Eloy City Council Meeting – July 8, 2024

The Eloy City Council met on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting covered routine consent items, a pedestrian hybrid beacon contract award, two solar energy project approvals, and a continuance request for a third solar project. All council members were present.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of June 24 (Regular) and June 27 (Special) meetings.
• Adopted Resolution No. 24-1583 appointing Brian Wright, Finance Director, as the designated authorizing agent for the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report for FY 2024-2025.
• Adopted Ordinance No. 24-973, levying a property tax rate of $1.0115 per $100 of assessed valuation for FY 2024-2025.
• Adopted Resolution No. 24-1582 authorizing a grant application to the Ak-Chin Indian Community for $38,651.49 to purchase a washing machine and two firefighter drying cabinets for the Eloy Fire District. All consent items passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the scheduled public appearances segment.

Discussion Items

• Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon – Phase 2 (Business Item A): Matt (staff) presented a contract award to Hawk Contracting, LLC for $148,148, with authorization up to $300,000 using a Community Development Block Grant. The beacon will be installed at Frontier Street and Main Street, activated by pedestrians. Council discussed aesthetics of safety poles and potential future lane reopening. The project is expected to reduce pedestrian crashes by 69%. Unanimous approval.

• General Plan Amendment – Sawtooth Energy Center (Business Item B): Resolution No. 24-1574 changed the land use designation of 50.61 acres from Medium Density Residential to Estate Residential for a solar project. The applicant, Court Rich of Rose Law Group (representing EDF Renewables), highlighted the project's compliance with the city's solar ordinance, tax benefits (estimated $13.8 million to Santa Cruz school district over project life), and community partnership. Council approved 6-1, with Councilmember Garcia voting no.

• Cooley Eloy 640 Planned Area Development – Shay Solar (Business Item D, moved ahead of C): Two actions: Resolution No. 24-1578 declaring the PAD amendment a public record, and Ordinance No. 24-972 approving rezoning of approximately 651 acres for solar, utility-scale generation, and battery storage. Applicant (RWE Clean Energy) emphasized long-term ownership, fire district support, and water conservation. The public record resolution passed 4-3 (Vice Mayor Curtis, Councilmembers Seton, Snyder, Mayor Powell yes; Councilmembers Tarango, Wanawato Rodriguez, Garcia no). The ordinance also passed 4-3 with the same split.

• Sawtooth Energy Center Rezoning and PAD Amendment (Business Item C, heard last): This item covered a rezoning of ~2,106 acres and a 50.61-acre parcel to allow solar/battery storage. The applicant requested a continuance to August 12, 2024, to finalize an agreement with a neighboring property owner, Mr. Shacone, who agreed. Staff recommended either continuance or approval with stipulations. Council voted to continue the item to the August 12 meeting. The motion passed (6-1, with one nay; exact tally not clear from transcript but majority approved).

Key Outcomes

• Approved contract with Hawk Contracting, LLC for pedestrian hybrid beacon installation, not to exceed $300,000.
• Approved General Plan Amendment for Sawtooth Energy Center (50.61 acres).
• Approved Cooley Eloy 640 PAD amendment and rezoning for Shay Solar (651 acres).
• Continued the Eloy Valley Specific Plan PAD (Sawtooth Energy Center) to August 12, 2024, pending resolution of neighbor concerns.
• No executive session was held; the meeting adjourned without further action.