Queen Creek Town Council Regular Session - June 3, 2026

The Queen Creek Town Council met on June 3, 2026, for a regular session that included a contested General Plan amendment, approval of the FY 2026-27 primary property tax levy and financial policy updates, and reconsideration of a national motto display for the Community Chambers. Most consent items were approved as a block; the Council took separate votes on several pulled expenditure items. All final substantive votes were unanimous except where noted.

Consent Calendar

• The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously after Councilmember Brown pulled items F and H Nos. 1, 3, 4, 18, 19, and 20, and Councilmember Padilla pulled item E for separate votes. The remaining consent items included approval of the May 20, 2026 minutes, Resolution #1671-26 updating the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, a job order limit variance for the Sierra Vista Drive 12-inch Water Transmission Main Project in an amount not to exceed $3.8 million, Dark Fiber Services Licenses with MMR Solutions and Bicentel/C3ntro Telecom, and numerous FY26/27 expenditure authorizations.
• Item E, the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Service and License Agreement for $75,000 for FY 2026-27, was approved on a split vote. Councilmember Padilla voted no, saying the combined town expenditures on the pulled items approached $1 million and should not be taxpayer-supported. Councilmember Benning moved approval, citing his own Chamber membership and resident encouragement.
• Items F and H Nos. 1, 3, 4, 18, 19, and 20 were approved on a split vote. These included the Greater Phoenix Economic Council agreement for $43,118, League of Arizona Cities and Towns dues for $54,431, Capital Edge government relations services for $36,000, Kutak Rock government relations services for $70,000, arena sand for equine events for $84,000, horse bedding for $175,000, and Plan B temporary labor services for $150,000. Councilmembers Martinell and Padilla voted no, explaining they did not believe these taxpayer expenditures aligned with their fiscal philosophy.

Public Hearing Consent Agenda

• The Council opened the public hearing, received no public comments, and unanimously approved the public hearing consent agenda: a Series 12 restaurant liquor license for Sushi Neko, a Series 018 craft distiller license for Queen Creek Olive Mill, and Ordinance 892-26 amending parking and loading standards for the Downtown Core (DC) zoning district.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During general public comment, Tempe resident Noah James Markham spoke in favor of Flock Safety cameras in Queen Creek, said he supports ICE but not in Queen Creek because of proximity to Japanese concentration camps, stated transgender people should have private restrooms and should not participate in women's sports, and asked for light rail extension to Queen Creek.
• During the Combs and Gantzel public hearing, more than 20 residents of Magnolia Grove, The Parks, and Meadows East spoke, overwhelmingly opposing removal from the town's municipal planning area or requesting a delay. Speakers described being told by builders, realtors, and town information that their neighborhoods would eventually be annexed; they cited daily use of Queen Creek roads, schools, parks, businesses, and sales tax spending. Several raised concerns about emergency response times despite a Queen Creek fire station adjacent to The Parks, water service continuity, school attendance boundaries, loss of civic voice, and the mental-health effects of living on a county island.
• A number of speakers challenged the financial analysis, saying it lacked detailed cost data for fire, police, solid waste, and administration. One speaker called the staff conclusion 'an assertion, not analysis,' and another accused the town of 'treating 5,000 human beings as disposable balance sheet liabilities.' Several asked the Council to table the vote until neighborhood-specific studies could be completed.
• A Tempe resident, Noah James Markham, also spoke in favor of annexing the area, saying it would bring revenue. Staff reported that 151 written comments from Pinal County island residents opposed the amendment, including 10 received that day, and two letters from Queen Creek residents supported it.
• Staff responded to questions: Utility Director Mark Specific said Queen Creek's water and wastewater service area is larger than its town boundaries and would not be changed by the action. Principal Planner Sarah Clark said school district boundaries are independent of municipal boundaries and would not be affected.

Discussion: Combs and Gantzel General Plan Amendment (Resolution 1673-26)

• Principal Planner Sarah Clark presented Case P26-0020. The agenda described the amendment as removing approximately 489 acres, while staff's presentation referred to approximately 789 acres south of Combs Road and east and west of Gantzel Road. The area includes about 1,500 residential lots, an estimated population of 5,000, three residential communities, a medical office complex, and a vacant commercial parcel.
• A neighborhood meeting was held March 23 with 30 Pinal County island residents in attendance. The Planning Commission held an introductory hearing April 8 and a public hearing May 13, where an estimated 60 Pinal County island residents attended, eight spoke in opposition, and 17 additional comment cards were submitted in opposition. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0.
• Staff recommended removing the area from the town's General Plan planning area boundary, citing future financial burdens and expenditures associated with potential annexation. Councilmember Brown said staff estimated revenues of about $3 million, which would not offset future costs, and added that adding 5,000 residents would require roughly 25 additional acres of parkland at about $500,000 per acre, or over $12.5 million just for land, plus millions more to build parks.
• Councilmembers expressed sympathy for residents who said they received false promises, but several explained they were elected to represent current Queen Creek taxpayers. Councilmember Brown said the Council represents the town's current 92,000 residents and noted resident preferences to cap future population at 150,000. Vice Mayor McClure said annexation is not initiated by the town and that no meaningful action was taken before build-out; Councilmember Martinell said she grew up on a county island and empathized; Councilmember Padilla acknowledged residents' social and financial contributions but said he had to make the best decision for Queen Creek residents and taxpayers.
• The Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 1673-26, removing the area from the town's General Plan planning area. Councilmember Olifant participated by telephone from a work conference.

Final Actions

Primary Property Tax Levy (Ordinance 891-26)

• Deputy Finance Director Dan Olson presented the FY 2026-27 primary property tax ordinance. Queen Creek's property tax makes up about 17% of a homeowner's total property tax bill, is voter-approved for public safety only, and the town has no secondary property tax. Property tax represents about 9% of the town's $177 million operating budget and funds about 20% of public safety costs.
• The town's assessed value grew 11%, reaching over $1 billion, with about 85% of the levy from residential property, 12% from commercial, and 3% from vacant land. The proposed rate is $1.46 per $100 of assessed value, reflecting the fourth year of the five-year property tax freeze. Taxpayers have saved $13.4 million during the freeze, with an estimated $20 million in savings by the end of the fifth year. The median limited property value for a Queen Creek home is about $293,000, producing about $429 in annual town property tax.
• Councilmembers praised the measure as a property tax freeze and a fiscally responsible decision. Ordinance 891-26 passed unanimously.

Financial Policy Updates (Resolution 1672-26)

• Dan Olson described proposed financial policy changes: treating building revenues and investment income above $5 million as one-time money; lowering the fund-balance capital expenditure threshold from $5 million to $3 million to free $2 million for ongoing needs; adding $100,000 each to recreation center and aquatic center repair and maintenance budgets; clarifying investment priorities as safety, liquidity, then yield; adding definitions for available fund balance and carryforward reserve; and including the new water resource function in utility fund policies.
• Councilmember Benning praised the changes and referenced the Strong Towns movement. Resolution 1672-26 passed unanimously.

'In God We Trust' Display

• Staff presented artwork for the Community Chambers featuring the phrase 'In God We Trust,' 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' the town logo, the Santan Mountains, a wash, and the American flag. The display is planned for the left side of the dais when facing the audience and could be unveiled by the next meeting.
• Councilmember Benning, who had opposed the earlier version, said the new art captured Queen Creek and Americana and earned his support. Vice Mayor McClure said Queen Creek would be the second municipality to display the national motto. Councilmember Padilla said the message was important and that he wished the vote had been unanimous the first time. The motion to approve the display passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously after items E, F, H1, H3, H4, H18, H19, and H20 were pulled for separate votes.
• Queen Creek Chamber agreement (Item E) approved on a split vote; Councilmember Padilla voted no.
• GPEC and pulled expenditure items (F, H1, H3, H4, H18, H19, H20) approved on a split vote; Councilmembers Padilla and Martinell voted no.
• Public hearing consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Resolution 1673-26 approved unanimously to remove the Combs and Gantzel area from the General Plan planning area boundary.
• Ordinance 891-26 adopted unanimously, setting the FY 2026-27 primary property tax rate at $1.46 per $100 of assessed value and continuing the property tax freeze.
• Resolution 1672-26 adopted unanimously.
• 'In God We Trust' display approved unanimously; staff will finalize installation in the Community Chambers.