HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 7/26/1988MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP SESSION OF THECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFGLENDALE, MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA HELD TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1988 AT 3:00 P.M. Mayor Renner called to order the Workshop Session of GlendaleCityCouncilinConferenceRoomB-3 of the Council Chambers. Council members present were: Bellah, Falbo, Huffman, Hugh, McAllister, and Tolby. Members Absent: None. CONSENT AGENDACityParticipation in ASU Design Study for Canal BankImprovementsASU's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, withendorsementsandsupportfromvalleymunicipalities, SaltRiverProject, and civic groups, has been successful in
receiving a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to
conduct a design study and develop detailed design guidelines
for the future utilization and beautification of canal banks
within the valley. The design project will result in a final
product and working document that can be utilized and adopted
by each City as a part of their respective general plans.
The City of Glendale has long been supportive and desirous of
further utilization and beautification of the canal bank
system within the community. Tremendous opportunities exist
within Glendale, along the Grand and Arizona Canals, to
significantly increases public use of the canal right-of-way,
enhance the visual quality of canal banks, and orient new
development to take advantage of the canal as an urban design
opportunity, rather than an eyesore or liability. ASU has
requested that valley communities contribute funding for the
project to supplement the primary funding from the grant and
Salt River Project. Glendale's contribution for the project
will be $2,500, which will also allow the City to participate
in the project.
Mayor Renner asked when the study would be complete. Mr.
Coons said it will begin immediately and will take one year
to complete.
There being no objection from council the study will begin.
WORKSHOP SESSION
Public Hearing Notice Placards
The City Council asked the Planning and Zoning Department
staff to review the current format used to post property for
public hearings regarding land development actions. The
department posts property for Board of Adjustment, Planning
and Zoning Commission and City Council public hearings.
Variances and appeals are posted for Board of Adjustment; usepermitsandappealsforPlanningandZoningCommission; andgeneralplanamendmentsandrezoningcasesarepostedforbothPlanningandZoningCommissionandCityCouncil. In thefuture, should the Council concur with recommended changes intheSubdivisionOrdinance, preliminary subdivision plats willbepostedforPlanningandZoningCommissionhearings. The format of the hearing notice currently used is an 11 inchby17inchposterboardwithonecolorprinting. Over thepasttwoyears, the Planning and Zoning Department has postedanaverageof103propertiesperyearforallpublichearings. Each property is posted with an average of twonotices. Based on the past two year's average, a total of206noticeswerepostedeachyear. Hearing notice placards were obtained from othermunicipalitiesinthevalleytocomparesize, format, content
and procedure.
Planning staff believes increasing the size from the 11 x 17
inch format currently used, to a larger size will increase
the visibility of the notices. Increasing the size to 24 x
36 inch format is a practical option if the Council deems it
to be cost effective.
Jerry Swanson, Planning Director, gave a brief presentation
on the public notices.
Mayor Renner asked when the new signs will be ready for use.
Mr. Swanson said they will start as soon as the printer can
complete the order.
Councilmember Huffman asked how long the signs needed to be
posted. Mr. Swanson said they are up for 10 days.
There being no objection the new signs will be ordered.
Final 1988 Legislative Report
The regular session of the 1988 Legislature adjourned July 1,
1988. The Governor has taken final action on all of the
measures sent to her office. The final report on those
issues followed by the City is completed for your
information. As you know, the session was the longest on
record and the most contentious in memory. The session ended
with favorable legislation for cities. Our one loss was the
garbage" bill. Maintaining the integrity of our strip
annexation was the notable success.
Ms. Porch presented the final legislative report and the
league policy statement which will be discussed at their
annual meeting.
Amendments to Vegetation Encroachment ordinanceTheovergrowthofvegetationfromprivateproperty into thepublicright-of-way occasionally creates traffic hazards. The present ordinance, established in 1963, authorizes theCitytocutbackhazardousvegetationbutdoesnototherwiseholdthepropertyowneraccountableforresponsibilityorcosts. Staff has prepared a draft of a new ordinance whichwouldclarifyresponsibilitiesandallowrecoveryoftheCity's cost in cutting back vegetation when it encroaches onthepublicright-of-way. Paul Ludwick, Neighborhood Resources Director, gave a briefoverviewoftheordinance. Vice Mayor Tolby asked if legally they can be charged withtheresponsibilitytomaintaintherightofway. Mr. VanHarensaidtheycould.
Vice Mayor Tolby asked if there was any responsibility on our
part if we trim a tree and it dies. Mr. Van Haren said if we
improperly trim we would be responsible unless it was
necessary to clear the right of way.
This item will be placed on a regular agenda for council
action.
Discussion of Park Survey of Arrowhead Ranch
For the past six months staff has been studying the issue of
the acquisition of neighborhood parks at Arrowhead Ranch. The
research resulted from concerns expressed by residents of
Arrowhead Ranch regarding the lack of neighborhood parks in
their area.
Recently, staff conducted a survey of Arrowhead Ranch
residents to solicit their views regarding the need for
neighborhood parks in the Ranch. The results of the survey
show that the vast majority of residents favor the
acquisition and development of neighborhood parks. Recent
negotiations with the developer of Arrowhead Ranch will
result in the donation of a three -acre park site on Utopia
Road at approximately 73rd Avenue. Staff is continuing to
study the acquisition of an additional neighborhood park site
in response to concerns expressed by residents.
Tim Ernster, Community Services Deputy City Manager,
presented the survey results.
Councilman Huffman asked if there were other areas in the
city that need parksites. Mr. Ernster said they have had
other requests in the area of Greenway & Bell, 59 - 67th
Avenue.
Vice Mayor Tolby asked what the development cost was for a3 -acre parksite. Mr. Stanley stated a rough estimate wouldbe $150,000. Vice Mayor Tolby stated he felt the park should be developed. Mayor Renner asked for $150,000 what improvements would bedone. Mr. Stanley said sprinkler system, playgroundequipment, lighting, walkways, park benches, and landscaping. Vice Mayor Tolby commented if we pick-up 3 acres in anothersectionat $70,000 an acre, the $550,000 budgeted woulddevelopthecurrentparkandpurchaseanadditionalparksite. Mr. Vanacour said the agreement with Arrowhead isoneyearfromnowthe $570,000 would be available for the 10acres. Vice Mayor Tolby said he was not aware of thetimeline.
Mayor Renner suggested the parks commission look at the
issues raised in the survey and make recommendations to the
council.
This item will be placed on a parks commission agenda and
come back to workshop.
General Plan: Status Briefing by the Planning and Zoning
Commission
The Planning and Zoning Commission has spent nearly a year
meeting with citizens, property owners, and business persons
to help formulate its recommendation on the new General Plan
to the City Council. Since September, 1987, the Commission
has held two public hearings and twelve workshops to gather
information and comments from interested persons on the
General Plan. As a result of those hearings and workshops,
the Commission is preparing to make its recommendation to
Council in the near future. The Chairman of the Commission
and the planning team wish to update the Council on the
plan's status and to seek any further direction before that
recommendation is made.
Jerry Swanson, Planning Director, updated the council on the
status of the plan. Carl Wilson, Planning and Zoning
Chairman, made a few comments on the process of the general
plan.
Vice Mayor Tolby asked how many cases have been heard on an
individual basis. Mr. Prescott said there has been 79 to
date.
Vice Mayor Tolby asked if implementation has been discussed.
Mr. Wilson said they will deal with this process for the next
draft period. Mr. Vanacour commented he had met with staff
on implementation and they have several suggestions they willtaketothecommission. Mayor Renner complimented the commission for the excellentworktheyhavedoneontheplanandurgedthemtocontinue oninthesamemanner. Mr. Wilson commented the commission would get the next draftandhavetheirpublichearingsthencomebacktoworkshop. AdIournmentTherebeing no further business the meeting adjourned at 4:45p.m.
Assistant City Clerk