Mesa City Council Study Session Thu 07 March 2019

If decreasing ridership on Public Transit is any metric of success, former Mesa mayor Scott Smith, now President/CEO of Valley Metro is in the hot-spot as a featured guest at this morning's 07:30 a.m. study session for a 44-page presentation.

He resigned as mayor four years to run an unsuccessful campaign for governor, and was subsequently hired by Valley Metro after the previous President/CEO was forced to resign. The Valley Metro RPTA and Valley Metro Board unanimously approved a two-year extension of his employment contract for an additional two years to continue his role as CEO into 2020.

This morning the Mesa City Council and the public will see how he 'rolls' when this item is up on the study session session's agenda

Valley Metro: Driving the FutureA QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT
A Decade of Bringing People Together Through A Seamless Transportation System
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Seamless?
To some people that might be a big stretch of the imagination for a regional transportation network.
There are "gaps" in the network and in the system, including how to connect what they call "first-mile and last-mile" that might be solved by managing 2-wheeled "micro-mobility" and "hail-a-ride" options [that include autonomous robo-vehicles years off-into-the-future.

Here's former mayor Scott Smith, Mayor John Giles and City Councilmembers hailing the start of construction for the 6-Mile Gilbert Road Extension - all wearing yellow vests.
It's scheduled for opening soon in May 2019.
That could be a success story of sorts in the presentation on pages 16-19.
It's not until nearly the finish of the 44-page presentation aimed to discuss rapid transit that we see the outline for
Anti-Light Rail Initiative [Page 42]

• City of Phoenix – not regional:
• Terminates funding for light rail/fixed rail
• Election on Aug. 27, 2019
• Directs Phoenix to pursue regional funds
• Could limit Phoenix’s role in regional planning
• Rejects federal and regional funding for rail
•  ~$3.5B could be re-directed to other cities
• Puts future transportation plans at risk

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Valley Metro:
Driving the Future
Mesa City Council March 7, 2019
Page 5: Building Community + Enhancing Lives
A QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT
A Decade of Bringing People Together Through A Seamless Transportation System

• 35,000+ jobs have been created within one-half mile of light rail since 2008 [Page 8]
• 2,200+ new workforce and affordable housing uinits [Page 9}
• Economic Investment [Page 10]

Here In Mesa:
Encore On First, Mesa
El Rancho del Arte
La Mesita

Gilbert Road Extension Opening May 2019] Pages 16-19]
PAGE 31:
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP HAS DECREASED 2014-2018 72,137,268 > 66,784,213
RIDERSHIP IMPACT > [Page 32]
Ridership Impacts

• National trend related to:

• Job growth
• Inexpensive gas
• Ride-hailing, bike/scooter-share, carpooling
• Suburban sprawl
• Increase in car ownership

FUTURE OF TRANSIT EMBRACE CHANGE + MOBILIZE Page 33]
Autonmous Technology

The Future of Mobility……..

Ultimately, individual car ownership will give way to having a mobility app on your phone, where an automobile is but one mode available. 

A wealthy commuter might order a driverless Uber Black to take her to the office in solitude.
A regular Joe could hail a robo-shuttle that gets him to the subway just before his train departs for the city center, where he’ll hop a pre-booked e-scooter to carry him the last mile to work.

This is the ideal future of mobility for a city.

-- Kersten Heineke, McKinsey & Co. Transportation Specialist

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LINK to the Presentation

File #:

19-0234

Type:

Presentation

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council Study Session

On agenda:

3/7/2019

Title:

Hear a presentation and discuss Valley Metro regional transit services, including bus, rail, and paratransit in Mesa.

Attachments:

1. Presentation

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Approved Minutes Mesa City Council Regular Meeting 25 Feb 2019

A change of focus here:
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
You might have missed this - and that's way-too-easy-to-do -  when one of the most vital and important elements in representative democracy appears infrequently and sadly ever seen in here at Mesa City Council study sessions or meetings.
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Regular Council Meeting February 25, 2019 Pages 1-8 
9.  Items from citizens present 
Roger Carlin, a Mesa resident, commented that he has over 45 years of experience specific to aviation including working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on flight patterns. 
He stated the opinion that he is opposed to the project to build homes west of Recker Road, due to the fact that the extended centerline of the Falcon Field runway will bisect the parcels and create noise complaints and safety hazards. 
He pointed out that helicopters have a one-mile buffer and the homes will be in the buffer zone according to the agreement established over 30 years ago. 
He requested Council consider the park plan that was proposed 20 years ago and disapprove the homes to be built on Recker Road.     

Verl Farnsworth, a Mesa resident, reported that the purchase of the land at Thomas and Recker Roads was for a public park. 
> He emphasized the overall safety and keeping open spaces for citizens. 
> He requested Council provide information regarding the changes that occurred to move the project forward.
Blogger Note: Mr. Farnsworth has appeared a number of times recently to keep city government open, transparent and accountable but you can see by the following remarks in approved minutes from  last week that it's a tough and challenging thing to do:
The response from City Officials:
1. Mayor Giles remarked that information on the Thomas and Recker Roads Public Auction is on Mesa’s website. 
2. Deputy City Manager Kari Kent clarified that citizens go on www.mesaaz.gov and search land auctions to locate the information
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VIDEO LINKS:
City Council Meeting - 2/25/2019
34 Views
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDfJjTOnQa0

http://mesa11.com/vod/?show=1737&Mode2=Video 

Agenda
1 Take action on all consent agenda items.
8-a Approving the First Substantial Amendment to the City of Mesa Annual Action Plan for FY 2018/2019 and authorizing the City Manager to amend, sign, and submit the First Substantial Amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (Citywide) The Amendment will provide: (A) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funding to the City of Mesa eligible activities for A New Leaf ($65,000), Ability 360 ($50,000), Heat Sync Labs ($22,190), House of Refuge ($10,000), Mesa United Way ($283,482) NEDCO COHOOTS ($100,000), Oakwood Creative Care ($85,000), Jefferson Park ($55,000), Sojourner Center ($32,680), and United Food Bank ($65,000); (B) CDBG funding in the amount of $250,000 to provide additional funding in support of the completion of East Valley Adult Resources public facilities improvements; and (C) HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding for the City of Mesa Homeownership Assistance Program ($150,000).
9 Items from citizens present. (Maximum of three speakers for three minutes per speaker).

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INTERESTING OR NOT:

File #:

19-0204

Type:

Contract

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

3/4/2019

Title:

16-Month Term Contract for Walk-In Groceries and Miscellaneous Items for Various City Departments and Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures (S.A.V.E.) Members as requested by the Business Services Department (Citywide) Glendale Elementary School District, as a member of Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures cooperative, acted as the lead agency for this contract. The purpose of establishing these contracts is to allow Citywide departments to purchase groceries and miscellaneous items from multiple local retail vendors within convenient proximity to our facilities. The Business Services Department and Purchasing recommend authorizing the purchase using the Glendale Elementary School District No. 40 cooperative contract with Bashas'; Food City; AJ's Market; Costco; Fry's Food and Drug; Safeway; Sam's Club; and Smart and Final; not to exceed $160,000 through June 30, 2020, based on estimated requirements.

Attachments:

1. Council Report

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Meeting Name:

City Council

Agenda status:

Final

Meeting date/time:

3/4/2019 5:45 PM

Minutes status:

Draft

Meeting location:

Council Chambers - Upper Level

Published agenda:	Agenda	Published minutes:	Not available
Agenda packet:	Not available

Meeting video:

Not available

Attachments:

________________________________________________________________________

File #:

19-0223

Type:

Minutes

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

3/4/2019

Title:

Approval of minutes of previous meetings as written.

Attachments:

1. February 25, 2019 Regular

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Item 5 Contracts
*5-a One-Year Renewal to Term Contract for Office Supplies & Products for Citywide Department and Strategic Alliance for Volume Expenditures Cooperative Matters
[Approximately 80 agencies currently participate]
$5,500,000 annually
WIST Office Products

*5-c Event/Crowd Security for Mesa Arts Center, Mesa AmpiTheater, and Mesa ConCenter
$100,000 annually
3 highest-scored:
EStaff dba E.Staff Security, In
Pride Group LLC
Total Events and More dba T.E.A.M . Security

Fleet Services:
*5-d Berge Ford $130,000 annually
*5-e Altec Industries $153,393,18

Police Department
*5-g Combined Total $160,233.52
Midway Chevrolet $123,430.53 + Larry H Miller Toyots $36,802.99
*5-h Helicopter Thermal Imaging Systems Service & Repairs $100,000 annually
Stark Aerospace
[In 2016 Council approved upgrade, service and repair of two Israeli Industries thermal imaging systems - one POP 200 and one POP 300] to Stark Aerospace

*5-i Police Records Maangement/Field-Based Reporting Systems
Increase Dollar Limit with Versaterm, Inc. by $1,615,362 from $3,065,307 to$4,680,669

*5-j Replacement Radio/Communications Test Equipment
$72,500 Locus Diagnostics, LLC
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RESOLUTION *6-b
Approving and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Fourth Amendment to the Development Agreement and a Second Amendment to License Agreement with Palladium Grid, LLC, to modify certain compliance dates and replace the requirement for construction of a new parking structure with a requirement for development of a courtyard with resident amenities, and place additional requirements on the Developer on the use of the City-owned Pomeroy parking garage, all of which will facilitate the development of the City-owned property generally located at the southwest corner of Main Street and South Pomeroy and 34 South Pomeroy; the development commonly known as The GRID. (District 4) – Resolution No. 11282.
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ORDINANCES Item 7
*7-a. ZON18-00862 (District 6) The 8200 to 8500 blocks of East Baseline Road (north side). Located east of South Channing (Hawes Road) alignment on the north side of Baseline Road (69± acres). Rezoning 15± acres from AG to RSL-2.5-PAD incorporating the acreage into the approved 54± acre Baseline Mixed-Use PAD (Z14-021, ZON16-004, ZON17-00326, ZON18-00169 and ZON18-00171); and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the incorporation of additional acreage into an existing PAD to allow for the development of a residential small-lot subdivision. Drew Huseth, AICP, Woodside Homes, applicant; NSHE Powell, LLC, owner. 
Staff Recommendation: Approval with conditions 
P&Z Board Recommendation: Approval with conditions (Vote: 5-0)
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 8.  Take action on the following resolution: 
  8-a. Approving the First Substantial Amendment to the City of Mesa Annual Action Plan for FY 2018/2019 and authorizing the City Manager to amend, sign, and submit the First Substantial Amendment to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (Citywide) 
   The Amendment will provide: (A) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funding to the City of Mesa eligible activities for A New Leaf ($65,000), Ability 360 ($50,000), Heat Sync Labs ($22,190), House of Refuge ($10,000), Mesa United Way ($283,482) NEDCO COHOOTS ($100,000), Oakwood Creative Care ($85,000), Jefferson Park ($55,000), Sojourner Center ($32,680), and United Food Bank ($65,000); (B) CDBG funding in the amount of $250,000 to provide additional funding in support of the completion of East Valley Adult Resources public facilities improvements; and (C) HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funding for the City of Mesa Homeownership Assistance Program ($150,000). – Resolution No. 11285. 
  Councilmembers Heredia and Thompson declared a conflict of interest and will refrain from discussion/consideration of this item
Upon tabulation of votes, it showed: 
 AYES – Giles-Freeman-Duff-Luna-Whittaker  NAYS – None  ABSTAIN – Heredia-Thompson

________________________________________________________________________________

File #:

19-0223

Type:

Minutes

Status:

Agenda Ready

In control:

City Council

On agenda:

3/4/2019

Title:

Approval of minutes of previous meetings as written.

Attachments:

______________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Spec Industrial Investment in One of Mesa's OZones

The news in a press release: 20 acres sold for $2.25M
The City of Mesa has 11 census tracts that have been designated Opportunity Zones by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Last year on 12 Dec 2018 the City of Mesa released
Mesa Opportunity Zone Investment Prospectus  
http://www.mesanow.org/news/public/article/2227

"Our Opportunity Zones provide a boost in returns for private, tax-free investment in low-income areas with economic need," Mayor John Giles said. "Investment in these areas will bring great benefit to our residents and private investors alike."
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Blogger Note: Neither of these two areas are know as "low-income areas" but have qualified as OZones for being contiguous with low-income census tracts.

• The Gateway Area Opportunity Zone [there are two designated as North, South]
• The Falcon District Opportunity Zone

Readers of this blog might like to note that any residential developments in close proximity to these two airports has certain reporting and zoning requirements, as well as other issues like noise.   
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The map below highlights these tracts within the city boundaries.

The Aerial Mesa tool showcases what makes each district an ideal place to locate and grow a business, including the location of Opportunity Zones, Major Employers and Assets, New Development and Investments, and Development Opportunities.

To visit the Aerial Mesa tool and explore Mesa’s Opportunity Zones visit the links below:

Gateway Area North (Elliot Road Technology Corridor)

Gateway Area South (Pecos Zone, Gateway Airport) 

Blogger Note: The Approved Census Tracts include

Census Tract 422641

Census Tract 817600

Census Tract 522800

 

To have a qualified investment in an Opportunity Zone eligible for the tax incentives two qualifications must be met:

• The investment must be made via a Qualified Opportunity Fund. An Opportunity Fund is a privately managed investment vehicle organized as a corporation or a partnership for the purpose of investing in qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses. The fund must hold at least 90 percent of its assets in such property.
• The investment must be derived from a gain in another investment and transferred into an Opportunity Fund within 180 days of realizing the gain.

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The Gateway Area Opportunity Zone includes industrial and commercial development opportunities proximate to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, along the burgeoning Ray Road Business Corridor, and in the Pecos Advanced Manufacturing Zone, which also has the unique advantage of a streamlined entitlement process. Furthermore, investors can maximize the property tax incentives for qualified projects locating in Mesa's Foreign Trade Zone and the Military Reuse Zone, also located in the Gateway Area Opportunity Zone
To download or share the City of Mesa's Opportunity Zone Investment Prospectus, visit www.MesaAzOpportunityZones.com. If you would like to invest in one of Mesa's Opportunity Zones, please contact City of Mesa Economic Development Director Bill Jabjiniak at William.Jabjiniak@MesaAz.gov or Marc.Valenzuela@MesaAz.gov.
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First the announcement and details published in AZ Big Media.com on 28 Feb 2019
"You have been hearing and reading about the new capital gains tax incentives associated with the Opportunity Zones and investors and developers are taking interest quick.  SVN Desert Commercial Advisors has several properties listed in the Opportunity Zone and recently sold 20 acres of the original 92 acres in Mesa, AZ across the Mesa-Gateway airport for a $2.25M. "

Image insert:
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Here's the press release:
20 acres in Mesa Opportunity Zone sell for $2.25M

"The 20 acres are located on Ellsworth & Germann which is in a great location.  With the expansion of ASU Poly Technic Campus and close proximity to the airport, there is a large amount of employment and new homes surrounding the site. 

Rommie Mojahed

SVN Advisors Director of Retail Leasing & Sales Investments, Rommie Mojahed and Senior Advisor Beau Flahart represented the seller, Ellsworth 92, LLC in the transaction.  A spokesman for the buyer, Abington Emerson Investments, LLC referenced this property as a “home run site” for developing spec industrial. Flahart stated, “The Opportunity-Zoned real estate is a massive “opportunity” for investors and developers.  The buyer felt the location was in a perfect position to build in a thriving area with so much planned development ahead.  “The groups that understand the incentives and take advantage of this are way ahead of the game,” said Flahart.  The seasoned advisors have worked with the seller on a number of projects and work on a majority of their land holdings. 

Beau Flahart

More importantly, SVN advisors still represent the seller in the remaining 72 acres at this same location off Ellsworth & Germann, which is only 1 mile south of Eastmark, the #1 best-selling master-planned community in the state of Arizona. Zoning allows for retail, office, and light industrial so developers will have plenty of opportunity to build."

In another related announcement:

Fujifilm breaks ground to expand its electronic materials facility in Mesa

March 1, 2019 at 10:59 am

Today FUJIFILM Electronic Materials U.S.A., Inc. (FEUS) broke ground for a major expansion of its manufacturing and development facility . . .

The Mesa site expansion is anticipated to take around 18 months and will comprise of approximately 85,000 SF of additional space in the form of five new buildings significantly expanding manufacturing, warehousing, R&D laboratory and office space . . . The project, expected to generate additional jobs in the area*, will soon begin construction on South Mountain Road and is scheduled to be completed in early 2020.

*Mesa Industrial Corridor

Reference > http://www.mesanow.org/news/public/article/2272

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Mesa City Council Study Session Mon 04 Feb 2019

Lots of Updates! [from everyone except D2 Councilmember Jeremy Whittaker] - and from City Manager Chris Manager Chris Brady and announcement that Ex-Mayor Scott Smith will be featured to discuss some issues that arose about Valley Metro during the Strategic Planning Session. No Other agenda for this Thursday . . .

Published on Mar 4, 2019

2 Views

For the video with the agenda please visit:http://mesa11.com/vod/?show=1740

Yesterday's Mesa City CIty Council Meeting Mon 04 Feb 2019

Awards & Presentations + A Photo Op first for Historical Fiction Awards for students in grades 4-6 that were eligible for the contest on a number of topics: [Cash awards of $40 and $75 donated by members of Historic Preservation Board
First Place: History of Downtown Mesa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cKuMZz3Okc

Published on Mar 4, 2019

NO VIEWS

For the video with the agenda please visit:http://mesa11.com/vod/?show=1741 

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Magnetic Weakening, Cosmic Rays, Deadly Storm | S0 News Mar.3.2019

Published on Mar 3, 2019

Daily Sun, Earth and Science News
Views: 11,541+

Books and swag: https://otf.selz.com

Our Websites:http://www.Suspicious0bservers.org
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http://www.ObservatoryProject.com

http://www.MagneticReversal.org
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/observatoryp...
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Wanted- Earthquake Forecasters: https://youtu.be/l1iGTd84oys
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Today's Featured Links:
Pre-Seismic Aerosols: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...
Ionosphere Before M8+ Earthquakes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...
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Cosmic Rays and Behavior: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...
Electric Approach to Space Weather: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science

Mesa Morning Live Sponsor Guest: President of Benedictine University Cha...

After 5 years and 500+ students enrolled here at the downtown campus, Ben U is growing at the rate of 10-12% per year with plans for more programming, and a  student residence hall.  

Published on Feb 14, 2019

Charlie Gregory, the President of Benedictine University, joins Mesa Morning Live host Mark Cordes to talk about the progress that Benedictine continues to make in building out there facilities in Mesa