Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021, AT 5:15 P.M., GILBERT PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING FACILITY, ATLAS AUDITORIUM, 6860 SOUTH POWER ROAD, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Brigette Peterson, Vice Mayor Yung Koprowski, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Laurin Hendrix, Scott September, Kathy Tilque, and Aimee Yentes COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Patrick Banger, Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera, Town Attorney Chris Payne, and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project Supervisor Ryan Blair CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 1. Discussion of National Citizen Survey results. This item was moved to the September 21, 2021 Council meeting. 2. Discussion of Ocotillo Road Bridge Project. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project Supervisor Blair introduced Design Consultants David Rutkowski and Marissa Pellegrini from Kimley-Horn. Project Supervisor Blair thanked the Council and gave a brief overview of the project, stating it would bridge the gap on Ocotillo Road from Greenfield to Higley Roads. He noted prior assessments for seeking ways to add connectivity to the area. He noted changes that were made since then due to the Parks Master Plan. He said the objectives were to communicate the project background and goals, review the aesthetics process, and create a forum for the Council to provide aesthetics input. David Rutkowski of Kimley-Horn stated the project was at the early stages of design and discussed the project goals based on input from Town departments. He said the goals included multi-modal connectivity and being iconic, significant, and meaningful to the community. He discussed design considerations including accessibility, serviceability, usability, and stormwater management. He stated the design was in the middle of Gilbert Regional Park and the Chandler Heights Basin. He summarized key issues, adding the input received from the Council and other focus groups were considered important to the project. He noted previously completed outreach from 2018, stating the project inspiration and theme at the time was determined to be “Desert Oasis”. Marissa Pellegrini of Kimley-Horn discussed the current status of the project and future direction using the previously identified theme of “Desert Oasis”. She discussed stakeholders that included the Town Manager’s Office, the Parks and Recreation Board, the Arts Committee Task Force, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, and the Gilbert community. She discussed the goal of using those groups to define a vision and four concepts, then narrowing those down to two concepts, leading to one, and then concept refinement in Spring 2022. She said it would then move into a 30 percent design plan. She spoke of the use of virtual outreach tools that would be adapted to be interactive while using applications like Nextdoor and Twitter, as well as a project-specific website. She also noted the group would be reaching out to homeowners’ associations. Project Supervisor Ryan Blair discussed defining the vision and read survey questions provided to the Council to seek input. The questions included defining the “Desert Oasis” theme, how the theme could be applied, desired user experiences, and creating a bridge that was “uniquely Gilbert” and iconic. He stated the questionnaire should be completed by September 14, 2021. Councilmember Tilque stated she did not want to go backwards, but asked if the theme of “Desert Oasis” was being sensitive to the current conversations regarding water and if it would create the perception that the Town was not interested in conservation. Project Supervisor Blair said he was interested in what the word “oasis” meant to others. He said the word “oasis” did not necessarily mean water and discussed ways to use steel and other resources to go with the theme without adding water components. Councilmember Anderson said Gilbert was known for its desert riparian areas, adding they were naturally occurring features. He said Gilbert had created artificial recharge ponds and that idea could be considered and taken advantage of with the bridge project. Vice Mayor Koprowski asked if most of the aesthetics would focus on the bridge at Gilbert Regional Park or would they also be incorporated into the other two bridges as well. Project Supervisor Blair stated the concentration was on the bridge above the park, but it would trickle out into the outer bridges as well. Councilmember Yentes asked if one design concept would come back to the Council or if there would be different design options with different tiers, expressing concern that the design would not be one the Council would financially support. Project Supervisor Blair stated the group would develop four concepts using the different focus groups, then narrow it down to two concepts, which would be brought back to the Council for narrowing down to one. He stated it would be a robust process and he anticipated 30 percent design by April 2022. Councilmember Yentes asked if a fiscal lens would be used for filtering so that the amount would not be shocking when it got back to the Council. Project Supervisor Blair affirmed, adding the contractor would be on board throughout the project, which would allow costs to be included from the beginning. Mayor Peterson asked if there was a ballpark figure for the bridge. Town Manager Banger stated there was an overall project budget, noting the design was in the early stages. Project Supervisor Blair stated the overall budget for was $67,000,000 and the construction portion was $54,000,000. Councilmember Yentes stated she thought the original amount was around $30,000,000, but she did not remember what the scope covered. Town Manager Banger stated those conversations may have been regarding conversations around the transportation impact fee as a revenue source that would generate about $30,000,000 and cover a little under half of the total project. Mayor Peterson encouraged the Council to take the survey and thanked the presenters for the information. ADJOURN Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:39 p.m.  ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Brigette Peterson, Mayor Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 7th day of September, 2021. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this __________ day of _______________, 2021. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk