Common Council - Regular Meeting

I don't have my phone, but I'm guessing that clock is right now. 559 according to Verizon

at least twice a day, right? Which way? It looks like he has that.

All right. 6 pm we'll call this regular meeting and executive session of the town of Parker Common Council to order. Please silence your electronic devices. Um, roll call of council, please. Mayor Hartless, here. Uh, Vice Mayor Wedell, here. Council member Deleó, here. Council member Daniels, present. Council member Sean here, council member Grenwald here, and council member Junk absent. All right, please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by the invocation by Brie McCrae from Christ Church on the River.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Dear heavenly father, we just thank you for this day. And I just pray that as the mayor and as the council members are making decisions today that they would just consider the best interest of the people here and of the town as a whole. And Lord, I just pray that you would give them wisdom in making those decisions. It's in your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Let's pray. Amen.

Okay, we have several proclamations. Starting with u recognizing April as sexual assault awareness month. Lily, introduce yourself, please. And and if you'd like to read it.

Sure. Good evening, Mayor Hartless, members of the council, and community members. My name is Lillian Perez. I am the community outreach educator for the Colorado River Regional Crisis Services. I'm honored to be here tonight to present a proclamation recognizing April as sexual assault awareness month. Uh before I begin, I did bring around a small basket of some awareness items. These serve as reminders that ending sexual violence is a community effort and every conversation, act of support, and moment of education brings us closer to a safer world for survivors. Um Angela has the basket. So if anybody would like one, please see her and grab one. Um, so on to the proclamation recognizing April as sexual assault awareness month. Whereas sexual assault is a serious and widespread issue that affects individuals of all genders, ages, races, and backgrounds, impacting not only survivors, but also families, communities, and society as a whole. And whereas every 68 seconds, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. And research indicates that most cases go unreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of support. And whereas sexual assault awareness month provides an opportunity for communities to raise awareness, educate the public, and support survivors in their healing journey. And whereas organizations, advocates, and individuals in Parker, Arizona are committed to preventing sexual violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a culture of respect, consent, and safety. And whereas through education, prevention efforts, and open dialogue, we can we can work together to change social norms, hold perpetrators accountable, and build a future free from sexual violence. Now therefore, be it resolved that the town of Parker, Arizona Mayor, I, Randy

Hartless, hereby do proclaim April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and encourage all residents to join in raising awareness, supporting survivors, and working toward a safer and more just community for all. Thank you, Lily. Thank you.

There's our your official copy we'll give to you. Okay, our next one is the week of the young child. You guys don't want to read this. Is that what I'm getting? Okay, I will read this. Whereas all of Arizona's children deserve access to quality early care and education, ECE environments. And whereas quality child care programs build children's lifelong learning skills during the critical years from birth to age five. And whereas ECE teachers and child care providers are the essential workforce that helps Arizona parents get to work or school. And whereas funding quality child care is a smart investment that improves family well-being strengthens communities and grows our state's prosperity. And whereas First Things First, Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children, Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children and other community organizations in conjunction with the National Association for the Education of Young Children are celebrating the 54th anniversary of the week of the Young Child. And whereas these organizations are working to improve equitable early childhood opportunities that provide a strong start for children in the town of Parker. And whereas public policies that support ECE for Arizona's youngest learners help our families, communities, and the economy thrive. Now therefore, I, Randy Hartless, do hereby proclaim April 5th through 11th, 2025 as the week of the young child in the town of Parker, Arizona, and encourage all citizens to support and invest in early care and education in our community. Thank you, ladies. And then National Library Week Phoenix. You're going to read that one?

Yeah.

Okay. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I am so excited to bring our 2025 National Library Week proclamation. Whereas libraries spark creativity, fuel imagination, and inspire lifelong learning, offering a space where individuals of all ages can explore new ideas and be drawn to new possibilities. Whereas libraries serve as a vibrant community hub connecting people with knowledge, technology, and resources while fostering civic engagement, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Whereas libraries provide free and equitable access to books, digital tools, and innovative programming, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, have a the support that they need to learn, connect, and thrive. Whereas libraries partner with schools, businesses, and organizations, connecting dots to maximize resources, increase efficiency, and expand access to essential services, strengthening the entire community. Whereas libraries empower job seekers, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners by providing access to resources, training, and opportunities that support career growth and economic success. Whereas libraries nurture young minds through story times, steam programs, literacy initiatives um and initi and literacy initiatives, fostering curiosity and the love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Whereas libraries protect the right to read, think and explore without censorship, standing as champions of intellectual freedom and free expression. Whereas dedicated librarians and library workers provide welcoming spaces that in inspire discovery, collaboration, and creativity for all. Whereas librarians, libraries, and library workers across the country are joining together to celebrate National Library Week under the theme drawn to the library.

Now therefore be resolved that the town of Parker proclaims April 6th through 12th, 2025 as National Library Week. During this week, I encourage all residents to visit the library, explore its resources, and celebrate all the ways that the library draws us together as a community. Thank you, Phoenix. Thank you. And we have official um proclamations for all of you guys. Thank you.

All right. No call to the public. So, our next item is chamber director's report. Eric Daniels, executive director. Good evening, Mayor and Council. We have a lot going on this weekend in the town of Parker. On Saturday, April 5th, starting at 8:30, we will have a ribbon cutting for our new turf at Aaron Hillfield. It is also opening day for Parker Little League, so you can stay and watch the games. And at 900 a.m., the Healthy Law Expo will start at the Western Park. So, that morning is going to be a lot of fun. Then that evening is Parker Rotary's razor dinner. And oh, I missed one. During the day is also the 34th annual Bill Chrismer's Memorial Golf Tournament by Post and Rotary. So you guys have something to do on Saturday for sure. Um, looking ahead to next weekend, Saturday, April 12th, the Blue Water Resort and Casino is having their spring classic boat power boat races and the first Kids and Heroes cornhole tournament will be at the Splash Pad at Pop Harvey Park starting at 10:00 a.m. That Sunday, April 13th, the Parker Fire Department is going to host an Easter egg hunt. Also, on Saturday, April 12th, Crit is having their Easter egg hunt. Registration is at 8:00 a.m. and hunting starts at 9:00. The chamber was awarded a rural co-op marketing grant recently and yesterday we went live with billboards all over the Phoenix area for our Parker twoflo. Very exciting. Um registration for two float opened up on March 3rd and as of today we have 647 floaters registered.

Yes. So super excited. If you haven't registered parkerfund.com. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. Our consent agenda is the next item. There's um four items on there. Town of Parker meeting minutes from March 18th, 2025. Special event application for the Town of Parker annual Easter egg extravaganza. April 19th, 2025. special event application for the crisis shelter sexual assault awareness walk on April 18th at Pop Harvey Splash Pad and a special event application from Pace Kids and Heroes Cornhole Tournament on April 12th from 9 to 2. We could take these all together. Somebody you'd like to make a motion?

Make a motion to approve item A through D. I second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor? I. I. Motion carries. Um, on these items here, we're going to move item two down and move item three up because they involve executive sessions and it's goofy to go in and out of executive like that. So, item one is discussion and action to approve deny amendment to the good creations annual contract for grant writing services. Nora.

So, The um move that the council approve the amendment to the Good Creations LLC grant writing services on March 18th. The council meeting the council approved the annual services contract for good creations. As discussed in the previous meeting regarding the additional insurance cost, Good Creations has secured the appropriate insurance requirements with an additional cost of $1,8757 for a fiscal impact on that. Um, so the new total monthly payment for grant writing services would be $2,929.75 for a total of 351 57

35,000 35,000 I'm so sorry. Um and the the following steps will be that we will contact John and let him know if the new contract is passed. So Christine, you all good with this? Yes. As long as he has the insurance that we required and obviously Yes. That's that's fine. I think that was the intent, right? Was just for him to come back with a new amount. Correct. All right. Entertain a motion. I'll make a motion to approve. Move and seconded. Any discussion, questions?

I know. I would personally like to see this be something that we could do in house someday. It's it's a lot of money and I understand the importance of it and everything but being able to move away from the dependency on so many contracts noted. All right. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor of approval? I opposed.

Motion carried. All right. Item three, discussion and action to approve deny 2025 updates to the town of Parker schedule of fees and rates for public posting. Uh Amy,

uh thank you, mayor and council. Um we pretty much um went through this in our um last work session and worked everything out. Um you guys wanted to send this back to the parks and wreck um for their um input on the town parks and ball fields fee schedule. Um so we're just going to go straight to page 13. Um Steve and I had an extensive meeting with the parks and wreck that lasted what nearly two hours. Um and we kind of gathered their thoughts and where they wanted to go with this. Um and then um we took kind of all that back to our next staff meeting. Um, and the changes in red starting on page 13 are um are all the changes. Um, everything is is pretty much pretty much the same. Um, we added the Aaron Hillfield deposit and that kind of stuff. So, that's probably where we want to look at um what you guys think of those fees and and how we all feel about that. Um, and then go from there. the committee collectively came up with the fees and

yeah, we we talked about this and that and deposits and all kinds of stuff and this is kind of the gist that we got from them. Um and then we talked about it like I said in in our next staff meeting and and this is what we really kind of solidified in there.

Yeah, we appreciate their input on this. I think that's good. That's really the only changes from the last time, right? Yeah. Okay.

Uh and the one big change was the the deposit for the Erin Hillfield. Um we we talked a lot about this. Um and what the what the kind of final consensus was was um we charge a $250 refundable deposit for our concession stand and that is an amenity. and we looked at the air and field like an amenity, an an upgraded amenity. Um, and thought it was appropriate for that that deposit, refundable deposit to be the same as the concession stand. Um, again, it's completely refundable. You get your money back. Um, and then you would just pay the um use fee.

Is that like for the um board controller? that that deposit um stayed the same at $500. Okay. Um because of the high cost of that, I think the actual replacement on that was closer to a thousand. So really, we're only covering half half our cost if if it gets damaged. Amy, I have a different question. Um under special event fees where it says like a parade setup, does that fee include like a nonprofit? Like if the Soptimus want to a parade. Yeah, those those fees can be brought to you to request waiverss on. Okay. And that's what has traditionally been done.

Um these the we don't have these fees set. So if there's a commercial party that wants to come in and host a parade, um we you know, we don't have a fee for that. So um you know, not that we have that happen. Um, but we could and that's that's the intent of the fee schedule is if we have to charge a fee for something, it's there and we can do it. Um, if it's not posted, we absolutely cannot charge a fee for it. Okay. I just want to make sure our nonprofits weren't going to be caught up and here they're trying to do a Christmas parade and we're saying, "Hey, wait a minute here." Okay, perfect. Thank you. All right.

Motion to approve. Second move it second to approve the 2025 updates to the town of Parker schedule of fees and rates for public posting. Any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor? I I motion carries. All right. Item three, discussion and action to approve deny publication of the statutory notice of a town of Parker building moratorum. Um, I'll make a motion that we discuss this matter in executive session pursuant to ARS 38-431.03A3.

Can we also make the motion for number four just so that way you aren't having to come in and out? Okay. I'll modify my motion to include a discussion and action to approve deny the 2025 employment agreement with Nora Yakley for her appointment as town manager. Before we uh move and make uh any action on going into executive session, I'm attending remotely from London, England. So, I would like to uh verify that I can participate in executive session

uh via Zoom. I was trying to get that all clarified before uh we made a motion to go into executive session. I just wanted not did not want to be excluded from the executive session. I'm pretty sure you cannot be in executive remotely. Go get some fish.

All Well, then I'd like to make a motion uh respectfully that we uh uh move item number four and table item number four until the full council is present. I know that Z's not uh in attendance and I really would like to be present and participate in any discussions on on uh you know uh leadership in uh because we're going to be discussing town manager responsibilities and uh contracts. So, you know, I just feel that we should not be uh finalizing executive level employment contracts when I I mean I I really want to be part of that discussion and uh I'm sure that Z would probably want to do that as well.

Yeah, I don't disagree. Um Christina, are there any contractual difficulties with this related to dates or anything? No, I mean I think at this point um I mean anytime we have like a you I mean if her I haven't looked at it like specifically, but if it expired it would just continue. So you would be fine to table this if you'd like. Okay. That I'd like to make that I'll I'll withdraw my motion first off. Okay.

Um yeah, I agree with Ray. There's two people gone. I wouldn't I would like to see them everybody here. So, so you're making a motion that we table item four to a future date. Yeah. And then item three, I've had enough uh information and discussion and I would respect uh the the discussions that were entered into in in executive session. All right. I'll second your motion to table item four to a later date. Any discussion on that? Anybody? Hearing none. All those in favor?

I opposed. All right. Item four is tabled for a later date. Now I'll make a motion to take item three discussion and action to approve deny publication of statutory notice of a town of Parker building moratorum. Um into executive session pursuant to ARS 38-431.0383. Just quickly before we go into executive session, can CRRCS get a picture for their sexual assault awareness month proclamation? Okay, just give me a second. We'll get that going. Yeah, do your hair first. Huh? So, you got to do your hair first. No.

All right. It's been moved. Waiting for a second. It's been moved and seconded to go into executive session. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Have fun, Ray. Have a bloody good time. I handed it to them. You get everything taken care of. If you guys want a picture for