OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Eloy City Council Meeting - October 27, 2025

Meeting Portal — Monday, October 27, 2025
BodyEloy, Arizona
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, October 27, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:24:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Yes.

2:49

Thank you.

2:59

Mayor, when you're ready.

3:09

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

3:11

Welcome to tonight's Eloy City Council meeting.

3:14

It is Monday, October twenty seventh, and the time is six PM.

3:19

Madam Clerk, may I have a roll call.

3:21

Council Member Valdaska.

3:23

Here.

3:24

Councilmember Curtis.

3:26

Here.

3:27

Councilmember Schneider.

3:29

Here.

3:30

Councilmember Garcia?

3:32

Present.

3:33

Councilmember Galindo.

3:34

Here.

3:35

Vice Mayor Terengo?

3:37

Here.

3:39

Here.

3:39

Thank you.

3:41

I would please like everybody to rise for a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance led by Council Member Snyder.

4:32

Now I see two people for the item eight, section eight item A.

4:37

We'll hold that till we get to consent agenda.

4:40

But I see a Thomas Silva.

4:46

Please step up to the microphone, state your name, the city where you live.

4:50

And you have three minutes.

5:00

Um bringing to your attention of City of Eloy for a beautiful opposite uh proposition for Safe Haven Beautiful Incorporation among uh Little Caesars funding fundraising.

5:07

So I'm also gonna be participating in the Mesa uh Marathon, which takes hold in February 14th.

5:14

And I'm gonna be asking the city of Eloy to run with me for publicity for Safe Haven Beautiful among its uh Little Caesars fundraising to host an event for Arizona's first family reunion that I wish to take hold here in the Eloy, uh wish to make it a state, federal, or national holiday.

5:31

By all means, my goal is to accomplish what we do here in the city of Eloy is we accomplish things, we get things going among a community health of engagement.

5:38

My best thing to do here, and uh most important thing here is to consider the community to establish the community health growth, a community health engagement to establish a community relationship among its peers uh here in the city of Eloy Arts and Reach out to within the state of Arizona to have its volunteers for with the Safe Haven Beautiful War Corporation, which is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization and uh participating with Little Caesars Fundraising.

6:05

Uh the IRS is improving the paperwork right now, so it's too uh it's a process, but I'm just bringing it to the attention of my beautiful city for the most beautiful things that has to engage with it with the open arms and open hearts, and with that I just have to end that with that.

6:20

Thank you, sir.

6:21

Thank you for addressing this council.

6:28

All right, next up is reports and announcements.

6:33

And you know your mayor has a couple of pages.

6:36

It's been a very busy week.

6:39

Because right after our last council meeting, I headed to the rural transportation summit in Sierra Vista.

6:45

We covered a little bit of everything, and one of the things there was wildlife crossings on interstates.

6:52

I found that fascinating.

6:53

In certain states that are doing these big overpasses that just for wildlife.

6:57

I thought that was just a tremendous idea, keeps them getting run over on the highways.

7:02

We also talked about smart funding for aviation and airports and statewide mapping tools so we can plan pavement work before potholes arise.

7:13

We also talked funding, and it turns out that a one cent sales tax can raise billions of dollars statewide.

7:23

Whereas the gas tax bump, if they raise money just on gas, it's not as much as everybody thinks.

7:32

I petit I petitioned the RTAC that's a rural transportation advisory council to help Eloy secure 8.2 million dollars to pave the final two miles of houser road.

7:44

Stay tuned, it's looking good for us.

7:48

Then back home on Friday, we had Motown in the park, easily one of our best concerts yet.

7:55

When it's Motown, we all remember every lyric.

7:58

And you know, a few of us remembered the dance moves too, but that's a whole nother story.

8:03

And a big shout out to Paul Chad and the whole crew for making that park look fantastic, and just pulling that all together.

8:10

It was a it was a great, there was a lot of people there.

8:12

Food trucks actually sold out.

8:14

We were happy about that.

8:16

But on Saturday the 18th was our neighborhood cleanup, great turnout.

8:19

And whoever picked up the donuts really understands morale, because that worked very well.

8:26

Last Monday we had a council work session on code enforcement that was really enlightening.

8:31

Thanks to Dan for a clear, no nonsense walkthrough of how it works and what residents can expect.

8:38

It was also good to experience to learn what our courageous code of enforcement offices face each day.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Solar Energy Development█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Community Engagement██████████████17%
Procedural█████████████16%
Animal Welfare███4%
Economic Development███4%
Environmental Protection██2%
Transportation Safety█1%
Parks and Recreation█1%
General Plan Update█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Eloy City Council Meeting - October 27, 2025

The Eloy City Council met on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included public comments, council reports, consent agenda approval, and a public hearing for a conditional use permit to expand a solar facility. A key issue involved exceeding the city's solar acreage cap. The council voted to deny the request to exceed the cap but granted a one-year continuance on the conditional use permit application.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Thomas Silva addressed the council regarding a nonprofit, Safe Haven Beautiful, and requested city support for a fundraising run, a family reunion event, and community engagement. He mentioned a Mesa Marathon and Little Caesars fundraising.
  • Faith Pegasus asked three questions: (1) whether a Casa Grande homeless ban has increased homelessness in Eloy; (2) whether the father rescued during flooding received a bill under Arizona's stupid motorist law; and (3) whether residents who address the council will receive a follow-up response. She expressed frustration about animal control issues.
  • Vice Mayor Tarango raised concerns about the city's animal control situation, describing encounters with stray dogs and urging the council to find a solution. He noted the current reliance on Pinal County is inadequate.

Reports and Announcements

  • Mayor Sutton reported on attending the Rural Transportation Summit, securing $8.2 million for Houser Road paving, Motown in the Park, a neighborhood cleanup, a code enforcement work session, a teen symposium, and the Truck or Treat event.
  • Councilmember Curtis attended the master plan open house and noted resident interest in walking paths.
  • Councilmember Garcia attended the open house and the Truck or Treat event.
  • Councilmember Valdaska attended a charity softball game for cancer stand.
  • Councilmember Galindo attended Truck or Treat and the charity softball game.
  • Councilmember Schneider noted the U.S. Skydiving Championships at Skydive Arizona and described attending Coolidge events.
  • City Manager announced utility rate increases effective November 1, general plan surveys available online, and plans for Veterans Day parade on November 10.

Consent Calendar

  • All items listed (with or without asterisks) were approved by unanimous roll call vote.

Discussion Items

  • Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Poblano Solar LLC – The applicant requested a CUP for an 80-acre solar panel expansion to the previously approved Poblano Solar Project, which is also to include battery energy storage. The project is located about 800 feet south of West Milligan Road and South Toltec Road. The council heard a presentation from Andrew Yancey (attorney for Longroad Energy). Key points:
    • The expansion would connect two outparcels to the main project, improving efficiency.
    • The citywide solar acreage cap of 11,744 acres has already been exceeded by 181 acres. The applicant requested an exception to exceed the cap by another 80 acres.
    • The project would generate 200 MW of electricity and 200 MW of battery storage, with 300 construction jobs and 4–5 permanent jobs. Estimated property tax revenue of $20 million over 30 years (city share ~$3 million).
    • The applicant noted the 80 acres are far from residences and city development footprint, and that the project already includes a 53-acre buffer for Arizona City residents.
  • Council discussion focused on the acreage cap, the lack of guarantee that projects will proceed, and the low economic return to the city. Several members expressed concern about exceeding the cap without seeing benefits from existing approved projects.
  • Motion to deny the request to exceed the cumulative acreage maximum was made and seconded. Vote: 6-1 in favor of denial (only Councilmember Galindo opposed). The overage request was denied.
  • Continuance of the CUP application – Following the denial, the applicant requested a one-year continuance of the CUP application in case the cap changes (e.g., if other solar projects expire). Staff recommended setting a time limit. Council discussed and voted to continue the CUP for one year. Vote: 5-2 in favor (Councilmembers Garcia and Vice Mayor Tarango opposed).

Key Outcomes

  • Denied the companion request to exceed the citywide solar acreage cap (11,744 acres) for the Poblano Solar expansion (motion to deny passed 6-1). The associated CUP could not be approved without the overage.
  • Granted a one-year continuance on the CUP application (CUP 2025-006) to allow the applicant to reapply if acreage becomes available (vote 5-2).
  • The applicant may resubmit after one year if conditions change.

Meeting Transcript

Yes. Thank you. Mayor, when you're ready. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight's Eloy City Council meeting. It is Monday, October twenty seventh, and the time is six PM. Madam Clerk, may I have a roll call. Council Member Valdaska. Here. Councilmember Curtis. Here. Councilmember Schneider. Here. Councilmember Garcia? Present. Councilmember Galindo. Here. Vice Mayor Terengo? Here. Here. Thank you. I would please like everybody to rise for a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance led by Council Member Snyder. Now I see two people for the item eight, section eight item A. We'll hold that till we get to consent agenda. But I see a Thomas Silva. Please step up to the microphone, state your name, the city where you live. And you have three minutes. Um bringing to your attention of City of Eloy for a beautiful opposite uh proposition for Safe Haven Beautiful Incorporation among uh Little Caesars funding fundraising. So I'm also gonna be participating in the Mesa uh Marathon, which takes hold in February 14th. And I'm gonna be asking the city of Eloy to run with me for publicity for Safe Haven Beautiful among its uh Little Caesars fundraising to host an event for Arizona's first family reunion that I wish to take hold here in the Eloy, uh wish to make it a state, federal, or national holiday. By all means, my goal is to accomplish what we do here in the city of Eloy is we accomplish things, we get things going among a community health of engagement. My best thing to do here, and uh most important thing here is to consider the community to establish the community health growth, a community health engagement to establish a community relationship among its peers uh here in the city of Eloy Arts and Reach out to within the state of Arizona to have its volunteers for with the Safe Haven Beautiful War Corporation, which is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization and uh participating with Little Caesars Fundraising. Uh the IRS is improving the paperwork right now, so it's too uh it's a process, but I'm just bringing it to the attention of my beautiful city for the most beautiful things that has to engage with it with the open arms and open hearts, and with that I just have to end that with that. Thank you, sir. Thank you for addressing this council. All right, next up is reports and announcements. And you know your mayor has a couple of pages. It's been a very busy week. Because right after our last council meeting, I headed to the rural transportation summit in Sierra Vista. We covered a little bit of everything, and one of the things there was wildlife crossings on interstates. I found that fascinating. In certain states that are doing these big overpasses that just for wildlife. I thought that was just a tremendous idea, keeps them getting run over on the highways. We also talked about smart funding for aviation and airports and statewide mapping tools so we can plan pavement work before potholes arise. We also talked funding, and it turns out that a one cent sales tax can raise billions of dollars statewide. Whereas the gas tax bump, if they raise money just on gas, it's not as much as everybody thinks. I petit I petitioned the RTAC that's a rural transportation advisory council to help Eloy secure 8.2 million dollars to pave the final two miles of houser road. Stay tuned, it's looking good for us. Then back home on Friday, we had Motown in the park, easily one of our best concerts yet. When it's Motown, we all remember every lyric.

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