3.8 Public Facilities Element

3.8.1 GOALS

1. Maintain and upgrade existing public facilities to serve the existing population and employment, and locate new facilities to serve new residents and workers.
2. Continue to provide high quality municipal services – administration, public works, community development, community services (parks and recreation), library, aviation, police and municipal court, and coordinate with non-municipal service providers-fire, education, electrical, natural gas, fiber to provide adequate services.

3.8.2 PURPOSE

The Public Facilities Element discusses the existing and future conditions within the City for the provision of public buildings and services. Goals and objectives have also been included to serve as a policy framework that provides adequate services and facilities now and in the future. The goals and objectives effectively guide developers, such that growth within the City may be coordinated with the timely provision of public services and the construction of public facilities.

3.8.3 EXISTING CHARACTER

A variety of services is provided by the City and private providers for the provision of public facilities and services within the City's incorporated area. These services include city administration/management, public library, public safety services, city/county court facilities, education facilities, medical facilities, parks and community centers, municipal airport, and utilities services. A summary description of each service is provided below and is shown on Map PF-1, Public Facilities Map:

City Administration/Management

The City of Eloy operates with a council-manager form of government. It has an elected mayor and six elected council members, as well as a city manager appointed by the City Council. The City of Eloy manages the City from its complex of offices on North Main Street. It also utilizes satellite facilities for several of its other departments.

The City of Eloy owns numerous parcels of land, some of which have buildings. These buildings provide office and support space to administer the functions necessary to maintain and operate a well-functioning city. The City Departments include:

• City Manager's Office
• City Clerk
• Community Development
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Library
• Council Chambers/Municipal Court
• Community Services (Parks and Recreation)
• Police
• Public Works/Engineering

In the Spring of 2019, the City relocated a portion of its staff to a new City Hall Building. Located at 595 N. “C” Street, the new City Hall contains approximately 18,000 square feet and operates with the following staffing:

• City Council Chambers
• City Manager’s office
• Human Resources Department
• City Clerk
• Finance Department
• Community Development Department
• Community Room
• Office Space (for a private vendor)

The Eloy Police Department is located at 630 N. Main Street (southwest corner of 7th Street and Main Street). This location manages Animal Control; Field Service-Patrol Division; Records; and Support Services.

Another major City building is the City’s Public Works/Yard site located at 1137 W. Houser Road (southwest corner of Eleven Mile Corner Road and Houser Road). These functions include:

• Public Works Department
• Public Works Yard/Mechanic Shop
• Police Impound Yard

The City’s Community Services Department is located at 100 E. 7^th Street. This location manages the City’s public parks and community centers and administers its full complement of recreation programs for Eloy citizens of all ages.

Other supportive public buildings/facilities include the Eloy Municipal Airport, the Eloy Public Library (located as a joint use on the Santa Cruz High School campus) and the Troy Thomas Community Center and Toltec Senior Center.

Eloy Public Library

The Eloy Public Library is co-located with the Santa Cruz Valley Union High School at 1000 N. Main Street. It currently contains 7,800 square feet, which includes both the main library and computer pod and a large room that hosts meetings, programs and events. For Fiscal Year 2017-18, the library was patronized by 75,979 people, conducted 889 reference transactions and 185 programs (attended by 5,229 citizens. The library also logged a total of 28,512 item circulation (including eMedia) in Fiscal Year 2017-18. The computer pod (17 computer terminals) logged 10,477 uses and 23,158 wi-fi uses. Its public internet bandwidth was recently increased from 7.5 Mbps to 25 Mbps to accommodate the increased Wi-Fi use of library patrons.

Public Safety Services

Fire Protection

Since 1946, the City has been served by the Eloy Fire District. The District is a separate entity from the City, but serves nearly 60 percent of the City’s incorporated area (approximately 79 square miles) as well as portions of adjacent unincorporated County areas. The District operates from an administration building and two fire stations, which are located approximately four miles apart. Their response times (from dispatch to arrival) range from 4-6 minutes 90 percent of the time for the Downtown and Toltec areas of the City.

The administration office is located at 4010 N. Toltec Road and is utilized by the Governing Board, Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Administrative Assistant and Accounting Clerk. Fire Station #522 is located at 4015 N. Toltec Road (across the street) and consists of one Class A pumper, two ambulances, a brush truck and a hazardous materials engine operated by 3 personnel 24/7 in three, 48 hour shifts (A, B, and C). Fire Station #521 is located at 500 S. Sunshine Blvd. and consists of two Class A pumpers, one ladder truck, one brush truck, one tender, one Battalion Chief truck, and two ambulances operated by 6 personnel 24/7 in three, 48 hour shifts (A, B, and C). Both stations provide 24/7 service.

In calendar year 2017, the Fire District, responded to approximately 2,536 emergency/medical calls and 620 fire and miscellaneous related calls. It should be noted that the Fire District participates in an Automatic Aid Agreement (wherein the Computer Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Locator system will automatically determine the closest available, most appropriate unit(s) to respond to a call for service, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries) with Pinal County and the City of Casa Grande. So a portion of the calls for service may not be located within the City but within the surrounding jurisdictions. The District currently operates with an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 4 (which ranges from 1 (best) to 10 (worst)). At this point in time, the District does not have any specific plans to increase the number of stations, but may consider a location in the northern portion of its service area in the future.

Police Protection

The Eloy Police Department is located at 630 N. Main Street and operates with 30 sworn peace-officers (one of which is an unpaid volunteer), and- civilian positions including six (6) Communication/Detention Specialists, one (1) Police Records Clerk, one (1) Evidence Technician, one (1) Police Systems Support Specialist, one (1) Executive Secretary, one (1) full time Senior Animal Control Officer and one (1) part time Animal Control Officer. The Police Department currently has seven patrol vacancies, but intends to fill one position for Community Services Officer in Fiscal Year 2017-18. The department has a total of 24 vehicles, twelve (12) assigned to the patrol division, four (4) assigned to the detective division, three (3) assigned to the command staff, three (3) assigned as administrative vehicles, and two (2) for take- home cars for S.W.A.T. operators. The Department currently exhibits response times for a single unit for priority 1, 2 or 3 of 14 minutes. The response times for multi-units for Priority 1 and 2 calls are seven minutes for the first unit and 11 minutes for the second unit. For priority 3 calls its 10 minutes for the first unit, and 22 minutes for the second unit.

Crime Data for calendar years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 is shown in Table PF.1, Crime Data, 2015-2019. Similar to the Fire District, the Department is a participant in the Automatic Aid Agreement with Pinal County, and Casa Grande.

Table PF.1, Crime Data, 2015-2019

Sources: Eloy Police Department; **Crime Comparison is 2018 versus 2019

A Comprehensive Services Delivery and Staffing Review report was prepared in 2016 (by Citygate Associates, LLC). The purpose of this report was to evaluate all aspects of field, command, and support operations. The report identified seven key themes and a host of recommendations (20) to meet current best practices in the delivery of police services.

The seven themes that were developed summarize the opportunities and challenges of the Department to enhance service delivery to Eloy citizens, workers and visitors:

• Theme One: Eloy enjoys a cohesive small-town community environment that it wishes to maintain and strengthen.
• Theme Two: Eloy’s elected officials are committed to the Police Department through the good times and bad times.
• Theme Three: The organization suffers from a self-imposed “image problem”
• Theme Four: Eloy’s large service area and detention facilities uniquely affect Police Department staffing needs and response times.
• Theme Five: The interstate corridor that traverses the City of Eloy is utilized for illegal drug and human trafficking. These activities contribute to the crime fighting challenges of the Police Department.
• Theme Six: There is significant trepidation and anticipation regarding the impending leadership transitions facing the Department with the next seven months.

• Theme Seven: The Department needs written standards to monitor and manage performance metrics and adopt data analytics to aid in the performance analysis.

Of the 20 strategies that were identified, a total of three have direct and/or indirect implications for the general plan. These include:

• The Department should reclassify call types to ensure Police responds to the highest priority needs first. (Recommendation #1)
• Establish attainable response time goals to meet community expectations within the City's fiscal capabilities (Recommendation #3)
• Conduct a space needs assessment and a structural utilization study for the future Police facility (Recommendation #9)

City/County Court Facilities

The City of Eloy operates a magistrate court (at the City Council Chambers) that hears and renders decisions regarding civil and criminal matters, including orders of protection. The Court provides jurisdiction over violations of both municipal ordinances and criminal misdemeanor offenses that have occurred within the City's incorporated area. The City and Town of Florence share (on a 50/50 basis) a full time judge. Pinal County also operates a Justice Court-Precinct 3 in the City, which is located at 801 N. Main Street. It is a court of limited jurisdiction and hears both civil and criminal cases.

Education Facilities

The provision of public education is not in the City of Eloy's purview. However, because it a major public use and important community and economic component it is addressed in this general plan element. Education is organized into pre-primary, primary, secondary and post-secondary types and is shown on Map PF-2, Public Education Map.

Pre-Primary Education

There is currently one Head Start school in Eloy located at 105 N. “E” Street and assists 89 children. However, a new facility opened in the Fall of 2019 at 114 E. 3rd Street. Pinal Gila Community Child Services Inc. (PGCCS) is a family centered, community based, not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities for pre-school children and promotes self-sufficiency for families, in order to build stronger, healthier communities. PGCCS is the Head Start & Early Head Start Grantee and Operator in Pinal & Gila counties serving prenatal to five year olds. PGCCS Head Start is a comprehensive, school readiness program providing preschool services in a classroom setting. The Program provides the following:

• Preschool Program for ages 3-5 years;
• Creative Curriculum which is a research based curriculum;

• Social Emotional skills are taught daily in the classroom with our curriculum, Conscious Discipline, which includes teaching problem solving, identifying feelings and stress management skills;
• Teaching Strategies GOLD ongoing child assessment which aligns with Arizona Early Learning Standards and assists teachers in individualizing for each child.
• Vision and hearing screenings as well as height/weight assessments to promote overall child health;
• Engagement activities with families to identify strengths, local resources and goal setting using the assessment Family Map;
• Works with school districts to identify children who may be at risk of developmental delay;
• Works with families and providers to ensure children have current physical exams, dental exams, appropriate testing; and treatment as needed to ensure each child is healthy and ready to learn;
• Provides consultation and referrals for children and families as needed.

Early Head Start is a federally funded, community based program that serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers. Low-income families, Children in Foster Care, Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Families whose child has a disability. Home Base services are provided in Apache Junction and the Hayden/Winkelman area. Center Base services are provided in the Miami/Globe area. Early Head Start staff is trained professionals who provide information and skills to support each child’s development, health services, and family sufficiency. Their goals are to promote healthy pregnancies by educating mothers on the importance of good prenatal care; promote parent involvement and education in the growth and development of very young children; assist families with obtaining appropriate health, nutrition, and social services for all family members; and increase community understanding of the importance of growth and development from prenatal through three years of age.

Primary and Secondary Education

A total of four elementary school districts and two high school districts are located within the City’s incorporated boundaries. These are illustrated on Map PF-2, Public Education Map and are listed below:

• Casa Grande Elementary School District
• Eloy Elementary School District
• Picacho Elementary School District
• Toltec Elementary School District
• Casa Grande Union High School District
• Santa Cruz Valley Union High School District

Two additional elementary school districts (Red Rock and Mary C. O’Brien) are located within the City’s defined Planning Area and are also illustrated on Map PF-2, Public Education Map.

The presence of portions of four different elementary school districts and two different high school districts within the City’s incorporated area creates numerous internal and external issues for a community. These issues are focused on the different curriculums at both the elementary, middle school and high school levels that may not align, the appropriate levels of staffing to support learning, and the organization of school boundaries that currently do not correspond with community boundaries, reducing a collective sense of community pride and funding resource opportunities.

A summary of the Existing Education Facilities within the City and Planning Area is provided in Table PF.2, Educational Facilities.

Table PF.2, Educational Facilities

Source: School Districts and City of Eloy, 2019 Note: Several of the school districts listed above have boundaries that also extend outside the City and its Planning Area. Therefore, it is important to note that the total student population listed for each school does not imply that all of those students exclusively reside within the City or its Planning Area.

The report card of Eloy public schools, as identified by the Arizona Department of Education identifies the following data for the most recent time period available in Table PF.3, School Report Card.

Table PF.3, School Report Card

Source: Arizona Department of Education; 2019

The Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT) is a public school district working in partnership with eight area schools: Casa Grande Union High School (CGUHS), Coolidge High School, Florence High School, Maricopa High School, Poston Butte High School, San Tan Foothills High School, Santa Cruz Valley High School (SCVHS), and Vista Grande High School. The inclusion of CGUHS and SCVHS) any high school student residing in Eloy can begin preparing for high-wage, high-demand occupations while still in school by attending CAVIT in Coolidge. Any Eloy junior or senior high student who has met the prerequisites of an approved career and technology education program may enroll.

CAVIT offers cosmetology, emergency medical technician, fire science, law enforcement, massage therapy, medical assistant, nursing assistant and veterinary assistant programs for high school students. In an effort to provide students with authentic work-based learning opportunities, CAVIT has implemented three student-run clinics designed to provide students with on-the-job training on its campus. These clinics include: Animal Day Spa, Hair & Nail Clinic, Massage Spa, and a Wellness Clinic.

Post-Secondary Education

There are not any colleges or universities located within Eloy's City limits or Planning Area. The closest campus is the Central Arizona College (CAC). Located in Coolidge, CAC is a comprehensive, accredited community college offering more than 50 pre-baccalaureate programs, from arts to engineering science, and more than 90 occupational programs of study. The college offers courses that transfer to universities and an extensive program of credit and noncredit professional development and skill enhancement classes.

Central Arizona College offers a wide variety of continuing education courses, programs and workshops, including custom tailored in-service training for local industry. CAC also offers courses through the internet and an interactive distance learning television network linking all district campuses (i.e. Signal Peak Campus (Coolidge), San Tan Campus (San Tan Valley), Maricopa

Campus (Maricopa), Casa Grande Center, Florence Center) with a full range of course experiences.

The college also administers the Gloria R. Sheldon University Center, which provides a site for universities to offer baccalaureate and master level classes in Pinal County. Using the interactive distance learning television classrooms, students can continue their education towards a degree after completing their associates degree — all while attending classes at or near their local community college.

Central Arizona College coordinates with the county’s high schools in the development of a vocational oriented curriculum called Tech Prep. The Tech Prep program integrates the Arizona Essential Skill Competencies into classroom practice related to the world of work. The City of Eloy would welcome the opportunity to have a Central Arizona College Center or Campus, or another college and/or technical training institution locate in the community in the future.

Medical Facilities

Sunlife Family Health Center, located at 205 N. Stuart Boulevard, provides family health care, including diagnosis and treatment of major and minor illness; management of chronic health conditions; women’s wellness; well-child examinations and immunizations; patient education; referral; and follow-up care.

The City of Eloy does not currently have a hospital. The closest hospital (Banner Casa Grande Medical Center) includes a supportive urgent care center. One other urgent care center (NextCare) is also located within Casa Grande approximately 15 miles northwest of the Downtown.

The Pinal County Public Health Department's Eloy Clinic is located at 302 E. 5^th Street and provides both Community Health Nursing and Women Infant and Children (WIC) services, including childhood immunizations, family planning, birth control supplies/methods, pregnancy testing, STD testing, Well Women HealthCheck Program for cancer screening, nutrition education, breast feeding support, and supplemental foods or food boxes.

Parks and Community Centers

The City Community Services Department maintains and manages nine parks (including an aquatics center) in Eloy. It also administers a full complement of community centers and recreation program activities (which vary by season) offered to residents of all ages (children, adults and seniors). The community centers are identified and described in Table PF.4, Recreation Facilities below.

Parks are addressed in the Parks and Open Space Element. The City also operates and maintains the 20 acre Eloy Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 5839 E. Milligan Road. The City provides a sliding scale of rates for plots based on city residency, county residency or outside Pinal County residency. The Community Services staff maintains the Cemetery.

Table PF.4, Recreation Facilities

Source: City of Eloy, January 2019

Municipal Airport

Initially constructed by the US Air Force in 1969 to train the T-41 aircraft, the 91- acre Eloy Municipal Airport is a public use general aviation airport located three miles northwest of Eloy, and contains a lighted asphalt runway that is 3,900 feet long by 75 feet wide and can accommodate aircraft up to 27,500 pounds single wheel loading. Taxiway “A” is asphalt, full length and parallel with the runway with a 40 foot width and 200 foot runway centerline separation distance. There are currently three entries/exits to Runway 2-20. Taxiway “A” currently does not contain holding aprons or a lighting system.

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the airport was primarily used for crop dusting operations for local agricultural fields. In the early 1990’s, Skydive Arizona located adjacent to the Eloy Municipal Airport, which now produces a heavy amount of parachute jumping activity on its east side. As of 2014, there were a total of 23,450 aircraft operations made by based and itinerant aircraft. The Airport is designated as an A-II airport, with an ultimate design code of B-II. The existing critical design aircraft is the DHC Twin Otter and the ultimate critical design aircraft is the Citation 560 Excel. SkyDive Arizona provides 100LL fuel and Jet-A fuel. The Bent Prop Restaurant and Bar is located on site, and its hours are determined seasonally.

The landside facilities include four tenants: Airborne Systems, Brunetto Flying Service, High but Dry Balloons, and Rigging Innovations, Inc. Skydive Arizona, Aero Specialists, Arizona Aeropainting, Crop First Aviation operate through the fence. A total of two T-hangars (accommodating 12 aircraft) and five business hangars are located on the airport property. A total of 28 tie-down spaces are available. The airport is protected by an eight-foot chain link fence with three strands of barbed wire and 28 spaces provide vehicle parking.

In July 2011, the City adopted the updated Eloy Municipal Airport Master Plan. The master plan was updated to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design and safety standards. It also is intended to evaluate the airport’s capabilities and role, to forecast future aviation demand, and to plan for the timely development of new or expanded facilities to meet future aviation demand.

The master plan identifies the following forecasted operational demands at the Airport, as shown on Table PF.5, Airport Operations below.

Table PF.5, Airport Operations

Source: Eloy Municipal Airport Master Plan; July 2011

A summary of the 2019 Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP) identifies the following improvements over the next five years:

• Installation of security fencing (2019)
• Construct drainage improvements (2020)
• Construct relocated Taxiway “A” (2020)
• Install new Medium Intensity Runway edge Lighting (MIRL) on Runway 2-20 (2020)
• Update Airport Master Plan (2021)
• Construct drainage improvements (2021)
• Prepare Environmental Assessment for Runway 2 extension (2022)
• Acquire land for Runway 2 extension (2023)
• Design extension for Runway 2 (2023)

Utilities Services

Sewer

The City and several private companies provide sewer service to properties within the City's incorporated area as shown on Map PF-3, Sanitary Sewer System map. However, there are many properties in the City which still utilize septic systems. The existing wastewater reclamation facility (WRF) is located south of the southwest corner of Houser and Eleven-Mile Corner Roads. The WRF operates at 0.65 million gallons per day (mgd) and has a capacity of 2.0 mgd. It is not currently slated for any expansion in the City's adopted Capital Improvement Program.

In 2007, a Wastewater Master Plan was completed to guide the City in making informed and sound decisions regarding sewer and wastewater infrastructure system expansion needs. The Master Plan divided the City's Designated Management Agency area into ten distinct areas. All development, which occurs within the City, will be required to satisfy not only the objectives of the General Plan, but also the requirements of the Wastewater Master Plan.

Water

The City of Eloy serves the Downtown and Toltec areas with potable water at the present time as shown on map PF-4, Water System map. A total of four groundwater wells, three storage tanks and distribution lines comprise the City's system to deliver water to its customers. The groundwater wells (WL-55-591447-3, WL-55-605452-4, WL-55605454-5, and WL-55-605455-6) are all located in the Downtown, south of Frontier Street. The two storage tanks hold a total of two million gallons of water and are located on the west side of Main Street, south of Frontier Street. One of the tanks is located on the north side of Houser Road, west of Frontier Street and the other water tank is located at the Eloy Municipal Airport.

In addition to the City, seven other providers also serve smaller areas within the City's incorporated area. These other providers include:

• Arizona Water Company (Casa Grande)
• CoreCivic
• Global Water-Picacho Cove Water
• Picacho Water Company
• Picacho Water Improvement Corporation
• Spring Branch Water Company, Inc.
• Sunland Water Company

In 2007, the City prepared a Water Master Plan which recommended a total of 4.0 million gallons of water storage per two square miles of developed area (assumed to be developed with a residential density of 2.6 du/ac) to meet the future needs of the community (assuming an average of 3.0 persons per household and 125 gallons of water use per day by each household). The twomile spacing would be expected to decrease if the density of the contributing area increases. As

such, additional wells would expect to be constructed near the Santa Rosa Canal and at various locations around the City.

Electric

The majority of the City is administered by Arizona Public Service (APS), and several small portions of the Planning Area are administered by Trico Electric Cooperative. Overhead electrical transmission lines, substations and generating plants traverse through the City and Planning Area. A total of seven entities provide these facilities, which include:

• Arizona Public Service (APS),
• Electric Districts 2, 4 and 5,
• Salt River Project (SRP),
• Tucson Electric Power (TEP),
• Central Arizona Project (CAP); and
• Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).

The overhead electrical transmission lines range in size from 115kV to 500kV.

Natural Gas

There are several trunk and distribution lines transmitting natural gas through and to the City. The trunk lines are owned and operated by Kinder Morgan. Southwest Gas has the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CC&N) for distribution within the City and the surrounding area.

Broadband

CenturyLink operates and maintains a fiber network in portions of the City. However, there are additional providers in other areas of the City including Orbitel Communications (Robson Ranch) and AireBeam Broadband.

Refuse Collection/Landfill

Solid waste collection for residential customers is administered by the City and is provided by Right Away Disposal (RAD). Commercial solid waste collection is also provided by RAD, and other private collection services. The City and RAD have also partnered to provide a curbside recycling program to residents

Residential waste is transported to RAD's landfill, located on the east side of Neumann Mountain. The City of Eloy's landfill is located at 305 S. Toltec Highway. The landfill is currently only accepting refuse from current property owners in Eloy (currently limited to one ton per month). The landfill is located on approximately 160-acres of useable land. The City has enough space in the existing cell to continue dumping and storing refuse at the current rate for many years.

3.8.4 DISCUSSION

It is important to recognize that historically, the City of Eloy has functioned as an agricultural and rural community. Over the past 15 years, the community has been evolving with development and expansion of commercial, rail oriented industry and privately-owned correctional facilities. Close proximity to Interstates 10 and 8, State Route 87 and Frontier Street places the City in a prime location to grow its employment base and population, and thus increase its necessary facilities and services.

As the City continues to grow and develop, these services will need to expand and grow. Additional sewer collection and treatment and water distribution and resources and storage will need to be provided, new parks will need to be constructed, existing parks may need to be upgraded or expanded, and Police personnel and facilities may need to be increased too.

3.8.5 OBJECTIVES

1. Continue to provide adequate public services and facilities in order to maintain and improve the residents', workers' and visitors' quality of life while enhancing the community's attraction.

2. Continue to plan for and provide necessary and efficient law enforcement services to the City.

3. Continue to coordinate with the Eloy Fire District to provide efficient and capable fire prevention and suppression and medical response services to the City and surrounding Planning Area.

4. Maximize the usefulness, efficiency and affordability of city utilities and infrastructure for Eloy's residents and businesses.

5. Coordinate City services with non-municipal utility providers to ensure new and existing developments in previously rural areas have adequate utility services.

6. Actively coordinate with local school districts, charter schools and institutions of higher learning in the planning, design, construction and rehabilitation of facilities.

7. Actively coordinate with dry utility companies regarding placement, design and size of proposed and future overhead/underground transmission lines.