San Tan Valley Council Approves Direct Mayoral Election Referendum for August 2026 Ballot

Garrett Glover: Are exactly. Yeah, that's okay. authorizations. You can see in silence things like this. This is about this channel. I want to. Present barracks. The clearance. That's also important. Channel. season, very actively. Yeah. Good evening everybody. Welcome. I like to call this meeting to order the town of San Tan Valley Council. On this day, October 15th, 2025 at 6 pm. We'll start with the roll call from our town clerk. There's that. President. Thanks Mary Hudgins president.

Council member hunt president, that's member Jenkins. That's member Oaks present. Council number Taylor, President House. Number Wolford, there's a quorum. Thank you with the quorum present. We'll go into our Pledge of Allegiance, if you would, like, please stand and follow us in the Pledge of Allegiance. alleged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

So now we'll proceed with an invocation and we'll do so by Pastor Ben Lee. Please come forward. Thank y'all so much. We're going to be part of this. It's exciting time very exciting time. Let's please pray Heavenly Father. I thank you so much. This monumental time, Lord being able to see the Council come together to see a town incorporated. Father asked that you would give wisdom to everyone every councilman will give them wisdom.

Give them your insight as they continue to make decisions and rule this area with your wisdom and your guidance, Father God, watch over them, protect them all, protect all their families and let tonight be a night of just great talks, Lord and peace over this meeting last. All this, in Your precious name Jesus. Amen. Thank you. Pastor Lee. okay, we'll go to our our next item which is item four the approval of a minutes.

We'll have a discussion and possible action to approve the minutes from our October 1st. 20 25 regular town Council meeting. Is there any discussion on the meetings before we have a motion? and yet, all Okay, with hearing none, is there a motion to accept our meeting notes from October 1st 2025? I move that we accept the meeting notes. From October, 25, October 1st Franklin, from the regular town council meeting. We have a motion from council member Oaks, is there a second?

Second, the second from Councilmember hunt all in favor. Alright, let me post. The motion carries. We will have our first notes recorded. Okay, this will bring us to item number five, current events. This is a time. For us to kind of discuss some brief moments or activities or things that have happened in the community. I want to read this to comply with open meeting laws. It's important to note that the Council cannot engage in discussion or take legal action during this item.

Rather, this agenda item is intended solely to give each council member the opportunity. If they choose to separately, share a brief update on current events or community matters. So we'll go kind of down the road. Sorry, an off with Councilmember Hunt. If he has anything that he'd like to share or not you Mr. Mayor. Yeah, I have two things.

I'd like to bring up if the first one is just a reminder Super has a good man mentioned this last time I think he may bring up again but next or this coming Saturday the 18th is the the bike rodeo for Pinal County. It's at the Home Depot here, in Santa Ana Ana Valley. so, if I remember correctly about 18 months ago, I remember the last time that was the last one 18 months ago, we had this activity. There were events of bikes, there was a obstacle course and thanks for the kids.

I think if we're lucky enough, see where is a good man? Might be riding a bicycle around the obstacle course again, but there's a video on that on the Panel County web. To, anyway, it's kind of this Saturday at the Home Depot from 10:00 to 2:00. So invite people to come out to that the other one, I just wanted to bring up and Is.

We've had a lot of rain recently, which I appreciate, but also with rain comes the flooding and this is a reminder for the citizens of the county, the the county does provide sandbags available for the folks of San Tan Valley. If you wish to get some, if you want to to the closest one, I'm aware of is just on highway. You go towards Florence just past copper base on the right hand side.

there's a yard with the heavy equipment and there's piles of sand, you can go in there during business hours and you can shovel up your own sandbags. The bags are provided but they ask you bring us. when I was there a few months ago, I got there was already a shovel there but I was able to a bunch of bags and take them home with me of this sand. So the sand is there for for the the residents.

So if there's any potential, flooding that is available, that's resource available to the residents of San Tan Valley, That is all Mr. Mayor, thank you. Thank you. I would like to bring out the fact that council members and snap. We all went to the grand opening of the Winco. So that was exciting to the store open and all the people and it was exciting. And it's a much needed commercial project that here.

So it's amazing and I was gonna reiterate that already touched on it about, you know, with the flooding and all of that, you know, with our sister communities and healing county. This hopefully they'll be okay and get through this tough time. Thank you. Councilmember Oaks At just to repeat on the flooding. I had several phone calls from people thinking I would know how to help them volunteer and help somebody that needed public flooding, and I owe them to other resources.

so, I'm excited for the day where we can point him to our own resource to be helpful but just keeping in mind that people who were had some damage and some other things, special people of north of us That's all. Thank you Council, Manor. Remember, Tyler. Just this week, I'll be attending the elections facility for Pinal County. Get a tour of that facility. So I'm looking forward to that but I think everyone else is pretty much said everything else. Can you guys use a mic or something?

It's a little hard to hear some of you. Yeah. I'll just speak louder that helps. I'm humble. Mike it would be great. Thank you. Thank you. I said, I'll just I'll be touring the election facility at Pinal County, this Tuesday, several tour there and gonna see all the processes and how it's done this week, but I think on the other council members have touched on everything everything else I wanted to say, Okay, Councilmember wolfert.

I'm again, just looking back at a recent events, both Mayor Schnepth and myself. I'm attended the Pinal County 150th birthday celebration wanted to extend a congratulations to the county on a well-run event at a wonderful time. Families, enjoyed it, and released such a great observance for our wonderful county celebrating 150 years.

Only other event on Mike schedule will be at the Arizona City County Management Association conference tomorrow at ASU Sky Song Hope to meet some really valuable lessons for our growing town. So, thank you. Thanks Mayor Hudgins. I had the opportunity to attend Central. Arizona Colleges Fall Festival, which was a really great. family event, took my family to that. I think it was just a great moment for the community to come together in the season.

And I thought that was really great, it was also great exposure for businesses. Getting out there and allowing the community interact with them. They had some fun science experiments that were really cool. Madagascar cockroaches, food trucks, and rural Metro. Was there with the fire truck? Letting the kids, I know cockroaches, aren't that fun? But these were not too bad. Madagascar ones are not too bad.

And so real Metro was giving kids, you know, opportunity to be able to see on the fire truck, which is awesome. And then last time we shared that we the Arizona League of Cities in towns is A website or page for us that we post our meeting minutes and all that stuff. We've updated our URL santanvalley.gov to forward. So if you type that it'll take you straight to that page, so it'll be an easy way to access it instead of having a Google That's spelled out San Tan. .Gov.

so, I like to know Supervisor Goodman our last meeting indicated it, but there's a Halloween truck or treat and farmers market event coming up October 25th just want to put that. As a reminder at set the Combs High School from six to nine pm. So if you're available that night maybe stop by and and you can probably gather some great things that they'll be providing over there. I did want to mention that I had the opportunity.

This Monday to go out with Supervisor Goodman and we were able to kind of go in parts of San Tan Valley, that kind of had been affected by the flooding, and kind of seeing the challenges that are there to some of our neighbors and our in our citizens. And so that was a good opportunity to see the, you know, some of the things that the county is working on, by the way. And they've got on their great art to try to get a dress while.

we'll be able to Able to kind of what go around and look at some of the transportation. possibilities, that will be happening in San Tan Valley. So, With that, that's all I have. So thank you Council members for your your updates. Okay, that'll that'll bring us to items 6a. This is a presentation and discussion regarding the Arizona municipal risk Retention Pool, that's amrrp, and proposed, insurance policies. This will be a presentation by Ed Bantel and Am RRP program administer.

I hope you said. I said your name, right? It'll be an overview regarding the AMRP, including the member benefits coverage options and summary of the proposed insurance policies for the town. Thank you Mayor and council. I really do. Appreciate you to come and talk with you. I've got them worth working with AMRP for 24 years and over that 24 years. I've been contacted periodically by various people about hospital incorporations. So I'm very delighted to see that it's actually finally happened.

That's wonderful. You want me to use that? Yes. Yes. Please there's a microphone up there for you. This work. How about this? Okay, so I'm also I'm here with Holly Mccurio. She is our a senior underwriter, She'll do some of the presentation too. About your specific. She'll be working with her a lot Holly and I have been working together for 20 years on the municipalities. So um, got quite a bit of experience them with insurance for cities and towns.

So let me tell you a little bit about the Arizona Risk retention pool.

It was founded in 1987, it was started because there was a time when people were having difficulty citizen towns were having difficulties finding insurance, it was either prohibitively expensive or just not even available and the different cities in towns went to the to the League and we're looking for an alternative and the Lee contacted Southwest Risk, firework for And we created the AMRP, It was Washington State created it by statute and we started the pool.

So it's kind of started off as an alternative during an insurance crisis and now it's become really with the largest insurer of municipalities in the state. But well future, if you guys joined at least 79 cities in towns out of the Um the what makes AMRP different is? It's a nonprofit risk sharing pools, not an insurance company.

And some of the benefits that we believe is that it's first of all, it's governed by a board of directors that the members elect, there's a nine board member and in order to be on the board, you either have to be an employee or counsel person from one of our members and there's always two positions that come up for renewal every year and we send out.

I mean we customer nominations and we send out ballots and we do, we do a vote and at the League conference in August, that's where we announced the new, the new directors, the Newport. So, the nice thing about this is when there's issues about coverage or claims, the ultimate authority is with this board who are made up of people just like yourself and you know, make these decisions we call we have a manuscript coverage. We don't use standard insurance policies.

We kind of move pace, our program off of them, so we have made them customized for the individual needs of cities and towns. Sometimes we have to do some odd things. Like, for example, we had a town that was using one of their police vehicles and it was a guy who would about the store was running away and he had a gun and the police officer. used his car and push him up against the wall. And when the claim came, the claim came in about that.

And if you looked at the an ex Hitting people to see cars. So we had to change the exclusion and make it exception for the police vehicles. These are the kinds of things that we can do as a risk pool and every time something comes up, if one of you ever tells us that you want to see a change, we make the change, we name it after the city of the town that requests the change.

We have extensive risk management programs early on AMRP decided that it was better off to provide lost control services and help our cities and towns become better risks and it was to just keep on paying money for claim. So it's a lot of different resources that you have available. And the nice thing about it is at the end of the year, if we've collected, we hopefully we collect enough money to pay the claims and if they claims are less than what we expected.

Any of that extra money goes back to the members is individends this year. We didn't, we had bad claims. We didn't live in the last seven years. We've been giving between five to 10 million dollars back every year to the membership. And so that's kind of a nice thing about it too that you have the opportunity to get some of the premium back here. So we provide policy services. That's we function as the agent and underwriter.

So we take care of all the MRP coverages that you need which is very comprehensive. And then as you grow you may have other needs of AMRP doesn't provide, we can be provide things for you, that MRP can't such we can do not rebounds when you have to get somebody notarized that if you have underground fuel tanks, that you need to ensure eventually these types of things. We can also take care of that for you. So, it's one stop shopping, regardless of whether or not AMRP provides the coverage.

We have risk management services. We have a, This manager of Patty Fields is in this part of the state. We would be assigned to you and she will help you with. any kind of risk problems that you might have going down the road as you get established. And then we have a complete thanks department handles the property, casually claims and also covers all the workers compensation. these are some of the benefits, I was telling you about the MRP fiction money into some of it is free legal advice.

the PAL program, we call the personnel. Assistance lifeline, This is a opportunity for people to call in and get advice on employment issues. When you're trying to make a decision, it might be hiring. It might be a hiring and They also would handle EEOC complaints at acit complaints. If you ever get them? no cost to you.

You're not there yet, but when you are we have legal advice for legal assistance, for law enforcement, which is a big thing land use, you might get into a land, use type of a situation. We have free legal advice for that for zoning issues and Then we have complimentary. Services vector, When you get staffing and you need to do training, you need to do bloodborne pathogen training. You need to do drivers training.

These develop those types of things, that's all online, it's all free to you to use. Hr-century and Choironment is something that you may need down the road that is it's for HR people, and but that does gives you easy access to all the federal laws, the state laws job descriptions. It gives you salary ranges and you can do a complete employee manual through the system. So that's all all the things you have to eventually post for.

one series for workers comp, you can download all the posters everything that you need for HR is available through that. again, you're not there yet but we have a certificate of insurance management program that's Holly's baby. When you are collecting certificates of insurance from people and requesting them, it's a major job and this system will kind of do that for you. It will track your certificate, send out reminders to vendors that they need to update them.

They'll let you know if they meet you requirements or not. Safety source, that's just more training videos and the AMRP member forum that is just for. It's a website. It was actually as an email, the MRP members can put questions out for. We found out that our amarp members of one of our greatest resource, you know. So if you would have a question about something, let's say you have a swimming pool for the first time and you want to know about life guards.

You can put the question on the forum and everybody, they'll all send you all respond. They'll send you there policies or procedures all that kind of thing. So this is just kind of overview. all of different coverages. Some of them won't really apply to you, right away, but eventually they will the products completed operations is part of the general liability policy. We have coverage for Each occurrence. and well each occurrence. We have two there's two different parts of the coverage one.

She's going to talk about this more. What is General Liability general liability is when there's property damage or bodily injury like somebody that's involved on the sidewalk or something like that. And then the errors and emissions professional liability, that would be like an employment claim or a police department, to be allegations have wrongful termination and excessive force, those types of coverages are covered under those two Medical payments.

That's if somebody were to say trip and fall and break their glasses. You're not at fault for it, but you just want to take care of the glasses for them just to do a good deed kind of thing. You, you can just make offer to make the payments for their medical. Bills up to the limit and for something like that. Back wages that comes involved with an employment claim.

If there's claim for back wages, they're generally not covered by most insurance policies, but AMRP does have a sub limit for back wages, if that's part of a claim to help get something settled. fire legal damage is part of a Gemma liability policy that would be if you were to be renting, a space from somebody and cause a fire that covers. It would cover that Land use liability. That's again, the zoning.

If you were to get into a lawsuit, you've maybe you did something in the zoning, somebody objected to, or you can grant something anything along those lines. what the land use. Liability would cover. Organic pathogens. We're talking basically mold. things like that pollution liability. there's some coverage for us for pollution, so we're backups. We have a couple different sort of backups.

If you have responsible for the sewers and there's something wrong with your sewer and the sewer backs up and we would, you know, cover the claim. We also have what we call, no fault Stewart, which is a limited amount of coverage, but that's when it's not your fault, but you still want to help homeowner out and help them. Get cleaned up. There's a, you can do that as well. and then this is become a big thing, sexual and physical abuse molestation called Sam coverage.

That's also added to the policy and you would probably will need that as you get involved in different different groups and have to get get different tickets insurance. So auto, we have a basic auto coverage for now, for you, we're doing what we call hired, a non-owned auto. That means you're using your vehicles and you had an accident and you didn't have you had insufficient limits to cover the claim. We will drop down on that. Once you have cars, we will have liability comprehensive collision.

We have what we call zero deductible for glass. So when you break a windshield, you just get the windshield fixed and send us the bill. And then we have these other rental reimbursement roadside assistance, towing, and trip interruption. So once you start getting vehicles that coverage will, you know, apply. Property, what? We will talk a little bit, so a little bit more about what we generate but these are the different types of property coverages.

Inland marine is got all these different kinds of odd coverages. Egp's electronic data processing. So much. You have computers or anything that's run by a computer we cover it under this edp coverage. valuable papers if you again you don't have them yet but if you were to have a loss and you had to recreate documents, it's the cost to recreate those documents.

Accounts Receivable, You may have some bad accounts, sometimes that you can't get the reimbursement for would be covered there, fine arts, a lot of our cities and towns have local artists come in, and they hang up their art in their buildings on display. And while they're on display, they're responsible for it. That's what the fine arts is for. Service animals, that's that can be.

some of our town by service dogs for the different departments and also covers things like canine that from the police department. Um, mobile equipment, you don't have that yet, but that's things like backhoes things like that. What you accumulate that miscellaneous equipment again, when you start to grow, you'll have that. That is equipment. That is not really a sign of one spot that moves around tools.

Generators, things like that trailers, that are not licensed for the road is miscellaneous equipment. Then signs, you know, you're going to find out that people are going to run into stop signs and light poles and things like that, and knock them down. So we have coverage for that. Then there's the crime policy. There's employee theft. This forgery. that's inside left, outside the buildings, computer fraud and funds transfer That is one of the biggest areas right now.

there's two different coverage. Is there a computer fraud and funds transfer Funds transfer. And this has happened a couple of times is when one of your employees is transferring funds to your bank account, but I think they are and it turns out to be a fishing site and the claims go into cyberspace. That's the. So, that's a honest employee. Who that got hacked. The, the fraud is a dishonest employee who has been siphoning money from your accountant to their account, and we've seen a lot of that.

And then the faithful performance bond. That's the bond. You have to have as when when the state talks about having that bond that's bond that that you have that you're required to have by the state and that's part of the policy too.

Then we also provide cyber coverage again you know, from when you're up and running and you if you get hacked we can attack or, you know, then, shut down or or you know, that it gets out damaging you, that it gets out those types of are covered by the cyber It might be also provides workers. Compensation workers, compensation covers all of these and it covers employees as you hire them.

And at your discretion, we can cover volunteers and so that's what we do with the workers Comp is at the end of each quarter, we will be sending your contact person. A sheet that fills out the payroll and then we calculate the premium based on your actual payroll. So we don't have to do audits and stuff at the end. You just send us in what you actually. That's how we calculate your favorite.

We have a company called Treehouse now, that is the handles are doesn't really handle our claims but with a claims get started. So when you have an employee who gets or around yourselves, we're to get injured, the call triage. Now triage now is a nursing we have a full-time nurses, 24/7. And what they'll do is, they'll take all the information about the claim. And then depending on the nature of the injury, they'll direct care, sometimes it's just a small paper cut and they'll just handle.

This is a first date, it doesn't even become a claim. If you have to go to the doctor and you have the option of picking a doctor for your first for the first visit table guide that employee to the doctor, they'll call ahead. They'll give them all the information about the claim. they will complete. The first report of injury, they will send that to you, they'll send it to the state. They immediately download our system. So we're on it. In 10 or 15 minutes of the thing happening.

So that's been a really good program of the employees will be like being able to talk to the nurse and get and you know get their you get good, medical guidance. Now, this is a summary of the policy that we are proposing to you. I'm gonna turn it over to Holly because she you're gonna be working. She put a lot of this together and you'll be working with a lot as you grow and have to make changes. Just state your name for the record. My name is Holly Lucario.

May I appreciate this time talking to you guys as well council. So your policy is made up of you have two policies currently if a package policy and then there's the Workers Comp policy. So we're gonna talk about the package policy policy first so under general liability, you have a two million dollar per claim with a six million dollar aggregate so these are for your third party claim so these are claims that people would buy a note, notice a claim.

Saying alleging that you did something in the file a claim for. So again, you have two million dollars per claim, the six million dollar aggregate currently we have our lowest deductible assigned to the quote, we provided to you. Which is a thousand dollars per claim. We review these every year, it's kind of a discussion as you grow. Sometimes you want to take on a little more risk and or they're like, Oh we're happy. Where we are. But we look at your claims.

We look at the statistics of where you are to make sure that it's fitting right, where you need to be. Next is your errors and emission which also falls under general liability with that two million dollar currents, they six million dollar aggregate. This covers all of your Will professional decisions. So like once you have a police department their decisions, also covers all of you and all of your decisions.

So, Somebody could file a claim against the council for say they didn't do they believed you did something, they'll buy a claim. That's the coverage that would cover you as a council is your eno coverage. The next is your hired on as Ed said You currently don't have any auto, so we just have higher not own on the policy suggested and that would cover any claim that.

If you had an autoclave movie, you're doing business work, your auto policy is primary, and then if there was an excess limit, Then our policy would come down on top and that has a two million dollar per occurrence limit. Currently, we have a zero dollar deductible on that coverage as well. again, we have multiple options that we will look at Property, This covers things that you will lease. Or will own in the future.

So this policy will continue to grow like every month, you guys will be growing exponentially, so it's going to be a lot of communication as well because Every day, you'll be buying something new that we need to cover to make sure you're protecting your assets. You do have a full cyber policy, first and third party.

So it covers again, if you have a data breach there it releases citizens information and we have to do the notification systems and things like that, your policy, fully covers that as well as if you had a you have a hack and you had a cyber malware attack or things like that. We instantly have a corporation company that works on that with you instantaneously to get you guys back up and running as soon as possible. Again under your policy.

You do have the crime coverages which are state required Your Faithful Performance Fund. Currently, you do have a limit of 100,000 As well as a specific, faithful performance fund for the treasure at 100,000. Again, this provides fan financial asserts of accountability for employees or members of council. For. Your assets. For workers compensation. Again, this is required by the state It does cover all of you.

So if you knock on all the wood, you I have seen a council member trip and fall at the ACMA and things like that, it would cover any of your injuries as well for that as well as your your clerk, even at volunteer status if you like to volunteer until you have actual employees would cover. Any injuries that would Arise out of his added working. So currently we have your policy being effective as of your 917-25 through 6:30.

So we have a short-term policy because that way we know when seven one, you will be getting your state funding which will affect your policy. So we moved into a short-term policy for, then it matches better with budget season again, you're effective date, can be up to you. You can keep it at 917 as well and we can address that at any time to go over what you would like to do. Currently, the total premium for this entire comprehensive package will be 10,374 with the limits stated.

your workers comp policy has no premium at this point in time because it's only based on payroll council's automatically included, We do have to put a dollar in there for payroll because we have to have something to activate the policy. So that will only premium will only generate once you actually have actual influence. And then again, as we stated coverage will be constantly changing as you grow.

So it's going to be a lot of communication between your staff and council and us as you get new buildings as you least new buildings. If you're going to events and they want you to be a dish named and additionally insured. That's us. We need additionally sure. You. Send sticker good insurance and we issue that for guys as well. Yeah. It is our contact information. Again, we are here for all in any questions we service. And it is every day we talk all the questions, we'd like the questions.

There is no question too small to ask because we find that the questions that you may be asking your questions others need to know. So we're very collaborative in that factor and our website has all the information as well. We do have a comprehensive claim staff, that's in all in-house. We all are in the same building, we talk all the time. So there's always instant, you know, you guys have questions. Like Hey, I don't understand this. Who do I need to talk to? It's reaching out, to us.

We'll get you into contact with the right person, right away. For the our customer focus, our member focuses our most important. You have any other? A lot less of any questions. Yes, questions anything. What question of course. on your summary of the policy it says 9 17, 25 to 6:30 25. I'm assuming those 26 and I assume. Yeah, that's typical sorry. But that's my soul premium there. That's a total preview for that period. Not a monthly annual that is your short term. Seven month period. Yes.

Grand total. Yes. Awesome. So there's like, every year Based on everyone claims that how the premium gets invested here. No. Okay, or is it per? Oh so I mean we'll add on to that, bro. but, Because of everyone, it's kind of a combination of things. So, a, it's based primarily on your exposures and your losses The number one goal. Again, as a member of the pool. We do have to look at the overall rates to make sure we're adequate for, we can fund all the things and do all things again.

as it said, We've issued dividends besides this year for the last 10 years and some almost 65 million dollars come by. So we do a really good job to make sure everyone is. adequately funded, but it's really more based on your individual exposures. As well as your losses. And so we the overall pictures of minor spot, one of the actual goals that amrapy is to try to be, you know, consistent to we try to wipe out the spikes, you know?

So we know we tweak the rates and we try and now you're scared, you're gonna change a lot because you're gonna be having buildings in cars, you know, that's gonna be, you know, the Allah, but we basically our rates have gone up or down in three, four, five percent in a year, I would say, on average, the increase, In Ensure. Really small towns to. Live to our largest town, which is surprised.

and the average increases between, including their exposure increase is about, under 10% average over the last 10 years. So it's very consistent and it's what it is on every year. So it's easily budgeted, which is the most important thing I will tell you, every answer I've ever talked to as well as any council that this steady, easy things we can predict your life so much easier. The mayor. Yeah. Okay, question for you. Um, if I make Mr. Benthal.

I mean, think you mentioned that there were 70 something minute municipalities that currently use your services out of the 92. Yeah. The 77 cities and towns plus the League. So, 78. Okay, members, the ones that don't I'm assuming that they have covers through a different company or they do something differently. All the three of them are really too big.

They're Self-insured and, you know, we don't have Tucson or Phoenix or, you know, and there's three others that we are our size that have different brokers and Asians, and decided to some different. What do you feel is your advantage? I mean, going with you, What would you offered is different? What other brokers? Well, I don't pay commission to us for starters, so the we can do a little bit better on the policy you any of those services. I was talking about.

you know, the power program, the free legal service, the unchallen training, the HR sentry. All of that stuff is nrtc sport. You wouldn't get any of that with the judicial girlfriend. The other thing is we you're the it's your company, you know, and we work for you. There's things they like when you have a accent on a car and you report it to the claims department, they come to me and they say they never reported that car and on the policy, be back to stick it on, you know, things like that.

They're probably most traditional insurance companies, wouldn't do. One of the comment If I make you're talking about the Vector Solutions training. I'm very familiar with that. and our county uses they go through Asip that they also use vector solutions, safe personnel, training and I just a very familiar with that in my position with Pinal County and I find there's limitations too but I do find it's very effective and providing Employee training. So just so the other council members know it.

We the county is able to provide annual training bloodborne, pathogen training vehicles. Safety. If there's a new policy that comes out, they can roll it out and make it available to all of the employees but sexual harassment training and so on. So time there's a new hire we have, we enroll them and they automatically Training that they have to complete in 30 days. There's annual training that has to be done.

So I am very familiar with that and it's, it's, it does a very good job from covering the bases helping to reduce risk, having to reduce those things, by giving that training to the employees. One of the things and it is that ASAP and MRP worked very closely together. Yeah. So we have, we, we find something. We share a lot, we do training programs together.

We actually have joint defense agreements with the, with the county Repet situations where there's like a SWAT team or something that involves a county, maybe several of our AMRP members. We kind of put together to sort out and present the united front and the handling the claim. So we worked very very closely with evasive And that's kind of, it's been kind of nice for the county's and for the students. The Funnest Miracle. At all. Thank you, thank you for your presentation so much. okay.

With that. That's gonna move us to item. Number number, six. Be will be discussion and possible, adoption of resolution, 2025-02. to zero two. Sorry, authorizing the town to become a member of the Arizona, Municipal Risk, Retention Pool, and that's AMRP And secure insurance coverage through AMRP. And I would note that this item is related to that presentation. That was just presented Mr. Banto's Company. And what was presented to us in the staff report. So, is there any discussion on this item?

The council members? Hearing none. Is there a motion? On the table for resolution number. Two, zero two five-02. Mr. Mayor, I moved to approve resolution number 2025-02, authorizing. The town of San Tan Valley, to become a member of the Arizona Municipal Risk, Retention Pool, and authorize the Mayor And/or. Ten attorney to execute all necessary agreements and related documents to secure insurance coverage for the town and effectuate AM AMRP membership. Okay, we have a motion.

Do we have a second second, the motion Mr. Mayor. Okay we have a second from Councilmember Wolfer all in favor. Say I I any opposed say name Motion carries. Now, I have 79 members. Thank you. The 92nd town. Now, we're the 79th and It's interestingly enough, you were probably the third largest member in the pool and nice. It's a tiniestly. And with the smallest Christmas, Working on that. appreciate you. So this is gonna move us on to item sixes.

Six C Discussion and possible adoption of resolution 2025-03 authorizing the mayor to apply for in obtain an employer identification, EIN on behalf of the town. Council discussion and possible action. Authorizing the Mayor to obtain the EI UM, which is required for opening. Organizational bank accounts applying for federal and state grants and complying with the IRS reporting requirements. I would note that this has been provided in the staff report to the council members.

Do we have any discussion on this item? And he had all. Okay. hearing none is there a motion regarding resolution number two, zero, two five-03. I'll move to proved resolution of the people, 25. 03. In the wrong one. Latin and ein. The IRS for the town of San Tan Valley. We have a motion from member Jenkins. Do we have second Perfect. We have a second. From, I think I first heard from Member Eiler. All in favor. Say I I say name The ice kick habit.

So the motion carries Moving on to item number six D. This is a discussion and possible adoption of resolution. Number two, zero, two five-04, authorizing designated town officials to establish thinking services and execute all related documents. Council discussion and possible action. Authorizing.

The Mayor, the Vice Mayor Town Clerk and future town Manager, Assistant manager, in Town, Finance Director to open and manage town financial accounts with Wells Fargo in a And this also, I will note has been provided to us in the staff report to the Council members. Is there any discussion from the members on this item? Area, just have one question.

If I make number hunt, I just was wondering why why Wells Fargo and whether any other options We'll defer that to legal, certainly Mayor, Councilmember hunt. There are other banking options. options. Wells, Fargo is one that's used by the county and some other municipalities One that there's several other entities that are actively using them. If we were to, to move forward with them, it would be under a cooperative agreement.

meaning that other municipalities we'd have similar pricing terms as other municipalities, and yeah. So we reached out to them. They were for us by the county. I was working with the treasurer's office, the county level, we use Wells Fargo. and that's who bored with. But but certainly, you're not required to, to think with Wells. And there's other options, that's something in the would like to pursue. Thank you. I didn't really have a preference that it was wondering if there was an advantage.

Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? Okay, hearing none from the council. Is there a motion on for resolution? Number 2025-04? I moved to resolution number 2025-04, authorizing. Designated town. Officials to establish banking services Wells. Fargo Bank NA into execute on necessary documents in agreements open and maintain town financial I also remember Wolford has put a motion on the table. Is there a second? Okay, the second from Member Hunt. Oh this all in favor.

Say aye any opposite name, hearing none. The motion carries Moving to the next item, which is item six E. This is a presentation discussion regarding the municipal elections. Presenter. Christina Estes Werther said that. Right. With the town attorney's firm will provide a presentation on governing municipal election Laws. Arizona election dates and processes majority votes cast requirements, stagger terms direct election of mayor and prohibition on the use of public Resour.

Is to influence elections. This estus were there and mayor if I might interjections for a moment here, I know Christine is not going to treat her own norm, but when it comes to election issues, she is one of if not the top one amongst the very top attorneys in Arizona, she does a lot of election work with all of our clients, whenever election issues come up, we will refer them to Christina because it's a very niche area in the law and she knows it and she's really an expert in this field.

So I decided to have her here present to you guys on election matters. We like subject matter, experts. Thank you, Alan, and thank you Marion Council. I'm really excited to be here. This is very exciting to share some election information. With all of you, I wanted to make sure that you know that, you know, the presentation does include all of the sort of next three items, which are the two ordinances and the resolution.

So, we're Cover all that in this one presentation as well as some just general election information. But I also wanted to let you know that you don't have to take action tonight on any of the ordinances or resolutions for elections. I know it's a lot of information we wanted to prepare it so you could see how it was structured but certainly you're likely to have questions and you may want to even just table it and we have time, we can wait until the next meeting to bring it back to you.

So I just wanted to kind of preface with that so Because again, it's a lot of information, so I'll go ahead and get started. Please feel free. I do a lot of trainings and so I'm comfortable if you have questions midway. I think you guys have all sort of seen it ahead of time. So you kind of probably know there might be questions answered down the road but certainly please let me know if you'd like me to stop and answer a question.

So the agenda today, just kind of touch on some governing laws the election dates in Arizona. Again, the ordinance for majority votes cast basically, How do you declare your winners? Also the Canada election processes and just considerations for you. We'd like to get some direction on a couple items, stagger terms that resolution the direction of mayor ordinance. And then again the proposition on your use of public resources to influence on election. So it is a lot of information to cover.

Again, This is kind of just the general picture overview. I can always come back, or we can always come back and have more in-depth. conversations as needed. So, for governing laws, I'm not going to walk through every single federal law here. I just wanted to include some of them so that you're just aware how much federal laws actually impact our elections here in Arizona.

So we obviously sort of multi-layer, You know, federal election laws that dictate, certain things that, you know, we can't change, right? We have to follow that federal law and you'll kind of see later in the presentation, how that impacts your elections And then next we have obviously state and local So state elections are governed by our Arizona Constitution.

Also Title 16, which is all the elections and Elector provisions Title 19 Has your initiative referendum and recall provisions and then we also have the state elections Procedures Manual. So that's actually a document that is authorized by statute for the Secretary of State's office to work with all the counties and they've actually are kind of towards the end of that process. They do it in an odd numbered years.

And so they work with the county to sort of update everything that's happening, legislatively case law, all of that, just even general processes to help for better best practices and efficiencies and so they work through that it goes through public comment period and then it's submitted to the Attorney General and the Governor for approval. And so what's approved. Then that manual is an effect. And by law, it has the force and effective law. So we do have to obviously follow that manual as well.

Your your provision right for city and town elections. So, there are some provisions in there. I did just mention city charter here, but obviously, that doesn't apply to you. But sometimes the questions come up of why, maybe a different city can do something else? Most often it's because they're a charter and so they have that ability to deviate from state law. Whereas you're a general law town and so you cannot.

So that's partly why I can, you know, included this here because I want So for everyone to understand general law really means that you have to follow the state statute. So there are the Constitution. There isn't any ability for you to deviate from the statue.

Again unlike a charter city which may have adopted a charter and some governing documents that allow them for areas of purely municipal, local interest that they can they can deviate from state law against still pretty limited for them but you we see it most often in elections but for you as a general law town, we just have to follow state statue. So election dates.

There are four in Arizona and this is not how used to be used to be, that you can call them election within, you know, was usually it was like a 30 day time frame. And this was way back you know, decades ago when things were a little more simpler less complex the legislature decided they only wanted four dates throughout the year that you could call an election. And then you can only call it for certain purposes. So we'll kind of talk about which each of those.

Are, but there's a second Tuesday in March, the third Tuesday in May 1st Tuesday, August, which I think we're all most familiar with as the primary election day and then the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which again, that's a federal law, requirement. So, the Statute of State Law, kind of mirrors that, but that's the general election date.

So this is a question that we've heard a lot, I think people are obviously really interested to know when can the first Council be elected. So can it be in May or August? And we have two competing statutes here. If you look at that title nine, which is specific to cities and towns. You look at it and it clearly says it's the third Tuesday in May. That's the date that you can. You can, you know, go ahead and have your election.

However, we have the 16 to a four provision and this is again Title 16, This is the general conduct of election laws and it has this provision. That's called it's a notwithstanding clause. So it says notwithstanding any other law, and then it basically spells out that you can only have your regular candidate election on that first Tuesday, in August, which is the primary election date.

And so we did look carefully at this because again, we know it's an important question and that, you know, there was some interest in trying to get this first council election, done earlier. You know, obviously the notwithstanding clause is an exception to existing law. So, if you see a notwithstanding clause, it basically means whatever is coming. After it super seeds, everything else, right? And this is a legislative intent and policy, they want that.

Statute to prevail over anything that might conflict. And so 16204 is also the most recent law. The legislature has made a lot of changes I would say over the past decade, we've seen changes to the statute, almost strengthening it, right? They wanted to be clear. They only want regular candidate elections on that August date.

The biggest reason in a lot of the committee testimony is because of voter turnout, you know, you have it on that primary election date they've seen that there's evidence that there's just more people that are voting, right? Because it's coinciding with the statewide election, whether it's for statewide races, you know.

And then later that general election date, you know, every four years obviously for president, so that's just when we naturally see the highest turnout and they want to see high turnout even for local elections. So that's part of the policy decision behind. Why the legislature is again sort of emphasized that the 16204 statue, prevails over, anything else. Again, we did try to look at the legislative history of the title.

Nine statute, Just to see if we know we could find something to kind of help us you know, justify a May election again. It actually looked like overall that statute was weakened. It used to have a little bit length language that was stronger and then eventually you know, they even had its own notwithstanding clause that was removed and then it actually started just referring to the 16204. So ultimately it's you know, 16 204 that Bales.

And so the other other item we looked at is whether or not We could sort of fit you in into a vacancy, right? Because for, if you have a vacancy, you can technically call special election in on the May date, but it's not a vacancy, right? A vacancy is defined entitled 38. That does not apply to this first Council election and so therefore, it does not apply as well as obviously, it's not a recall election. So we did like I said, kind of walk through.

all of the different statutes trying to see if there was anything you know, against it if we could justify a May date. We really couldn't this other title Nine statue really does say to that we're really supposed to conform all of our election laws, right? With essentially, the state general conduct of elections, which is that title 16 so, ultimately, the conclusion is really that your first election date is going to be August 4th, on 2026, next year. We're stuck with us to August.

Yes, they are. Yeah. so I didn't know if you had any questions about that piece before I jump into the next one. You rather use the mic? I was kind of, I'm fine. Yeah, if you don't mind, I just I know it's kind of awkward. I've actually more comfortable with it for the word. It's on work. Can you hear me? Okay? No, no, it's not working. Yes, I'm gonna I feel like that's going into. These can't do anything. I can keep using. It comes back. Okay, Mayor.

I do have a question on that August, 4th election. If when would the newly elected town council, take office. If the election is August 4. So, that depends on the actually kind of This on, when we, Somebody declared elected. Because, if you have a this ordinance, that we're going to talk about, if you have someone, who's reached the majority votes cast, and so they've reached that majority that they're declared elected for that seat.

That's by that general election date is when you would see it the council, but if you need to go to a runoff, which would be the November date, then it's likely going to be December. So it's dependent if they win in August versus November. I did also want to mention. That there is some discussion about a couple years ago. They needed to change the elects, the primary election date to account for some issues with the recount.

There wasn't enough time to get recounts done and so they had to move the job the primary election day. They might have to do that again next year because that was just a temporary fix a couple years ago. so that date might change. It might move up about a week, that's what they did. Two years ago, we don't know if they make the change, it'll likely be January February, it'll be emergency legislation. So just to keep that in mind. It technically, move up one or two weeks.

Okay, so majority votes cast. So again, I just wanted and I'm basically at this point just walking through the OR events too so that you can you know when you see it hopefully it all makes sense. So the first part is the conduct of elections which again is just reaffirming what we already is in statute right State law is what governs the elections for the town. Election dates, right?

That your primary general is going to be every two years Again, consistent with the state and on that first Tuesday at August is the primary. And then the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, November is in in general. Non-political Ballot. Again, this is also in statute, so our city town elections are nonpartisan, right? So there's not going to be any political affiliation on any of the ballots and again, that's per state law. You can't change that conductive elect folks, right?

So that one primary election. So this is the statutory formula to help determine who's the winner or if you can't even declare a winner at the primary. So this statute is actually very helpful, it's gone through various iterations over the you know past couple decades and I think this is the one that works the best.

So essentially what you're doing is you're taking the total votes cast for everybody, that's running for, for office, and then you're dividing it by the number of seats that are on the ballot and then you're dividing it by two. That's how you read your majority votes cast number. So I had some examples here, and again, This is just random. Just so, you know, I didn't necessarily base it on anything, it was more. Just trying to come up with like a math formula to show you how it would work.

So, seven Council seats. Right are gonna be open in August of 2026. Let's say you've had 18 candidates running and let's say there were 16,000 total votes cast for everybody. So you divide that 16 by the seven open seats and then you divide by two. So, the 1,143 would be the majority of those cast. So that's what someone would have to reach in order to attain that threshold. And then there's a couple different scenarios. And again, this is all from state law. This is embedded in that ordinance.

So if no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, you just take basically twice. The number of seeds to be filled that that number and then those people go to the runoff, so the highest votes, you know? So you take 14 basically for the seven open seats and those go to the runoff. and then the next scenario is, let's say maybe you had some that received a majority votes cast others, didn't.

So in this example, let's say that you get seven seats open, you have four seats that still remain open after the primary. So maybe only three candidates actually, got the majority of those cast and then the others again. So you hear, you have eight candidates, that would proceed to majority of the casts and open seats, then it really is just the highest number, right? Because you've hit that majority threshold, so that you're just taking the top seven essentially.

So that's kind of how the statute works. Again, once you get to the runoff anybody who's in the runoff, it's just whoever gets the highest number of votes. And then if there's a tie, then it's determined by law in the president's presence of the candidates and just so, you know, we have had ties in the past. so it does happen and it's been either a coin toss or maybe drawing a card. I mean obviously. Yeah. So it has happened a few times. And then also Write-ins again.

This is part of the statue, right? In is not allowed to advance the general or runoff if they don't receive a certain number of votes and that votes are as tied to the number of petitions signatures that a candidate who is circulating would have to get. And that was a legislative policy adopted probably about six or seven years ago because they just wanted to make sure there was enough buy-in.

Right, if somebody was gonna skip the circulation process and just go in as write in, they at least wanted him to that same sort of minimum support from the community before they got elected. and again, we talked about the typo, how you determine that by lot And then the canvas. state law requires within six to 20 days. After the election, you have to canvas your election results. And then this is a new piece that was just stopped in a couple years ago by the legislature.

It's essentially just has to do with if you had a vacancy and then you had someone who was appointed to that term and they you know, sometimes they only depending on when that vacancy occurs, let's say you end up having Is the four year terms. And if you had somebody who was withdrew, let you know, they resigned within the first year.

Well, technically, they'd have three years left on their term but the way that state laws structured they would only serve until that next election and then there to be it sort of a two-year remainder term that would need to be filled. And so and part of that again, is the policy of the legislature is they prefer more elected rather than appointed sort of serving in that seat.

And so what this part of the ordinance does again, is sort of takes from the statute that if somebody is, is serving in that as an appointee and somebody else's elected to that seat for the remainder. Let's say two year term, then that person needs to the appointee would step down sooner. rather than later. So, you wouldn't wait till sort of like see everyone together? That newly elected would be seated essentially right away.

So that's basically what this says and then you have that option for if somebody is essentially what we call a new term, And what it really is though is like, let's say someone actually did the vacancy was declared towards the end of that, four year term and so you had somebody who was appointed but they really only had a year left anyway. And that election would have been for a new term. They only have a couple months left and so the legislature has decided to let that's your discretion, right?

If you want to let someone serve for that remaining two months, or if did you want to put that newly elected in right away? So it's just reflect about the statue. Reasons to consider Obviously using this method is frankly, it's been pretty well tested back in 2014.

This particular version was adopted by the legislature sort of temporary law was kind of almost a pilot program, the League worked on it along with the Camp Maricopa County and then also the town of Gilbert they had really advocated for this because You know, city town elections are very different from You know, any type of part, it's an election we don't have primaries right? We're not nominating somebody to them run in a general. These are nonpartisan. They're usually at large seats.

And so what we everyone was finding is that they were having essentially the same candidates were running through the primary, but that having to run through in the general, like it was just costing a lot more money, essentially, having two elections, Is nobody can reach that majority. They're just the formulas more working and so they devise this formula.

They tested it out for the 2014 elections and really saw that it worked well for all the cities and towns, actually avoided quite a few runoffs, and there are many talents where I have seen that they don't have Ross for years. Everyone's elected a first election. it's it's really easy and then again it kind of saves money. And so that was something that was seen as successful.

And so it was adopted So, that's pretty much the majority votes password and as I know that again, that's a lot and but it really has worked out pretty well. Does anybody have that? Particular ordinance? So Canada, election processes and considerations. I just wanted to run through again. Now that kind of explained why we have to wait through the August election. Sort of what happens now, right, what's next? So candidate filing again, all this is statutory, right?

We don't really have any ability to change it so candidate, filing starts 150 days to 120 days before that primary election date. So those are the dates here that we have technically it starts on March 7th but that's a Saturday. So it just moves into the March night and then the last day to file is 5pm at April 6 and then there's a statutory candidate challenge period after the candidate filing. So, it's 10 business days that anybody has to basically challenged your petitions, right?

If you submit petitions and it's expedite and court process, usually, it's within one to two weeks, the court concludes and makes a judgment, because we have ballot deadlines and so that needs to get resolved fairly quickly. So these are just I'm not gonna walk through them all, but these are the different types of forms that candidates have to file and so this would be any would be interested in running. They would get these from your clerk. Signature requirements.

So, this is where it actually became a little tricky because your signature requirements are based on your preceding election and you haven't had one and the statute is silence. It doesn't really have any guidance about what are you supposed to do? If you haven't had a proceeding election because the number of signatures are supposed to obtain is 5% to 10% again based on both cast and a proceeding election.

So actually, Garrett did a great job and did a lot of research and there is an attorney general opinion, that kind of helped, I think kind of give some guidance about. What do you do when they're sort of a new district form? And so we kind of could look at that just to see how, you know, what we could use in order to obviously get the most accurate number of qualified electors in San Tan so that we could use that as the basis.

So this was the number that was that was calculated, which was 31,667 votes. So the 5% is 1,583, that's the minimum number that someone would have to get in order to actually have, you know, their name on the ballot and then 10% is that 3,167?

Now, I did want to let you know, and this is kind of where I We would need some direction if you wanted us to bring something back to you State law, does provide an option where you can actually just set a threshold of a thousand that would be your minimum. And there are some advantages to that obviously, votes cast fluctuates, right?

And so sometimes you'll see like, again, if you end up adopting down the road, the stagger terms, the direct election of mayor, sometimes the year of the mayoral race is a little higher than maybe the other races so it's gonna fluctuate and that does happen and all the other cities in towns. But you could at least always adopt that your minimum is just going to be a thousand so that sometimes just makes it easier when in terms of calculations.

So, if you're interested in that option, we can bring that back to you in because it does have to be adopted as an ordinance, I would suggest we would need to bring that back probably in some time in November because again, Canada, filing is gonna get started here soon. So we want people to know what is that Min That they need to do. And then you have questions about signatures, too. All the calculations. I'm going to defer to Garrett. Okay.

And then the other part of that I would say is equal which this is a candidate portal that the Secretary of State develops. Actually probably was a little over a decade ago. that we did. I remember doing the pet? We were in the pilot program when I was at the secretary's office and so it's basically allows is qualified electors to electronically, sign your candidate petitions and it's actually really useful.

And so the candidate can collect up to 100% of the minimum number that they need via equal. Now, one thing I want to emphasize about this, it's completely voluntary, right? The candidates, don't have to use it. They can just use the paper petitions or they can use a mix of both the qualified Elector doesn't have to sign an electron, they don't have to do it. They can just sign paper petitions so it's completely voluntary but I think it's been well received at the state legislature count.

It's, you can see how it's expanded. Now, obviously includes cities and towns, I think, because of the success of the program, the signatures or essentially good signatures because it the system is set up for you to, you know, put in your information as a signer and then it shows you who you can actually vote for them. It's you know so you're not signing the wrong competition. So that's why it's been helpful. And this is where I might actually defer to Garrett now because he is setting up equal.

And so I just wanted to him to give a I guess an update or at least, what next steps he might be taking Yeah absolutely. I've been working with the state elections director Lisa Mara she's giving me all the information to set up an equal account. I did all the background work so it's ready and up. For any person who wants to run for town council, they can use it if that's what the Council would like to do going forward as an option for any potential candidate to run for office.

And I've personally use that. I I find this isn't very helpful. I can see who's running for all the offices I'm eligible to vote for and I'm not accidentally signing. Some other person. Like if I live in Congressional District too, I live right next to Congressional District Five I could if I'm at a grocery store, sign the wrong one. But this way I'm standing the correct one. so there's no like, Action that you. Have ordinance or resolution, that's required for that use.

But I do think we just wanted to make sure that you're comfortable and that will get direction from you that you want to, you know, care to complete setup. And that's all part of that. If you're interested in us, bringing back that ordinance about your signature requirements, you would also need to have that sooner rather than later, because, obviously, that needs to be set up in the system, what the minimum is.

Also, with the candidate filing forms again, we've been talking about sort candidates who are circulating petitions gathering signatures but again Write-ins don't actually have to circulate petitions but they also don't get their name on the ballot. So that's the give and take there but they do have again certain forms that they have to file. So, that was essentially just generally about candidate processes. The next part is the staggered terms. Okay, again, this is a pursuant to state law.

We have a process where the state law allows the town to consider whether or not they want to have staggered for your terms right now. Anybody who's going to be elected in August of next year? The default is always going to be two years. So if you keep it two years or you, don't make this you know, change to you know and put it to the voters. Every two years, the council all seven are gonna be up on the ballot.

And so, this particular option basically says, you can create that staggered term for four years and really mostly so that you have some continuity on Council, not everyone is turning over every two years. and so, the way that it works is that let's say you decided you wanted and it does have to go to voters.

It's not something that you just you can do you you'd pass the resolution to refer to voters but it wouldn't go, you know, has to go to voters at the next election and we'll talk about that election date as well, but how it would work is is in August of 2026. If you have this on the ballot and it passed, then those who were elected in August would essentially, you know, you canvas and probably at that same meeting is then you would divide yourself by law. Against by lot.

So it's that same sort of, sort of chance. That's how we do a tie vote. And so, three members are going to hold office, just for two years until 2028 and then four members until the next, you know, for essentially till 20, 30, that's how they create the standard terms.

So there is a bit of a challenge in that, anybody who files to run for office next, you know, for the August election is not going to know if it's gonna be a two-year term or a four year term because it's gonna be dependent on whether that actually passes. And then it's also going to be dependent, obviously, on what they draw, right? If it's gonna be a two-year or four year and this is how it structured and statute the by lot. So we can't really change it.

You mean of how, how we decide who gets the three years or the two years who gets the four? It really is gonna have to be sort of a chance. So that's how essentially that part structure. Yes. Is it kind of candidate choose to do two year and eliminating themselves from the law? No. That's that's the one there really, isn't it supposed to be? It's sort of random, right? That's essentially how the it's it's designed in the statute.

Now that doesn't mean that obviously, if someone gets a four years, I mean, it's just like anybody else, right? If there's a four year term and somehow someone needs to resign for some reason.

Or you know, I mean they're moving or something's happening and they need, you know, then that's when the vacancy statutes kick in and that's when we get an appointee and so you know, someone felt like they were locked in they obviously could could obviously would you know reside earlier if they needed to but there's just no other way to do it because just the way that the statutes designed And so again, but by the time, you know, a 2028.

the next group, like I said, that that group is gonna have the four years. So really, by 2028, everyone's gonna, you know, be left it to a four-year term. Again, this is just kind of reiterating. by after the 2028 everyone serving the four year. Now, I know there is a question about sort of, when can these stagger terms, can they be on the earlier ballot, right? And then sort of be almost take effect earlier.

So that way, the August election candidates would be able to choose, right, which, you know, they know, but unfortunately, it's just not going to work that way. Um, the way that again the statutes designed is that you have to be elected. So we have to wait at least to the August election and then that's when we determine after the canvas, the by law who's doing the two in the four. So we couldn't apply this to sort of any of you now, right?

As a point ease, we do have to wait till that first election which again it's gonna be August. So that's part of the, I would say the difficulty is that if you put it on a May 19th ballot. it's still not going to apply until after the August election and you're just holding a special election, really for, you know, extra cost but not necessarily getting anything out. It out of it. So it could be on the May or it could be put on the August correction. So if either one, we'll have the same effect.

Yes, exactly. Um again, yeah. So we can I just kind of walk through this about how it can't really apply to the pointe tease. We have to wait till after the election. So that's the stagger terms or any other questions about that one. But the direct election of mayor again, this is just an option as well. I would say about half of the cities in town, kind of how what you did at your first council meeting a couple weeks ago, right?

Just select from its members someone to serve as mayor about half of them, do that now. And then the other half have the direct election of a mayor. So the voters decide who's going to be the mayor, so, state law, permits you again, to refer that question to the voters of whether or not they want a direct elect directly elected mayor. so, again, this is also sort of a similar question of can happen, sooner rather than later.

Technically, you could refer this again for a special election in May, but it's not going to be able to apply to the August election and part of that just has to do with time frames which I try to include here. So as we kind of talked about all the elections are just built on deadlines, right? And they're pretty hard deadlines and so when you look at the May 19th election date, let's say you wanted On that date, it's not going to be an effect until you canvas, right?

So about June I said early June here. Well, that's already two months after the candidate. Filing has occurred for the August election and also just a couple weeks before ballots have to be sent to the military voters under the federal law. So, you just, we're just not going to have enough time for it to be in effect for someone actually run for mayor until the August 2028 election.

So again that might it would be the same as the other word you could put it on the May but it's not really going to be effective. So currently again, all Council members served two year terms, so the way that we structure, the ordinance was that the directly elected mayor which is also serve a two-year term. And part of the reason for that is because again you haven't received voter approval to go to four-year terms. So, there's a couple different options of what you could do.

Again, if you want to refer this question. So you can refer to that August 2026, election date, just for the two-year term, and that's how it's currently written. If it passes, then the mayoral office will be on the 2028 election ballot for a two-year term. so, if the Council at the same time, refers the staggered term question in August 2026, and it passes, then the council can later put two voters to basically increase the term of mayor up to four years.

Because at that point, you'll have authorization all Council members. Essentially at that point would be serving for your terms. And so then you could change the mayoral and that's essentially how every city in town has done it. We have again, probably, I would say, at least 30 cities in towns, where they've sort of kept their mayor at two years and council members, sort of four, that others, you know, have one ahead and made that change and made the mayor also for your term.

The other option is that you can just wait to refer directly elected mayor until you see how the stagger term passes. And then if it passed in August and everyone was on a four-year term, then when you put it to the ballot, you could put it for a four-year term. So those those are kind of the options for you. Considerations for a May Election. So Garrett was great to give me this information, so it's always based on the voters.

basically, your cost, and anytime you have what we call off-cycle elections which are not on that primary or general election date, they're going to be more expensive because you can't cost share with the rest of the state and the county and everybody else who's on that ballot. And so you're looking at an approximate cost of 131,000, if you hold a May special election Versus the cost of, you know, decreases to about 75%, you know, cents per voter.

if you do wait until the August also off-cycle election. So a may election is a ballot by mail. typically. That's again, a cost saving measure in the county is just don't have the resources often to start pulling pulling places, not for off cycle.

So, everyone's just gonna get about and I know sometimes that's a consideration because people want to have access at the polls If you want to do a mail election, for either of those two, we need to know soon because there's a hundred eighty day deadline, in statute that you have to tell the county that you're going to hold an election. So that's going to be next month.

So if you wanted to proceed with a May election, for either of those staggered or the direct election, we need to bring it back at the next meeting for a vote. Okay, any other questions on those two before I just jump into this prohibition? and this is a very, Short present.

I give a whole presentation on this which I'm trying to spare you that but I at least wanted to kind of let you know about this because it's just something that's not necessarily intuitive, although it makes sense once it's explained. So, essentially we have a statute on the books, entitle, nine, and it says that the, you know, town cannot spend, it's public resources, and that's anything of value that Of the town including staff time, including like, right now, right?

This is actually a public resource, this particular council meeting, so we can't use anything a public resources, to influence an election. And so, I wanted to bring that to your attention because again, sometimes, it's not really intuitive. so whenever you're looking at, you know, you know the prohibition, you're wanting to ask yourself is a public resource being used and then is that public resource being used to support or oppose an election.

So are you advocating for, you know, a candidate or you advocating for a ballot measure like maybe a stagger term or direct election or advocating against it or anything like that. So if you can't use a public resource to advocate, now, you do have so, you can certainly, you know, advocate on your own personal time, you just can't use a public resource to do it.

And so an example, I always give is, you know, like you couldn't ask let's say you put a stagger terms on the ballot, you're gonna refer that to voters. You make that that vote. It's gonna go to the ballot. You can't ask Garrett to basically create FAQ for you, of whites such a great idea to, you know, have that ballot measure pass. Right. That would be using a public resource to influence on election, so it's really more just being mindful about what is a public resources.

What, what is encompassed in that and then making sure that you're not doing that if you want to advocate, and Is one of these things that you can always reach out to us, if you're not sure, we're happy obviously to talk to you ahead of time if you have those questions and you're not sure.

There are penalties obviously for violating the statute, the Attorney, General or county attorney can investigate file, an action against you, obviously the civil penalties can be up to 5,000 dollars and they also the town. It's not responsible for that payment, right? It's would have to come from your own pocket. I will let you know that at least, Six, seven years ago.

this was enforced against, you know, a couple I think was one town in particular, but the Attorney General didn't enforce and so they had individual council members who had to pay, you know, a certain penalty because they had taken action at a counsel meeting to basically, I don't even know if it was to support or oppose but a statewide ballot measure they just thought they were adopting a resolution and that was you know, they didn't think it was that big of a deal because again it's a little confusing.

You can do that for legislation but you can't do that for a ballot measure. And so, you know, that was that action was done the aging forced against them and they had to pay the penalty. So it does happen. I just want to put that in your mind just as we're talking a lot about elections. So are there any questions? The questions questions. The Councilman. Two questions. Would you mind going over the the dates and timelines? Again, I want to with the signatures and the filing, all those all.

How what are the dates there? Yes, okay. So August 4th is gonna be the election date as of right now, right? For the primary election. And so everything is what we do when we build the election calendars is basically start with that election date. And you work backwards. And so, in this first column here, essentially, 150 days to 120 days before the election is, when candidate filing starts.

And so, we typically obviously, like to have the candidate packets and all that available, a few months ahead of time, because we want to make sure people have time to circulate or time to use equal, whatever that may be.

So that's why we were looking at right now time frames of making sure that we can sort of get some, you know, like the majority votes cast ordinance, if you, you know, to adopt that really before the end of the year and if you're gonna do a signature signature requirement change, we would like to bring that back again. Of as soon as possible as well because we want to set up anybody who wants to run to let them know what information they need to actually run for office.

So and then April again early May is that 10-day challenge window core action. That is taken. And then by late May in June really the candidate, I mean, all that's more administrative right? The, you know, Clark is working with the county to make sure that the candidate names are correct that all the proofing is done because again all the ballots need to start being mailed. in June already.

In order to get everything to the military voters and then early voting starts 27 days before the election, so it actually moves pretty fast. Once we're in the election year, The dates, March 7th, through April 6. Are those that the window that a candidate can collect signatures Oh no, they can start collecting as soon as they file a statement of interest. So that's a form that's a sort of that kind of, Let's everyone know that.

Hey, I'm potentially, of running for office and you have to file that form first and then you can start collecting signatures. So can it can't some interested, can they follow a statement of interest? Now they technically could. So that is the other reason why I think we'd like to get some certainty of what direction we're going. So that way if anyone wants to Garrett can finalize, Yeah, I have statement of interest forms available for the town, my emails on the agenda, took me an email.

I can send that for more over and then that form gets filed with the clerk's office and then you can start collecting signatures. I have another question. does the signature process? Apply to also those who are running for re-election? Yes. So anybody anytime so it's always based on your term, right? So whenever your term ends and if you want to run for election yes you have to go the exact same process every single time.

and then, no, I think I read somewhere that when someone's endorses or the signature for you, they are not. They're not permitted to sign for sign for somebody else is that were there seven seats is there. How does that work? Yeah, it depends, it depends on the number of seats. So in this instance for next year and someone in San Tan, who's a qualified elector can find up to seven positions because there's gonna be seven seats.

So yeah, it's just depends on and, you know, when you get to, if you decide that you're gonna do a direct election of mayor and there's the one, see, they can only find one mayoral petition. It's almost thank you. Good questions. Any other questions? Council. And candidate. I'll just um, thank you very much for your presentation. So for candidate training, that's something we would want to do. Obviously, in a head of the actual future election dates.

Yes, and I don't know Garrett, if you have like a process that you forget because I know clerks have different processes for candidates. Yeah, absolutely. So I attended a candidate training with the town of Gilbert a couple years ago and I've Started working on modeling one based off of that for San Tan Valley to go over all the basic forms, the timeline of events and Campaign, Finance 101. I'm sure most candidates when they run for office, want to put up signs to get their name out of there.

There are rules and regulations about science, that candidates should be aware of. So just all the general information again, the clerk's office is not partisan, we're not going to tell you how to run your campaign, what policy platform, but just all the required information that needs to be all put together. And the reason I asked that, of course is equal, which I think will be helpful for the candidates, not use the system when they start asking for signatures. Yes, and that would be included.

I think in any yes, I've got a whole guide on how candidates can use equal as well as a guide on how the voters can use equal. Great. Thank you. Very good, any other questions? Very none. Thank you. We appreciate your presentation, Mrs. Wood. Okay. I got a question for legal as we move forward to items. Six F. This is just a vote. Unless we table it to just put the adopt the resolution. Correct.

It's not like all the different parameters that we just heard about like changing relation dates and times. Yeah, I'm going to defer to Christina. What the municipal? So mayor and council. So the first item of the ordinance is the majority of votes cast. So that one is really just establishing how you're gonna declare your winners at the primary and the general, which again, is really just following that formula that's in statute. So that one isn't necessarily referral to voters.

That one is actually adopting that procedure. for, for determining the winners. Thank you. Good explanation. Appreciate it. Okay, so this is item 6f discussion possible adoption of ordinance. Number two, establishing units whole election procedures. This is a council discussion or possible action to adopt the ordinance.

2025-202, which sets for the election dates establishes procedures for determining majority vote casts, and outlines the process for runoff or general elections as authorized by ARS 9-821.01. And this is as presented in the presentation that we just heard. So, is there any discussion on this this item? Questions. Hearing none. Is there a motion? Regarding ordinance, number 2025-02. Mr. Mayor, I move that we adopt one. That's number 125-2 and established municipal election.

As Constitution number Oaks has a motion on the table is there a second? I second. Remember Jenkins seconds all in favor. Say, aye. It imposed. The ice carry. Motion is carried. Okay. Now, we are going to item 6g. This is discussion possible. Adoption a resolution 2025-05 ordering. And calling an election on four-year. Staggered council terms. This is discussion and possible action to adopt the resolution.

Number two which orders and calls an election on the August 4th, 2026, primary election date, to submit to qualified electors of the town, question of establishing Four-year, staggered terms for Council members, The resolution provides the form of ballot outlines division of elected council members into two classes for initial staggered terms. and directs the town clerk to brought provide notice of election as required by law. So do we have any discussion on this item?

Any questions or discussion? It's a merit. I yes. But just a comment. I think that having a four-year staggered is to. I believe in the best interest of the Council, just because of the if it's every two years it's a possible turnover of the Council every two years. I think that would be detrimental to the the town. So I I believe it's in the best interest to have the four year. Staggered. That's just my thoughts. a different opinion on that. Okay. Thanks Member Hunt. The other mayor.

I'd like to echo that. Comment, as well. I think it really establishes. Continuity stability, and again, institutional knowledge that can carry over from Lexington and obviously, makes sense to give it to the voters and let the voters weigh in. So I think it's a sensible. Hey, thank you and the other thoughts discussion questions.

I thought I would, I'm in support, but the counter argument would be, it gives more people the community opportunities to serve to your second more people, get the opportunity continuity opportunity. Any other discussion? Hey hearing none, is there a motion for resolution number 2025-05? Mr. Mayor, I moved to approve resolution number. 2025-205, ordering, and calling an election on four year. Staggered council terms as presented. There's a motion. Is there a second? Remember folks seconds.

Any opposed a name? Hearing none, the motion carries. Now we're going to go to items 6h. This is discussion possible, adoption of ordinance. Number 2025-03, ordering and calling an election on the direct election of mayor in term of office.

This is for discussion and possible action to adopt this ordinance, which is 2025-03 which orders and calls and election on August, 4th, 2026, primary election date to submit to the qualified electors of the town, the question of establishing the direct election of Mayor setting. The mayor's term of office at two years. The ordinance provides, the proposal language. and form a ballot and directs the town clerk to provide notice of the election as required by law.

Any question discussion on this item? I have a question, Mr. Mayor. Yes, I may, um, it talks about the mayor's term in office being two years. We've, we've already talked about giving it to the voters to make the town council four years. Is there a possibility of putting into the voters to make the mayor of Four-year term? for our subject matter? Expert very counsel. So we also looked into this issue as well, there is no specific authorization for us to do this for a direct election of mayor.

The way that it's structure. It is that Stagger term is the only authorization that allows you to have a council member term extended from two to four years. And then when that that's passed then we can go ahead and go and change the mayoral term because the Council member terminal already be four years, but there isn't a separate ability for us to essentially put that automatically as a four-year four-year term. So it has to start a two year, correct? Then it can be changed. Yes, yes.

And again, we have about like 30 cities in towns. Who've never changed it. They keep their mayor at two years. Whereas others have extended it for And our adoption of this would mean. there wouldn't be a direct election until 2008 or correct. So yes, yes, Mary Council. So yes, so it would be on the 2026 ballot as the question and the voters, approve it that the first election for a direct election of mayors gonna be a 2028. And their council.

Christian, just clarify so that the Council could decide. Just wait and see how staggering plays out. and then move forward with the direct election of mayor for four year term. Yes, you could. Wait another option. And what were the timeline of if they decide to go that route when would? Yeah, so Mayor council.

So if you decide you want to pause on the direct election and see how the stagger term resolution, you know if voters approve it then essentially in late 2020, six, you could make another referral essentially for this 2028 election. We probably wait until 2027, but then that's when you could put on the ballot, the mayoral term, a direct election, for four years again. that's at the stagger term has passed. And then it's it's going to be. Again 2028 is going to be the first, the question.

So it's not going to be until 2030 that you'd actually be electing and direct elected mayor. What would happen if the electorate does not select for staggered terms? So if you don't, then you can still put the question of the direct election of the mayor, but it's going to stay at two year. May have another question. Yes, just another clarification. Does the direct election of a mayor, the creation of mayoral office.

in an office, in addition to the current council, as its constituted, seven seats, or does that take the place of one? Yes, American Council. It takes the place of one of the council member seats and then again, the appointment of the vice mayor will continue through the Counsel itself. Correct. So America capital, it's not direct elected, vice mayor, right? That's just something that the Council selects. So in effect, right now we wouldn't have to vote. We don't need to vote on this.

If we didn't want to that could come at a later date. For the mayor's term. Correct. So, what I would say is you could either refer to the voters now. And then it would again just be a two year term.

That would be on the ballot in August of 2026 and then if you wanted to extend that term to four years, you'd have to wait two years or you could just wait, see how the stagger terms, you know if that even passes if it does then you can put it on the ballot in 2028 with a four year term with it, that's the stagger term passes and the next 2030 you would have it directly elected mayor, someone who could actually run for that office.

and then if you want to even just pause like I guess temporarily, we have a little bit of time. So I mean we can bring it back to you. We want to do it still before the end of the year. So that would be us tabling. This particular item currently For us to come back for them to come back and At a later point, correct? Question. Yes. my question is each time we put Something, is it a separate cost?

so, for the and I might have to refer to Garrett, but I mean it typically is because it's the primary in general, you're sharing the cost with a lot of other jurisdictions. But is it for each one that we? So the way that the cost structure is with the county, it's based off of the amount of registered voters, hypothetically you could put 12 different propositions on the ballot same cost as if it were one proposition on the ballot. Any further discussion. Or questions. A vote now would mean that.

We would get it to the Electric sooner that they they could pick sir. If you if a mayor counsel if you vote, I would say, like, for in the next, you know, two months right then. Yes, It's getting that question to them in the 2026 election versus 2028, which means they can actually vote on directly elected mayor. If it passes in 2020, Okay, gives us one second. We're times that we have a pause. Now we do a quick recess.

Let's do a 10 minute recess while we figure out our beeping and be adjourned for 10 minutes. Increase. How are you doing? here? She was awesome. So I yeah, I love election loss and what it is because we have the month. Probably guess what? My license plate is. it Emotional and he said he served with you. Yeah. Well. Probably nothing. Yeah. but I, I was just curious. We aren't like what I mean that helps based off of didn't turn out, but I saw everybody's picture. I ran away. I know.

That's right. Questions. Thank you. He questioned every little turn on my map. I was just making sure it was perfect and ready to get here. No, yeah. So we're here as I really appreciate all the work you put in and It's hopeless. Out of our break. And just remind everybody that We are. I six, I right side. Item. Number six. I that's the. Oh sorry. Yes. 6h. Okay, college six age, which is the discussion of possible adoption of the ordinance.

Number two, zero two five, zero three ordering and calling an election on the direct election of the mayor and term of office. And do we have any more discussion from the Council on this America? Okay, yes, I guess my opinion on this. I feel that we're one of you because people, the back are having our time here. I feel that this one kind of putting the cart before the horse.

I don't think that putting too many things on the ballot in my opinions, unnecessary especially especially for the mayor I feel like this going forward with the staggered terms and then after we did finish our stagger terms, then putting this back on the ballot later. This is my opinion. Run. Yes. If Thank you, Mr. Mayor of just a question. So, a yes. So, just a question. Yes, on this. of just allows the public to vote on whether we want to have direct election for the mayor.

That's what this is. It's great. Right? So if a yes on this and in August, the public says, yes we want to direct elect for the mayor at that point. And at that point, then from the 2028 a election then there will be a mayor a lot or elected on the ballot elected for two year term. Now, before the 2028 can we then change it to a four year term or or would be a 2028 that we would say if you want to change it to four year term has to go back to the ballot I have voters.

so, therefore 20th gen Again. You want to extend this and then if it passes 20, 30 might be your first, okay? Oral for four. Okay, so it is my opinion. I think that it was My pain that we put this to the voters and let them decide whether we do it direct elect but that's just my opinion. So, another questions is the point of clarification, okay? Again, I know, I just want to be absolutely clear.

We have this straight so there's no way of putting this before the voters, even if we did it in 2028 for the mayor to have a four-year term initially, it must go to the voters initially as a two year chart. As long as you don't have the stagger terms passed yet. And so all of you are still two year. We do Passes. And then all councils that four year term.

Then we're essentially you can put that on because it'll be consistent with what the voters have already approved, which is a four-year term understood I think in my opinion, it seems almost. To the point where we wait till we fight, figure out the staggered voting. And then put it before the citizens to vote, but that's my opinion on this matter personally. So Any other discussion? It's my opinion that I just think we should put everything we can to the voters as we go.

Could be important and then each one that we build on from there. can just keep building onto the four year, but I believe this one should go to voters. I think the point there is no matter what, it's going to be a two year term in the beginning. Anyways for the mayor and then it'll be put on the ballot to adopt it for your term limit. So, We we've got a variety of different opinions on the Council. So any, any additional comments? Okay, hearing none.

Is there a motion for ordinance number 2025-03. And this is the for putting on the right now. The two years for the mayor as opposed to allowing the staggered vote to happen and then the two-year being implemented. And Do we have emotion? Mayor, I moved to table item 6h. Okay. Vice Mayor Hudgens has put a motion. Do we have a second? I will second it. We will go to a roll call vote. Can we get that Garrett?

and if you can speak loud because if you go on the back and we're passing this around the microphone, so Councilmember Hunt. Hey, That's a member Jenkins. Hey. Councilmember, oops. Hey Councilmember Tyler. Hey, Councilmember wolfert. Hey, Thanks. Mayor Hudgens. Hi. There's that. All right. People is five days to ice, so the motion is denied. Do we have another motion on the floor? Mr. Mayor. Okay. I moved to approve Ordinance.

2025.03, ordering and calling an election on the direct election of mayor and term of office. A member hunt has put a motion, is there a second? Member Jenkins seconds. All and well, let's do a roll call on that one. That's number one. Hi. That's a member Jenkins. House number oaks, right? House number Tyler. Hey. That's the number. Wolford, I Vice Mayor Hudgins. Hey. Mayor said, Hey. Or three. so, the motion carries Okay. Moving on to item number six. I now This is discussion possible.

Approval of conflict, waivers for Pierce, Coleman Pl/lc, It's a possible council action. Approving waivers addressing potential conflicts of interest rising from Pierce Coleman's representation of both the town of Santan Valley, and other public entities, including the town of Queen Creek and certain Pinal County offices.

The waivers allow the firm to continue providing legal services related to certain intergovernmental agreements and ongoing Canal County matters, while ensuring transparency and compliance with the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct. This was presented in our staff report, every council member should have received this. Do we have any discussion on item number six? I Any at all. Hearing none. Is there a motion for items Six? I Just for me, I moved to approve the contemplate.

Verse for Pierce Coleman. see is presented. Remember what we're as emotion? Is there a second? Vice Mayor Hudgens seconds, All in favor. Say I any opposed the eyes have it, the motion carries Good. We will now go to item. Number six. J. This is a town's update on the 30 day. Exclusive retainer with IPM or interim public management for the recruitment of the town manager. Finance director and town, clerk this discussion will focus on the status of the recruitment process potential.

Next steps and considerations of scheduling a special counsel meeting. thank you Mayor as the Council will recall at the first council meeting there was a decision to enter into that 30-day retainer with IPM so that they can commence search for the positions at Town Manager, Town, Finance Director town clerk. I wanted to provide the council with an update. I reached out to Tim Pickering, the owner of IPM.

he provided written updates has indicated that they're Full swing in their process, screening candidates for these three positions and securing commitments. On their end, they have some interested. People in all three positions. and once the final commitments are secured on their end, they're going to submit resumes to my office and look for a time, possibly to hold a special meeting of the council where we'd come in and executive session to conduct those interviews.

It will most likely be kind of a hybrid situation where they'll maybe some zoom interviews. Some in person, I know, IPM has some candidates that may be out of state but obviously, we're going to encourage in person where possible these are important positions, right? But there may be I was looking at we're looking at me room availability. it looks like 20 second October 22nd there is availability again here. And I went ahead and made a reservation for a special meeting and I confirmed with Mr.

Pickering. That that he would have candidates available for interviews on that date. My firm can assist in preparing some questions for council to how to conduct that interview process and a uniform and fair manner. And then there would be discussion about the candidates and and we'd move on from there as far as whether the council would be interested in engaging in contractual discussions. as to to one or more of those candidates as far as moving forward. Are there questions on that process?

Is there interest to have a special meeting? This was an agenda as an action item, but Kind of get input from the council. Its special meeting might be something that that you guys are interested in doing, we have availability for on Wednesday. Discussion. Do we have any idea of how many candidates they're looking to put forward for each position? They're looking for, you know, at least three. I think the town manager, they're going to have candidates. Mr. Pickering indicates that.

He's pretty confident. They'll have those. And I think we definitely Recommend that that be the priority perhaps that and finance director. That's what I've been indicating to Mr. Pickering. Um, so hopefully we can perhaps do those interviews for Manager for Finance Have we identified a date? For one would have those resumes. I don't have a specific date, but it would be prior prior to the actual meeting on Wednesday. Any other questions? Discussion.

I do since we're not sure yet on, That date that you have just the 22nd was it? We don't need to, we can't do anything yet on that because we don't know the candidates yet that we're going to have. To interview, correct. Or as that can be, something that we should try to. As the date open there. We should, we should have a candidates Mr. Pickerings, indicating that there will be Candice will be lined up for interviews on the 22nd if that's what the Council would like to do.

I just don't, I don't have the resumes yet, but they will come in before the 22nd. We should have time to call a special meeting if we need to and get those materials out to the camp council prior to my point, second we don't need to call special meeting. Now it'll come at A or do we need to do that now?

Do we need to put emotions to actually make a motion but if that date You know, given just guidance from the Council of that date tends to work for most the council members, I can go ahead and work with the clerk with Garrett and we can set a special meeting. We need to send out notices of that, at least 24 hours in advance since it's a special meeting. I'd like to do it even earlier if possible. Just to give notice, although it's not going to have a big public component that particular meeting.

So I guess the question for the council is is that date sound something left is doable for each and every member What, what time are we talking? I was thinking six o'clock, but there might be some flexibility on that. That's when the reservation for the room is made, not sure if it's available earlier in that. I'd have to look but over 20 seconds a week from tonight. It sounds like the consensus is yes. And that should work that day. They should be available. Okay.

There's no further discussion on that. We'll move to items. 6K. That's a presentation and discussion on the quorum and expectations during Callthic public Mr. Chris will provide an overview of meeting decorum and expectations during this call to public. topics include applicable, legal requirements, best practices for maintaining order and civility and procedures to ensure compliance with open meeting laws while allowing public parks participation Mr. Quiz. Mayor on this item.

I am happy to present on it given The the time and the limitations there. I would not be offended if you if you tabled my presentation, it won't. We do have an executive session that that is coming up on the agenda and maybe the recommendation table, but we would need a motion To do so. Here, I'm emotion to table. It's okay. Okay. Vice Mayor has motion. Do we have a second and second by number? Tyler all in favor, say hi. Any opposed eyes have it. We will table this to the next.

Regular meeting which is going to be October or November. What's the exact date on that? Just so I can get it on the record, November 5th of 2025. Okay. Moving on, we will. go to item number six, L This is a notification regarding town committees task force and boards. This is a request that I requested to provide the public with.

Notice that the topic of the town committees task force and boards will be discussed at upcoming meetings, members of the public who are interested in participating in any of these groups or have ideas for specific committee committees or are encouraged to submit their requests. Via email to the town. Clerk Garrett Glover. And this is his email address. It is Garrett Glover Stv.

So G, A R R E T T G L O B E R S TV at gmail.com so once again, those for your interest comments, about committees, please refer those over to the interim town clerk. Okay. We were going to go to item number seven. under this item Council members may request that topics be placed on future agenda for consideration. So for the record, I want to emphasize that in accordance with Arizona open meeting law. This is not the time to debate or discuss the merits of any proposed item.

The sole purpose here is for individual council, members type identify potential topics for future agendas without discussion between Council members on those items. So, the floors open is any council member have any item they would like to be considered for the next regular meeting. Are in a future agenda. Yes. Remember honey, I would like to propose that we this that working.

Okay, I like to propose that we discuss the option for the town to adopt it an ordinance to limit the minimum number of signatures to a thousand. That's all I have. Okay. you get that, okay? Any other council member having any other item? They would like to have on a future agenda. He at all. Okay, hearing none. Thank you. We'll go to item eight. This is the call to the public.

this is the time set aside for citizens to address the Council on any issue Within the jurisdiction of the town, each speaker will be limited to three minutes subject to adjustment if needed based on time constraints or meeting management issues. In accordance with Arizona. Open meeting law, the Council cannot discuss or take action on matters.

Raised during call to the public at the conclusion of this item individual council members may one respond to criticism made by those who have spoken to direct staff to review review or follow up on matters. Or three request that the matter be placed on a future. I have. Speaker cards. The first one is Genie Stockton. If you would please come forward. Well, I feel honored. I'm more for that. when you guys all look real nice tonight and and thanks again for letting me speak.

I just so I just saw Garrett's email address. And I read it as Garrett, G lover. can we go by that in school? My nickname already. Okay, so I'm stepping up here tonight to let you know that there's a couple of women here in the audience and a gentleman, we have started a Facebook group called Town of San Tan Valley. We are trying to get your word out there in a positive manner and ask people in the community to have Adult. Professional conversations were not letting people sling mud, etc. Etc.

So, in doing that, we're taking your messages from here and we're posting them out there and you're welcome to be on the page, but we don't want you to contribute. We just want you to Mice in the corner. Okay. We want this to be a public forum for the people in the community. Okay? So Darren I'll be looking for you to sign up. I did want to also extend that I think. You guys are going to be working your butts off for the next nine months, right?

And we're gonna be watching, you know, over your shoulder real closely. And we might tell you when you stumble, and we might just snicker, but Will all be in it together. I think at the end of the nine months July 1st, we should have a party. And I'm telling you, if you want somebody to help you coordinate a party, I'm going to see if Haley will help because she's really good at that stuff. But I would be more than happy to help coordinate a community event that says Hello Santan Valley.

This is us. We're gonna have, you know, a big community gathering. We'll have 501c3s, we'll have businesses, we'll have whatever we need, but I think You guys are going to need that party and sew them. I and I'm throwing it out there for you to consider. Funding that because my wallet. I have no pockets and my wallet isn't empty. But I think that's something that you should invest in so that the community appreciates That you appreciate them.

So having said all of that, I'm going to shut up and thank you. Thank you. Council agenda. Some sort of inauguration. Yeah, just write that down. We'll have that. Discussed in a future agenda item. The next one I have a speaker card is Sylvia Barrett. So, we have Barrett. Good evening. My name is Sylvia Barrett. Congratulations. To the Mayor Vice Mayor and the Council on your new positions.

I know you have a big job in building a new town, but along with those stresses come knowing what lies ahead for this region. I'm talking about the resolution Copper mine based outside of superior. Arizona. that will be building a loadout facility and filter plant in the San Tan Valley area. the project will be located on 553 acres of private land, surrounded by state land, the private land is currently found under the name, Integrity, Land and Cattle Company. Located in Pinal County.

The project will entail running 22 mile copper. Concentrate pipeline from superior to the area. when this pipeline breaks, as it is bound to do, it will cause an environmental disaster. there will be more rail traffic because once the concentrate has arrived to the area the water will be drained off. And the concentrate will be put on real cars to be transported out of the area. There will be more noise and more automobile traffic. Also, the final Environmental Impact statement.

states that there will be subsides from two to four feet, but knowing a bit about subsidence since I live in a fisher-prone area, I say that figure is not set in stone. The state land. Will lose some of its value. that subsidence will limits residential growth, and of course water, we cannot do anything without it. The resolution copper mine will require vast amounts of water. And since Arizona is in more than 22 years of job, we don't know what lies ahead.

Bottom line is that this project is also slated to have 30 wells known as desert, wealth or desert wells along the Marco Railroad corridor with each well pumping 400 gallons a minute. that is 20,000 acre feet per year, which is over six billion gallons of water per year. The mine is expected to last 40 years. Those six billion times 40 is 240 billion, gallons of water. We need our water if we continue to grow this area. If you would like to read the FBIS for yourself, I've got the link.

I've got my phone number and I, thank you. Give it to the clerk, Okay? Yes. Yeah, Examinated Garrett. Thank you, thank you for your presentation. Next one on the card is Christy Lewin. Did I say that right? Okay, ready for me? apologize for raising my hand earlier because I knew and this is I didn't know how it works, but I did write something up. So, good evening, Mr. Mayor Council members as we move forward with the exciting step of establishing our newly incorporated city.

We also inherit a responsibility to ensure that our foundational services especially emergency medical services. Our strengthen to to meet our unique needs. currently EMS operations fall under the Arizona Department of Health Services, Certificate of Necessity, number 85, With Southwest Ambulance of Casa Grande known as Amr around here. Very quickly reviewing response times, currently under this con Casa Grande Florence and Coolidge have contracts.

For ambulance response times stated as 10 minutes, 90% of the time. 15 minutes, 95% of the time and 20 minutes 100% of the time. Currently Sam Tam fits into this C. O N with response times of 10 minutes. 35% of the time. 30 minutes, 90% of the time and 45 minutes 100% of the time. It's a long time to be doing CPR on a loved one, or having a medical emergency waiting for an ambulance for transport. Our population density road access called volume and response time.

Expectations must be evaluated and change to align with our cities size and population comparable with other cities. This currency on does not reflect or provide for the needs of santan. Currently, we must ensure that EMS coverage, reflects the city's specific geography response, expectations, and public safety goals so that we are not left with no ambulances within our city of San Tan Valley to service our residents. This means negotiating new agreements.

Amending the existing co-n or seeking localized control through a city specific EMS model. our residents deserve timely medical response, tailored to our new boundaries This isn't about disrupting current services but enhancing them to reflect our city's growing means I would ask that. We prioritize this conversation before a lack of planning becomes a public safety issue. Thank you. Thank you. 'D like to discuss an item that you would want on the future agenda.

You and Mayor just as a point of order. Typically the All the comments will come in, at the end Council members will will either respond. If there's criticism directed at them or request future agenda items I don't think it's necessarily legal required to do it that way, but that's the standard practice to get all the comments out. And then take any steps after that related. It was correct. You are correct on that.

So, at this point this is all the, the comic cards I have I believe we will open it to the public. If there's anyone out there that would like to come forward, Please do so state, your name and Please state if you are in San Tan Valley or another area. Meeting everyone. I just want to say congratulations and you all look amazing. I just have a concern on your hiring, which will be having the special meeting very soon. Gia. Excuse me, Council member Jenkins. I'm sorry.

We had made a motion concerning some of the expenses and I think that her points were valid and moving forward, what? How much is the There was a percentage, they had their pros and cons that were shown on the screen. There's a percentage that would be added to the payroll. So you need to find out what that is going to be. There's a buyout.

If you choose to hire either, Any of the three positions, what is that bio that's an expense that needs to be made aware to the public, those are tax dollars. That will be paying for that. I understand that there is no. You don't have any budget right now but going forward, What is that? That's it. That was a huge concern. I wish that could have been At tabled until you had all those strong numbers to present to us before you go and make decisions on hiring somebody. So it's all I had to say.

I wanted to start positive but I just, I have those concerns moving forward. So thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else? We know who you are, but if you would state your name and learn from any mayor and guys, Mayor and Councilor supervisor Rich Video District 1, I have a little piece of you guys in Corporation. It's like a corner. I was just so, anyway, I'm here today one. I've apologize for not making it. I was very sick two weeks ago and I'm sure you wouldn't want to be here.

But anyway, I did want to just come here and congratulate everyone of you because I didn't get the chance when you guys were picked. But thank you for doing this. Thank you for stepping up and I trust me as a former vice mayor of a city Maricopa. You got a lot of work ahead of you, but I also want to stand and let you know, I'm available. I'm here to help you guys. I want to back you guys. I want to make sure that your next seven, eight, nine months, or is painless as possible.

So, you know, you got my support, you know, you got the county supervisor support the other thing. I also wanted to mention is may not be something you're going to worry about today. But on future the state is going as in the past come after planning and zoning. And if you do decide to rerun, this will be something that'll be coming up. That if they come after your planning and zoning, I can tell you the county supervisors will be behind you, 100% to stay out of your business. Okay.

They don't they doesn't want the federal in their business. Well, we don't want to state in your business because guess who's business? They get into next The county's business and I don't want him in our business. I had a very long discussion with Six Elected up at the Arizona League of Cities and it turned into an argument. Which I'm going to sell, told them, You better bring more on because 60 ain't enough.

Stay out of our business and I just want you to know that we've got your backs and I'm going around from Council to counsel to do this and let them know that all five of us. Supervisors, have your back. God bless you. Good luck. And I look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to Your name and, and if you live in San Tan Valley, I mean, it's Chris Brown. I do live here in Sandton Valley moved out a couple years ago.

I'm a professional engineer licensed in the state of Arizona for transportation. And so I just like would kind of pick it backing on just offering my service to any committee or anything that needs to be done to get that ball rolling for any intergovernment. agencies, anything like that that we need to do to Proceed with projects to keep Santa enrolling. All their infrastructure. Moving moving freely. Thank you. Nor our email is for our clerk. Is there anyone else out in the audience?

I would like to come forward. Jeannie you already spoke? There's a unevent that hasn't been mentioned. Well, can we have her come up? And then we'll have you announce you. Mom, my name is Susan Bustamani and I live here in San Ted Valley. I have a few questions. That is the AMR P or whatever that you read to their contract. Did you interview anybody else besides them? We don't answer questions in the call to public but we can know your concerns. Yes.

Normally like I said, I've been on boards and stuff like that. Normally we get multiple bids On. Yeah, that's that's one big one question I wanted to ask because that's being fair to everyone, okay, and another thing is that you also brought up about why did they choose Wells Fargo? Okay. I think we need to look. At other other options other than Wells, Fargo. that's how I feel because I know Wells Fargo the three largest banks. Are probably considered the three worst banks.

That we really need to look because that's our money. And I want our money saved. Okay, so that's that's how I feel. But yeah, I like how you're sin. Why did they choose Wells? Fargo? It says yes. So on so uses them. I really think we need to sit there and look At other possible. options. That's how I feel. Because that's, that's our money, okay? Thank you. Any. Others. Okay. Genie. Darren, I forgot to mention to you guys. Fusd is sponsoring a trunk or treat on the 23rd.

Do you guys have that on your calendar? It's at Johnson Ranch? I'm sorry. Thank you. Any other comments from the the call to Colby anyone out there at all? Okay, see none. I will close the call. The public portion, I will defer. If Member Hunt would like to because you were directed in your direction, if there was any comment, you wanted to Okay. Okay, very good. So at this point, is there anything that you would like that? We heard that you would like The clerk to get on in future.

In some way related, but I'd like to have Epcorp give us a presentation so that we know the sustainability of the water Here in San and it about the electricity, you know, the solar stuff and and things like that, so we can get that on there. One day, it's good. Thank you. Sorry. If we're gonna have Epcorcom, I think we should have Queen Creek water come as well, because they also provide water to Santand Valley. Thank you council members.

before we get a motion to go into executive session on this item, I would note that the following items, the Council will convene back into open session and it is anticipated. There will be no further business before the Council tonight. other than adjournment. So with that said, is there a motion to go into executive session? It's very emotion that we moved to executive session. Remember Tyler has a motion is our second Member Jenkins.

We are now in executive session and that will be in the room right behind us. Yeah, that's an email just to connect. I know, like it's okay. That's what my email listing. My county car that's got my phone. yeah, so we kind of have to, he's got