Queen Creek Town Council Regular Meeting - July 15, 2026

The Queen Creek Town Council held a Regular Meeting on July 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Chambers. The meeting began with an executive session for legal matters before the public session. The agenda included ceremonial recognitions, approval of consent items, and three informational presentations: an update from Pinal Partnership, the Water Conservation Program, and the Town's Off-Site Development Requirements. All consent agenda items were approved unanimously. No public comments were made.

Ceremonial Matters

• Volunteer Recognition: Two long-serving Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) members, Marvin Smith (over a decade of service) and David Dobbs (nearly three decades), were honored for their contributions to parks and recreation projects including dog parks, splash pads, and the Recreation and Aquatic Center.
• National Award: The Gail A. Barney Public Safety Support Facility received the IFMA Facility Manager Project of the Year Award for its impact on organizational goals, innovation, and cost savings. The facility opened in January 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (motion by Vice Mayor McClure, second by Councilmember Benning) all items on the consent agenda, including:
  • Approval of June 17, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
  • Appointments to GPEC Board, Transportation Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Mayor's Teen Advisory Committee, and Downtown Arts & Placemaking Advisory Committee.
  • Approval of the Transportation Advisory Committee FY 2026/2027 Work Plan.
  • Approval of expenditures over $75,000 (Michael Baker International amendment, Kimley-Horn project order, GO AZ Motorcycles vehicles).
  • Acceptance of a $50,000 DUI enforcement grant from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
  • Intergovernmental Agreements for School Resource Officers at Crismon High School and Queen Creek High School.
  • Three on-call architectural services contracts.
  • Design contract for waterline replacements ($306,900).
  • Water Production, Wheeling and Delivery Agreement with New Magma Irrigation & Drainage District.
  • Amendment to Delegation Resolution for new Police Department Headquarters, increasing total to $90,220,915.
  • Resolution designating Finance Director as Chief Fiscal Officer.
  • Resolution authorizing Queen Creek County Island Fire District boundary expansion for Country Mini Farms.

Public Hearing Consent Agenda

• Approved unanimously (no public comments) all liquor license applications for Harkins Queen Creek 14, Queen Creek Public House, First Watch #1240, Burros & Fries, Carniceria Sonora, 7-Eleven #47352H, Postino Queen Creek, and the QuikTrip fuel station rezone, conditional use permit, and site plan.

Discussion Items

1. Organizational Update – Pinal Partnership

Craig McFarland, President/CEO of Pinal Partnership, provided an update on regional efforts including:

• Transportation planning: The Pinal Regional Transportation Authority (PRTA) is restarting after a lawsuit; a new county transportation plan is being developed with ASU's Decision Theater. The future Loop 505 corridor (connecting I-24 to I-10 through Pinal County) is being studied, with a potential ballot measure in 2028 to fund improvements.
• Water policy: Successful passage of the Ag-to-Urban bill and ongoing support for Queen Creek's Harqua Hala efforts.
• Energy needs: Utilities (SRP, APS) need to double power output in 10 years; data centers and AI present challenges and opportunities.
• Pinal County is the fastest-growing county in Arizona, with six of the fastest-growing cities. Diversified economy (e.g., LG Energy Solution) has softened housing downturns.
• Councilmember Benning and Vice Mayor McClure expressed support for regional collaboration.

2. Water Conservation Program Update

Utilities Deputy Director Chris Connor and Water Conservation Program Manager Dina Burns presented the 2025 update. Key highlights:

• Outreach: 16 social media posts with over 148,000 impressions; banners at underpasses; school programs reaching 2,300 students (Water Sing-Along) and 1,000 students (Our Water, Our Future).
• Water Smart Workshops: 381 attendees reporting a 52% increase in knowledge.
• Water demand reduction programs: Non-residential WET program installed 20 smart controllers, 13 master valves, 10 flow sensors, and high-efficiency spray nozzles (funded by a $68,000 WIFA grant). Residential turf conversion program was exhausted by September 2025 (over $61,000 spent).
• Water savings: 497 acre-feet total (69 acre-feet residential, 428 acre-feet commercial), equating to $470,000 in one-time fees, $550,000 in direct water cost savings, and $14.9 million in capital cost avoidance.
• SRP partnership: $500,000 over five years ($100,000 annually, matched by SRP for total $200,000/year) for residential and non-residential turf conversion. New BOR WaterSmart Grant application pending.
• Inaugural Water Festival: 380 students, 40 volunteers; pre/post-test showed a 99% increase in watershed understanding, 71% in water technology, 76% in water cycle complexity, but only 14% in groundwater (already high).
• Council praised the program's educational impact and early engagement with youth.

3. Town of Queen Creek Off-Site Development Requirements

Town Engineer Chris Dovell explained the framework for requiring off-site improvements from private developers, based on the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 7), Town Code (Articles 16-7 and 16-8), and utility design manuals. Off-site improvements include half-streets, water and sewer mains, traffic signals (pro-rata share), and landscaping. Developers may request reimbursement agreements for oversizing. Councilmember Benning asked about handling new standards (e.g., cathodic protection) mid-project; Dovell responded that new requirements must be codified first. Councilmember Benning and Mayor Wheatley expressed satisfaction that the process ensures fairness and supports Queen Creek's reputation as a business-friendly community (awarded best place to do business in Arizona).

Key Outcomes

• All consent and public hearing consent agenda items were approved unanimously (no roll call vote recorded but motion passed).
• No action was taken on the three discussion items; they were informational only.
• The Water Conservation Program will continue with new SRP funding and pending BOR grant.
• The Pinal Partnership will continue regional transportation and water policy efforts, with a goal of a 2028 ballot measure for transportation funding.
• No votes or formal decisions were made on off-site development requirements; the presentation clarified existing policies.

Note: The transcript refers to a "special meeting" while the agenda states it is a "Regular Meeting". The meeting included an executive session before the public session.