Eloy City Council Meeting – August 25, 2025

The Eloy City Council met on Monday, August 25, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m. in the ELOY CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. The meeting began with a storm update from Captain Jerome, followed by a proclamation, council and staff announcements, and action on consent and business items including equipment purchases, a well replacement, grant resolutions, and water/wastewater rate increases.

Consent Calendar

• Items A and B (Approval of August 11, 2025 minutes; Authorize Eloy Police Department to renew Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and approve FY2025-2026 Certification Report) were approved unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).
• Items C, D, and E were removed from consent for separate discussion by Councilmember Vodraska.
  • Item C: Authorization to purchase a new LeeBoy Paver under Sourcewell contract #060122-VTL from Arnold Machinery Company for up to $250,000. Approved 7-0 after discussion on expected life (5-7 years), warranty options, and savings from in-house work.
  • Item D: Authorization to purchase a remanufactured engine for the Public Works motor grader from Empire Caterpillar at a cost not to exceed $75,000. Approved 7-0 after discussion on engine condition, warranty (1 year), and alternative repair costs.
  • Item E: Approve the Annual Development Impact Fee Report for FY2024-2025. Approved 7-0 after noting a correction to net position data on page six.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Legislative Update: State Representative Chris Lopez spoke in person, and Representative Teresa Martinez provided a video message. Both highlighted that they each allocated $100,000 for police and $100,000 for fire (total $400,000) from the state budget. They also discussed protecting RICO funds via a budget footnote, and committed to fighting for rural communities. Council members thanked them for their support.

Reports and Announcements

• Storm Update: Captain Jerome reported a significant dust storm that reduced visibility to 10–50 feet. A communication line was down at Frontier and Toltec, closing the road for 45 minutes. One minor injury from flying debris. No communication outages were reported.
• Mayor’s Announcements:
  • Attended AZ DOT presentation on the long-awaited 505 North-South Freeway (Gold Canyon to Eloy).
  • Attended Pinal Alliance luncheon on economic development; Eloy was a focus.
  • Attended Arizona League of Cities and Towns Conference in Scottsdale.
  • Spoke at Arizona Corporation Commission opposing a proposed 188% water/sewer rate increase at Robeson Ranch.
  • Proclaimed August 28, 2025 as Jose Jimenez Day in Eloy, honoring Lance Corporal Jose Francisco Jimenez (Medal of Honor recipient, Vietnam War). Mr. Luis Montejo accepted the proclamation on behalf of the family.
• Council Member Announcements:
  • Councilmember Tarango eulogized coaches Howard Dean and Lonnie Foster, two Eloy icons. She proposed forming an ad hoc committee to create a permanent exhibit honoring Eloy’s athletic legacy (e.g., gallery, mural, or park). Mayor supported exploring a breezeway display by October.
  • Vice Mayor Tarango requested staff review the zoning code for solar installations to make the 16% cap hard (currently allows exceptions). Mayor agreed to have Community Development Director Simer review upon return from leave.
• City Manager’s Announcements:
  • Community pool closes after Labor Day; free admission September 1 (12–5 p.m.).
  • Public Works staffer Anthony Baldonero placed third in state meter replacement competition at the Rural Water Conference.
  • City offices closed Labor Day (September 1).
  • APS major line replacement project: public open house on September 4 (3:30–7:30 p.m.) at Toltec Senior Center; a printed copy of project info available at Santa Cruz Library.

Discussion Items

• Item A: Replacement Well #3 – The Council accepted a proposal from the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District (CAIDD) to drill a replacement well at a cost not to exceed $900,000 plus taxes. The well (700 feet deep) has been non-operational; the new well could start as early as September 2 and be operational by end of October. The existing well will not be abandoned. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item B: Resolution No. 25-1631 – Supporting application to the AZ SMART Fund to reimburse the local match for the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Program. The project targets improvements at Battaglia and Frontier Street and Battaglia and State Route 87 (estimated $3-4 million project). Local match 20% (~$900,000) would be reimbursed if AZ SMART grant awarded. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Items C, D, E – Water and Wastewater Rate Resolutions:
  • Item C: Resolution No. 25-1630 – New wastewater rates using recommendations from Scenarios 2 and 3 (which are identical for wastewater). Approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Items D and E: Two competing water rate resolutions – Scenario 3 (Resolution No. 25-1629) and Scenario 2 (Resolution No. 25-1628). After discussion, the Council voted on Scenario 3 first. Mayor asked each council member to vote only once. The vote on Resolution No. 25-1629 was 4-3 (Yes: Snyder, Vodraska, Curtis, Sutton; No: Garcia, Galindo, Tarango). Scenario 3 thus passed. The City Attorney noted that Scenario 2 did not need a separate vote. Scenario 3 increases water rates 14% in years 1-2, 12% in year 3, 10% in year 4, and 6% in year 5, while Scenario 2 would have increased 13% for three years then 4% thereafter. The higher rates provide an additional $20 million bonding capacity (vs. $10 million under Scenario 2). Rates are effective November 1, 2025, and will be reviewed in two years.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Items A and B approved unanimously.
• Consent Items C (paver), D (engine), E (impact fee report) each approved unanimously after separate discussion.
• Well Replacement (Item A) approved unanimously.
• AZ SMART Grant Resolution (Item B) approved unanimously.
• Wastewater Rates (Item C) approved unanimously.
• Water Rates – Scenario 3 (Item D) approved 4-3, replacing Scenario 2. The new rates take effect November 1, 2025, with a two-year review planned.
• No Executive Session was held.
• Meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.

Additional Notes

• All council members were present: Vodraska, Curtis, Tarango (Vice Mayor), Snyder, Garcia, Galindo, Sutton (Mayor).
• Councilmember Garcia noted he did not attend the League conference but attended the dinner. Councilmember Snyder missed the conference due to a business conflict; he asked about hot topics (threat assessment and state land use were mentioned).
• City Attorney informed Council of a potential temporary engagement with the Town of Florence as legal counsel; no conflict of interest was foreseen.