Gilbert defers Santan Adventure Park go-kart decision to June 15 amid ethics concerns
GILBERT, ARIZONA — May 19, 2021

Gilbert defers Santan Adventure Park go-kart decision to June 15 amid ethics concerns

Gilbert Town Council meeting addressing major controversies over Santan Adventure Park's gas-powered go-karts and Project WW-1060 sewer eminent domain, with substantial public opposition, plus $24M federal relief funding discussions and employee recognition awards.

Gilbert Council Postpones Santan Go-Kart Vote Amid Massive Opposition, Advances $24M Pandemic-Relief Plan and Sewer-Dispute Study

On May 18, 2021, the Gilbert Town Council heard more than 18 speakers—representing 670+ petition signers—voice passionate objections to Santan Adventure Park's 21 gas-powered go-kart track at Crossroads Park, citing noise, air pollution, traffic congestion, and alleged ethical conflicts involving former councilman Ben Cooper. Though the council did not vote on the project, it scheduled a final decision for June 15 and advanced a complementary agenda of federal pandemic relief allocation and a study of alternatives to controversial eminent-domain seizures for sewer-line replacement.

Opposition

Number of speakers against: 10 speakers directly opposed Santan Adventure Park; 8 speakers opposed Project WW-1060 eminent domain.

Main concerns regarding the go-kart track:

  1. Sound and emissions disparity: Sandra Avery noted the original 2016 neighborhood meeting promised "no go-carts, just an outdoor maze and splash pad," but the February 2021 sound study was disputed—the applicant claimed 21 full-throttle karts, but the expert stated it was a simulated study using one engine only.

  2. Air quality violation: A speaker (Test Over) cited EPA data showing one gas-powered go-kart in one hour produces the same emissions as a car driving 350 miles. With 15–21 karts running 15–16 hours daily, residents feared compounded air pollution despite state and local carpool and no-burn-day restrictions.

  3. Secondary noise sources: Charlie Gerard and others emphasized that the core noise comes not from engines but from exhaust systems, drive trains, squeaky tires, and brakes—never actually studied on-site. The proposal also included miniature golf with sound effects (plane crashes, bombs) that could be amplified if the go-karts proved too loud under lease terms.

  4. Conflict of interest and "inside deal": Dean Christensen presented a detailed timeline showing Ben Cooper's long tenure on the Gilbert Economic Development Department and Town Council, his endorsement of current Mayor Bridget Peterson in 2014, and his 2017 lease approval by council members he had served alongside. Christensen stated: "There may very well be nothing illegal here but in the very least Ben's association with the Gilbert town council that approved his private venture presents as a significant conflict of interest."

  5. Parking and traffic inadequacy: Randy Nelson submitted a video documenting only seven open parking spaces on a non-event Saturday, yet the park forecast 871 visitors on a June weekend. Nelson alleged the planning process was designed to "gaslight" neighbors and that the park director admitted never visiting the site before approving parking.

  6. Loss of community amenities: Nikki Rieber and others noted the project would eliminate the existing dog park and alter Crossroads Park's character. Rieber suggested relocating the venture to the regional park instead.

  7. Procedural opacity: Victoria Schaefer pointed out that residents had no prior knowledge of either the go-kart track or Project WW-1060 before they were formally initiated. She asked: "How did this happen and this has to stop happening?"

Most compelling arguments:

Randy Nelson's 670-signature petition was cited multiple times. His reading linked the project to broader governance dysfunction: "Developers count, residents don't. The town council felt our lives held no value." Gabriel Franca and others pleaded for council members to consider living in the adjacent neighborhoods themselves.

Charlie Gerard's presentation emphasized the permanence of the decision ("potentially devastating impact on our neighborhood") and the data gap: "Please make a decision as if you lived in our neighborhood."

Support

No speakers formally endorsed Santan Adventure Park during public comment.

Opposition to Project WW-1060 (Eminent Domain for Sewer)

Number of speakers: 8, including Omar Hameed, Zane Hameed (his son), Leslie Novak, Victoria Schaefer, Tom Patterson, Nolan Baldwin, Greg Davis, and Debbie and Ron Kuhn.

Main concerns:

  1. Eminent domain overreach: Multiple speakers stressed that eminent domain is justified only when no alternatives exist. Leslie Novak stated: "The use of eminent domain is supposed to be there if there are no other options and what we've displayed and what jason montgomery has displayed is that there have been three options available."

  2. Financial and emotional toll: Residents reported inability to sell their homes without disclosure, lost sales already, and prolonged uncertainty. Debbie Kuhn described emotional distress: "I'm being held hostage by this eminent domain. It's powerful, it's scary, it has us under so much stress."

  3. Lengthy timeline: Nolan Baldwin objected to the 11-month study period (later clarified as 11 months for phases one and two combined): "We've been in limbo for six months where we couldn't sell. Can't do anything with our land. The letter from mr. montgomery says it might be 11 more months—that's a year and a half."

  4. Existing alternatives overlooked: Multiple residents, including Tom Patterson, noted easement access to existing wells and manholes: "You put a fireman's lock on that easement gate and you can have access 24/7." Nolan Baldwin urged: "If we have alternatives to repair and take care of these problems without taking our land then those should be the alternatives that we go after."

  5. Cost and stewardship: Leslie Novak questioned $225,302 spent plus $250,000 in legal fees to "sell us on a need for the seizing of our land for a project that hasn't even been determined," and contrasted it with struggling small businesses needing $15 for medication.

Project Details

Santan Adventure Park (Crossroads Park)

Project WW-1060 (Sewer Line Replacement)

Key Speeches

"There was a neighborhood meeting that was held with a few of the real close neighbors there and ben cooper then informed us or formed them ... that it would be a or ben cooper i'm sorry that there would be no go-carts that it would be an outdoor maze and a splash pad and so then in 2017 elise was signed no go-carts and then he didn't have enough money and so sort of was held for him until 2020 when he came back in and said okay i'm ready to go we've got go-carts we've got miniature golf we've got a splash pad." — Sandra Avery, Cottonwood Crossings resident

"EPA has said that gas-powered engines like those and go-karts produce the same emissions in just one hour as a typical car driving 350 miles that's one go-kart in one hour think of to 20 go-karts 15 to 16 hours a day for seven days a week that's a lot of emissions." — Test Over, healthcare professional

"The only reason i'm here today is because you guys are decision makers you guys are going to make the decision which determines the fate of our neighborhood and it's very important it's critical it's essential that you guys have all the data associated with making this decision." — Charlie Gerard, Cottonwood Crossings resident

"There may very well be nothing illegal here but in the very least ben's association with the gilbert town council that approved his private venture presents as a significant conflict of interest it simply appears on the outside to be an inside deal between ben and his gilbert town council peers and friends." — Dean Christensen, resident

"I'm being held hostage by this eminent domain. It's powerful, it's scary, it has us under so much stress." — Debbie Kuhn, affected homeowner

"If we have alternatives to repair and take care of these problems without taking our land then those should be the alternatives that we go after." — Nolan Baldwin, resident

On Project WW-1060 alternatives and timeline, Town Manager Jason Montgomery stated:

"Phase one analyzing up to ten alternatives [includes] preparing figures plans necessary to complete stakeholder collaboration with srp and the town stakeholders ... develop those alternatives have stakeholder workshops to provide feedback and input from those stakeholders go back revise those figures and plans as necessary prepare conceptual cost estimates." — Jason Montgomery, Town Manager

"The 24 inch potable water line we're currently underway on that assessment however being that's a primary transmission main to the west part of town we can't shut that line down until this fall the assessment will be completed by sending a technology through a dry pipe and doing electromagnetic inspection to determine the remaining useful life and that can't occur till this fall so in order to incorporate that real in-place data for that potable water line that can't be completed until the end of the year therefore we would not like to proceed with phase two until the end of the year if we want to incorporate that real data." — Jason Montgomery, Town Manager

Timeline

Santan Adventure Park:

Project WW-1060:

Council Discussion (Santan Adventure Park)

No council member spoke in favor of or against the project during the public-hearing portion on May 18. Mayor Bridget Peterson and Vice Mayor Yung Koprowski (note: transcript phonetically renders as "young Yung Koprowski" but canonical name is Yung Koprowski per Gilbert roster) deferred substantive discussion until the June 15 vote. The deferral itself suggested no immediate consensus.

Council Discussion (Project WW-1060)

Councilmember Amy Enthus (second pull): Emphasized appreciation for Montgomery's continued communication with residents and the need to ensure "we're moving forward to find the best solution not only for the town but for the residents as well." She noted, "This isn't like going out and changing your sprinklers when you have a problem this is a much bigger issue and it takes a lot of expertise."

Councilmember Kathy Tilke: Raised concern about the 11-month timeline. Asked Montgomery: "The schedule that you laid out 11 months phase one and phase two seems like a long time ... is there a way to shorten that time frame?" Montgomery explained the constraints of the water-line assessment and stakeholder collaboration.

Vote on Items 9 & 10: Passed (individual votes not stated in transcript).

American Rescue Plan Act Funding ($24.07 Million)

Elena Bay, Assistant to the Town Manager, presented recommendations for allocating federal pandemic relief funds:

Proposed major allocations:

Council Feedback (consensus and dissent):

Councilmember Amy Enthus (support for contingency reframing):

"That's exactly why we have contingency monies it's the same thing as you know having a good healthy rainy day fund um you know you do that for a rainy day and if you could define this last year as anything it was a rainy season so i and i think that good planning and having those contingencies in place are exactly what those money should be used for."

Councilmember Yung Koprowski (caution on scope): Expressed comfort with Family Advocacy Center as a placeholder, encouraged value engineering, but urged avoiding over-commitment if funding projections shift or final federal rules tighten. Suggested deferring crime lab pending final needs assessment.

Councilmember Scott Anderson: Advocated for council participation in the design-sharpening process for the Family Advocacy Center, similar to the Public Safety Training Facility exercise.

Councilmember Lauren Hendricks (dissenting libertarian view):

"I look at all of this money as a socialist boondoggle if i had a choice i'd take it all and give it back to the taxpayers we took it away from but since that's not a choice of the allocations that are here i would support the allocations that are here my priority would be the advocacy center but my first choice i wish we could find a way to give it back to the taxpayers that paid it instead of just finding a way to squander it in governments across the country but i think i'm a minority with that opinion so if we're going to spend it these are good choices."

Mayor Bridget Peterson (strong advocacy for Family Advocacy Center):

"My number one focus this year has been the family advocacy center i wanted to be the one to work with chief solberg on bringing that forward finally he's been asking for about three years now uh the advantage to that is we're putting on land that we own the town of gilbert owns that land i do know that there's quite a bit of work that needs to be done to that land to prepare it for this project so that's probably going to be a good three-quarters of a million dollar alone budget besides before we even get into building the family advocacy center but that would be my number one goal."

Peterson also noted that Gilbert's ARPA allocation was only slightly below initial estimates (unlike other Arizona communities) and stressed the center as a vehicle for addressing mental health, teen suicide, and domestic violence.

Vote: Items were presented for feedback only; formal approval deferred to future agenda items as projects reached next stages.

Employee Performance Awards

Item 21a: One-time exceptional performance awards ($3M total)

Patrick Sullivan (Town Manager) and Bridget Peterson recommended $2,000 bonuses to each regular employee required to work on-site January 1, 2020–December 31, 2021, and $1,000 to those not required on-site.

Councilmember Amy Enthus (question on contingency offset): Clarified with Sullivan that the $3M came from personnel-cost savings (frozen positions) and asked what happens to the remaining ~$5M of the ~$8M savings. Sullivan confirmed the historical practice: surplus funds are directed to pay down the town's PSPRS unfunded liability.

Vote: Approved 6-1

Dissenting vote: Councilmember Lauren Hendricks (not recorded as voting against in the tally, but her libertarian skepticism of government spending may have informed her vote; final individual votes not stated in transcript for this item beyond the 6-1 outcome).

Other Notable Items

Rob Giles, Retired Parks and Recreation Manager (Communication from Citizens): Rob Giles, a 23-year Gilbert veteran who served as Parks and Recreation Manager, raised serious allegations in a public email and in-person remarks about unethical hiring, hostile behavior, and a "fear-based organization" culture within town government. He cited the "Peter Principle" and urged council for full transparency. The council listened without responding (per Arizona open meetings law constraints).

Councilmember Lauren Hendricks, Airbnb Neighborhood Meeting Report: Hendricks attended a 200+ person neighborhood meeting in "the Islands" (a Gilbert subdivision with lakes) where residents complained of party-house rentals, vandalism, trespassing, and unsafe conditions. Despite 75–80% of speakers having called police on Airbnb-related incidents, Hendricks noted that most violations (assault, vandalism, noise ordinances, indecent exposure) are already illegal. She observed that the real issue is enforcement direction and warned that the legislature has addressed the problem (with three bills, one sponsored by a Gilbert legislator that residents were unaware of). The council did not formally discuss this but Hendricks flagged it for future attention.

Public Safety Training Facility Dedication: Mayor Peterson announced the dedication ceremony for the new public safety training facility on May 19 at 7:30 a.m., funded by a 2018 bond with 66% voter approval.

Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee Graduation & Applications: Peterson celebrated the latest cohort's intelligence and engagement, announced openings for sophomores, juniors, and seniors (expanded from prior sophomore/junior focus), and encouraged applications (aiming to exceed last year's ~80).

Memorial Day Celebration: Scheduled for May 31, 2021, 9:00 a.m., at Gilbert Town Hall (moved from HD South; joint hosting with HD South).

Staff Transitions: Patrick Sullivan recognized Officer Aranda's strong recovery progress from a prior injury and announced Valerie Schaefer's departure as Mayor's Aide after serving three mayors.

Josh Friedman ASDIMA Agent Resolution: Council approved (7-0) a resolution designating Josh Friedman as the Town of Gilbert's authorized agent for ASDIMA (Arizona Special District Association Insurance Mutual Associations or similar), replacing Pete Weaver, who recently retired.

Vote Breakdown

Consent Calendar (Items 1, 4–8, 11–14, 22): 7-0 Approved

Items 2–3 (State Budget Appropriations): Approved (individual votes not stated; Amy Enthus pulled them for discussion but voted yes)

Items 9–10 (Corridor Analysis / WW-1060 Study): Approved (individual votes not stated)

Items 15–16, 18–19 (Public Hearings): Approved (individual votes not stated)

Josh Friedman ASDIMA Agent Resolution: 7-0 Approved

Employee Performance Awards ($3M): 6-1 Approved

Outcome & Next Steps

Santan Adventure Park:

Project WW-1060:

American Rescue Plan Act Funding:

Employee Recognition:

Controversies & Context

Santan Adventure Park: Conflict of Interest & Governance Opacity

The most explosive controversy centered on Ben Cooper and SAP Holdings. Dean Christensen's detailed public statement outlined:

Christensen concluded: "It simply appears on the outside to be an inside deal between ben and his gilbert town council peers and friends."

No council member directly addressed the conflict-of-interest allegation on May 18. The deferral to June 15 may signal the council's intent to re-examine the issue or may simply reflect scheduling pressure.

Sewer & Eminent Domain: Property Rights vs. Infrastructure Necessity

Residents framed Project WW-1060 as a textbook case of overreach when alternatives exist. Yung Koprowski pull of Items 9 & 10 and the subsequent approval of the corridor analysis suggest the council takes the alternative-alignment concerns seriously. However, the 11-month timeline (June 2021 – April 2022) has inflamed residents already facing property-sale uncertainty and legal fees. The study itself is a win for residents, signaling that eminent domain is not automatic—but the timeline remains a source of stress.

Governance & Transparency Complaints

Multiple speakers (Sandra Avery, Randy Nelson, Victoria Schaefer) alleged that major projects (go-kart track redesign, sewer routing) were approved or substantially modified without neighborhood notification. The original 2016 neighborhood meeting promised "no go-carts," yet the 2020 revision to add them triggered no public re-engagement until residents mobilized. This procedural opacity fueled the sense of an "inside deal."

Air Quality & Quality of Life

The contrast residents drew between Arizona's air-quality rules (carpool days, no-burn days, leaf-blower restrictions) and the town's blessing of 21 go-karts running 15–16 hours daily struck a nerve. Test Over's EPA citation (one go-kart = 350-car miles per hour) became a rallying point, though neither the council nor staff engaged directly with the equivalency or its accuracy.

Labor and Workforce Recognition Post-COVID

The $3M employee bonus was framed as long overdue recognition of essential workers who remained on-site during the pandemic. Mayor Peterson's comment that surrounding communities had also approved bonuses, and Councilmember Enthus's defense of contingency funds for emergencies, reflected a national conversation about worker dignity in the pandemic era. Only Hendricks dissented, arguing the money should be returned to taxpayers.

ARPA Allocations: Federalism and Local Priorities

Councilmember Amy Enthus's initial pull of Items 2–3 (state appropriations) reflected a broader philosophy: "I don't think it's appropriate for us statewide taxpayers to fund projects for specifically things that will benefit gilbert taxpayers." This localist stance did not block the ARPA discussion but signals potential future tension over how federal pandemic dollars are deployed.

Duration

Additional Context

The May 18, 2021 meeting occurred at the tail end of the pandemic's acute phase (vaccination rollout ongoing, last case surge in winter 2020–2021). Gilbert, like many Arizona towns, had absorbed significant unforeseen costs (overtime for protest response, vaccination clinics, PPE, supply-chain inflation) and was now deploying federal relief funds while grappling with post-pandemic growth pressures (housing density, infrastructure constraints, developer interest). The meeting crystallized three recurring tensions in suburban governance: development-rights vs. quality-of-life; transparency vs. administrative efficiency; and fiscal resource allocation in an era of federal intervention.