Queen Creek Town Council Regular Session – November 6, 2025

The Queen Creek Town Council met in regular session on November 6, 2025. The printed agenda lists the meeting as November 5, 2025, at 6:30 PM, while the meeting timestamp provided for this summary is November 6, 2025, at 13:30 UTC. A quorum was present. After an initial executive session, the council heard ceremonial presentations, committee reports, public comments, approved consent and public hearing consent agenda items, discussed two removed consent items, and received a downtown development update before returning to executive session.

Ceremonial Matters

• Councilmember Oliphant read a proclamation recognizing November as Epilepsy Awareness Month. The proclamation stated that epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, nearly 3.4 million people in the U.S. (including 77,000 in Arizona) live with active epilepsy, and 25% of the general public say they would be nervous around a person with epilepsy.
• Councilmember Padilla read a proclamation declaring Small Business Saturday on November 29. It cited that more than 50% of U.S. consumers are anticipated to shop or eat at small independent retailers or restaurants, about 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the local economy, and every dollar spent creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity.
• The town received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, its 20th consecutive year. CFO Scott McCarty and finance team members were recognized.
• The Economic Development Team was recognized for receiving the 2025 Golden Prospector Award from the Arizona Association for Economic Development for its inaugural Economic Development Annual Report in the Marketing Brochure category.
• LG Energy Solution made a community donation supporting public safety departments and downtown holiday lighting. Company representative Mr. Ra said the company aims to be a responsible, contributing member of Queen Creek, not only a builder of a battery manufacturing facility.

Committee Reports

• During council reports, Councilmember McClure highlighted the Light the World Giving Machines coming to Queen Creek for the first time at Pecan Lake Entertainment from November 14 through December 7, noting the global program has raised over $50 million.
• Councilmember McClure reported on the Economic Development Commission’s October 22, 2025 meeting: Grant Terrian was elected chair, Mark Valenzuela vice chair; the FY25-26 work plan was recommended for approval; Deputy Public Works Director Julian Dressang presented the Transportation Master Plan; and the next meeting is January 28, 2026.
• Councilmember Padilla reported on the Downtown Arts & Placemaking Advisory Committee’s October 30, 2025 meeting, describing its monthly work to beautify Queen Creek and create a cultural, unique hometown feel. He also thanked town employees during the Employee Appreciation Barbecue.
• Molly Jacobs, Queen Creek Performing Arts Center director, gave the Queen Creek Cultural Foundation annual update: the center is in its 22nd year, hosted more than 425 events with over 250,000 attendees, kept family theater tickets at $14 and $16, and is addressing ticket reseller issues. She said Matilda will involve more than 300 youth, and community members Krista Richards and Mary Simmons testified that the center provides unique cultural opportunities and serves as a lifeline, especially for seniors.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sylvia Barrett, a Queen Creek resident for more than 30 years, urged the council to rescind its support for Resolution Copper. She cited concerns about 30 wells in the Santan Valley Desert Wells area pumping 400 gallons per minute for 40 years, a 22-mile copper concentrate pipeline, a 24/7 filter plant and loadout facility, 2 to 4 feet of subsidence identified in the 2025 FEIS, noise and rail traffic, power demands on SRP, and potential harm to water supplies. She asked the council to contact the governor and attorney general.
• Noah James Markham, a Tempe resident, asked the council to consider building crystal lagoons or surf lakes, indoor tennis courts, a Zippy’s restaurant, more year-round downtown lighting, removal of trees to expose downtown buildings, and new downtown apartments with air conditioning and heating. He also questioned the Mayor’s leave of absence and expressed opposition to additional Mormon churches in Queen Creek.
• Jeff Wold, a Queen Creek resident, explained the Light the World Giving Machine Initiative: 150 locations worldwide, more than $50 million raised over eight years, and seven charities (three local, two statewide, and two global). The machines will be at Pecan Lake Entertainment from November 14 through December 7. He described donations such as shoes, socks, school supplies, and goats, and encouraged residents to participate.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Padilla removed items B and F for separate discussion. The remaining consent agenda passed 5-0. It approved: the October 15, 2025 regular session minutes; the Economic Development Commission Work Plan for FY25-26; the 2025 Transportation Master Plan; a $321,470 U.S. DOJ grant for a de-escalation and crisis response training program using scenario-based simulation; an intergovernmental loan agreement with the Town of San Tan Valley; a seven-year master lease/purchase and maintenance agreement totaling not to exceed $1,316,403 for a CO2 decontamination machine and turnout gear cleaning system; a Memorandum of Agreement with Arizona Training Center for police training ranges; FY24-25 budget adjustments and cash transfers for in-lieu property taxes, franchise fees and return-on-investment payments; $34.6 million in budget adjustments and transfers related to the updated 2024 impact fee study; budget adjustments and accounting entries related to the LG Energy Solution Development Agreement including defeasance of the $50M Series 2023 obligation; $45,664,834 CIP carryforward to contingency for new water resources; $16,175,951 in FY25-26 carry-forward budget reallocations; Amendment #3 to Delegation Resolution #1537-23 increasing the Public Safety Support Facility authorization by $400,000 to $51,721,662; Resolution 1645-25 authorizing a $3,000,000 interfund loan from the General Fund to the Fire Development Impact Fee fund; and Transportation Advisory Committee appointments and reappointments.

Separate Discussion: Items B and F

• Item B (Parks and Recreation Deputy Director-Recreation FTE; $248,221 ongoing and $5,900 one-time costs): Councilmember McClure opposed adding the position, citing annual parks maintenance costs that have climbed from over $3-4 million five years ago to over $10 million. Councilmember Benning supported the position, saying the parks and recreation department has matured and Director Robinson has done a fantastic job. Staff said the position was in the five-year plan and would add leadership across recreation and parks divisions. The motion passed 4-1.
• Item F (Professional Services Contract with Civic Solutions Partnership, LLC, not to exceed $85,000, for the Economic Development Strategic Plan update): Councilmember McClure said consultant fees for economic development were not a proper government expense. A motion to approve passed 3-2. There was a procedural clarification that the earlier combined vote applied only to item B; item F was voted separately.

Public Hearing Consent Agenda

• The public hearing was opened and closed with no public comments. Council approved the agenda 5-0: Case P24-0023 Ocotillo Hawes Annexation, approximately 0.14 acres at the northwest corner of Ocotillo and Hawes roads; and Ordinance 877-25 (Case P25-0126), the HB2721 Middle Housing Text Amendments, amending Article 1.14 Definitions, Article 4.6 Use Regulations, Table 4.6-1 Permitted Uses, and adding Article 4.15 Middle Housing Overlay District.

Discussion Items

• Downtown update (discussion only): Downtown Development Manager Jennifer Lindley reported roughly $200 million in private investment and nearly 230,000 square feet of commercial projects under construction, up from only 4,000 square feet in 2023, which she said was 57 times greater. She reviewed projects including a 124-room hotel expected to open in early 2027; Sacred Pine; QC Accounting expansion; The Perch development, with 62,000+ square feet and opening by the end of 2026; Circle K; The Switchyard, with Phase 1 of nearly 48,000 square feet expected in Q3 2026 and announced tenants Postinos, Shake Shack and SNOOS, plus Phase 2 multifamily; Rusty Buckle Saloon expected mid-2026; Magma Plaza, about 8,500 square feet of commercial space; and The Matheson, about 20,000 square feet of office space. She also previewed a new marketing campaign to reframe construction as progress, using signs and social media and directing people to InvestTheQC.com.
• Councilmember Benning praised the downtown team and described the benefit of economic spillover along Ocotillo and Ellsworth Roads, saying he has served on the council for almost 16 years and is excited to see the planning come to fruition.

Key Outcomes

• The council unanimously voted to enter executive session at the start and to return to executive session after the regular agenda for remaining items.
• Consent agenda minus items B and F: approved 5-0.
• Item B (Parks and Recreation Deputy Director-Recreation FTE and budget transfer): approved 4-1.
• Item F ($85,000 Civic Solutions Partnership, LLC contract): approved 3-2.
• Public Hearing Consent Agenda items 9A and 9B: approved 5-0.
• Downtown update was for discussion only; no action was taken. The new downtown marketing campaign is expected to roll out in the next few weeks.