City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. We'll call this meeting to order. This is the city of Buckeye council meeting for 03/03/2026. We will begin tonight with the invocation led by pastor Keith Howard from Vicente Church followed by the pledge led by council member Hustis.

Thank you, mister mayor, council members. If I might make just a thirty second comment, as mayor Orsborn mentioned, I'm Keith Howard from Besant Church of the Assemblies of God. Formerly Buckeye First Assembly of God Church in 2021, our congregation voted to rebrand in an effort to grow commensurate with the city. We hope to have multiple campuses throughout the city. This year, we are celebrating ninety years as a church in December, and we'll be giving special invitation to you to join us.

We would love for you to join us and any of you in the room. Our church began many years ago meeting in homes in 1934 and then officially becoming a church in 1936. Met for a long time in the Roxy Theater, and then moved to our first location was is now Snap Fitness right here on Monroe and to our current location in 1993. My wife and I have served here for twenty years, and we're we often say that we are right here in the heart of Buckeye with Buckeye right in our hearts. And this is this is my district.

Council member Barry is a longtime friend, and we we love the city. It's our honor to pray. Father, thank you for this opportunity to be together tonight. I pray for our council members. I pray for our mayor and all who will speak that their burden will be light and easy tonight. Thank you for their public service. Let everything go according to your plans, and let your peace just prevail upon all of the important items that are discussed for the advancement here in our city. We give thanks for the city of Buckeye. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Okay. Thank you both. Can we have the roll call, please?

Council member Yonker?

Here.

Council member Berry?

Here.

Council member Hagestad? Here. Council member Beard?

Here.

Council member Hustis?

Here.

Vice mayor Goodman? Present. Eric Osborne? Present. Eric Osborne. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go by Eric too. That's a okay. Item number two is comments from the public. Members of the audience may comment on any non agenda item of interest. Do we have any speaker request cards?

There are no speaker request cards.

No speaker request cards. Alright. On to item number three, awards, presentations, and proclamations. Did you just get two speaker request cards? Hot off the presses.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. For agenda items, seeppend. Is that right? Okay. And Rusty. Alright. Both on five c. You want the agenda item five c. We'll call you up for for those items. But there are no other comments from the public for non agenda items.

No additional comment.

Thank you very much. Item number three is awards presentations proclamations. We have none for tonight. Four is consent agenda items and new business approval of consent approval of items on the consent agenda. All items with an asterisk are considered to be routine matters and will be enacted by one motion and vote of the city council. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member requests. This section may include the approval of minutes from previous meetings. Council for the consent agenda, what is your pleasure?

Mister mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we approve consent agenda items four a as in Adam through four I as in Ida. Second.

I have a motion for approval and a second for the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Consent agenda passes unanimous. We will move on to agenda item I'm sorry, to number five, public hearing and non consent and new business five a. Counsel to hold a public hearing only regarding a blank annexation petition requesting to annex three parcels of land totaling approximately 83.5 acres located at the Southwest Corner of Interstate 10 and State Route 85. And, Ken, you are not Sean Bonda. Are you the warm up act for Sean?

Here, Sean has a one of his daughters has a spring orchestra concert. So last time I covered for one of my colleagues, Mandy, was the an annexation that that sort of went sideways. So I'm hoping that doesn't happen again tonight. That was a concert related. That was Christmas concert related.

So tonight, Buckeye eighty three annexation, just the first of two public hearings for this, so there will be no council action this evening. This is case PLZM twenty five zero zero zero eight. The applicant is Wendy Riddell, Mary Riddell, law firm on behalf of the owner VWP Buckeye Owner LLC. The site, and I'll show you a map in just a second, southeast corner of I 10 and State Route 85 Road. And the request is simply an annexation of these three parcels totaling 83.5 acres.

You can see the site here outlined in red. It's actually bifurcated by 266th Avenue with the majority of the site on the east and north side of that road with just a small kind of triangular portion west of of the street. To orient you, West Park is to the East, though the portions directly adjacent to this site are not currently developed. And then, of course, the two freeways to the North and to the West. Land to the South is also part of West Park we designated for nonresidential use.

The general plan designates this site as business commerce, is our commercial category. This allows for non residential or commercial service types of uses. This is different than our employment, the blue color in that while some of the same types of uses could occur within the red, it's limited in size and scale to be more compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Of course, the site is currently in the county, which is why we're requesting the annexation this evening. It is zoned Rural 43 within the county.

And upon annexation, it will receive comparable city zoning which is the R 143. That's the zoning district that's essentially limited to development of acre lots for single family homes. We do have a separate zoning request in process to rezone this site to Business Park in conjunction or in conformance with the general plan that I mentioned that'll come back at a future meeting. That's not part of the annexation consideration. The proposed annexation does meet all of the required eligibility requirements with regard to continuity or contiguity and and whatnot.

The blank petition was recorded on February 9. All notices required by statute have been completed for this public hearing, and we've received no comment on this annexation to date. We also have no remaining comments from city reviewing departments. So with that mayor, we do recommend just conducting a public hearing tonight taking no action. And then we'll be back anticipating April 7 for consideration of the approval as well as the rezoning.

Okay. Thank you, Ken. We'll first do the public hearing. So we'll open a public hearing on agenda item five a. Do we have any speaker request cards for agenda item five a?

No request cards for item five a.

Okay. And anybody from the public wishing to speak on five a? Seeing none, we will close the public hearing. And this is a public hearing only. And so that'll be all for agenda item five a. Good job this time, Ken. Item five b, counsel to hold a public hearing only regarding a blank annexation petition requesting to annex one parcel of land totaling approximately 3.5 acres located north of the Northeast corner of Rainbow Road and Broadway Road. And Joseph Miller.

Thank you, mayor, members of council. Case PLZM two five zero zero eight seven, known as the Rainbow 461 annexation, is three approximately three and a half acres of land located at the Northeast corner of Rainbow Road and Broadway Road. The they comprise or the three and a half acres comprises just one parcel. This parcel is a small chunk of a larger proposed single family residential development that will comprise approximately 470 acres. This is the only portion of that greater piece that is not already within the city's jurisdiction.

So the first step that the applicant is taking is to, request this three and a half acre parcel be, brought in via annexation. As you can see here, the property is currently farmed land. It does not have any structures on the the parcel on yet. So just undeveloped farmland. It is one property out of a four property county island, meaning the city has already annexed all of the land around north, south, east, west except for this one subject parcel and the three there's three residential properties to the south just north of Broadway Road that are not part of this annexation request.

The general plan designates this as neighborhood, which is consistent with the applicant's long term goal for the property. The property is currently zoned Rural 43 within Maricopa County. As such, when it does get brought into the city, it will carry the R 143 zoning designation, which is a large lot residential designation. The applicant will then seek zoning that is more compatible with the rest of their, properties to the, north, east, and west. That will be part of the, proposed development up there.

Whatever zoning they land on will be consistent with the general plan, land use designation of neighborhood. The staff notes that all notice and publication requirements have been met. The blank petition was recorded on 02/09/2026, which meets statutory requirements, and there are no outstanding issues from review departments on the proposed annexation. Staff recommends conducting a public hearing. This is the first time it has been brought to council, so no action tonight.

And then we'll consider of a consideration of a ordinance approving that annexation will occur at a future council hearing date. Thank you. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Okay. We'll open the public hearing first. You're in public hearing for agenda item five b. Any speaker request cards for agenda item five b?

I believe one of the additional or the original request forms was for item five b.

You're correct. It had the zoning. So Rusty, you're wanting to speak to this one specifically? Okay. There's a bullpen right up here.

So my home is one of those three lots that is directly south of that. And by adding homes there is going to decrease the value of our home because we're gonna lose the flood irrigation. The grandpa's house sits on the corner that was originally the homestead included in that was free flood irrigation every time that the farm flooded their property, the excess water would come to those three homes. So mine and mine. I'm gonna lose property value from that as well as we're gonna lose the view of the the mountains. So we're expecting at least a $100,000 loss in value of our property in building those homes and access in this property in.

Okay. Thank you for that. We'll have any other comments on on this particular? That's it. Okay. Appreciate appreciate you making comments. Steph, do we have an opportunity to respond to that or is that something that we can put you all in touch with Mr. Rusty to have a discussion on?

Yeah, Mayor, if, mister Rusty has any questions, I would be happy to, talk with him, at a later date. Again, there's no action being taken tonight, so we can accommodate that.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Alright. Any other speaker request cards for agenda five b?

There are no additional speaker request cards.

Okay. We will close the public hearing. Council, any questions on five b?

Yes.

Mayor, have

a question.

Yes, sir.

You had mentioned that it's single family residence going in behind that. What kind of single family residence?

Yes, mayor, council member Yonker. There's a combination of different zoning destinations within the applicants proposed development area. They have not come in with any plans or plots for that as of yet. So what that will actually look like, I'm not sure. It it's neighborhood mixed use to the Northwest.

And let me just go back. It's a planned community to the north there. So those are the two zoning districts. What what their plans will look like precisely, I do not know that yet.

Okay. So we're talking single family deeded properties

is Correct. What we're talking

The applicant has indicated that they will be a single family residential subdivisions.

Okay. Alright. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions from council? Alright. This is a public hearing only. So that will conclude our work on agenda item five b tonight. Thank you, Joseph. Onto agenda item five c, council to hold a public hearing and take action on ordinance number zero four dash two six, amending ordinance number one eight dash two three relating to the rezoning of approximately 158 acres generally located West of the Northwest corner of State Route 85 and Patterson Road by amending exhibit d to replace former conditions a through k with conditions a through I.

And Joseph.

Thank you, mayor. Members of the council. Project h two o rezone modification. It's a proposed modification of stipulations to previously approved ordinance number eighteen twenty three. The applicant is proposing the modifications to modify stipulation a or rather remove stipulation a and modify stipulations b and d.

Primarily, the original ordinance that was adapted limited the, use of the property to a hydrogen gas production facility. It it was rezoned to heavy industrial I two, but with, language in the stipulations that, really kept the use of the property specific to that hydrogen production. The applicant is requesting the modifications to increase the allowed uses of the existing I two heavy industrial zoning to allow for expanded industrial uses that are typically allowed within that zoning district. So the site is located just west of the Northwest corner of Patterson Road and 283rd Avenue. It is currently designated as employment in the general plan.

That was established in 2023 concurrently with the previously approved rezoning. It it is, as I mentioned, zoned the heavy industrial I two. With ordinance, 18 dash 23, it did limit those uses to just hydrogen production as I mentioned, but the applicant is seeking, to kind of expand that to just more general I two uses. And you can see here the purpose of the request. There are no additional applications in with city staff as of yet.

However, the applicant has indicated that, the purpose of the request and modification is to pursue a potential data center campus and be approximately 157 acre site. Again, no no formal submittal on that. The subject site is surrounded by a larger 920 acre site. That's the yellow that you can see around the gray on the screen there. If the industrial uses that do develop on the site ever expand into that yellow area, that would require additional rezoning and also a major general plan amendment.

If that if and when that happens, those would go through their own processes and would be before you at a later date. Indications from the applicant suggest that that's kind of in the long term plan, but that's probably a little bit out if that ever comes to fruition. Next steps for the subject site itself. If those that data center campus is to be pursued, a conditional use permit would be needed even after, council approval of the requested modifications that you're considering tonight, and then they would need an administrative site plan. Staff recommends conducting a public hearing and approval of PLZM two five zero one zero seven subject to, modified stipulations a through I.

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Okay. Thank you. We'll start with the public hearing first. We will open a public hearing, and I have one speaker request card from SEEPEN.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the Buckeye City Council. My name is Sapan Alizada. I work for the Arizona Technology Council located at 2800 North Central Avenue Suite 1530. We are in support of this modification of the stipulations. As you all know, as you've all worked with technology companies throughout your ten years on City Council and the signs of a good tech company are ones that know how to pivot and they know how to read the tea leaves.

Right now, as you know, this site is for the hydrogen production, but that's not moving forward. That's not an ideal use of this plot of land. This applicant Fortescue is looking to expand uses to other industrial uses which are appropriate in Buckeye and the West Valley. You all know the West Valley is quickly becoming a tech hub that is becoming that is getting the jealousy of other communities all throughout the state of Arizona. Westmark has done a fantastic job.

The community colleges have done a fantastic job of educating individuals to work in the tech industry. So I'm just here to say please approve this, please expand the stipulations. Let's put this plot of land to good use and the Arizona Technology Council is proud to support this proposal and I'm happy to take any questions.

Thank you, Supan.

Thank you so much, Mayor. Thank you all.

Okay. Any other, speaker request for five c?

There are no additional cards.

No other, from the public wishing to speak? Seeing none, we will close the public hearing. Council, questions on agenda item five c. Councilman Hustis.

I may have missed this, but who owns that yellow around the property of 920 acres? Is that owned by the same people?

Yes, mayor, council member Hustis. That is correct. It is owned by the same ownership group that is seeking the subject modification tonight.

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Yeah, Mr. Mueller, can you go back a couple of slides? Right there, that one. So I just want to be clear on that first bullet. Data centers are a sticky topic right now. And I think during your presentation you said if a data center comes. And I just wanted to confirm that it's an if, we don't have anything in that pipeline right now.

Yes, Mayor, Councilman Bergenmann. We don't have an official submittal as of yet. The from talks from the applicant, it is highly likely that will be the case. But there is not a formal submittal for that conditional use permit as of yet.

So if that application then does come forward, the applicant would have to come before us and get approval for a conditional use permit?

Mayor Council Member Gimmen, they would have to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval of that conditional use permit, but they would not have to come to council.

Okay. Alright. I'm gonna stop right there. Thank you.

Okay. Any other questions from council? This is on for action. Council, what is your pleasure on agenda item 5C?

Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion that we approve agenda item 5C as in Charles.

I have a motion and a second for agenda item five c. All in favor say aye. Aye. And opposed? Five c passes unanimous. Thank you very much. Okay. On to agenda item number six, comments from the mayor and council. Do we have any comments tonight from mayor and council? Alright. Quiet night.

Yes. Okay. We had planned on having a lift up event again this year, only on March 13, which is an event that assists veterans in getting registered for our veterans benefits and help. But due to the county then also having theirs on the same days that we are going to cancel ours. So if anyone has not got the word yet, we are going to get the word out is going out now that the event for our veterans on March 13 has been canceled. That's all I have Mr. Mayor.

Okay. Thank you council member. Anybody else on council? Seeing none we'll go to seven city managers report and some of your current events.

Thank you mayor. I've got a couple events with our community services department with the beautiful weather that March brings us. We have quite a few events coming up. The concert in the park series on this coming Saturday, March 7 from six to 8PM will be at Tartesso Sports Park. The featured band will be outside the line.

They sing funk in Motown music and we encourage all residents to join us for that fun night. On March 14, the concert in the park was scheduled to be held at Festival Foothills Park. However, it will not take place as planned. We have been recently notified by the HOA that the park location is undergoing renovations. We are actively working to secure an alternative location and we will share updated details as soon as they are confirmed.

And then finally, our spring celebration event will take place on March 28 from 9AM to 12PM at Sundance Park. The event will feature crafts, bounce houses, food vendors and photos with the bunny. We'd look forward to welcoming families for a fun and festive morning at the park, and that is what I've got.

Thank you, mister city manager. Is it true that you've asked Miranda for boy bands now?

I have put in a special request for boy bands to be there. What I've heard from the mayor is that he is very looking forward to participating in a coordinated dance with my deputy city managers.

Yeah. Mayor mayor of a different city you've been talking to? Okay. Thank you for that. Agenda item number eight proposal for future agenda items. Council, do we have any? I'm seeing none. Item number nine is with nothing else on the agenda. We are adjourned.