Mesa City Council Meeting Mon 03 Oct 2016

More information
Link to access a.PDF for meeting agenda: http://mesa.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Mayor's Welcome
Roll Call (Members of the Mesa City Council will attend either in person or by telephone conference call)
Invocation by Pastor Ken Dutton with Without Walls Church.
Pledge of Allegiance
Awards, Recognitions and Announcements

1 Take action on all consent agenda items.
Items on the Consent Agenda 16-1025 Approval of minutes of previous meetings as written.*2
3 Take action on the following liquor license applications: 16-1017 Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America
This is a one-day charitable event to be held on Saturday, December 03, 2016 from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., at 2100 West Rio Salado Parkway. (District 1)
*3-a
16-1018 East Mesa Aerie #4508 Fraternal Order of Eagles
A social club is requesting a new Series 14 Club License for East Mesa Aerie #4508 Fraternal Order of Eagles, 6215 East Main Street, Suite 2 - Robert George Schmidt, agent.  There is no existing license at this location. (District 2)
*3-b
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October 3, 2016City Council Meeting Agenda - Final
4 Take action on the following contracts: 16-1008 One-Year Renewal of the Term Contract for Hydraulic Hose and Fittings for the Fleet Services Department (Citywide)
This contract will provide for the purchase and delivery of Parker-brand automotive and truck hydraulic hose and fittings required for the City's medium and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. 
Fleet Services and Purchasing recommend authorizing a renewal with FleetPride (a Mesa business), at $102,000 annually, based on estimated requirements.
*4-a
16-1009 Purchase of 32 Replacement Portable and 19 Replacement Mobile Two-Way Radios, Accessories and Related Equipment for the Fire and Medical Department (Citywide)
The Fire and Medical Department currently utilizes the Motorola APX series of portable and mobile two-way digital radios as their standard for the City’s firefighters, paramedics and fleet of emergency response apparatus.  These digital dual-band portable radios are part of the Fire and Medical Department replacement / upgrade program to allow for a one radio communication solution that ensures each firefighter and fire apparatus has the capability of communicating on dual frequency bands (700/800 MHz and VHF) prior to the entire Phoenix-Mesa metro region transitioning to VHF for hazard-zone communications in June 2017.
The Fire and Medical Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the Maricopa County cooperative contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc., at $389,840.31, based on estimated requirements.  This purchase is funded by the Capital - General Fund.
*4-b
16-1011 Three-Year Term Contract for Armored Car Services for Various City Locations and Departments (Single Proposal) (Citywide)
This contract provides armored car services and delivery of sealed shipments of cash and check deposits as required by various City locations including Mesa Police Records, Mesa Arts Center, East Mesa Service Center, Municipal Court, Customer Service, Parks and Recreation, and the Mesa Convention Center. 
The evaluation committee recommends awarding the contract to the single proposal from Dunbar Armored, Inc., at $29,500 annually, based on estimated requirements.
*4-c
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October 3, 2016City Council Meeting Agenda - Final
16-1012 One-Year Renewal of the Term Contract for Uniform Garment Rental for various City Departments (Citywide)
This contract provides for the rental of uniform garments to approximately 280 City employees from various departments. The garments furnished by the contractor will be maintained through routine laundering, pressing and repairing to provide a safe and clean appearance for City personnel. 
Purchasing recommends authorizing a renewal with Unifirst Corporation, at $160,000 annually, based on estimated requirements.
*4-d
16-1010 Contract Amendment and Dollar-Limit Increase to the Term Contract for Landscape Maintenance Services for Zones 1, 2 and 4 - Parks, Retention Basins and Sports Fields for the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) Department (Districts 4 and 6)
The increase of $16,274.25 is necessary for the addition of landscaping maintenance services at Gene Autry Tennis Center in Zone 2, to include:  weekly cleaning, bi-weekly mowing and sprinkler system maintenance plus a 20% contingency for extra work, to meet the requirements through the end of the contract term.  With this request, the accumulated changes require Council action.
The Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing a contract amendment and dollar-limit increase of $16,274.75 with Mariposa Landscape Arizona, Inc., increasing the contract amount from $2,774,630.10 to $2,790,904.85 annually, based on estimated requirements.
*4-e
16-1014 Purchase of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Software, Licensing and Software Maintenance for the New Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant, as requested by the Water Resources Department (Sole Source) (Citywide)
SCADA software is used to monitor and control the four utilities; Water, Wastewater, Gas and Electric.  This software is the heart of the utilities system, which allows operations to monitor and control water pressures, monitor wastewater collection, monitor gas pressures, and monitor and control the electric substations.  This purchase will match existing SCADA software throughout the entire Utilities operation. 
The Water Resources Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase with the sole source vendor, GE Intelligent Platforms, Inc., at $53,502.24, based on estimated requirements.
*4-f
Page 4 City of Mesa Printed on 9/29/2016
October 3, 2016City Council Meeting Agenda - Final
5 Take action on the following resolutions: 16-1004 Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Arizona State Forestry Division for the protection of state forests and wildlands.  The agreement establishes the terms for allocation of resources and reimbursement for fire suppression, activities, equipment, and personnel services. (Citywide) *5-a 16-1006 Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Lease Agreement for the City-owned property located at 1240 East Main Street with Stacey and Witbeck/Sundt, the contractor for office space for the Gilbert Road Extension of the Light Rail Project. (District 4) *5-b 16-1013 Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Design and Construction Agreement with Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (METRO) for a pedestrian traffic signal at LeSueur and Main Street. (District 4)
Under this Agreement, the City is responsible for reimbursing METRO for the construction of the project.  The project construction cost is $165,398.24 with a 10% contingency of $16,539.82 for a total construction amount of $181,938.06.  Funding is available from Local Street Sales Tax.
*5-c
16-0971 Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for the receipt and distribution of Proposition 202 funds in the total amount $975,000. (Citywide)
Under this Agreement, $725,000 is awarded to the following City of Mesa programs:  the Mesa Fire and Medical Regional Dispatch Center and Emergency Operations Center ($500,180), the Fire and Medical Immunization program ($85,000), the Police Department License Plate Readers ($79,060), and Mesa Counts on College GED Prep ($60,760). The balance of the funds will be distributed to other local community agencies, including A New Leaf, Child Crisis Center, Gene Lewis Boxing Club, and United Food Bank.
*5-d
16-1035 Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a First Amendment to the Pre-Annexation and Development Agreement with Empire Southwest, LLC and Mesa Campus, LLC extending the term of the Development Agreement and to maintain Empire Southwest, LLC’s principal corporate office in Mesa with job retention requirements. (District 4)
*5-e
Page 5 City of Mesa Printed on 9/29/2016
October 3, 2016City Council Meeting Agenda - Final
Items not on the Consent Agenda
6 Items from citizens present.  (Maximum of three speakers for three minutes per speaker).
7 Adjournment.
The Council may vote to hold an executive session for the purposes of obtaining legal advice from the City Attorney (A.R.S. §38-431.03A(3)) or to discuss and instruct the City Attorney regarding the City’s position regarding contracts that are the subject of negotiations, in pending or contemplated litigation or in settlement discussions conducted in order to avoid or resolve litigation. (A.R.S. §38-431.03A(4))

Council Study Session - 9/29/2016

Fast Look Under 2 Minutes : Grand Opening of Southern Ave Villas

Narrated by Kevin Christopher

Published on Sep 29, 2016

Views: only 7

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the grand opening of Southern Ave. Villas in the Fiesta District.

Pie Commits A Hate Crime

 ???

 

Published on Oct 2, 2016

Views: 3,430

Freedom of speech is for everyone: including sexists and Trump!

Still Out There: Boy Band From Mesa: Jimmy Eat World

The good news for us old fogies is that the band from Mesa, Arizona is still out there making new albums ....
Watch video of the band performing on The Colbert Show
http://nerdist.com/jimmy-eat-world-played-new-song-sure-and-certain-on-colbert/

Heritage Academy: Skousen's Scandalous String of Schools

Skousen's Scandalous Schools

Americans United Files Suit To Stop A String Of Taxpayer - Funded Arizona Charters From Preaching Religion
October 2016 Featured By Rob Boston
Students attending Heritage Academy, a string of charter schools in three Arizona cities, are learning some unusual things. Read entire article >> here
In an American Government class and other courses, students are taught that non-believers are mentally unfit, the Constitution was inspired by the Bible and evolution is an unsound theory.
The American Government course looks to be drenched in religion. It’s based on 28 principles that supposedly are required for sound government. Many of them are religious in nature.
Such concepts would raise few eyebrows in a private, sectarian school. But Heritage Academy, which has campuses in Mesa, Queen Creek and Laveen, isn’t private. It’s a charter school, an arm of the public education system that is funded by taxpayer dollars.

Public schools can’t push religion like this, and Americans United intends to put a stop to it. The organization filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 7 that seeks to end the religious indoctrination going on at Heritage Academy.
The case, Doe v. Heritage Academy, Inc., is now under way and could have national implications as charters continue to spread. 
Asserts the lawsuit, “By teaching religious beliefs in a public charter school, which is subject to the U.S. Constitution just like all other public schools, Heritage Academy has violated the First Amendment.”
The suit also points out that Heritage required students to actively spread its unusual views.
“In a transparent attempt to proselytize the school’s religious views, Heritage Academy students are further taught that they are duty-bound to implement and instruct others about these religious and religiously based principles in order to restore the United States to ‘freedom, prosperity, and peace,’” reads the legal complaint.
The lawsuit is being litigated by Americans United Legal Director Richard B. Katskee and AU Madison Fellow Carmen Green. Joining them are John Nadolenco and Kristin Silverman of Mayer Brown LLP, a national law firm, and Roopali Desai and D. Andy Gaona of Coppersmith Brockelman PLC in Phoenix.

"Quick Jab" Bill, Mr. Bopp, and Sally Jo All Late > Request for Continuance Rejected by Queen Creek City Council

In a report by Wendy Miller that was published on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in The Mesa Independent officials from the City of Mesa's Office for Economic Development and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce were rejected after trying to make their case intervening in  a different municipality  in a change for a rezoning motion heard on September 21 in front of the Queen Creek City Council. The reason: way late

"After nine  months of discussions, the Queen Creek Town Council approved motions to move forward the proposed Barney Farms residential community at the north end of the community.

The council rejected requests for a continuance by area businesspeople and a local municipality, saying the latter could have discussed their issues earlier, . . "
 

The issues: Land-use planning, specifically around a regional asset Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport

Mesa wants industrial. Queen Creek wants residential

Apparently the slick presentations often prepared for Mesa city officials to use in public meetings for presentation of proposals were not convincing enough in a different municipality where they don't control the politics.

Here's the caption published with the accompanying image

William J. Jabjiniak, economic development director for the city of Mesa, right, addresses members of the Queen Creek Town Council during a public hearing Sept. 21 on rezoning changes to the proposed Barney Farms residential community. Mr. Jabjiniak requested a continuance on the matter. Holding a graphic of the impacted area is Aric H. Bopp, the city of Mesa’s deputy director of strategic initiatives. The man seated and taking notes works for TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. according to his badge. (Independent Newspapers/Wendy Miller

According to Wendy Miller's excellent reporting, among those requesting a continuance were

• Bill Jabjiniak, economic development director for the city of Mesa;
• Sally Harrison, president/CEO of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce
• Dawn Helms, regional manager for CRM of America.

All three have interests in the Mesa Gateway Area north of the project site.
Heavy industrial and manufacturing companies such as CRM of America, CMC Steel, Fujifilm, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and TRW all have major operations in the Mesa Gateway Area, according to the city of Mesa website.

 

Two public hearings had taken place during Queen Creek planning and zoning commission meetings and two town council agendas in both August and September. discussions about the site - a 534-acre, 1,718-lot residential community  - began in January with meetings with local property owners.

Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, a member of the city council,  recused himself because of a conflict of interest — the land is owned and being developed by the Newell Barney Family Farms of Queen Creek. The project site has been farmed for more than 60 years by the Newell Barney Family Farms operation, which encompasses more than 720 acres within the town of Queen Creek.

 

Prior to the public hearings, the council excused itself to meet in a closed-door executive session to receive legal counsel regarding the Barney Farms requests.
After the regular meeting reconvened, developer Jason Barney addressed the council. He said he has had ongoing conversations with his neighbors to the north in Mesa with the heavy industrial users.
“We as the Barney family … value very much the role that they play as being a major anchor for employment, job attraction and that sort of thing,” Mr. Barney said.
“The city of Mesa is our most important economic partner, and we will remain committed to a collaborative relationship,” he told the council.
Mr. Jabjiniak was the first of several people to speak during the public hearing for the Major General Plan Amendment. He told the council about 2,000 persons already employed in the commercial corridor immediately north of Barney Farms.
“We want to protect these employers with that amount of growth,” Mr. Jabjiniak said. “Trucks carrying steel to CMC, chemicals from Fuji. We don’t want to mix those or explosive devices from TRW with vehicles.
We’re talking about 17,000 vehicles being added to Germann Road.”

Next to speak was Ms. Harrison. She told the council the chamber is committed to “improve, protect and promote Mesa businesses.”
Ms. Harrison said the chamber is concerned about residential encroachment on a commercial area. She said it could impact the quality of jobs as concerns are raised about noise abatement and third-shift employment. She asked for a continuance to allow representatives from the impacted businesses to talk to the developer.
THE CONTINUANCE WAS REJECTED

Mr. Jabjiniak was disappointed with the vote, he said during a phone interview. He said the city of Mesa will continue to work with the businesses there to address their concerns.
Councilwoman Wheatley said those concerns could have been addressed during the nine months of conversations leading up to the Sept. 21 vote.