The Town Council voted to approve a tentative budget proposal for the 2021/2022 Fiscal Year at its May 4 regular session.
The overall total, including all funds, is $39.1 million with a General Fund (operating budget) plan of $22.7 million and capital improvement budget of $5.9 million. Both of those are essentially unchanged from the council budget workshop in April. There is about $100,000 trimmed from the General Fund.
The tentative proposal approved by the council represents the maximum amount the council may consider for final approval when it meets for a public hearing and consideration on Tuesday, June 1. There may be additional reductions prior to approval.
When the Town Council takes up a final version of the new sign regulations at its May 18 session it will likely include a provision that prohibits temporary signs in the public right-of-way.
During a discussion by the council on March 20, Vice Mayor David Spelich and Councilman Gerry Friedel were firm in their opposition to restricting the temporary signs for businesses. The remainder of the council supported the ban in the right-of-way. The council was unanimous in wanting to keep the signs off sidewalks.
There were no formal votes, just a consensus arrived at during discussion. The finished proposal will be back for a public hearing and final consideration by the council at its regular session on Tuesday, May 18.
As concerns about the pandemic begin to wane, the Maricopa County Sheriffâs Office is getting ready to reassert its public outreach programs, according to MCSO Capt. Larry Kratzer, commander for the Sheriffâs District 7 based in Fountain Hills.
Kratzer was addressing the Town Council with his monthly update on April 20 when he made the comments.
He cited the annual Drug Take Back Day, which was held this past weekend, but had been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.
Deputies were on hand outside Town Hall Saturday receiving unused prescription drugs being dropped off by residents. The drugs are turned over to DEA for disposal.
Thursday, at a large gathering in Fountain Hills, I had the pleasure of hearing the keynote speaker, our Vice Mayor David Spelich.
Iâve been around the political arena for many years, heard more politicians than I care to think about. Most tend to sound very much alike and generally wind up saying nothing of importance. Well, that is not the case with our vice mayor. David is authentic, smart, fearless and very, very articulate. He had the audience spellbound as he gave a no-nonsense assessment of our town and what it needs and doesnât need.
For those who donât know him, David was elected to the council three years ago. He is a retired Chicago homicide detective, a man who doesnât suffer fools well and is not a âpolitician.â This big man with a big voice has a full-time job chasing down bad actors who abuse children and somehow manages to commit a huge chunk of his time to providing major leadership on the Town Council.
At its March 2 regular session, the Town Council voted to approve $49,000 for a warrant study to determine potential need for a future traffic signal at the intersection of Palisades Blvd. and Palomino Blvd./Eagle Ridge Drive in Fountain Hills.
A professional services agreement would have Kimley-Horn and Associates, engineering consultants, perform the study.
The council heard this proposal in November 2020 but rejected it. Public Works Director Justin Weldy apologized to the council for poorly presenting the proposal last fall.
âI never intended to provide confusing or misleading information,â Weldy said.
The study is the first step in planning for outlying years, according to Weldy. He said, based on traffic study information performed in connection with the Adero-Scottsdale Resort located on Eagle Ridge Drive and the proposed Daybreak Apartment complex on Palisades near Shea, there are indications that the intersection will meet warrants for a signal.