-Risk that had to get hired as a third-party buffer.
File #: | 20-0295 |
Type: | Contract | Status: | Agenda Ready |
In control: | City Council |
On agenda: | 3/16/2020 |
Title: | Mesa City Center - Third Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP No. 3) - ASU @ Mesa City Center (District 4) GMP No. 1 was approved by Council on November 4, 2019 and included infrastructure improvements to the City’s utilities, communications facilities, and streets needed to support the ASU building, the Plaza, the Studios and any future developments and improvements in the area. GMP No. 2 was approved by Council on December 9, 2019 and included general site demolition, excavation of the building site, building pad preparation, foundations, the concrete building structure, and associated items. This GMP is the third of the series of GMP’s relating to City Center work. The scope of work includes all remaining construction necessary to complete the ASU @ Mesa City Center building. Staff recommends awarding the contract for GMP No. 3 to the selected Construction Manager at Risk, DPR Construction, in the amount of $46,548,058, and authorizing a change order allowance in the amount of $2,327,... |
Attachments: | 1. Council Report, 2. Project Location Map |
HERE'S ONE MORE ITEM from yesterday's agenda that was brought up by the City Manager, refered to as "the Thomas & Recker Property"
As it turns out, there's been no closing on the sale and no developer agreement
Item 6-a
File #: | 20-0143 |
Type: | Ordinance | Status: | Agenda Ready |
In control: | City Council |
On agenda: | 3/16/2020 |
Title: | ZON19-00806 (District 5) Within the 5600 to 6000 blocks of East Thomas Road (north side) and within the 3600 to 4000 blocks of North Recker Road (west side). Located north of Thomas Road and west of Recker Road (109.8± acres). Rezone from PS to RS-6-PAD and RS-7-PAD. This request will allow for the development of a single-residence subdivision. Desert Vista 100, LLC, applicant; City of Mesa, owner. Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions |
Attachments: | 1. Staff Report, 2. Ordinance, 3. Ordinance Map, 4. Vicinity Map, 5. Site Plan, 6. Minutes, 7. Submittal Documents |
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STUDY SESSION AGENDA FOR THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2020 @ )7:30 am
Roll Call (City Council members participate in person or by telephone conference call.)
1 Review and discuss items on the agenda for the March 16, 2020 regular Council meeting.
2 Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended.
3 Scheduling of meetings.
ITEM 7-a
File #: | 20-0249 |
Type: | Ordinance | Status: | Agenda Ready |
In control: | City Council |
On agenda: | 2/24/2020 |
Title: | Repealing Mesa City Code Title 3, Chapter 3 (“Utility Departments”) and replacing it with a new Title 3, Chapter 3 titled “Water Resources, Energy Resources, and Environmental Management & Sustainability Departments.” The new language includes the creation of a Utility Assistance Program, the permitted uses for the utility system revenues, and the permitted transfer of Utility Funds, primarily for Public Safety. (Citywide) |
Attachments: | 1. Council Report, 2. Ordinance |
MARCH 16 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING @ 5:45 PM
25 Items
Meeting Name: | City Council | Agenda status: | Final |
Meeting date/time: | 3/16/2020 5:45 PM | Minutes status: | Draft |
Meeting location: | Council Chambers - Upper Level |
Published agenda: | Agenda | Published minutes: | Not available | |
Meeting video: |
Attachments: |
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Meeting Agenda - Final Mesa Council Chambers 57 East First Street
STUDY SESSION
Monday, March 16, 2020 5:00 PM
Council Chambers - Lower Level
Roll Call (City Council members participate in person or by telephone conference call.)
1 Review and discuss items on the agenda for the March 16, 2020 regular Council meeting.
2 Presentations/Action Items:
20-0337 Hear a presentation on Proposition 400 (the Maricopa County half-cent Regional Transportation Sales Tax), and discuss and provide direction on projects to be considered by Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for the potential extension of the Proposition 400 sales tax, with a focus on transit projects. 2-a
20-0326 Appointments to the Parks and Recreation Board, Human Relations Advisory Board, and Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. 2-b
3 Acknowledge receipt of minutes of various boards and committees.
3-a 20-0351 Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee meeting held on February 24, 2020.
3-b 20-0307 Economic Development Advisory Board meeting held on February 11, 2020.
3-c 20-0308 Historic Preservation Board meeting held on February 4, 2020.
4 Current events summary including meetings and conferences attended. 5 Scheduling of meetings. City of Mesa Page 1 Printed on 3/12/2020
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Council Study Session - 3/12/2020
•Mar 12, 2020