Gilbert Town Council Regular Meeting – April 9, 2026

The Gilbert Town Council held a regular meeting on April 9, 2026, addressing a range of topics including community recognitions, a water meter audit, public comments, consent agenda approvals, and several rezoning and development items. The meeting lasted into the early morning hours.

Consent Calendar

• Approved items 8–22 and 24–33 unanimously (7–0).
• Approved item 23 (Vaughn Ventilator CIP change order) 6–0 with one recusal (Councilmember Torkison).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Laura Gazicki (Gilbert resident) criticized the council for utility rate increases and infrastructure mismanagement, accusing them of neglecting long-term planning.
• Maureen Hoppy (Gilbert resident) accused council members of hypocrisy, citing unpaid bills and credit card debts among some members, and urged consideration of residents' financial struggles.
• Mindy Brocker (Gilbert resident) accused Vice Mayor Bongiovanni of harassment and unethical campaign practices, requesting a reminder against campaigning from the dais.
• Noah Markham (Gilbert resident) advocated for light rail expansion and expressed support for diversity and police reform.
• Multiple residents spoke on the Harvest Grove project (see below), with mixed opinions on density, traffic, and housing types.

Discussion Items

Water Meter Audit Presentation

• Kimley Horn presented results of an independent audit covering 93,500 accounts from 2020–2025.
• Key finding: 97.1% of accounts were accurate; 2.9% had anomalies (mostly minor rounding or multiplier errors).
• Overbilling averaged $125, underbilling $110 over six years; average error duration 5 months.
• Physical meter tests found meters failing due to age/use, with average cost error of $34 per affected account.
• Town staff committed to reviewing and rectifying individual cases.

Harvest Grove (GP2503, Z2503) – General Plan Amendment & Rezone

• Revised plan removed all multifamily, reduced units from 1,676 to 1,106, and added 45 acres of commercial.
• Traffic, open space, and design changes addressed earlier concerns.
• Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission voted 4–2 to recommend.
• Public comment: 31 letters support, 69 oppose; concerns about density, traffic, and neighborhood character.
• Council debated property rights, tax base needs, and housing affordability.

Higley & Octo Retail Center (Z2513) – Rezone from Shopping Center to General Commercial

• Applicant seeks to build a Target (128,000 sq ft) with two additional pads; two deviations requested (parking canopy landscaping, southern setback).
• Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Residents opposed citing traffic, parking reduction (77 spaces), and scale incompatibility with surroundings.
• Council moved to postpone for two weeks to allow further study of concerns.

Tuscany at Gabriella Point (Z2519) – PAD Amendment

• Request to reduce common open space from 43% to 40% to allow private yards for ground-floor units, with view fencing and 3-ft landscape buffers.
• Staff recommended approval after revisions ensured setbacks and amenities were secured (95,000 sq ft minimum amenity area).
• Public comment minimal; no opposition.
• Council approved 4–3.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report & Audit

• Town received clean audit opinion for 34th consecutive year; no material weaknesses or deficiencies.
• Resolution 4651 confirming compliance adopted 7–0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved as noted above.
• Harvest Grove: Motion to approve General Plan amendment (GP2503) carried 4–3 (Vice Mayor Bongiovanni, Councilmembers Torkison, Lyons dissenting). Motion to approve rezone (Z2503) carried 4–3 same margin.
• Higley & Octo Retail Center: Postponed to April 21, 2026 by 6–1 vote (Councilmember Buckley dissenting) to address resident concerns.
• Tuscany at Gabriella Point: PAD amendment approved 4–3 (Vice Mayor Bongiovanni, Councilmembers Torkison, Buckley dissenting).
• Annual Audit: Resolution adopted 7–0.
• Meeting adjourned after midnight.