So I'll say that we need the structures.

Oh, we can't call it.

Oh, I can go up there to pay for your hands.

I don't know why she's going for I don't know.

All right, good evening.

It is Monday, April 28th.

The time is approximately 6 p.m.

Madam Clerk, may I have a roll call, please?

Councilmember Lodrasca.

Here.

Councilmember Curtis.

Here.

Vice Mayor Tarango.

Here.

Councilmember Schneider, excused.

Councilmember Garcia.

Present.

Councilmember Galindo.

Here.

Mayor Sutton.

Here.

Thank you.

At this time, I'd like to ask you all to please rise for a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance.

Okay, that brings us to item number five: public appearances.

Those wishing to address the city council may do so by signing a phone presided by the city clerk identifying topics or agenda items.

Action taken as a result of public comment regarding non-agenda items will be limited to directing staff to study the matter or rescheduling the matter for further consideration at a later date.

Speakers, shall we limit it to three minutes and I ask anyone speaking to kindly respect that?

So first up, we have Mr.

Saihead Tata.

Now already?

Yes, sir.

Just state your name in the city you live in, and we'll get rolling.

Thank you.

Sir, if you'd allow me about 30 seconds more or minute more than my three minutes, I'd greatly appreciate that, if possible.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much, giving me the opportunity to speak to you and to the council.

First of all, I'd like to congratulate our new mayor, Andre Sutton, and you are the mayor when Eloy is ready to boom like Casa Grande.

Your name will be here forever.

Under your leadership, great things will come to Eloy.

And then I'd like to also welcome our uh new city clerk, Celine, and uh we welcome you to the city of Eloy.

Me and my family call our call ourselves citizen of Eloy.

We live here.

My kids are like Councilmember Jose Garcia, native to the city of Eloy.

We are here for many many years.

Uh we have never had any issue with anyone.

We contribute to the society, we clean the public space, we actually broom the uh streets outside, we volunteer, we offer water food to farm workers in the summertime.

I'm a pastor and real estate developer, trying to bring lots of high-end development to the city of Eloy.

And my friends owned almost all the land that from here all the way up to Arizona Avenue, which is on south of Bataglia, which is close to two square miles, and I own several pieces of land in here.

In August 2024, we opposed the solar farm in the middle of the city, just as a general uh idea.

And the three days after that, I got a code violation notice.

Daniel Seimer and Angel Madrid claimed that they got a citizen complaint of nuisance.

They got the complaint in the morning, and then they came to my property in the afternoon and drove from the city and drove on the county road and then cross over to the highway, went to the pick up past the Picon Trees in the middle of nowhere, and drove about a mile of dirt road, which is private road that we maintain, and then stood on my property and took pictures of my property.

And uh they claimed that there was a lot of nuisance on the property, and they had to my property is about half a mile and a half a mile.

So they looked over, they can't see anything, so they kind of look through the bushes, they climb on top of the truck.

That's what I'm assuming, and then they saw one uh stove, which is a barbecue that we had on the property, and then they saw they claimed that they saw some abandoned cars.

I have never had any abandoned car on my property, and have never will have an abandoned property uh uh uh cars of the property.

According to the city uh code, uh abandoned discarded unused objects such as automobiles, furniture, stove, refrigerator, freezers, cans, and containers are a nuisance.

I have none of those.

And the city code says causing substantial diminish to the other property in the neighborhood.

I have no other properties close to my property, and I am the last property that comes into the city of Eloy.

The second one is according to the English dictionary.

I bought the property several years ago, and we have been cleaning that property.

I submitted the pictures, what it looked like before, what it looks like now.

Then they came up with some other uh violations that are only applicable to vacant lots.

Now, according to the English dictionary, a vacant lot is a piece of land that is not being used, typically less than an acre and free of any buildings.

Vacant land may also have utilities such as water sewers, electricity hookups, and et cetera, et cetera.

And my property is not a vacant lot.

And if you go to another uh Google search, it says millions of Americans purchase vacant lots every year.

Most buy their lots to build a home, barn, garage, vacant lot, typically less than one acre.

And obviously, if you have any building, etc.

etc.

Now, my property is half a square mile to half a square mile.

That is not a vacant lot.

It's been a working farm for almost 100 years.

It was a ranch before I bought it, and it was uh used by the federal government to park all the stuff, and they were building I can.

So this property has been using used for use for the last hundred years, if not more.

We got the criminal case charge, five counts, requesting that at the request of Dan Seimer and Angel Madrid.

Total false allegation, none of them apply to us.

Daniel Simmer filed with the court and wants permission to come onto my property to clean up.

And I'm sure none of this, none of you would appreciate anybody walking onto your property and trying to clean up.

Just because you they think you're you're an unclean person.

My suggestion to them is if they have that much time, they should go around and look at every property around this building.

50% of the property is in violation.

I sent him a list of 200 properties with addresses, telling them how many properties are in violation, and they have not done anything.

And uh we have an amazing judge.

I was at the uh the hearing uh a couple of days ago, and I don't think he'll ever allow this kind of abuse of power.

Immediately next to the court, there is three buildings.

Every one of them has Mr.

Taha.

That's your four.

I thank you very much for your addressing this council.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Next up, we have Talib Hussein.

Well hi, my name is Dal Pusin.

I'll censor of this town.

This is my mom.

She never been to court for any case in her life.

Your your code enforcement filed five criminal charges on her of the based on lies and they targeting us.

I would like to stand here for three minutes to protest so everyone knows what is happening in our city.

Young man, I thank you for stepping up.

That was a very brave and wonderful thing that you did.

And next up, we have Miss Ann Howard.

Please state your name in the city in which you live.

Ann Howard, and I live in uh uptown Eloy.

I think, or maybe downtown.

Uh Mayor Sutton, Council members, and city manager.

I have a question with regards to our beautiful garbage cans that we're supposed to receive.

Do you know if we receive one can each or two cans?

Like right now, we have two, one for recycling and one for just want to know.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you.

There'll be information sent out on that.

You yeah, you you you will get a full thing or what they get.

And thank you for addressing this council.

Okay, with that, we're gonna go over to item number six, which is reports and announcements, and we change that up.

I'm starting with mayor announcements first.

And you know your mayor, he has at least three pages.

First announcement I'd like to say is a huge thank you to the city manager and public works director.

And getting that restriping done on Frontier Street.

It is so much safer to actually see what lane you're supposed to be in.

I mean, residents kind of kinda knew where they were to drive, but people from out of town, man, they were all over that.

So thank you guys for getting that done.

On Thursday, I attended the Tri-Cities Business Expo at Robeson Ranch, sponsored by the Eloy, Florence and Coolidge Chamber of Commerces.

It was nice to see so many diverse businesses converging in one place.

It was a good idea putting the three together, all three city chamber of commerce together, and I hope they keep that going.

Later on that afternoon, I attended the Sunland Gin Public Information at the Tap In in Arizona City.

The session was well attended, and I believe we had a mission and accomplished it when it came to getting the information out there.

Our team did a great job answering questions from residents.

There were some challenges with the venue, but uh city staff really stepped up, and I think a lot of information went back and forth, and kudos to them.

On Friday the 18th, assistant city manager McKenzie Lecture and I attended the Western Energy Breakfast and Solar Site Tour.

Discussions were focused on energy availability and future energy needs within Arizona and Eloy.

From the solar fields, Mr.

Letcher and I went to the Eloy Easter celebration in Jones Park.

There we met up with Councilwoman Galindo.

And we enjoyed watching kids be kids.

They were doing sack races, the egg on spoon relay races.

Hey, carnival rides in full swing.

What 8,000 Easter eggs were thrown out on the grass and disappeared in like two minutes.

I just thought that was incredible.

This was just kids making Eloy memory.

Is that timer for me?

I'm just checking because I still have another page.

So this was kids making Eloy memories that they will have with them for a lifetime.

Big shout out to Paul and Chet and their teams for pulling off such a great event.

It really was so nice.

And later that evening, that same evening, Councilmember Vod Roska and myself went to the State House for the planning of the 2026 Independence Day celebration.

A theme gonna be run throughout the country for the 2026, that's our 250th anniversary.

It's if we remember Paul Revere, one if by land, two if by sea.

So two if by sea will be what you're gonna see a lot of.

And in Eloy, we're really gonna make that a celebration to be to be remembered.

On Friday the 25th, assistant city manager McKenzie Letcher and I toured Republic Plastics located here in Eloy.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out the amount of manufacturing that goes on there.

They literally make hundreds of thousands of plates, styrofoam plates, recyclable plates.

They make hundreds of thousands of them a day in this factory.

They're seem to be a great partner with the city of Eloy, and we enjoy their presence and hope they look forward to expanding.

Later that same day, I attended the job fair here in City Hall, sponsored by Arizona at work.

Over 300 people registered online for the job fair here in our city hall.

It was an amazing event.

There were so many people, and I I seen a lot of smiles leaving.

So I seen there was a lot of interaction with people and the hope to be future employers.

So with that now, we're gonna go to council member announcements on my right.

Nope.

On my left.

Go ahead, Mr.

Garcia.

I just want to say thank you for the hot beacon.

I realized when I sent up the email that it was activated on Friday when I was getting home late Friday, I actually got went down there just to try the button and check how it works.

I was that excited because I do use that a lot walking, so it was nice to see that up.

Thank you.

Oh, I forgot to put that on my announcement.

Yeah, the Hawk light.

I got one over you.

Okay, now we'll run over to City Manager announcements.

Thank you, Mayor, members of council, just a few on my docket.

Um, last week we had the community cleanup on Saturday.

That went really, really well.

They were there for a total of three hours, the total of the time, but big kudos always to our Eloy Fire District and the high school kids.

They came out and really helped out with that.

We'll have the tonnage report available at the end of this week for how much was picked up out of the three lots that were cleaned up.

So thank you for to Dan Simer and the rest of the community development department for continuing this tradition and helping to clean up our community.

Uh next up is Friday and May 23rd from four to seven at Jones Park.

We're having the summer kickoff, so we'll be promoting all of our summer activities at that event through uh Paul and Chandu and community services.

So another one of our traditions that we're looking forward to for all the kids that are home and what activities that they can participate in the community.

And finally, just a reminder from Dan Simer and the community development department.

Reminder to get your names in for the general plan update.

Um we need those uh names to interview for persons for the general plan update.

Uh just as soon as you can get those over to them, that'd be great.

And we'll reach out to those folks and get those scheduled so that we can continue on with our general plan update process.

And that is all that I have on my agenda.

Thank you.

Well, thank you, sir.

That moves us into item number seven consent agenda.

All items listed with an asterisk are considered to be routine manners and will be enacted by one motion and one roll call vote of the council.

There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so request an intrivent.

The item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence of the agenda.

So before I ask for a motion on this, I just have a point of business on item C on the consent agenda.

For Winslow, the attorney's name is Trisha Stone.

It's just a different attorney name for the uh item number C.

So at this time, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Madam Clerk, may I have a roll call, please?

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Valindo.

Yes.

Councilmember Vodraska.

Yes.

Councilmember Curtis.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango.

Yes.

Mayor Sutton.

Yes.

Thank you.

Okay, moving right along into section number eight.

Business impossible discussion or action on the following.

Item A, approval of a final plat for the Penal Hispanic Council case number FP 2024 dash 005.

The proposed final plat is to request combined lots 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, and block 43, Cotton City proper subdivision to one lot containing approximately 0.8446 acres, located at 106 East Fourth Street in Eloy.

Ms.

DeSai.

Thank you.

Mayor Maryland Council, Dan Simer Community Development.

The mayor indicated this is a replat of several existing properties into one, which is necessary for the continued development of the Panel Hispanic Council's uh future tiny home multifamily development.

Anything else, Mayor?

And I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Do we have any questions on council about the tiny home project for Penell Hispanic Council?

I just have a quick question.

So the other lots are they already combined, or is it just the tiny homes project are gonna be on these lots?

Mayor Sutton, members of the council.

The this project boundary is only for the tiny homes.

That's it.

Okay, hearing nothing else from council.

Do we have a motion to approve item A?

Mayor, I'll make the motion to approve item A.

Thank you.

Do I have a second?

Second.

May I have a roll call, please?

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Galindo.

Yes.

Councilmember Valdraska?

Yes.

Councilmember Curtis.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango.

Yes.

Mayor Sutton.

Yes.

Thank you, Dan.

Okay, now we move to item B, discussion of possible policy direction regarding utility rate study and the selection of preferred funding scenario and the initiation of the notice of intent process, Mr.

Wright.

Yes, Mr.

Mayor, members of the council.

Um now that uh that we had the workshop for the utility rate uh study, just kind of looking at uh council now for the direction of you know if there's a funding scenario that uh is would be recommended, and then moving on to the next step.

But uh you know, kind of moving on to the next phase of this uh work um utility rates study and seeing what council's direction and policy decisions will be regarding the water and wastewater um staff if staff's recommendation on this would be scenario two, and scenario two is recommended because it's just gonna continue to move uh our rates plan and capital and for structure another 10 million dollars for the next several years, and we feel that that is the recommended plan that uh stab would recommend on on that to council.

So at this time we'd be here to answer and address any questions that mayor and council may have.

And hypothetically, if we went with scenario number two, this is always changeable in the future.

Am I correct?

Correct.

Or adjustable, I should.

Correct.

If uh, you know, upon this, just like the what we did on the last one, council's recommendation.

If it is scenario two, and we move forward, but the you know, they uh would wish council or staff to bring back an update to see where we're at in two years from now.

We'd be bringing back having uh will then do another update rate study to give those uh the study update at that point.

Thank you, sir.

Are there any objections to I'm just throwing this out there to council?

Are there any objections to scenario two?

It's like scenario two it is, my friend.

Uh Steve, do we have to vote on this?

Mayor, council members.

Uh the agenda item, as you know, basically giving directions, so you will need to give some direction to the to city staff.

And in this case, um basically, either you would do one of two things tonight.

Either you would say number two is your preferred preferred rate study.

The other alternative is that you could do initiate the um notice of intent to proceed with the increase of the uh water and sewer rate charges.

Now understand that notice of intent is just that it's an intent, it's not a decision of the council.

It does set for you tonight the ceiling.

If you do scenario two, that's as far as that's as high as you can basically go on any scenario.

But you have an opportunity to discuss it when there's public hearings and also follow up with questions that you had tonight because obviously you had a lot to look at, and um it isn't a lot of fun to basically sit here and do water and sewer rates when you're on a council because basically of a lot of people that's really a real sore spot when it comes to doing things.

So if you decide to do scenario two tonight, you would direct staff.

If you want to initiate the time frame to basically have a have a hearing, you can do that.

But you are not making a decision tonight that you are increasing the rates.

So I think we go forth the direct staff with scenario number two.

Everybody good with that.

Okay.

Uh no, the uh um Mr.

Mayor, Councilman Garcia.

So if council's direction is uh move with scenario two, we would then now go back and uh get produce the uh bring back the next uh council meeting or the council meeting after that two resolutions, one for water, one for wastewater on notice of intent.

We had set the timelines, set the public hearing dates, public hearing dates would be set, and then we would have to follow the the appropriate steps from there.

So if council's uh guidance to us is scenario two, we'll move forward with those and do the proper uh paperwork and documentation, bring back the resolutions for council's uh adoption of those resolutions.

That's what we'll go with direct scenario two.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, next is item C approval of a professional service agreement with mid-Atlantic Solid Waste Consultant to conduct a comprehensive landfill evaluation for the amount not to exceed sixty thousand dollars.

Mr.

Lecha.

Awesome, thank you, Mayor.

Uh so yeah, the recommendation staff recommends that the mayor and council approve the professional service agreement with Mid-Atlantic Solid Waste Consultants to conduct a comprehensive landfill evaluation at a cost not to exceed 60,000.

So to provide a little bit of background on this, uh, obviously we're all aware that the city of Eloy owns and operates its own landfill.

Uh, we have so since basically the 1940s, and since that time, while we have seen a significant increase in the volume of waste that we have collected, uh primarily due to universal waste, which services uh Arizona City sanitation dumping in our landfill historically and consistently.

Uh the landfill has unfortunately not been able to recover the costs associated with operating the landfill.

Um for that reason, we're looking to conduct a landfill study so we can evaluate what's the best long-term option for the city and for the residents of Eloy for recovering those costs and providing the best service we can at the landfill.

So to provide some more kind of historical context, uh back in 2019, we did conduct an initial study.

Uh this study was done by Ulta Engineering.

Uh it was a preliminary study, and it basically broke down four options for the city, right?

So the first option was to fill and close the landfill, which is pretty self-explanatory.

The second option was to mothball and develop a transfer station with moth, which mothballing is essentially uh basically halting all operations of collecting waste, but then you still kind of maintain the system, you still have the employees there.

Uh and so the cost, you're kind of just deferring the post-closure costs, which are millions of dollars, but the city still holds that burden of cost, is just pushed off.

Uh, the third option was the city-led expansion of the landfill.

So that's the city retaining the landfill and then continuing to operate it while also expanding because as the waste collection increases, obviously, we're gonna have to invest more money into making sure we're maintaining the landfill.

Uh, the last option for that was obviously option four, which was to partner with a private company.

Um, it was determined later in about 2020 when it was brought before council at a work session to move forward with the uh privatization of the landfill.

At that time, staff was directed to move forward with the request for proposals, which were released, I think at late 2020, kind of 20 early 2021.

Uh at that time, we released those requests for proposals.

We received two bids, one from Republic Services and then one from Waste Connections, formerly RAD.

At that time, it was identified that Republic Services was the most was the identified bidder.

They were the most responsible bidder, and so staff was directed to move forward with negotiations on a contract to privatize the landfill.

Uh, it was later decided at a meeting in 2021 that these kind of negotiations were to cease, and then at that time, basically the project has gone dormant.

But even though it had been dormant, we had still kept it in the CIP.

Uh, we allocated approximately about 250,000 that was rolled over year after year until we got to the point where we're at today.

Um, so I'm not gonna kind of go into the project objectives because those are outlined in the COAC.

Um, but again, the whole purpose of conducting um this study is to make sure one, I mean, the first question I think first and foremost is why are we doing another landfill study when we just did one six years ago?

Uh, there's two reasons two primary reasons in my mind that we're doing that.

Uh, first and foremost is five to six years is a significant amount of time.

So market conditions can significantly change, and while four options were identified in that previous study, we could have maybe six to seven different options right now that we could consider that weren't viable back then.

Uh, the second primary reasoning, too, is that preliminary study did not include a comprehensive rate analysis and a full rate study.

So, with this new process, we're gonna have all the numbers, we're gonna be able to make a data-driven decision on what revenues are generated by the privatization of the landfill, what will be the actual total cost of running our landfill?

And so we'll actually be able to make an effective decision that we can you know put our hat on to say, hey, we did our due diligence, these are the costs, this is the best direction for the city moving forward.

Um, so looking kind of again at the timeline, this is broken down in the contract and in the agenda report.

Uh, it's gonna be kicking off pretty much right after if this is approved tonight.

Uh, we're gonna be starting, I think they're gonna be coming down in the next two to three weeks if it's approved to kick off basically the initiation of this project.

And then in total, you could look at this being uh completed in about nine to twelve months.

So this will be brought back to council for a final kind of breakdown of all of the findings in about quarter one of 2026.

But obviously, in between that time frame, staff is more than happy to provide reports, updates, or additional um briefings to council that as are needed or the public for that matter.

And then lastly, the kind of fiscal impact of this project is approximately about $52,900.

But we are requesting that additional flexibility up to that $60,000 amount in case we need another optional in-person meeting, which through their contract, that meeting is about $5,300.

So that would allow us to have another if we needed a public outreach meeting or something like that, but the total cost we don't see uh exceeding that $60,000 mark.

So, with that being said, I would be happy to answer any questions.

I'll just say thank you, Mack.

That was uh very informative.

Do I have any?

I'm sorry, sir.

Do I have any questions here on council?

Go ahead.

Thank you.

That was very comprehensive.

I'm in favor of doing this additional study for all the reasons you mentioned.

Um question that you may know now, or you may find out in your research as the study progresses, is I'd like to know about options.

If there are closure or mothballing or transfer station options, would any of those options still include some sort of scope or or area where residents can bring bulk trash to the transfer station still and drop it off and may not get um dumped there forever, you know, uncovered up and all that.

But is there an option in the additional options where residents still have a nearby spot to bring their bulk trash?

Yeah, so I do not uh unfortunately don't have to answer that question.

Uh I don't know if Matt or Dave would be able to speak on that at all.

But um obviously this is something that we can consider going through the study.

Yeah.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilmember Curz, if if the decision were to uh essentially mothball the the landfill, we would we would have to provide the minimum uh amount of waste coming into ADQ to keep it in operation.

Um the the Department of Environmental Quality monitors and and uh allows us a certain threshold in our operations and so if if we if it were to be mothballed, essentially the Department of Environmental Quality would say you you can only provide a minimal amount of solid waste coming into it.

Um if I may if you'll indulge me when I was in Coolidge, we did the same thing where where we mothballed the landfill, we were working towards the closure of that, but we blocked it off and said we're not accepting any waste anymore from from the solid waste landfill.

So in Coolidge, what did residents do?

Did they have to bring it to another landfill?

They did in Coolish.

Well, we it wasn't another landfill.

Coolidge actually has a registered transfer station, and so they would bring it to the public works yard, drop it off, and then the public works staff would load it up from the transfer station into roll-offs, and they would just be hauled off and replaced their big 40-yard roll-offs, and that's how they manage their solid waste.

So a transfer station option could potentially still include a drop-off carry out for residents.

Yes.

Okay, just some more questions for them as they do the study.

So now having a place to put trash for lack of a better term.

You know, we all have couches that have to get thrown away or TVs or broken stuff, and we we do need a place to put that.

So yeah, we'll just keep that keep that in mind.

I have questions.

So you said that the uh original work plan for was to allocate 250,000 for to have someone manage it, but that fell through.

Is this money?

Is this money that you're using for this study coming out of that 250,000?

Is it still on the books or is it is it an option to be able to use that for any other increase in this study?

Is that the budget you're working with?

Yeah, so council member Galindo, uh that fund is actually it's still allocated, I believe, at that 250.

It might have been drop down actually in the CIP.

I can't recall off the top of my head, uh, but I believe it's maybe 150,000 now.

So we are going to be using $60,000 out of that fund that's in the sanitation fund for this project.

Uh, I believe also having that flexibility in that CIP is potentially a good option too, because if we end up going down the route of wanting to privatize the landfill, that also gives us the option to potentially work with MSW again because they also help with RFP services.

So they'd be able to also help us through the RFP process and go through that, um, similar to what happened with like the hauling contract, except we'd be working with a third party that would be helping us manage that project.

Yes.

And then um one of the things that I know in past uh working with the landfill is I know the landfill is a drain on the city of Eloy, and it the landfill I know uh in the past there's been money spent on studies to see what to do with the landfill.

Um I remember uh just last year the council approved a million dollar equipment for the landfill.

There's constant like high cost to make sure that the landfill is being uh maintained and open and available to the people of Eloy and the people of Eloy, the people of Eloy proper, Taltech, and even Robeson Ranch, they love to maintain their yards.

They love to beautify their homes with their own labor.

So they love to be able to have that option of using the landfill.

I haven't heard much kickback about you know the standard $10 rate to use the landfill.

Um but I know that in the past when the issue was brought up, there was a lot of concern about closing the landfill.

So I understand it's that the landfill has been a drain, it's been a drain for the last 20 years, probably even more.

Um I'm just hoping that that this company will come up with a solution because I know when I was on the council seven years ago, we couldn't come up with a solution that satisfied the residents as well as you know was able to be maintained with the city budget, but hopefully they can find some kind of solution.

I do know, Matt, that this that the um landfill in Eloy does have a roll off that you can dump things into, like if you have a couch or something and then they haul it off, similar to what you were saying that that Coolidge does.

Is there a way that we could maybe even just use a portion of it?

Because I know when I go to the landfill, it's usually for like uh long clippings and stuff, and then they send me up this hill, and and I have to dump stuff off this hill, but I do know that there is that roll-off area that has like a uh a lift that you can literally just back up your truck and haul your stuff up and then they haul it off.

Maybe you know looking at something like that that the residents could use that you know didn't that didn't service the entire landfill, but maybe something that the city of Eloy residents could could still use their landfill, maybe not close it all up.

We'll see.

And then my last question was I and I know thank you to the city manager for answering this question, but I know they said that the uh your reports of the that the landfill had a 30-year lifespan still, but I know that the increase is like doubled and tripled since that study was done.

So is there gonna be like is this gonna be like a decision that's that's gonna be immediate to address because is that lifespan gonna be even shorter now that there's so much uh debris that's being dumped in the landfill?

Yeah, so Mayor, council member, uh Mayor, Councilmember Galindo.

I I mean that that's the intention, that's the goal.

As soon as we move forward with this, it's gonna be nonstop.

So we're gonna go through the nine to twelve months process to get the study completed.

We're gonna bring that to council right in quarter one to get the direction from council on how we're gonna proceed, and then right after that, we're gonna kick off with whatever the direction uh council and mayor decide on.

So whether that's privatizing, mothballing, whatever it is, we're gonna just go straight into that going into the next year.

That answer your question.

I'm open to I'm open to wait and see what the study shows.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Well, no matter what the study shows, and I really look forward to seeing some options that could be available to us.

I'm that I'm very excited about that.

And regardless of what it shows, I'm pretty sure we're gonna do something so the residents of Eloy, top to bottom, will have some place to take, like you said, long clippings and furniture and whatnot.

So, with that, any more questions from council?

Anybody have anything?

Okay.

So for item C, I'm looking for a motion, a motion to approve approval of professional service agreement with mid-Atlantic Solid Waste.

Do I have a motion to approve?

Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve item C.

I'll second.

Councilmember Curtis.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango.

Yes.

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Galindo.

Yes.

Councilmember Badraska?

Yes.

Mayor Sutton.

Yes.

Thank you, Matt.

Oh, you're up again, aren't you?

I am.

Okay, item D.

Consideration of approval to commit to a local match of 5.7% for a transportation alternatives program grant for the Bataglia Road Sidewalk Project for the amount not to exceed $75,000 if grant funding is awarded.

Mr.

Rencha.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Members of the council.

Let me just provide a little bit of background to this before I get into what the exhibits I have.

The transportation alternatives program is a program that's funded through this through the State Department of Transportation through the Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization.

It's a low-cost match for transportational trainers to provide pedestrians, bike lanes, and alternatives other than the standard passenger cars.

We looked at something to make that safer for the residents.

So what we what we would do is what we're proposing is to put the sidewalk on the south end of Bataglia right next to the existing drainage ditch.

So basically, that is here.

That's a really wide line.

It's like 30 feet wide.

Our sidewalk is not going to be 30 feet wide.

What we propose also with this to avoid if we do get the funding for the sidewalk and meet if we get the sidewalk constructed, we don't want to go back in and rip it up to install the new sewer line.

So what we're proposing is let me reduce this to a more realistic expectation.

So this is our sidewalk that comes along here.

So we have the existing sewer line that pretty much follows the existing lip of the sidewalk or the existing lip of the gutter.

On the north end of the street, the north side of the street, we have a water line here.

We propose to put the the new sewer line in where we're moving forward with the design to ultimately eliminate the sewer that is right.

What we propose to do is take this sewer line, take it out of service, and then replace it with the new sewer line that's larger in diameter that goes along the north side of the street.

So we propose to do that.

That will be outside of the of the area of influence for the sidewalks.

We won't have to go in and rip up a brand new sidewalk.

Now where this comes to with the funding, we've gotten uh 30% design plans for this.

Uh this week will be submitted in for to fund the for a grant uh again transportation alternative grant to fund the additional 60% of to complete the design and then start the construction funding as well.

We have construction estimate from the consultants working on the design of about 1.4 million dollars.

Uh this is this does require five percent 5.7 percent local match, so we figured it's a it's about 70,000, 70, 75,000.

That doesn't have to be paid right now, it's only if we are awarded the funding for that.

And then at this point, we just need to provide a letter of of commitment that if we have our awarded the funding, then yes, we will provide that that local match.

Thank you, Matt.

What's the length of this sidewalk?

It looks pretty good.

It's just under a mile.

So it goes from 11 mile corner road down to Sunshine Boulevard.

So it goes from 11 mile corner here all the way down to Sunshine Boulevard down here.

And then the kids still have to walk in the street to go to school on Sunshine, right?

Yes, but we have it for an ex sidewalk.

Well, they won't be walking in the street, no.

We we have it in to connect this sidewalk to the schools that are down here in these areas through through schools.

One of the things that we're working with the Sun Corridor MPO right now on is a safe routes to school for the entire community.

So this is a a piece of that.

Thank you.

Any questions from council?

Go ahead, sir.

Matt, how long is the uh grant process?

So let's say you go ahead and submit the paperwork.

How long would we have to wait before they give us a an answer on that?

The preliminary application is due on May 5th, and then they'll review that.

If there are any comments, they will get those back to us.

The final submittal is on May 28th.

Once they have that, then we'll we should have a notice of award by the end of August, beginning of September, and then we can move forward with the consultants already on board to finish the design.

We're thinking probably construction in fiscal year 26-27.

So the sewer work would be done probably after or before.

Probably after yes, because the for the sewer for the sewer project, we haven't started the design yet.

We have it identified for the for our capital improvement plan for 25-26.

Uh so we have to go through the design for that.

That should take six to eight months, and we have to go through the ADQ clearances, and then we're we're looking at construction within the next two years.

So it'll be really close, but the sidewalk will be done before the the sewer line.

And the that's almost a mile.

How long of um a process is that to complete that that sidewalk uh for construction installation?

Yeah, probably four to six months.

Four to six months, and then during that time frame, um, how are we gonna be handling the traffic with that construction going on?

We would probably what we would end up doing, and that's that's one of the things that we would have to identify with uh as we get closer to design plans, closer to construction, we'll have to look at traffic control plans.

Well we're thinking if we're doing the same thing just mirroring the traffic control with the sewer plan, what we'll do is just block it off at one block at a time so that we have we can we can detour the vehicle traffic down to the next block.

And just a quick uh on the sewer line that will be abandoned, you're gonna abandon that in place, you're not removing that on you.

We would abandon it in place because it's too much of an impact to to try and remove that.

So, with that, what we would do is we would take any services that are tied into the existing line, we would trench across the road or more under the road, and then connect those to the new sewer line.

Um, Matt, is there so you I'm assuming you're still planning on keeping the drainage ditch on Bitagula once this project is completed?

Yes, Mr.

Mayor and Madam and Councilmember Galando, yes, that's absolutely correct.

Because this drainage ditch is is crucial for the the stormwater management within the city.

I understand that.

I am concerned about kids walking along that sidewalk on their way to school, maybe after a monsoon, or a heavy rain when those drainage ditches are running pretty fast, are full of water.

Um is there any plans to like maybe build a guardrail or uh something to I have gone through Bitagula for many years after a monsoon and just seeing kids being thriving?

They just they want to jump in the ditch.

And if the water is running that fast, I have concerns about that.

Yes, and and Madam Councilmember Galindo, your concerns are well founded.

We are aware of that.

We will be building in guardrails where needed.

We will be providing the the appropriate safety measures so that we don't have that issue.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Okay, just a couple questions.

So it will be a raised sidewalk, correct?

That's correct.

It'll be adjacent to a vertical curb and gutter.

So the square curb and gunner, not like the roll curve that we have in residential areas.

Good.

Okay.

My only concern is trying to coordinate both of those is the parking for those residents on the north side of the street if we are trying to do sewer at the same time as sidewalk, is because where are they going to park when you've got everything blocked off in front of their house?

Um because that's a lot of people not only have to get to the driveways, but have to be able to park because a lot of people park on the street and off curb there.

It is Mr.

Mayor, Madam Vice Mayor, you're absolutely correct.

And we do have that already taken into consideration when we do that.

When when there's a way that we can do a narrow trench, it's just straight down instead of branching it out.

So that way we'll prevert it, we'll preserve the parking on the north side of the street.

We'll use trench boxes instead of instead of sloping the the excavation out.

Okay, and then just one other question, just kind of nitpicky.

Um you mentioned Treckle Park.

Treckle Park is on the south side of town.

Um that's North Park, and I know it has an official name.

But thank you.

Um, I'm like, we're gonna run a sidewalk all the way from Treco Park up to Bitaglia.

Showway Park, North Park, this way I can't okay.

My apologies for the I saw the treckle park reference, and I'm like, dang, I want some more sidewalks on Sunshine too if we're gonna run all the way from trickle.

So my apologies.

I just wanted to be clear.

Thank you.

Okay, anybody counsel over here?

Go ahead.

Um, this might be a stupid question, but are there any potential future problems with abandoning that sewer line in place and putting just putting the sidewalk over top and not filling it in?

Are there in all honesty?

Yes, but are they uh likely?

No.

Are they uh we we in the construction industry we abandon utilities in place all the time with the compaction with the backfill if it hasn't collapsed now?

It won't.

We're we're we're confident that it will stay in the same and we won't have any long-term issues with this putting the sidewalk where that the existing sewer is great, and I think it's a really good plan overall.

I like the sidewalk being on the south side, and that's a good point about the monsoons because for sure kids would would would uh surf that ditch when the monsoon.

Just um just a quick note about that, Matt.

And you know, like I said, I I'm a lifelong resident of Eloy, but when they were building the junior high and we were young kids, that was how we played hide and seat is when they were putting in the lines and stuff.

We were crawling around them, we were digging them up.

Kids will be kids, and I know I grew up as an Eloy kid, and we found ways to take construction projects and even some abandoned construction proc projects and make them our playgrounds.

So as you know, I I have the same concerns as council member Curtis is that you leave it abandoned, and just like you said, the likelihood that something would go wrong would is probably very low, but take that into consideration.

And doing on it, and and if I may just clarify just briefly, the abandoning the sewer line in place is it's already buried, it's already I mean there's no access to that sewer at all.

Um and so what we would do is we would if we if we do the the excavation for the new sewer on the north side of the street, we would plate that we would put steel plates on and weigh about four or five hundred, six hundred pounds each.

So the kids aren't gonna be able to play in the ditches.

Okay, I think we're good here.

At this point, I'm looking for a motion for item D.

Consider the approval to commit the match of 5.7% with transportation alternatives, but tagly road sidewalks.

Do I have a motion to approve go ahead?

I'll make a motion to approve to commit to a local match of 5.7%.

Do I have a second?

I'll second.

May I have a roll call, please?

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Galindo?

Yes.

Councilmember Varrasca?

Yes.

Councilmember Curtis?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango?

Yes.

Mayor Senton.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

At this time, we're going to be going into an executive session.

So at this time I would now entertain a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of conducting a performance evaluation of the city attorney, Cooper and Royta, including possible discussion of salary and employment contracts to pursue into ARS 38 days 431.03 A one.

Do I have a motion here?

Who do we need in there with us?

Oh, in there, we'll have all council members.

We'll have assistant city manager, city manager.

We will have city clerk, and of course, at one point we'll have Mr.

Cooper, I believe, come in there.

And this router too.

Absolutely.

I didn't see a sitting there.

And yes, Miss Uh Sylvia also.

Okay.

HR.

So do I have a motion?

Or how long?

Hour?

Two hours.

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Second.

May I have a roll call, Madam Clerk?

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Golindo.

Yes.

Councilmember of Oraska.

Yes.

Councilmember Curtis.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango?

Yes.

Mayor Sutton.

Yes.

Thank you.

All right, everybody have a safe trip home.

And we'll be back here as soon as we can stop her.

I know.

All right.

Gonna call this meeting back into session.

I'm looking for a motion to go back into executive session with the same people for another two hours.

I make a motion that we go back into executive session for another two hours with the same people.

Second.

Motion passed.

All favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Aye.

Back in two hours.

Oh, I'm calling you in my classroom tomorrow when they're writing up.

No.

This is what we did last time too.

All right, we're gonna call this meeting back to order.

At this point in time, I'm looking for a motion for the city of Eloy to retain the services of Coupa and Reuters for six months pending further evaluation as provided by Mayor and staff to be presented within thirty days.

Do I have a motion?

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Madam Clerk, may I get a roll call, please?

Councilmember Vladrasca?

Yes.

Councilmember Curtis?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Tarango?

Yes.

Councilmember Garcia?

Yes.

Councilmember Galindo?

Yes.

Mayor Sutton.

Yes.

Thank you.

All right.

I got a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

All favor say aye.

None opposed.