Council Regular/Special Meeting

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING OF THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 AT 8:00 AM, SOUTHEAST REGIONAL LIBRARY, 775 NORTH GREENFIELD ROAD, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Jenn Daniels, Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Eddie Cook, Jordan Ray, and Jared Taylor COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Victor Petersen STAFF PRESENT: Manager Patrick Banger, Deputy Clerk Kris Kingsmore, Town Attorney Christopher Payne, Deputy Town Manager Jacob Ellis, Police Chief Michael Soelberg, Fire Chief Jim Jobusch, and Community Resources Program Supervisor Melanie Dykstra AGENDA ITEM NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME Mayor Jenn Daniels called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and welcomed attendees to the 9th Annual Faith Leaders’ Summit. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Jordan Ray gave the invocation. Vice Mayor Brigette Peterson led the Pledge of Allegiance ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1 Update on Town recent events. Deputy Town Manager Jacob Ellis updated attendees on the Town’s projects and accomplishments over the past year. He shared information about the recently updated Heritage District Redevelopment Plan, the Town’s higher education partnership with Park University, progress on the Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery (set to open by Summer 2019), and work on Elliot District Park, Gilbert Regional Park, and Desert Sky Park. He also talked about the Town’s Long Range Infrastructure Plan, the Greenfield Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Town’s Open Data Portal (Alex), progress on the Lindsay Road/202 Santan Freeway Interchange project, and the success of the Gilbert311 application. 1  Deputy Town Manger Jacob Ellis explained the Town will be updating its General Plan and encouraged members of the Faith Community to get involved in the process and share their thoughts and ideas. The plan is scheduled for public approval in November 2020. He also shared information about Gilbert’s Innovation Roadmap and how it will allow the Town to “harness and promote technology in order to provide better services now and in the future.” 2 Presentation on the Police and Fire Public Safety Training Facility. Police Chief Michael Soelberg said that Gilbert is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the state, that it is currently recognized as one of the safest cities in the nation, and that it prides itself in offering Best in Class Service in Public Safety. With nearly 42% of Gilbert’s police and fire public safety personnel eligible to retire in less than two years, the Town is faced with significant challenges in training new recruits and new hires thoroughly enough to replace experienced, seasoned officers and firefighters. Police Chief Michael Soelberg explained there is a critical lack of available and adequate training facility space in the region. Neighboring facilities are not built to accommodate the training needs of an additional “full- sized” municipality. Training space availability is unpredictable and the geographic distance to other training locations results in inefficient training due to the length of time needed to transport both personnel and equipment to and from those locations. Fire Chief Jim Jobusch provided background on the proposed Police and Fire Public Safety Training Facility. He detailed the years of hard work, research, and evaluation spent developing this plan and said the core project team reviewed best and worst practices around the state and the nation. They also identified “lack of training” as the leading trend in police “failure to train” liability. The core project team explored multiple solutions to the Town’s training needs. Options included 1) continuing to borrow training space and training time from neighboring cities, 2) partnering with other agencies on capital costs to build a shared facility, and 3) building a Town facility with continued collaboration between Gilbert and neighboring cities and agencies. Building a new public safety training facility was identified as the best solution for Gilbert. Fire Chief Jim Jobusch reviewed draft plans for the Police and Fire Public Safety Training Facility. The plans allow for a driving course, a one-story and a two-story residential type building, a commercial type building, a tactical warehouse and driver training building, a training tower, a learning center, and a firearms range. He said all of the components, except for the 2  firearms range, can be configured to allow training for both firefighters and police officers and would allow them to recreate situations and scenarios they might encounter in the line of duty. Fire Chief Jim Jobusch explained that voters will be asked to approve funding for the proposed facility at the November 2018 general election. He shared the projected property tax rate if funding is approved. If approved, construction is projected to begin in Spring 2019 with the training facility available for use in Spring 2021. 3 Presentation on the opening of the Heritage Center and other Community Resources. Community Resources Supervisor Melanie Dykstra provided an update on Page Park Center. Page Park Center was renamed Heritage Center and is being renovated as a collaborative effort between the community, local non-profits, and the Town of Gilbert. The revitalized Center will provide on- going resources and services to Gilbert’s uninsured and under-insured working poor, as well as to low and moderate income families, children, teens, and adults. AZCEND will operate the Center and Mission of Mercy, Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, Dignity Health, and WIC – Women, Infants, & Children will provide services in their roles as foundational partners. Community Resources Supervisor Melanie Dykstra said initial services provided at the Center will include rent and utility assistance, case management and referrals, healthcare and prescription medications, counseling services, preventative dental services for children, hearing and vision screenings, immunizations, nutrition services, and “healthier living with chronic disease” workshops. This revitalization project utilizes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and a grand opening will be held on October 4, 2018. Community Resources Supervisor Melanie Dykstra shared information about the Emergency and Minor Home Repair Program and the Community Resource Manual (a useful tool to help connect residents with needed services). She reminded everyone that the Neighbor to Neighbor Utility Donation Program and the On-line Town Store (where Gilbert-themed items are available to purchase with 100% of the proceeds benefiting non-profits) provide ways for residents to help donate / raise funds for Gilbert’s families in need. She thanked the Town’s community partners, including the Faith Community, Gilbert Cares, local service clubs, the Beacon Group, For Our City Gilbert–iRun for Good, the HD South-Museum, and others for their efforts in helping Gilbert’s residents. The Town relies heavily on these partnerships. She mentioned the success these partnerships can have and 3  used the success of Gilbert Feeding Families, a partnership with United Food Bank, as an example. Because of these partnerships, combined with community support, $430,000 has been allocated to 20 Gilbert and Valley- wide non-profits, directly serving over 40,000 Gilbert residents. 4 Presentation on Technology and Youth. Katey McPherson, Internet Safety Expert and Gilbert resident, spoke on the impact technology is having on our youth. It is estimated there are over 70,000 school age children in the Town of Gilbert. Ms. McPherson said that while we have great children in our Town, we also have families that are struggling with the use of social media and the Internet in their homes. She has seen many families at the park or in other social settings where the adults are constantly on their devices and not interacting with their children. According to Ms. McPherson, there are four characteristics of healthy child development – nature, movement, physical touch and connection. Research has shown we are losing exchanges like touch and connection due to social media and prolonged screen time. The less interaction adults have with children, the greater the impact on healthy child development. According to Arizona statistics, in 2017 suicide was the first leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 year olds and the second leading cause of death for children and adults ages 15 to 34. Ms. McPherson said that in the past year we lost 26 students in the 15 mile radius of Gilbert and its neighboring communities. Twenty-five were boys and there was one girl. The youngest was 10 and the oldest was 18. Ms. McPherson stated it is imperative for adults to work on being truly present and attentive when together with their children, friends, and families. With our electronic devices it is far too easy to be together and yet essentially alone, she said. 5 Future Events and Wrap-up Mayor Jenn Daniels announced the following upcoming events: 1) iRun for Good on Saturday, October 27, 2018, 2) Gilbert Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, and 3) East Valley Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on March 27, 2019. Pastor Tim Thompson, Fountain of Life Christian Fellowship, talked about the 3rd Annual For Our City Gilbert – iRun for Good Race that will be held on October 27, 2018. He explained the history of the race and said this year’s run will benefit AZCEND, a community partner that serves individuals in crisis, stabilizes families in their homes, and assists seniors in need. 4  ADJOURN Councilmember Eddie Cooked offered the benediction. Mayor Jenn Daniels adjourned the meeting at 9:28 a.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Jenn Daniels, Mayor Kris Kingsmore, Deputy Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 20th day of September, 2018. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________. ___________________________________ Kris Kingsmore, Deputy Town Clerk 5