Queen Creek Town Council Regular Session – June 17, 2026

The Queen Creek Town Council held its regular session on June 17, 2026, after first convening in executive session. The meeting included America250 ceremonial recognitions, a Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee report, public comment, and approval of the consent and public hearing consent agendas.

Ceremonial Matters

• The council recognized America's Semiquincentennial, presenting a proclamation declaring July 4, 2026 as America's Semiquincentennial in Queen Creek, and noted local activities including the Aquatic Center Splash Bash, the nationwide America's Pot Luck on July 5, and Constitution Week art and poetry contests.
• A nine-year-old Queen Creek student was recognized as a first-place winner in the national America's Field Trip contest; she was selected among 125 winners from more than 1,000 entrants and will visit Mount Rushmore and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
• Councilmember Oliphant recognized Boys' State and Girls' State attendees, though one Girls State attendee was not present; she described the American Legion/American Legion Auxiliary program as a week-long civics experience for high school juniors.
• The council honored executive assistant Missy Gunter on her retirement, thanking her for her service to the Town Manager's office, Town Council, staff, and community; her tenure was described as both nearly 15 years and over 14 years in the transcript.

Committee Reports

• Dave Dobbs, outgoing Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee chair, reported on the committee's June 9, 2026 meeting.
• The committee reviewed the FY2027 budget, including the Town's financial outlook and the anticipated transition related to Santan Valley's incorporation.
• Recreation and aquatic center first-anniversary highlights included 114,000 annual visits, 125,000 child watch check-ins, $1.5 million in revenue, peak usage in June and July, and highest activity between 5 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays.
• The committee discussed the proposed e-bike ordinance and supported its safety-related outreach, including school engagement, social media, signage, and police engagement.
• Work plan priorities include addressing trail connectivity gaps, renovating aging parks, youth engagement and safety, preserving equestrian heritage, and expanding adult recreation and community health programming; the work plan is expected to come to the council in July or August.
• The committee unanimously appointed Danine Ryder as chair and Lenora Taylor as vice chair; Dobbs and three other outgoing members were acknowledged, and Dobbs noted he was termed out after 26 years.
• Staff reported 1,428 swim lesson registrations and 105 swim team members year-to-date, plus a community pool event with approximately 600 attendees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Noah James Markham, from Tempe, spoke during general public comment: he celebrated Pride Month and urged recognition of the LGBTQ+ community; he called for extending light rail to Queen Creek; and he referenced the death of Preston Lord and the "Devil Dogs" and "Gilbert Goons," expressing frustration that action came only after Preston Lord's death and stating he lacks confidence in Gilbert Police and Queen Creek Police.
• Noah James Markham also spoke during the public hearing consent agenda in support of the proposed Taco Bell drive-thru, calling it a good investment and urging approval.
• An email public comment from Kelsey Glynn was received and entered into the record.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda 6-0 as posted, including:
• Approval of the June 3, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• FY 25-26 budget amendments totaling $4,856,488 in expenditure reallocations with a corresponding decrease to contingency of the same amount.
• Approval of expenditures over $75,000, including: Y2K Engineering Project Order #16 for a new traffic signal at Ocotillo and Recker Road ($114,840, CIP); a Maricopa County Community College District 2-year lease at the Communiversity ($356,532); and a one-year Poolside, Inc. pool cleaning and maintenance contract not to exceed $400,000 annually, with up to four possible one-year renewals.
• Additional Harquahala Water Acquisition spending authority: Pumpman's increased by $25,000,000, bringing total approved spending authority from $12,100,000 to $37,100,000; Swain electrical services increased by $8,000,000, bringing the total from $5,100,000 to $13,100,000. Both projects had prior approvals on February 18, 2026.
• An on-call project order with Sunrise Engineering (Contract 2023-006) not to exceed $768,127 for Harquahala Valley Water Acquisition Project engineering services.
• A cooperative purchase agreement with Westland Engineering & Environmental Services through the City of Peoria contract ACON24825, not to exceed $1,067,000.
• Resolution 1674-26, ratifying the first amendment to the Box Canyon Master Development Agreement with Viewpoint North Resort, L.C., and related parties.
• Resolution 1675-26, establishing a salary equivalent for worker's compensation coverage for volunteer police personnel, effective July 17, 2026.

Public Hearing Consent Agenda

• Item A: The requested continuance to July 15, 2026 was included for P24-009, P24-0092, and P24-0093, a rezone, conditional use permit, and site plan for a fuel station and convenience store on approximately 2 acres at the northwest corner of Cloud and Rittenhouse roads.
• Item B: The council approved the Taco Bell Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan (P25-0168 and P25-0169), requested by Mira Gantzert (Core States Group), for a drive-thru restaurant on approximately 1.15 acres west of the southwest corner of Ellsworth Road and Empire Boulevard.
• The public hearing consent agenda was approved by one motion; the transcript captures Mayor Wheatley's aye vote but does not enumerate each individual councilmember vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 6-0.
• Public hearing consent agenda approved, continuing the Cloud/Rittenhouse fuel station and convenience store matter to the July 15, 2026 Town Council meeting and approving the Taco Bell drive-thru conditional use permit and site plan.
• The council made no separate referrals or additional policy decisions beyond the actions listed above; the meeting adjourned after the regular agenda.