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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Bond Committee - Meeting Date: 2/1/2022Glendale A R I Z O N A MINUTES CITIZEN BOND ELECTION COMMITTEE CITY HALL, 4th FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM 5850 W. GLENDALE AVE. GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301 FEBRUARY 1, 2022 5:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Lisa Baker, Committee Chair Jon Froke, Committee Member Connie Kiser, Committee Member Michael Socaciu, Committee Member Absent: Roger Powers, Committee Member Alicia Rubio, Committee Vice Chair Also Present: Vicki Rios, Assistant City Manager Lisette Camacho, Budget and Finance Director Levi Gibson, Budget and Finance Assistant Director Amy Lindsay, Budget Administrator Michele Woytenko, Field Operations Director Dan Cleavenger, Interim Transportation Director Purab Adabala, Transportation Planning Administrator Randa Abdelazim, Budget and Finance Management Assistant Julie Patterson, Budget and Finance Management Assistant 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS If citizens wish to speak on a matter concerning the Citizen Bond Election Committee that is not on the printed agenda, please complete a Citizen Comments Card and provide it to the designated staff person prior to the beginning of the meeting. Once your name is called by the Chairperson, please proceed to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Please limit your comments to a period of three minutes or less. None. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Citizen Bond Election Committee Minutes of January 4, 2022. A motion was made by Committee Member Connie Kiser, second by Committee Member Michael Socaciu, to approve the Citizen Bond Election Committee January 4, 2022 meeting minutes as written. AYE: Committee Chair Lisa Baker Committee Member Jon Froke Committee Member Connie Kiser Committee Member Michael Socaciu Other: Committee Member Roger Powers (ABSENT) Committee Vice Chair Alicia Rubio (ABSENT) 6. UPDATE ON THE 2022 BOND ELECTION Presented by: Vicki Rios, Assistant City Manager Presented by: Lisette Camacho, Director, Budget and Finance Ms. Rios stated that staff has reviewed revenues and expenditures and it has become evident to staff that a bond election in the fall of this year is technically not needed. She stated that was discussed with the City Manager, who then spoke with Council. She stated that the City Manager asked her and Ms. Camacho to draft a memo on the matter. Ms. Rios noted that there is now an opportunity to pause the work of the Committee and reconvene in the summer or fall. She stated that staff is in the process of working on the FY23 CIP and the Committee with then have that information when it reconvenes. She indicated that Proposition 400 will be on the fall ballot, which is the extension of the statewide half -cent sales tax for transportation and having both on the fall ballot could be confusing to citizens. She stated that the Committee could reconvene and discuss what might be the best timing for an upcoming bond election, such as a special election in November 2023 or the general election in 2024. Committee Member Kiser asked if the bond question would be the only item on a special election ballot. Ms. Rios replied that she could not know for sure because the county or a school district could also place an item on the ballot. Ms. Rios relayed that a special election ballot would be a more limited ballot. Ms. Rios stated that a special election usually has smaller turnout, however, the voters are usually more interested in the specific topic on the ballot. Committee Member Socaciu inquired about any additional costs if Glendale has the only items on a special election ballot. Ms. Rios explained that if Glendale has the only question on the ballot, it would have to cover all costs for the election, which she estimated at approximately $250,000. Ms. Rios noted that costs would be split if there are others placing questions on the ballot. Chair Baker asked if the timing of the bond election in 2023 or 2024 would ultimately be decided by City Council. Ms. Rios replied in the positive. Committee Member Kiser asked if Council has already decided to postpone the bond election. Ms. Rios stated that she sent Council a memo and asked the Councilmembers to express their concerns and provide feedback. Ms. Rios noted that staff also informed Council that the Bond Committee would be informed of this recommendation as well. Ms. Rios stated that she spoke with the City Manager today, who indicated that he spoke with Council and Council was amenable to staff's recommendation. Committee Member Socaciu asked if all of the current committee members were returning next year, noting that the general process would have to be repeated, if not. Ms. Rios relayed that all committee members have terms expiring in January 2023. Committee Member Socaciu inquired if the terms could be extended. Ms. Camacho replied in the positive. 7. STAFF REPORT Ms. Rios presented a follow-up to a request by Committee Member Socaciu at a previous meeting. Ms. Rios distributed and explained graphs showing the results broken out by district for the four bond questions on the 2020 Glendale General Election. Committee Member Socaciu asked if staff had any indication as to why the voters responded so poorly to the bond questions. Ms. Rios stated that staff has looked at other cities that have been successful with their bond elections, such as Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, and Tempe. Ms. Rios explained that every one of these cities had letters written in favor of the bonds in the election pamphlet, such as by their respective mayors, committees, organizations and others. Ms. Rios stated that there were no letters in opposition in the Glendale pamphlet, however, there were none in favor either. Committee Member Socaciu asked how these letters could be obtained, if staff could not solicit support. Ms. Rios explained that PAC committees can be formed by citizens to fundraise, put up signage, send mailers, and more. She stated that the committee members could consider this for the next bond election. She said that the committee members could not advocate for the bonds on as a committee member on behalf of the Committee, but could write a letter as a private citizen. Committee Member Socaciu commented that he would not know where to start with a PAC. Ms. Rios replied that staff cannot advocate for the bond election, but could provide the committee members with information on how to start a PAC. Ms. Rios stated that the committee members could write a letter as well, indicating they participated on the Bond Committee and share their view from this experience. She stated the committee members could not say they were speaking on behalf of the Committee. Chair Baker asked if the PAC would be on the city level and not the state level. Ms. Rios believed this to be true, however, will have to confirm. Ms. Camacho stated that staff could give a presentation on this topic when the committee reconvenes. This report allows the City staff to update the Committee. The Committee is prohibited from discussing or acting on any of the items presented by the staff since they are not itemized on the Bond Committee agenda. 8. COMMITTEE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS None. 9. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Citizen Bond Election Committee will be on a date to be determined. 10. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Committee Member Connie Kiser, second by Committee Member Michael Socaciu, to adjourn the meeting at 6:02 p.m AYE: Committee Chair Lisa Baker Committee Member Jon Froke Committee Member Connie Kiser Committee Member Michael Socaciu Other: Committee Member Roger Powers (ABSENT) Committee Vice Chair Alicia Rubio (ABSENT) The Bond Committee meeting minutes of February 1, 2022 were submitted and approved this day of , #`"e'vi Gibson Budget & Finance Interim Director