Public Meetings - Payson, Arizona

The Payson Town Council held a work study session on May 8, 2024, to discuss the Town Manager's Draft Budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. The meeting focused on personnel requests, capital improvement projects, and various operational enhancements. The Council provided direction on balancing the budget and setting priorities but took no formal action, as work sessions are intended for discussion only. Personnel Requests & Position Prioritization - Town Manager Troy Smith reviewed new position requests: Permit Technician, Economic Development Manager, Parks Operation Foreman, Community Service Officer, and a part-time-to-full-time upgrade for a Community Risk Reduction Specialist. - Council members expressed strong support for the Permit Technician, noting its critical role in improving development service levels and tracking through the new CityWorks system. Council Member Flaherty described the position as "critical to keeping and improving the existing level of service." - Council members Vice-Mayor Underwood and Council Member Nossek advocated focusing on the Permit Technician only for the next fiscal year, deferring the Economic Development Manager to a future year pending adjustments to other budget priorities. - Council Consensus agreed that the Permit Technician was the highest priority among the contested positions. The Parks Operation Foreman promotion and the part-time upgrade remained “maybes” to be revisited during final budget balancing. Employee Wellness Program - Lynne ODonnell, Human Resource Director, presented a request for $18,000 to create a third-party platform for an employee wellness program, citing improved morale and retention incentives. The program would supplement Kiros’s existing limited offerings. - Vice-Mayor Underwood asked if the town could use its insurance carrier; Ms. ODonnell explained that Kiros does not provide a robust wellness program due to insufficient interest from other pool members. - Council members universally supported the wellness program, describing it as a low-cost, high-morale investment that could help reduce health insurance costs over time. Water Department Operational Enhancements - Town Manager Smith reviewed ongoing operational enhancements for the Water Department, including increased refuse costs, software license renewals, grounds maintenance for new properties, and professional services related to the ASR well condition evaluation. Specific figures reported: costs for refuse increased, and a new professional services item (ASR well evaluation) drove a notable increase. - Council asked clarifying questions, but no formal direction was needed; staff was to proceed with what was presented. Roundabout Aircraft Display Project - Tom West, President of the Experimental Airplane Association (EAA) local chapter, presented a proposal to install a stripped-down, lightweight airframe of a 1955 Piper Colt (once owned by Rich Henley, a local aviation pioneer) on a six-foot breakaway pole in the State Highway 260/Airport Road roundabout. The group believed the world would enhance safety, increase visibility of the airport, and serve as a historic asset. - Tom West clarified that EAA had acquired and stripped the aircraft, and would fund the majority of the project via volunteers, donations, and a structural engineer. No formal financial commitment from the town was expected for construction, but the group sought “green light” approval to move forward with design and public engagement. - Christine Smith, Deputy Town Manager, noted that ADOT would issue the encroachment permit only to the town, making this a town-managed project. The town would also need to accept ongoing maintenance responsibility and hire a project manager due to the complexity of ADOT involvement. - Council discussion: Members expressed support for the idea, especially noting its historical connection. Mayor Higgins noted the elk statue at another roundabout had required years of public member input, fundraisers, and donations. Council Member requested that the EAA solicit public input before proceeding further. - Council Consensus supported allowing the EAA to move forward to hire a structural engineer and engage the public but not commit any town funding this fiscal year. The project would not be included in the current FY24-25 budget. Proposed Prosecution Services Agreement Change - Town Manager announced a recommended change to Pierce Coleman for prosecution services, costing $6,000 less than the current provider. The new provider will handle code enforcement cases, which the current prosecutor does not. Town Attorney Paladini noted that lack of code enforcement follow-up often escalates into larger civil cases. - Council expressed support for the change, and the agenda item will be placed on the Consent Agenda in June. Employer Housing Assistance - Town Manager presented recommendations from an ASU Capstone project including forgivable loans of up to $40,000 per employee, tiny project evaluation of tiny homes/form housing, and land partnerships. - Council did not reach consensus, with some supporting employer housing incentives as a retention tool and others preferring to encourage private development rather than the town becoming a landlord. No budget allocation was made for such programs in the current draft. FY24-25 Capital Improvement Projects - Town Manager Smith reviewed the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), highlighting a $1.7 million shortfall driven by unfunded mandates, particularly the Green Valley Parkway Extension design ($2.83 million total, requiring $2.5 million upfront). He described a series of proposed prioritization: - Streets Department Capital – Recommend funding only the mini excavator/loom/articulating blade (the most critical need) and zeroing out funding for a forklift and a vehicle. - Pavement Preservation – Reduce from $3.8 million to $3 million, still enabling substantial work. - Ladder Truck for Fire Department – Zero out the proposed $1 million one-year payment toward a $3 million ladder truck, delaying the purchase but allowing the truck to be ordered nonetheless (with possible lease-purchase or two-year funding). - Green Valley Parkway Extension – Maintain current plan despite cost overrun; staff will work to incorporate Goodnow Road design ($180,000) into Fund. - Council member position on PATS funding:Council Member Nossek expressed concern that the PATS trail system is not a budget line item in Parks and Rec and that the council consistently calls it a priority. He noted that $100,000 would be helpful and urged councils to fund something concrete, even if small. Town Manager Smith countered that the $184,000 project for Houston Mesa Road pedestrian and bicycle improvements is a high-value trail connection and that committing to a larger amount now without grant clarity is riskier. Staff agreed to bring a list of potential PATS projects to the next budget cycle. Key Outcomes - Consensus to approve the Permit Technician position and remove the Parks Operation Foreman, Community Service Officer, and part-time CRS upgrade from the draft budget - Supported Wellness Program ($18,000 included in FY24-25 budget) - Directed EAA to solicit public input before proceeding with the roundabout aircraft installation; no town funds committed - Directed staff to change prosecution services from Mark Iacovino to Pierce Coleman, to be placed on the consent agenda in June - Deferred employer housing assistance programs until next cycle - Directed staff to continue with priorities: Keep Green Valley Parkway momentum, reduce pavement preservation to $3 million, zero out the front truck funding for FY25, order the ladder truck, and try to incorporate Goodnow Road design into the HERF fund. - Tentative budget adoption scheduled for the May 22, 2024 regular Council meeting.