Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Payson Town Council Regular Meeting - July 9, 2025

Town Council & Planning and Zoning — Wednesday, July 9, 2025

BodyPayson, Arizona

SessionTown Council & Planning and Zoning

DateWednesday, July 9, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:01:51

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:08

It's gonna be within the next four months or so.

0:10

I didn't copy this is the regular meeting of the common council of the town of Payson, July 9, 2025.

0:25

Call to order 4 p.m.

0:29

Invocation by Pastor Carl Saratsky.

0:39

Thank you for this honor.

0:41

Let us bow our heads.

0:44

Almighty and loving God, we lift before you all who govern this town of Payson.

0:51

Bless these officials of our community, who are not only our leaders, but our servants, as they faithfully attend to the residents of the town of Payson.

1:02

Bless them as they work in a spirit of wisdom, fairness, charity, and justice.

1:08

Grant in your mercy a just and honest government and give us the grace to live together in unity and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1:19

Amen.

1:20

Amen.

1:50

Let the record reflect that all council members are present.

1:58

So as always, item A call to the public.

2:02

Now's the time for call to the public, which allows citizens with an opportunity to speak on any issue within the legal authority and jurisdiction of the town of Payson.

2:12

The town must by abide must abide by Arizona Open Meeting Law, and this agendized item is the public's opportunity to be heard at this meeting.

2:23

When called to speak, please approach the podium, speak towards the microphone so your statements can be heard, give your name.

2:31

The town requests that you address your comments to the council as a whole.

2:35

If you are speaking on an agenda item for today's meeting, you can wait until after that specific item is presented to speak, or you may state your comments now.

2:46

Call to the public is regulated by time, place, and manner restrictions, and you cannot speak more than once at this meeting on the same issue.

2:55

Each speaker is limited to three minutes.

2:58

You may not donate your time to another speaker.

3:01

Note that the council will not be entering into dialogue with you or answering your questions.

3:06

State law prohibits the council and staff from responding to your questions or comments, and at only the conclusion of a call to the public, individual town members may only respond to a criticism made by those who have spoken.

3:22

Direct staff to review or follow up a matter, and or three direct at that matter be put on a future agenda.

3:29

If you desire a direct response to your questions or concerns, please contact the town council members or staff directly.

3:39

Contact information is available on the website.

3:43

The purpose of this meeting is to conduct town business.

3:46

Speakers and audience shall refrain from conduct that disrupts or interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting, including clapping, cheering, booing, as this disrupts the meeting and inhibits free speech rights.

3:59

Any person who engages in disruptive conduct may be removed or banned from the meeting.

4:06

If the person refuses to stop the disruptive conduct after being warned by the mayor, the town council desires to hear from everyone wishing to speak without disruption and appreciates your willingness to be attentive and respectful to your neighbors.

4:24

If you not submitted a speaker request form but wish to speak, please raise your hand when the mayor asks if there are additional speakers before the end of the call to the public and complete a form with a clerk immediately following your comments.

4:40

If you are attending the meeting via Zoom, did not complete a speaker request form.

4:45

Please use the raise your hand feature in Zoom to be recognized to speak.

4:50

Your courtesy and respect are appreciated.

4:53

The town thanks you for coming to this meeting and sharing your thoughts with the council.

5:00

Each person was submitted a speaker request form before the meeting to speak.

5:05

So I have the forms here.

5:12

Joel Mona.

5:14

I had hoped to speak on the agenda as a council decision request point.

5:19

Okay.

5:22

I'll put you at the back of the queue.

5:25

Okay.

5:26

Pam Chittenden.

5:34

Hi, I'm Pam Chittenden, a resident of Payson.

5:38

Mr.

5:38

Mayor, Council, and staff.

5:40

I just have a few comments in support of the roundabout, proposed roundabout on McLean and Longhorn.

5:51

And my source is the Arizona Department of Transportation.

5:55

And I'm pretty sure all of you are already familiar with the benefits of roundabouts.

6:03

But research has shown that there could be a 90% reduction in fatal crashes by using roundabouts, also 75% reduction in injury crashes, a 30 to 40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes, a 10% reduction in bicycle crashes, a 30 to 50 percent increase in traffic capacity, which could be really helpful in the case of an evacuation for PASIN.

6:37

Some other benefits include a reduction in fuel use and pollution, no signal equipment to install or repair.

6:47

So I do encourage you to proceed with the roundabout.

6:50

Thank you.

6:55

Tom Dunning.

8:23

Well, that's just not true.

8:26

Um the a roundabout is going to be safer there than the four-way stop sign, and it's going to uh in addition to make things safer, it's going to help that traffic jam when this high school lets out, and it's just going to help to clear that.

8:48

So I think there's really uh no reason not to do that roundabout, and uh I understand that uh if we bail on the roundabout, uh Pays and taxpayers are going to have to be on the hook for like something like a million and a half dollars.

9:11

So uh for common sense and for safety and for just uh improvement in our town.

9:19

I urge you to continue and put the roundabout in.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████19%

Parks and Recreation███████████████15%

Capital Improvement████████████12%

Public Safety████████8%

Procedural███████7%

Transportation Safety███████7%

Personnel Matters█████5%

Zoning And Land Use████4%

Technology and Innovation████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Payson Town Council Regular Meeting - July 9, 2025

The Payson Town Council held a regular meeting on July 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, employee service awards, informational presentations on the Payson Golf Course Development Agreement and the Aquatic Center, approval of two resolutions (FAA grant and DPS radio intergovernmental agreement), cancellation of the July 23 council meeting, and approval of a contract for final design of the Longhorn-McLane roundabout. The council also voted to enter executive session for two items.

Consent Calendar

B.1: Approved minutes from the regular council meetings of May 14 and June 11, 2025, the work study of June 3, 2025, and the special meeting of June 3, 2025. Motion carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Pam Chittendon (Payson resident) expressed support for the proposed roundabout at McLane and Longhorn roads, citing national research showing a 90% reduction in fatal crashes, 75% reduction in injury crashes, 30-40% reduction in pedestrian crashes, and 30-50% increase in traffic capacity.
Tom Dunning (21-year resident) supported the roundabout, referencing safety statistics and encouraging the council to proceed due to financial implications of cancellation.
Anna Van Zile shared a personal story highlighting life-saving efforts of local emergency responders and expressed appreciation for emergency services, Banner Payson Medical Center, and Mogollon Health Alliance.
Karolyn Switzer spoke in favor of the roundabout, emphasizing pedestrian safety and continuous traffic flow based on personal walking experiences.
Pat Lockwood raised concerns about unsafe driving on Highway 260 between Star Valley and Payson, urging the town to work with ADOT to lower the speed limit, add signage, and increase enforcement. She cited multiple fatalities and a lack of enforcement.
Joel Mona (registered engineer, 35 years) spoke during the roundabout discussion, confirming the 95% design complied with 2023 ADOT standards and noting that failing to complete the project could jeopardize future funding opportunities.

Discussion Items

D.4 Payson Golf Course Development Agreement (Informational)

Community Development Director Doni Wilbanks presented a future request for code modifications for a proposed 125-unit condominium project at the Payson Golf Club. Civil engineer Nathan Larson outlined the site plan: redevelopment of the golf course to a 9-hole layout, private gated streets, detached multi-use path, and 28-foot-wide internal streets. Units would be single-story, for-sale condominiums (potentially modular), with three parking spaces per unit plus guest spots. No action was taken; presentation only.
Bob Jackson (Payson Golf Club) addressed community concerns about transitioning from 18 to 9 holes, stating initial resistance had given way to support for a sustainable, high-quality public facility. Construction would be phased.

D.5 Aquatic Center Update (Informational)

Interim PMO Manager Rod Buchanan provided an update. The design team is value-engineering to keep the project within the $16 million bond. The pool features six lap lanes (4 ft at shallow end, 6.5 ft at deep end), a recreational area, children's play zone, and a therapeutic current pool (3 ft deep). The building has been reduced to 3,700 square feet; no steel will be used. Site plan includes 85 parking spaces (1/3 asphalt, 2/3 millings), pedestrian and bus access, and room for future slides. A sliding pool cover is being explored at an estimated $3.8 million (vs. $4.8 million for a hard structure). Construction documents are in progress; a March 2027 opening remains targeted.
Council members expressed concerns about cost transparency (initial estimates rising from $9 million to $16 million), the need for a pool cover, and the depth for competitions. Buchanan confirmed the bond amount covers the project and that if only $15 million is needed, the town can borrow less. Further geotechnical testing is planned.

F.1 Resolution 3456 – FAA Grant for Airport Taxiway Design

Airport Manager Dennis Dueker presented the resolution to accept an FAA grant for design and engineering of improvements to Taxiway Alpha, connectors, and Bravo/Charlie aprons. Pavement conditions are deteriorated. FAA contribution: $461,738; ADOT: $12,151; Town: $12,151. The grant is part of the 2024 Airport Capital Improvement Plan. Motion to approve carried 7-0.

F.2 Resolution 3457 – DPS Radio Intergovernmental Agreement

Fire Chief David Staub presented the resolution to enter into an IGA with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for shared radio communication infrastructure. The town plans to transition to the DPS 800 MHz system (not the legacy UHF system) while maintaining its current VHF system for redundancy. The IGA does not obligate the town to full adoption but allows testing and site-specific agreements. Council members requested close monitoring of ongoing costs. Motion to approve carried 7-0.

H.1 Cancellation of July 23, 2025 Regular Council Meeting

Deputy Town Clerk Megan Miller requested cancellation to allow staff to attend the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association Conference and Elections Training (July 22–24). Motion carried 6-0 (Vice Mayor Tubbs abstained).

H.2 Contract for Roundabout Final Design (Longhorn and McLane)

Interim Project Manager Cliff O’Neill presented the project history (since 2013), noting the intersection currently operates as a four-way stop with significant congestion near the high school. A roundabout was selected over a traffic signal due to safety and maintenance benefits. The state legislature appropriated $1.5 million in 2024. ADOT completed 95% design; the original engineer (now with CEC, Inc.) will finalize the design. The contract amount is $158,602. The town’s additional financial obligation for construction is estimated at up to $300,000 from general funds. If not approved, the $1.5 million would revert to the state. Council discussion included concerns about diameter for school buses and trucks—addressed by Joel Mona’s confirmation of ADOT compliance. Motion to approve contract and authorize Town Manager to sign carried 7-0.

H.3 & H.4 Executive Session Motions

The council voted 7-0 to enter executive session for legal advice on the Dudley Claim (A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(3)(4)) and for a presentation on network security upgrades (A.R.S. §38-431.03(A)(9)). No action was taken after the session.

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda: Approved all minutes (7-0).
Resolution 3456 (FAA Grant): Approved (7-0).
Resolution 3457 (DPS Radio IGA): Approved (7-0).
Cancellation of July 23 Meeting: Approved (6-0-1).
Roundabout Design Contract (CEC): Approved $158,602 (7-0).
Executive Session: Motion to enter carried (7-0); no action taken thereafter.
No action on golf course or aquatic center presentations; both were informational.

Meeting Transcript

It's gonna be within the next four months or so. I didn't copy this is the regular meeting of the common council of the town of Payson, July 9, 2025. Call to order 4 p.m. Invocation by Pastor Carl Saratsky. Thank you for this honor. Let us bow our heads. Almighty and loving God, we lift before you all who govern this town of Payson. Bless these officials of our community, who are not only our leaders, but our servants, as they faithfully attend to the residents of the town of Payson. Bless them as they work in a spirit of wisdom, fairness, charity, and justice. Grant in your mercy a just and honest government and give us the grace to live together in unity and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. Let the record reflect that all council members are present. So as always, item A call to the public. Now's the time for call to the public, which allows citizens with an opportunity to speak on any issue within the legal authority and jurisdiction of the town of Payson. The town must by abide must abide by Arizona Open Meeting Law, and this agendized item is the public's opportunity to be heard at this meeting. When called to speak, please approach the podium, speak towards the microphone so your statements can be heard, give your name. The town requests that you address your comments to the council as a whole. If you are speaking on an agenda item for today's meeting, you can wait until after that specific item is presented to speak, or you may state your comments now. Call to the public is regulated by time, place, and manner restrictions, and you cannot speak more than once at this meeting on the same issue. Each speaker is limited to three minutes. You may not donate your time to another speaker. Note that the council will not be entering into dialogue with you or answering your questions. State law prohibits the council and staff from responding to your questions or comments, and at only the conclusion of a call to the public, individual town members may only respond to a criticism made by those who have spoken. Direct staff to review or follow up a matter, and or three direct at that matter be put on a future agenda. If you desire a direct response to your questions or concerns, please contact the town council members or staff directly. Contact information is available on the website. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct town business. Speakers and audience shall refrain from conduct that disrupts or interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting, including clapping, cheering, booing, as this disrupts the meeting and inhibits free speech rights. Any person who engages in disruptive conduct may be removed or banned from the meeting. If the person refuses to stop the disruptive conduct after being warned by the mayor, the town council desires to hear from everyone wishing to speak without disruption and appreciates your willingness to be attentive and respectful to your neighbors. If you not submitted a speaker request form but wish to speak, please raise your hand when the mayor asks if there are additional speakers before the end of the call to the public and complete a form with a clerk immediately following your comments. If you are attending the meeting via Zoom, did not complete a speaker request form. Please use the raise your hand feature in Zoom to be recognized to speak. Your courtesy and respect are appreciated. The town thanks you for coming to this meeting and sharing your thoughts with the council. Each person was submitted a speaker request form before the meeting to speak. So I have the forms here. Joel Mona. I had hoped to speak on the agenda as a council decision request point. Okay. I'll put you at the back of the queue. Okay. Pam Chittenden. Hi, I'm Pam Chittenden, a resident of Payson. Mr. Mayor, Council, and staff. I just have a few comments in support of the roundabout, proposed roundabout on McLean and Longhorn. And my source is the Arizona Department of Transportation. And I'm pretty sure all of you are already familiar with the benefits of roundabouts.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com