Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL, IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024, AT 5:00 PM, MUNICIPAL BUILDING I, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 50 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Brigette Peterson, Vice Mayor Scott Anderson, Councilmembers Chuck Bongiovanni, Bobbi Buchli, Yung Koprowski, Kathy Tilque, and Jim Torgeson COUNCIL ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Patrick Banger, Town Attorney Chris Payne, Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera, Deputy Clerk Judy Martinez, Redevelopment Program Manager Amanda Elliott, and Parks and Recreation Director Robert Carmona CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 1. Discussion and presentation on Northwest Gilbert Redevelopment and Revitalization Public Outreach. Redevelopment Program Manager Elliott spoke on the redevelopment, revitalization, and reinvestment of Northwest Gilbert. She discussed that reinvestment could be likened to when a home needed maintenance to avoid disrepair. She stated data and public feedback were used to determine how and where Gilbert should focus their reinvestment efforts. She gave an example of updating a kitchen and likened it to Northwest Gilbert with ideas of updating streetscapes, infrastructure improvements, or enhanced park amenities. She stated Urban Land Institute was brought in to determine the optimal time for the reinvestment and revitalization effort based on the data and outreach. There was an extensive outreach process which included online surveys, business walks, in-person meetings, and virtual open houses, which resulted in public feedback, and the creation of a website landing page. She detailed the toolbox available from the State of Arizona used for redevelopment that municipalities could use to aid in the prevention or elimination of signs of decline. The statute allowed access for 10 years as long as the community had a community-driven plan for reinvestment in place. She explained that redevelopment worked to breathe new life into areas that had signs of social, physical, environmental, or economic conditions that led to decline. The purpose was to prevent signs of decline or eliminate decline from happening. She discussed how the redevelopment of the downtown Heritage District had led to a reduction in neglect, increased reinvestment, increased property values, and increased sales tax revenue. She clarified that the downtown Heritage District was an entertainment district, but that was not the same focus for the Northwest Gilbert area. She said Northwest Gilbert was unique and talked about the importance of employment, residential, and supporting neighborhood commercial and not mirroring the downtown density or entertainment. She presented the three boundary options the public had seen and explained those to the Council. She discussed the different data collected to help determine the boundaries and what the needs were within those areas. She discussed how other communities funded facade improvement programs by utilizing Community Development Block Grant funds and American Rescue Act funds. She said that the business community and residents wanted them to focus on safety and eliminate loitering. She emphasized that they were not currently developing goals and strategies, but they had feedback that would allow them to work with the public to examine opportunities and determine funding sources once they were ready. She explained that when they were asked to seek public feedback on a boundary, the Lindsay boundary was recommended for Northwest revitalization. The boundary did not split neighborhoods and captured 30% of non-Homeowners Association (HOA) neighborhoods, addressed 60% of aging properties of 40+ years old, had more connectivity, reached the greatest number of individuals on a fixed income, and had the most opportunity to solve calls of service. Councilmembers Tilque and Buchli stated they were supportive of the Lindsay boundary for the Northwest Revitalization. Councilmember Koprowski stated she was also in support of the Lindsay boundary and said the streetscape was an important element for enhancing that area and was already included in other projects. She wanted to ensure they were doing their part to invest in that area of Town as well. Councilmember Torgeson requested clarification in future discussions on why the Lindsay boundary was preferred. Councilmember Bongiovanni stated he was impressed by what had been presented, adding he was looking forward to it and agreed with the Lindsay boundary area. Vice Mayor Anderson discussed the natural evaluation that cities went through. He said that fit into it perfectly, as did the Lindsay boundary. Mayor Peterson discussed not wanting to turn Gilbert into a city and said the Lindsay boundary was the cleanest. She discussed the data considerations. She stated a decision would be necessary concerning the homes that faced the road and whether the boundary would be the centerline or the east boundary of Lindsay Road. Redevelopment Program Manager Elliott shared the next steps including sending emails for seeking feedback from the public and through the landing page. She said the hope was to be before the Council in June for the boundary adoption, then to begin goals and strategy development with public engagement in August and September 2024. 2. Discussion and presentation on Wildlife Feeding. Parks and Recreation Director Carmona stated the current discussion was a follow-up from a previous Study Session in December 2023 on the wildlife feeding ordinances and proposed an option or two for the next steps in the process. He mentioned that when discussing wildlife feeding, it started with the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. He added that program was permitted on private property but not on Town-owned property, according to the ordinance. He stated the initial wildlife feeding ordinance had focused on not feeding the wildlife at the Riparian Preserve. Then in 2018 a new ordinance was adopted and included no feeding on any Town-owned properties or public right-of-way. He discussed what implementation and reporting to consider in a one-year plan to aid nonprofits providing TNR services. He said the item was before them for any additional recommendations from the Council. Councilmember Tilque stated they had looked at other communities to compare and she liked the funding for nonprofits but wished them to go further from there. She wanted the nonprofits they partnered with to respond promptly and have the necessary expertise. She said she was willing to start at $10,000 to be put in a fund and noted the need for a tracking mechanism and a way to measure if it was successful. She said they wished to make sure that a resident or HOA would know who to contact for assistance. Vice Mayor Anderson asked about the number of nonprofits that may be competing for dollars. Parks and Recreation Director Carmona stated there were a lot of nonprofits providing those services; he knew of four to five and would reach out to them to walk through those steps to learn what would work best. Councilmember Koprowski asked about how it would affect residents for wildlife on public or private properties. Director Carmona stated they would work with the nonprofits to inform them that assistance would be available on private property only. Councilmember Buchli asked who would administer the program. Director Carmona stated those details were still being arranged but their department would likely take the lead in setting up the program and then work with the Manager’s Office to determine what the long-term solution would be for the community. Councilmember Buchli asked who would be monitoring the budget and where funds would go. Director Carmona stated he would look to his team and the budget team to consider options. Councilmember Bongiovanni stated it would be difficult to provide funding without data on the issue. Director Carmona stated that part of the recommendation for a one-year pilot program would include reporting data on the TNR and colonies. ADJOURN Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Brigette Peterson, Mayor Chaveli Herrera, 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 16th day of April, 2024. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this __________ day of ______________, 2024. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, Town Clerk