Agenda > Mesa City Council Study Session Mon 04 June 2018

Wheee! Here we go again: Just 5 minutes 5:45-5:50 [No way]
Welcome to the Agenda of your elected government
Do you have any idea what's up for review today??
No clue at all? Hey! There's no excuse for that - none.
Once again this is another important meeting for any number of reasons: The big ones as usual somehow - most of the time - end up at the bottom of the list. Others are short on details, like Item 5-a for a mobile DHS 6-camera video surveillance system for 'high-profile events and situations'...
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BLOGGER NOTE: This agenda is all jammed-up. There are at least three items that can easily take over four hours of robust explanation and hearing and interaction with the public.
. . . and that's before there can be any vote taken by members of the Mesa City Council.
 
Will that happen? It's up to you . . .
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Let's direct your focus to three liquor license applications: two food establishments that show some diversity: one for Thai food and one for Latin foods and one for Odyssey Wine Cellars. Surprise,huh?  
Then let's throw a little sunlight on a request for an 'unanticipated' increase in an annual contract for 'supplemental computers, ruggedized laptops and tablets for various city departments'.

Then there are some zoning cases: three of them: an office building, a medical clinic, and an ordinance to resolve a split zoning P&Z case to change interior garage dimensions for a 32.6-acre Woodside Homes development by Baseline Mesa LLC
Then some proposed changes in Airfield Overlays - Item 7-d and Item 7-e.
Does that affect where you live? Did you know about this before now?
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Then we have THE BIG STUFF AT THE END + A PUBLIC HEARING
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Item 10-b A Resolution This is about GPLETS > Heads Up!
> Authorizing the execution and delivery of an Agreement, Trust Agreement, Continuing Disclosure Certificate, and an Obligation Purchase Contract, and approving an Official Statement
> Approving the sale and execution and delivery of Excise Tax Revenue Obligations evidencing a proportionate interest of the owners thereof, in payments to be made by the City pursuant to the Agreement;
> Authorizing the taking of other actions necessary in connection with the Excise Tax Revenue Obligations. (Citywide)
READY TO SEE THE DETAILS???

File #:

18-0693

Type:

Resolution

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

6/4/2018

Title:

Authorizing the execution and delivery of an Agreement, Trust Agreement, Continuing Disclosure Certificate, and an Obligation Purchase Contract, and approving an Official Statement; approving the sale and execution and delivery of Excise Tax Revenue Obligations evidencing a proportionate interest of the owners thereof, in payments to be made by the City pursuant to the Agreement; and authorizing the taking of other actions necessary in connection with the Excise Tax Revenue Obligations. (Citywide)

Attachments:

1. Council Report, 2. Resolution, 3. Draft Agreement, 4. Draft Trust Agreement, 5. Draft Continuing Disclosure Certificate, 6. Draft Preliminary Official Statement

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Re: This is the controversial proposal about ASU 
ACTION UNDER CONSIDERATION TO BE TAKEN . . .
This is by no means 'a done-deal'

PAY ATTENTION -
Do taxpayers want to finance this when ASU can well pay it ???????????????????????????????

File #:

18-0669

Type:

Resolution

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

6/4/2018

Title:

Authorizing the development and construction of a multi-story building (“Phase One Building”) and other improvements to be developed and constructed by the City as a part of certain educational facilities in downtown Mesa, and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Lease with the Arizona Board of Regents, for, and on behalf of, Arizona State University for the Phase One Building. (Citywide)

Attachments:

1. Council Report, 2. Resolution, 3. Lease

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. . . and then we have A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING - ONE OF TWO - TO APPROVE THE RENEWAL OF HOME RULE TO EXTEND LOCALLY CONTROLLED ALTERNATIVE EXPENDITURE LIMITATION
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BLOGGER NOTE: The word limitation is underlined for good reasons
More than a few other cities are SAYING NO ....

Why? see the image from another city what it tells U

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File #:

18-0531

Type:

Public Hearing

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

6/4/2018

Title:

Conduct a public hearing to extend the locally controlled alternative expenditure limitation - home rule option.

Attachments:

1. Presentation, 2. Council Report, 3. Introduction Presentation- For Information Only

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ENTIRE AGENDA: 21 Items

View at source: Council, Board & Committee Research Center [Legistar]

Meeting Name:

City Council

Agenda status:

Final

Meeting date/time:

6/4/2018 5:45 PM

Minutes status:

Draft

Meeting location:

Council Chambers - Upper Level

Published agenda:

Agenda

Published minutes:

Not available

Attachments:

• Meeting Items (21)

21 records Group Clear sorting Clear grouping Group by Type Group by Result Export Export to Excel Export to PDF Export to Word Show: Legislation only Legislation only All agenda items

File # Agenda # Type Title Action Result Action Details 18-0664 2 Minutes Approval of minutes of previous meetings as written.     Not available 18-0670 3-a Appointment Reappointment of City Magistrate, Elizabeth Arriola, to a four-year term beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2022.     Not available 18-0659 4-a Liquor License Application Thai Time Kitchen A restaurant that serves lunch and dinner is requesting a new Series 12 Restaurant license for My Thai Food LLC, 1649 South Stapley Drive, Suite 103 - Pakkawalan Pookim, agent. There is no existing license at this location. (District 3)     Not available 18-0660 4-b Liquor License Application The Latin Kitchen A restaurant that serves lunch and dinner is requesting a new Series 12 Restaurant license for BJ & EN LLC, 540 West Broadway Road, Suite 101 & 102 - Jeffrey Craig Miller, agent. There is no existing license at this location. (District 4)     Not available 18-0661 4-c Liquor License Application Odyssey Cellars A winery is requesting a new Series 13 Domestic Farm Winery License for Odyssey Cellars Inc., 7235 East Hampton, Suite 110 - John Mike McLoughlin, agent. There is no existing license at this location. (District 6)     Not available 18-0657 5-a Contract Purchase of a Mobile Six-Camera Video System for the Police Department (Citywide) This system provides information collection and security for high-profile events and situations, as well as enhances the current IP video surveillance system. Mesa Police Department's Homeland Security Unit is participating in a regional project with other local agencies, including Phoenix, Tempe, and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, to purchase like systems and equipment that will allow compatibility of camera systems with other agencies in the Valley. The Police Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the City of Tempe cooperative contract with KTAC Communications, at $202,130.01. This purchase is grant funded by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.     Not available 18-0649 5-b Contract Dollar-Limit Increase to the Term Contract for Supplemental Computers, Ruggedized Laptops and Tablets for Various City Departments as requested by the Information Technology Department (Citywide) In September 2017, Council approved the annual contract amount of $275,000 for supplemental purchases of computer hardware and services. The initial amount for the supplemental purchases was based off of spending from the previous 2 years. Due to a higher than anticipated number of IT purchase requests from City departments, the Information Technology Department is requesting an increase of $125,000 annually, for the supplemental purchases to meet the ongoing technology needs of the departments. The Information Technology Department and Purchasing recommend increasing the dollar-limit using the State of Arizona, National IPA and US Communities cooperative contracts with Dell Marketing LP; Apple Computer, Inc.; Panasonic Solutions; and Insight Public Sector; by $125,000, from $275,000 to $400,000 annually, based on estimated usage.     Not available 18-0646 5-c Contract Ratification of the Emergency Purchase of Four Ventilators for the Fire and Medical Department (Citywide) This purchase provides additional life-saving respiratory Revel ventilators to support the medical transport pilot program. The pilot program commenced on May 7, 2018. The Fire and Medical Department and Purchasing recommend ratifying the purchase from CareFusion 203, Inc., at $68,547.68.     Not available 18-0647 5-d Contract Ratification of the Emergency Purchase of a Fire Burn Building Prop for the Fire and Medical Department (Citywide) This purchase provides a standard 3-stack live fire and confined space USAR facility that complies with NFPA training standards. The modular burn building will provide Fire crews the ability to participate in required live-burn training. The Fire and Medical Department and Purchasing recommend ratifying the purchase from the lowest-quoted vendor, Fire Training Structures, LLC, at $209,806.86. This purchase is funded by the Capital - General Fund.     Not available 18-0648 5-e Contract One-Year Renewal to the Term Contract for Generator Rental Services for the Water Resources Department (Citywide) This contract provides generator rental services for large, non-portable generators that few vendors keep in stock for emergency use. Water Resources uses rental generators to supply emergency back-up power to the pump stations that do not have a redundant power system. The Water Resources Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the renewal with Empire Southwest LLC, dba Empire Power System (Primary); and Valleywide Generator Service LLC (Secondary) (a Mesa business); at $45,000, based on estimated usage.     Not available 18-0636 6-a Resolution Authorizing and supporting the submittal of a grant application by Gene Lewis Boxing Club to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in the amount of $17,500, and authorizing the City Manager to accept and administer subsequent awarded funds as a pass-through grant. (Citywide)     Not available 18-0656 6-b Resolution Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to accept $202,130 in grant funds for equipment to support and sustain the Police Department’s Rapid Response Task Force. (Citywide)     Not available 18-0563 7-a Ordinance ZON18-00056 (District 2) The 4300 through 4400 blocks of East Florian Avenue (north side) (1.2± acres). Located north of Southern Avenue and west of Greenfield Road. Modification of an existing PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of an office building. Michael A. Hall, Michael A. Hall Architect, LLC, applicant; Steven Frost, Red Mountain Gaming, LLC, owner. Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions (Vote: 6-0)     Not available 18-0564 7-b Ordinance ZON18-00061 (District 6) The 7600 block of East Baseline Road (south side) and the 2000 block of South Sossaman Road (east side). Located at the southeast corner of Sossaman Road and Baseline Road (1.1± acres). Rezoning from LC to LC-BIZ; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of a medical clinic. Alex Buettner, Orcutt Winslow, applicant; Goldfield Medical Clinics, LLC, Trust, owner. Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions (Vote: 6-0)     Not available 18-0565 7-c Ordinance ZON18-00169 (District 6) The 8200 to 8400 blocks of East Baseline Road (north side). Located west of Hawes Road on the north side of Baseline Road (32.6± acres). Modification of an existing PAD. This request will allow for the reduction of interior garage dimensions. Drew Huseth, Woodside Homes, applicant; Baseline Mesa LLC, owner. A "yes" vote will be for approval of the zoning case as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board. Staff Recommendation: Denial P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions (Vote: 3-2)     Not available 18-0485 7-d Ordinance Amending Title 11, Sections 11-19-1, 11-19-2, 11-19-3 and 11-19-5 of the Mesa Zoning Ordinance, to make minor updates to the Airfield Overlay District, including updating the purpose statement, replacing the airfield map, and revising definitions. (Citywide) Staff Recommendation: Approval P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval (Vote: 5-0)     Not available 18-0486 7-e Ordinance Amending the land use regulations tables in the Airfield Overflight Areas in Title 11, Mesa Zoning Ordinance, Section 2 of Chapters 4,5,6,7, and 10. (Citywide) Staff Recommendation: Approval P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval (Vote: 5-0)     Not available 18-0652 8-a Subdivision Plat “Sanctuary at Las Sendas” (District 5) The 3200 to 3300 blocks of North Red Mountain (west side). Located north and east of Power and McDowell Roads. 50 RS-9-PAD single residence lots (13 ± acres). Desert Vista 100, LLC., developer; Gabriel S. Rios, Wood/Patel, surveyor.     Not available 18-0531 9-a Public Hearing Conduct a public hearing to extend the locally controlled alternative expenditure limitation - home rule option.     Not available 18-0669 10-a Resolution Authorizing the development and construction of a multi-story building (“Phase One Building”) and other improvements to be developed and constructed by the City as a part of certain educational facilities in downtown Mesa, and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Lease with the Arizona Board of Regents, for, and on behalf of, Arizona State University for the Phase One Building. (Citywide)     Not available 18-0693 10-b Resolution Authorizing the execution and delivery of an Agreement, Trust Agreement, Continuing Disclosure Certificate, and an Obligation Purchase Contract, and approving an Official Statement; approving the sale and execution and delivery of Excise Tax Revenue Obligations evidencing a proportionate interest of the owners thereof, in payments to be made by the City pursuant to the Agreement; and authorizing the taking of other actions necessary in connection with the Excise Tax Revenue Obligations. (Citywide)

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LIVE DEBATE - The More We Evolve, The Less We Need God

Nice to see an honest debate that's both logical and civilized with equal time devoted to both those in favor and those against the

Streamed live on Mar 27, 2018

Views-to-Date: 14,141

Does God have a place in 21st century human affairs? For many, the answer is an unapologetic yes. Belief in a higher power, they argue, is the foundation of human consciousness and the soul of all social, political, and scientific progress.
Further, some claim, humans are biologically predisposed to embrace religion and require faith to live moral lives. Others are far more skeptical. For them, adherence to faith and religious tradition serves only to fracture communities and prevent humanity from embracing a more enlightened, reasoned, and just social order.
As we look to the future in uncertain times, should spirituality and religion play a central role in human evolution, innovation, and discovery? Or has God become obsolete?
Cast YOUR vote on the motion "The More We Evolve, The Less We Need God" at http://smarturl.it/ReligionDebateVote

For the Motion:
Heather Berlin, Cognitive Neuroscientist
Michael Shermer, Founder, The Skeptics Society & Best-Selling Author

Against the Motion:
Dr. Deepak Chopra, Integrative Medicine Advocate & Best-Selling Author
Dr. Anoop Kumar, Emergency Physician & Author, "Michelangelo's Medicine"
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RELATED CONTENT:
Link > https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/briefing-room/more-we-evolve-less-we-need-god

As We Evolve, Do We Need God?

Posted on: April 17, 2018 | Comments: 0

By Deepak Chopra, MD and Anoop Kumar, MD

We recently participated in a public debate on the proposition “The more we evolve, the less we need God.” The results were clearly in favor of the proposition against the stance we took. This was so amongst both the live audience and the online audience.

 The cerebral cortex, the most recent part of the human brain to evolve, hasn’t changed for more than ten thousand years. The writers of the world’s ancient spiritual texts used the same brain as modern people, and since the world’s religions revere these ancient texts, we accept that the Ten Commandments and the Four Noble truths of Buddhism came from minds whose processes we’d recognize today, however dissimilar the cultures of ancient Judea and India.

 It must be cultural evolution that is relevant, and of course our modern secular culture has moved away from the age of faith. Rationalism seems to dominate our lives, and when we read of religious fanaticism, we feel that such issues belong to people living outside the reach of a modern secular society. Few people seeing news on TV of an attack in Paris or London feel an impulse to fight back by re-energizing their own religious beliefs. Being secular can easily feed the belief that one has evolved beyond God, religion, dogma, and the whole rigmarole. . .
READ MORE > https://www.choprafoundation.org/articles/as-we-evolve-do-we-need-god/

From Russia with C**ts > More Pie, Please!

Published on Jun 3, 2018

Views: over 37,000

Pie berates Ukraine for creating even more Fake News to wade through. He also offends Tim by calling Theresa May a not very nice name.

THIS IS REAL !!! Hawaii volcano creating its own weather

No doubt > Get out

Published on Jun 3, 2018

Military Update : Unbelievable !!! Hawaii volcano creating its own weather
During a volcanic eruption, pyrocumulus clouds form due to the intense heat releasing from the ground below. This heat warms the air near the ground, causing it to rise and condense into a cloud. Not only do these clouds look like thunderstorms, they can act like them too. They can even produce lightning if they have enough electrostatically charged particles from an ash cloud.
These clouds don't just form near volcano summits, but they are the same type of clouds that build over intense wildfires.
While these clouds may look ominous, these clouds have been low to the ground. So far, they have yet to produce a thunderstorm or lightning.

Chinese Military Official: Territorial Integrity China' s Core Interest

Please Note: 2 sides to every story - this is from another POV other than from Jim Mattis,   "Mad Dog" General & U.S. Secretary of Defense

Published on Jun 2, 2018

Views-to-date: 3,017

Territorial integrity is China's core interest and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, a senior Chinese military official said in Singapore Saturday.
Responding to the remarks regarding the Taiwan issue made by U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis at a discussion session of the ongoing 17th Shangari-la Dialogue, He Lei, vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the head of the Chinese delegation to the dialogue, reiterated that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China.
The Chinese government and the Chinese people resolutely oppose U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as well as any official contact with Taiwan and upgrading ties with Taiwan in any way, he said.
The Chinese government and the Chinese people firmly oppose all the actions that undermine the one-China policy and the principles of the three China-U.S. joint communiques as well as the Taiwan Relations Act and the Taiwan Travel Act, He noted.
Speaking of Mattis's scheduled visit to China later this month, He said that China cherishes its relationship with the U.S. and the Chinese military welcomes Mattis's visit to China.
The Shangri-La Dialogue has been held annually since 2002 in Singapore, gathering military officials, diplomats and experts to discuss regional security challenges and prospects for cooperation.
http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20180603...

Robert's Report: ASU President Michael Crow Living High-On-The-Hog

Here's "an opinion" from a member of the free press, reporter Laurie Roberts who never hesitates to speak truth to power.
This is a timely telling of information the public has a need-to-know and a right-to-know.
It is published at a good time and at the same time that Scott Smith has just had published his "Guest Opinion" in today's East Valley Tribune to convince Mesa taxpayers to take on more debt to pay for an ASU 'campus' in downtown. . .
When's the last time YOU GOT A RAISE????
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Let's Lift The Curtain one more time

Roberts: University presidents score big raises and, for one, maybe a $1.3 million house

Laurie Roberts, opinion columnist Published 11:33 a.m. MT June 1, 2018 | Updated 12:43 p.m. MT June 1, 2018

"Double-digit raises for university presidents, a million-dollar house.

Clearly, things are looking up at Arizona’s universities.

Just a few years ago, university officials were raising the alarm about dramatic cuts in state funding and what those ever-tightening belts might mean for Arizona students.

Now, the state Board of Regents is buying bigger belts, offering nice raises to the people who lead the three schools and contemplating the purchase of a $1.3 million residence to house one of them.

Happy days are here again

. . . Arizona State University President Michael Crow will score a 15 percent raise to his base pay, retroactive to January, boosting his total compensation to north of $1.1 million.

It has, after all, been three years since his last raise, a 20 percenter. . . .

Read more > AZ Central Laurie Roberts Opinion June 1,2018

Taking-A-Turn At Scott Smith: A Game-Changer? ....Same Old Game

The Times Media Group has a near-monopoly covering what they want to make the news to be here in Mesa. Let's lift-the-curtain again to reveal something:
If ASU wants a campus here in downtown Mesa, ASU can well afford to pay it. *
Ex-mayor Scott Smith is just another in the cast of characters trying-to-game-taxpayers here in Mesa to take on more debt to pay for a radical transformation that would be Ground Zero for the massive speculation in real estate that devoured downtown Tempe.
It's TIME TO SAY NO to the schemes - tomorrow is the time to make sure taxpayers tell that to the Mesa City Council.
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Who can forget the last time in 2016 they tried to turn another trick to convince Mesa taxpayers to pay for that ASU "satellite campus" ????
Goofy current Mayor John Giles, endorsed by Scott Smith to run the city when he resigned to wage an unsuccessful race to be governor, flopped big time two years trying to set-the-stage for a take-over when taxpayers REJECTED his lame act-public relations fiasco called Yes1Mesa that was privately-financed to the tune of over $500,000 by entrenched interests . . . Taxpayers just said NO!
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It is time tomorrow to let every single one of the other six members sitting on the Mesa City Council to express your opinion on this ASU issue - it deserves action to move it forward as a ballot item on this November's General Election.
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Here the "Guest Opinion" piece published today . . . Scott Smith is free to express his opinion. The same thing applies to everyone - it is your turn to get engaged!
(Note that there is no mention at all of "ghost writers" who probably drafted Scott's opinion)
Your Turn: An ASU campus would be a game-changer for downtown Mesa

Scott Smith, opinion contributor Published 6:00 a.m. MT June 2, 2018 

Link > Scott Smith Guest Opinion Piece