Eloy City Council Meeting - October 14, 2024

The Eloy City Council met on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a moment of silence, Pledge of Allegiance, public comment, council reports, consent agenda, and several business items including zoning text amendments, a change order for wastewater treatment, and a liquor license recommendation. All votes were unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ann Howard asked who is paying for paving Frontier Road. The mayor responded that the city cannot answer questions during public comment.

Reports and Announcements

• Councilmember Sutton reported attending the Panel Partner Breakfast (discussing Prop 486), RPTA meeting (where Mayor Powell received an achievement award, $80M surplus, $27M refunded to 120 of 146 applicants), Town of Superior state of the town, opening of The Den teen space at the library (funded via grants), Hope Coalition Street Fest and Car Show, Eloy Housing Authority RFQ for sale of 26 units, and Music in the Park. He noted the Music in the Park turnout was light and suggested improved promotion.
• Councilmember Rodriguez echoed Sutton, praised Superior's outdoor event with dancers, and suggested a similar outdoor event for Eloy. She also noted lower attendance at Music in the Park.
• Vice Mayor Curtis reported attending the 9th annual 5K benefiting food pantries, and asked about the city reinstating police log releases to the public; staff noted it is published in the newspaper.
• Councilmember Snyder reported attending the opening of The Den and the movie premiere "Space Cowboy" (documentary about skydiving cinematographer Joe Jennings, featuring Eloy landmarks and local skydivers). He also noted a future council tour of The Den.
• Councilmember Garcia thanked attendees for the Space Cowboy premiere and reported the opening of the Ørsted Solar Center (spanning Pinal County, Coolidge, and Eloy), noting opportunities for community partnerships.
• Mayor Powell reported participating in a veterans stand down at HOHP transitional housing, giving pins to veterans. He also announced attending the Arizona Rural Transportation Summit (Oct 15-17) where he will receive a champion of transportation award.
• City Manager David announced a police department fundraising letter for the annual Christmas event (checks payable to Friends of Apache Junction, memo line: CO Eloy Community Service Funds), the Adopt a Street cleanup on Oct 19 at 7 a.m. at Shomway Park, the Harvest Festival on Oct 26 (trunk-or-treat, costume contest, carnival rides), and League of Cities and Towns City Champions Week with daily video posts on the city's Facebook page.

Consent Agenda

• Items A (approval of 9/23/2024 minutes) and C (quote from Empire Southwest for grader brake repair, not to exceed $30,000) were approved unanimously without discussion.
• Items B and D were pulled for discussion (see below).

Discussion Items

• Item B (Approval of proposal by Sunland Asphalt and Construction, LLC for street striping): Councilmember Curtis questioned the cost difference between Sunland and Cactus bids, particularly regarding traffic control and off-duty police officers. Staff clarified that the scope of work was identical, Sunland was lower, and traffic control without officers is sufficient. Motion to approve passed 7-0.
• Item D (Recommendation for Series 10 liquor license to Food Town IGA Eloy): Councilmember Snyder noted a clerical error: the agenda packet included two applications (Lucky Star and Food Town). City Clerk Mary Myers explained the first six pages were inadvertently attached from a previous application and should be disregarded. Council approved only the Food Town IGA application. Motion passed 7-0.
• Item A (Change Order #3 to contract with Sunrise Engineering, not to exceed $75,000, for belt press design at wastewater treatment facility): Staff explained that the original design omitted geotechnical analysis and a building enclosure for the belt press. Total project cost is estimated between $800,000 and $1,000,000, funded by reallocating from less urgent CIP projects. The equipment has been sitting unused for over a year; the manufacturer may honor about six months of warranty once operational. Motion passed 7-0.
• Items B-C (Resolution 24-1598 and Ordinance 24-978 - Residential Walls and Fences ZTA2024-001): Staff presented a council-initiated text amendment to require opaque walls/fences on residential lots of one acre or less, excluding properties with a PAD overlay. Minimum height 5 feet, with exceptions for open space widths. Existing non-conforming fences (e.g., chicken wire) are legal non-conforming. Public hearing held; no public comment. Adopted unanimously after correcting a typo (case number changed from 2004 to 2024).
• Items D-E (Resolution 24-1602 and Ordinance 24-982 - Modifications to Boards and Commissions CCTA2024-001): Staff explained the consolidation of the Board of Adjustment, Airport Board, and Revitalization Commission into the Planning and Zoning Commission (which will have designated focus members). Several existing board members expressed interest in applying. A clerical error (case number referencing walls/fences) was corrected. Adopted unanimously.
• Items F-G (Resolution 24-1599 and Ordinance 24-979 - Planning and Zoning Commission Responsibilities and Reasonable Accommodations ZTA2024-002): Staff stated this amendment updates the zoning ordinance to align with the board consolidation and adds reasonable accommodation provisions for persons with disabilities (as required by federal and state law) to be reviewed by the Board of Adjustment. Public hearing held; no public comment. Adopted unanimously after correcting a typo.
• Items H-I (Resolution 24-1600 and Ordinance 24-980 - Historic Preservation Overlay and Miscellaneous Modifications ZTA2024-003): Staff presented a council-initiated text amendment creating a Historic Preservation Overlay zone to designate and protect historic properties, conforming with state and national guidelines. Public hearing held; no public comment. Adopted unanimously after correcting a typo.
• Items J-K (Resolution 24-1601 and Ordinance 24-981 - Development Standards and Building Heights Exceptions ZTA2024-004): Staff presented a zoning administrator-initiated text amendment to clarify development standards, resolve conflicts, add a mixed-use square footage ratio (50% commercial-to-residential), update building heights to standard construction increments, allow unspecified uses in industrial zones, and incorporate building height exceptions (towers, silos, steeples, etc.) with conditional use permits for deviations. Public hearing held; no public comment. Adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (A and C) and all business items (A through K) were approved unanimously.
• Council agreed to place a discussion of food truck regulations on a future agenda, following community questions about requirements and parking on Main Street.
• The meeting adjourned without entering executive session.