[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6277224,"mediaKeyId","2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3","parentId",2656558,"title","Council ratifies Evie McKinney as Apache Junction city clerk","audioSeconds",41,"startMs",3224000,"endMs",3265000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3&start=3224&end=3265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3/thumbnail_3224000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277224/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Council-ratifies-Evie-McKinney-as-Apache-Junction-city-clerk","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277224-cb1ed7c766b730387ce20c59d55ef500/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100652&Signature=XWmzc99GjlWD2ZCUfa2HLiCdRqvrY8~uTO3TYiNXBH2rPMmduKdCavdawlb7-pFb39lBSMU5BVdpv~ApfiJff1S5Li9DO~sJoRXwtg7en4r~W-3gHN-2xESHorYz6Vv01Fw3j1Vlz9OS8J1RJAokbDrSU3qO5y7PQiEEYOayeqntYBny2bdp1gF3xeKKKmczUMEwHiw9m1tdgMOkp3qkioFQFESBB7E9o541HFV7a~Ru29mP-2YVysUpbO4KfJI~3p4WugmS0~qlDh9hl8FG9IibiPdqX~Zaed8G1oGYEW~YIvNnTKsp2EP8Ht4wusHe~~zjkY4oH9L6iJWYtm0buA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Apache Junction, Arizona","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Bridal Powell, city manager, presented the council with a ratification item on March 4 to confirm Evie McKinney as city clerk.

“As city manager, I present her as someone who is qualified and ready for this role,” Powell said, recommending ratification. The council moved, seconded and approved the ratification by unanimous voice/roll call vote.

After the vote, McKinney introduced the clerk’s office staff and briefly described her tenure with the city: she said she first joined the city in 1990, left for several years and returned in 2004, and she has worked in six departments during her career. McKinney said she plans to schedule one‑on‑one meetings with each council member to discuss their vision and priorities for the clerk’s office and to look for ways to streamline city processes.

Why it matters: the ratification fills the clerk’s statutory role for election administration, records, public notices and other duties assigned to the office. Staff told the council the action is required by city code and that McKinney has nearly 20 years of service with the city.

The council took no other action on the item beyond the ratification vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Apache Junction City Council Meeting - 3/04/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council voted unanimously to ratify Evie McKinney as city clerk; McKinney introduced her clerk office staff and outlined plans to meet individually with council members.","taxTitle","Apache Junction, Pinal County, Arizona","taxId",52809,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277229,"Council unanimously approves measure to put mayoral term‑length question on November ballot",189,2973000,3162000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3&start=2973&end=3162","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3/thumbnail_2973000.jpg","/articles/6277229/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Council-unanimously-approves-measure-to-put-mayoral-termlength-question-on-November-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277229-a8e648641514c3ab021657bb91d98354/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100652&Signature=dDSBUgFj~pkcyvBqgHAPMjCCUqSm5nfcEArOptMe9lSL0ByFdbqd4tLyTEGKoEsGNPLpF3EVelXRwQoabaxoxoOeRw0YxA3odtw3XliiBDe8PaLp0BkHBLP~O5niEIUvsCnniNvk0IKW7AnF-HidwUR6UTUXHu8dfZAO1kCAxkQVWev1H9qnliCp94Wn-0agXBczfJmZnK68PhTqdi~D2kCBhg5BJsz8ugZrohNoUf52SqCqeFBsb2GM56qsLWDRvpXIMcyA-jhwmgCOjxYN2sb4J0k-loBv7oc4nw5EIKvRbdTzQIJNwa~rZDA9B0vLGx7o9Gs-QHB7x4ZfK73Ppg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented Resolution No. 25‑03 during the March 4 meeting to place a charter/municipal code question before Apache Junction voters on Nov. 4, 2025: whether to change the mayoral term from two years to four.

“Pursuant to your direction to staff, what you have before you is resolution number 25‑03,” said the staff presenter, who outlined the required timeline and county coordination for running a special election in both Maricopa and Pinal counties. The resolution includes ballot language asking, in effect, whether the city code should change the mayoral term from two years to four.

Councilmember motioned and seconded to approve the resolution. The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 25‑03; the presiding officer announced the motion passed with unanimous yes votes.

Staff said once signed by the mayor the resolution would be transmitted to both counties and the city would engage a private vendor to produce the election publicity pamphlet and handle formal arguments in favor and opposed, should any be submitted. The city manager noted costs associated with administering a multi‑county election and the need to coordinate milestones with county election officials.

Why it matters: the resolution initiates a binding process to put a charter/code change question to voters and sets the administrative timeline and responsibilities for the November 4, 2025 ballot. The council’s unanimous approval means the question will appear on the ballot unless further legal or procedural issues intervene.","The council approved Resolution No. 25‑03 to place a question on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot asking voters whether the mayoral term should increase from two to four years; timeline and election administration details were described by staff.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277234,"Apache Junction police outline staffing gains, technology and crime‑fighting results",654,1952000,2606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3&start=1952&end=2606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3/thumbnail_1952000.jpg","/articles/6277234/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Apache-Junction-police-outline-staffing-gains-technology-and-crimefighting-results","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277234-741d77e3527795dd68b152baf4f58edd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100652&Signature=OZubGC9vRCcrJw8NVfVOHyJWM~MagBzsS5HoN1zNo-zk4cYknC1Za~cstmIi4EfbcKOWoL5AosoWglzUvhimoDFB6S4jMiztcIrDt0lGy6WxbFS~xflayknU6Eg5ld2HjaZDUIWgqlcM4c26l0dtK0IswLUz9UF4Rmak5K3ybc0LxD1mZhY~S6onuCQt-bziXmv-WMXNlL4neysAmOnyNhLuKgpvOWlE5cqz3BGqkK0JAjaQn8A6bFhiXlf7D55iTcBrVSzwexXvG4vqklxIABk-EUuQCKm-BlH9mMHYEKow1I2YOkvGbFHlH9PjUWUIOVScjXrhQE-lL-mK8hAGSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Pulley provided the council with a department update on March 4, saying that since his arrival three years ago the police department has grown in authorized strength, added technology and expanded community outreach.

“When I got here, we had authorized 75 police officers and we had 39 authorized professional staff,” Pulley said. “We are currently at 95 officers and we are 51 professional staff.” He said the department has hired 49 officers during his tenure and reported the force is fully staffed with applicants waiting to join.

Pulley described several new or recently expanded tools: mobile overt camera trailers for special events; Motorola APX‑N70 radios with GPS on officers; the VirTra 300‑degree training simulator; a data‑sharing and analytics platform called Peregrine; and a civilian customer‑satisfaction tool called SpiderTech. He also outlined the department’s drone program and Flock automated‑license‑plate and camera system.

Pulley provided operational metrics for 2024: about 45,000 calls for service (up from nearly 40,000 in 2022), roughly 500 total accidents with seven fatal crashes, 155 DUI arrests, about 2,000 arrests and approximately 5,000 citations. He said the department has 11 licensed drone pilots and 13 drones and listed the uses — accident reconstruction, patrol support, SWAT and search and rescue — including several examples in which drones or Flock footage helped locate suspects and recover stolen vehicles. He said Flock camera leads contributed to 14 arrests, 19 recovered stolen vehicles, six recovered license plates, and nearly $400,000 in assets recovered in 2024.

Pulley described a new full‑time homeless outreach officer who works with partners including Horizon Health and Wellness and said the department attended more than 70 community events last year.

Council members and the mayor praised the department’s leadership and recruitment results, and Pulley said he would invite council members to the department’s training center once staff complete work on the VirTra simulator. No council action was taken; this was an informational report.","Police Chief Pulley reported the department is fully staffed with 95 officers and reviewed new technology — drones, camera systems, a training simulator and data platforms — plus statistics on arrests, calls and programmatic outreach.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277239,"Apache Junction officials warn state food-tax measure could cut millions from city budget",807,993000,1800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3&start=993&end=1800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656558-d6d04469d41c8749326774fe4d3d6dc3/thumbnail_993000.jpg","/articles/6277239/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Apache-Junction-officials-warn-state-food-tax-measure-could-cut-millions-from-city-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277239-ed7d73e2bbb8b67625fa9552b758f619/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100652&Signature=ZvHwmxH44WDGy0DzCqU-W~vn518e6esxl8L3UXOFpfHekjeg3GyS7nRZgREkpJ5DMwgI9WTXkQQTjj6NAWa-9YYvHFa0~5Awwz46SYT1B0M3T6tbSoLpSynVIBfqst4Wn4DqevDDN8ZPWi3lytCqXX1ZO-qJ5qzfwyyrTAk0YA4panwZnip21bdf8x2jw~kxMGn8VFJOUkyrrZ1N0pOxik0JPx25nXZXcUVh0wNYraEr9h2G2adfDNr-5kubaODeBVwkXeerWG5c0Gsi~Dib6YHb6NedHpeUz0gxQB37LEIVZ2tpksDdTwp8Ts1qrgjm8nKVrl7bhgHWPFUhpY2zBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rob Whistler, management analyst in the city manager’s office, told the Apache Junction City Council on March 4 that a pending state measure, identified in his presentation as HCR 20‑21, would limit or eliminate cities’ authority to levy local taxes on retail food and could sharply reduce municipal revenue.

“Arizona, we have a transaction privilege tax, TPT,” Whistler said, explaining the state framework that allows municipalities to set local TPT rates on specific categories of transactions. He said the bill originally would have eliminated municipal food taxes entirely; an amendment posted in mid‑February would instead cap municipal retail‑food tax rates at 2 percent.

Whistler ran through the city’s numbers. He said Apache Junction currently imposes a 2.4 percent retail‑food tax. If the bill becomes law in its amended form — a 2 percent cap — the city would lose about $670,000 a year. If retail‑food taxes were eliminated entirely, Whistler said Apache Junction would lose about $3.4 million annually. He also noted the city already lost about $1.5 million in revenue when the state removed municipal residential‑rental taxes in 2023.

The presentation framed potential losses against the city’s budget: sales tax currently provides roughly 46 percent of the general fund, Whistler said, and a multi‑million‑dollar drop would force reductions that could affect personnel and core services. “Two‑thirds of our budget is personnel,” he said. “It’s hard to avoid completely the personnel side when we keep sustaining hits to our revenue stream.”

Council members and the mayor asked how the legislative process would proceed and whether the city could use staff time or public funds to campaign against a referendum. Bridal Powell, city manager, said city staff could provide informational material about the measure but could not run a campaign; political action committees could form to advocate in the election.

Council members warned of service impacts if revenue falls. One councilor said previous removal of the rental tax had not lowered rents substantially and that cuts to municipal budgets threaten public safety because personnel is the largest share of the budget. Another councilor said discussions with a legislator had been dismissive of local concerns.

Whistler summarized the legislative status at the time: the proposal was introduced as a constitutional referendum that would go to voters if passed by the Legislature; after political pushback it was amended to allow jurisdictions that currently levy retail‑food tax to keep existing rates but not raise them above 2 percent going forward. If the amendment remains, Whistler said, Apache Junction would not immediately lose its revenue but would be constrained from future increases.

Why it matters: city officials said the measure could force reductions in city staffing or services if enacted in a form that reduces or eliminates retail‑food tax revenue. Councilors urged residents to understand the ballot question and its implications for local services.

The council did not take formal action on the matter; this was an informational legislative update from staff.","City staff and councilors discussed HCR 2021, a proposed state referendum to cap or eliminate municipal food taxes, and its projected fiscal impact on Apache Junction’s general fund and departments including public works and public safety.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council ratifies Evie McKinney as Apache Junction city clerk

Council unanimously approves measure to put mayoral term‑length question on November ballot

Apache Junction police outline staffing gains, technology and crime‑fighting results

Apache Junction officials warn state food-tax measure could cut millions from city budget