Queen Creek Town Council Regular Meeting – May 6, 2026

The Queen Creek Town Council held a regular meeting on May 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Community Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, discussion on the updated Economic Development Strategic Plan, a presentation from the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, and final action approving the FY 2026-27 tentative budget of $840.6 million. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless noted.

Ceremonial Matters

• The council recognized Star Teacher Ms. Shelley Poopat from Schnepf Elementary for instilling a love of learning and fostering academic growth.
• Casteel High School athletics were honored: the varsity football team won the 6A state championship (42-27 over Centennial) and the girls’ soccer team won the 3A state championship (4-3 on penalty kicks over Xavier Preparatory Academy). 43 of 64 soccer alumni and current players have committed to collegiate soccer, and the team maintained a 3.7 average GPA.
• The Town Clerk’s Office received the Granicus Digital Government Operational Excellence Award for serving as a model in public sector efficiency.
• The 2026 Citizen Leadership Institute (CLI) graduated 42 participants, including eight town staff and two high school students, who contributed 1,797 hours over five months. Four group projects were presented: (1) Expanded volunteer recruitment for Roots & Boots, exceeding the goal of 250 volunteers by connecting with over 300 community members and building a sustainable digital volunteer management system; (2) A digital flipbook of Queen Creek’s history, organized chronologically from indigenous times to present, using over 250 photos from the Santan Historical Society and other sources; (3) A senior program event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, including patriotic activities and reusable tools for future programming; (4) An interactive historical audio project using generative AI to animate and present stories from early residents, now housed at the Santan Historical Society.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the April 15, 2026 regular session minutes.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pinal County for utility relocation and road improvements on Kenworthy and Combs Roads, increasing spending authority by $150,000 to a total of $1,119,799.
• Approved Amendment #1 to Delegation Resolution #1516-23 for the Hawes Road Improvement Project, increasing the resolution amount by $4,566,150 to a total of $5,322,620.
• Item 8D (Resolution No. 1667-26 regarding Certificates of Participation for water purchases) was removed for separate discussion and then approved unanimously after council noted that the town had been awarded a $90 million loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to support long-term water resources.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were submitted or made in person during the public comment period or public hearings.

Discussion Items

• Economic Development Strategic Plan Update (Item 11A): Consultant teams from Civic Solutions presented an updated plan based on six months of work including stakeholder interviews and benchmarking. The plan includes five goals: (1) competing for investment in advanced manufacturing and supply chain; (2) aligning infrastructure with economic priorities; (3) building a vibrant downtown through placemaking, parking, and business support; (4) strengthening destination attractions like agritainment; (5) coordinating regionally with the chamber and partners. Council discussion focused on balancing large-scale industrial growth (especially the LG investment) with preserving community identity, supporting small businesses, and funding downtown improvements such as structured parking. The plan is for discussion only; future council action is anticipated.
• Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Update (Item 11B): Executive Director J. Brian O’Neill reported record passenger activity (2 million passengers) and cargo volumes (over 7 million pounds) in FY25, and significant private development (1.675 million square feet in three years). Highlights included Garmin’s new R&D facility, Gulfstream’s third facility (225,000 sq ft), Virgin Galactic manufacturing of Delta-class spaceships, a Flight Safety International learning center requiring 30-40,000 room nights annually, and a new Wyndham hotel at SkyBridge. Future projects include airfield interconnectivity ($130 million), a TSA checked baggage facility (opening late 2027/early 2028), and a potential billion-dollar east-side passenger terminal (10+ years out). Council member questions addressed landing fees for training aircraft (pending Falcon Field’s implementation) and potential bed tax sharing for hotels on airport land.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 8A-C): Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 8D (Certificates of Participation): Approved unanimously (7-0) after comment highlighting the $90 million WIFA loan award.
• Public Hearing Consent Agenda (Item 9A – Liquor License): Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Public Hearing (Item 10A – Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for fuel station): Continued to the May 20, 2026 town council meeting, per applicant’s request; approved unanimously (7-0).
• Final Action (Item 12A – FY 2026-27 Tentative Budget): Council approved the $840.6 million tentative budget and set the public hearing for the final budget on May 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM. The budget emphasizes infrastructure (56%), includes 18 new positions in public safety, transportation, and water, extends the property tax freeze for a fourth year, and provides for a new water resource fee effective January 2027. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).