[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6530517,"mediaKeyId","3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6","parentId",3650813,"title","Votes at a glance: Fountain Hills council and boards approve district budgets, contracts and equipment purchases","audioSeconds",36,"startMs",3212000,"endMs",3248000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6&start=3212&end=3248","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6/thumbnail_3212000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530517/Fountain-Hills/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-Fountain-Hills-council-and-boards-approve-district-budgets-contracts-and-equipment-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530517-b210839bb16b2316afd6e2fa9d0eeba0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170381&Signature=ap3Dh6Su8obH2Uvfg0oxjBRX~Q4v3GYvH1FY1Ca2it6EVyZsTWaVIqm-1RxznJrwvrztg1Tv10Xld-5Qq-Fl5Y~40lDgFJ3zbh24ZX8V0bPCzgFmGAyEnEJxDglM29of2t~QYbVaXppjSy01XLJqXtr61ULUaM-dD9dnxUv0T7RlDVSCFchdVPipNdfiSch5oeOqmSs6Idq3x~M~uHpb9ECq4H5x616UqcJyxmaB-k8s5s2RoqWOLqLiZW1Ny-qSHoafYc7zDKeN7yj5W2qq2~U2f4b0GfdXc3Ifl6hKdNw73bBFP5lrPQSoHxJyKYluTw-PGCKg~wVF~5cr5XdD-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Fountain Hills","date","2025-06-04T04:20:47Z","article","Several formal votes recorded at Fountain Hills meetings on June 3 covered district budgets, a landscape services contract and town equipment purchases. Below are the key actions, outcomes and vote tallies as recorded in the official proceedings.

Votes at a glance

- Cottonwoods Maintenance District: Adopted the FY2026 final budget and set a tentative tax levy assessment for the 58 parcels in the district. Motion to adopt resolution CMD2025‑02 carried unanimously (7–0). (Board vote: Ayes 7, Nays 0.)

- Cottonwoods Maintenance District professional services agreement: The board approved a professional services agreement (PSA 2025‑069) with Verde Valley Landscaping for landscape maintenance of the Cottonwoods Maintenance District, not to exceed $50,000 over the life of the agreement. Motion approved unanimously (7–0).

- Eagle Mountain Community Facilities District (CFD): The board adopted the final FY2026 budget for the CFD and confirmed there was no tax levy required this year because the final bond payment was made in 2021; staff said the CFD will likely be recommended for closure next year. Motion adopted unanimously (7–0).

- Approval of minutes: The council and boards approved multiple minutes and routine consent items across the two meetings; roll calls on consent items showed unanimous or majority approvals where taken.

- Fire department vehicle purchase: Council approved replacement of a Type‑6 brush truck (budgeted in vehicle replacement funds). Staff requested authority to lock a demonstration unit at $314,000 and set a ceiling not to exceed $390,000 in case a new build is required; council approved the purchase (7–0).

- Public Works compact excavator: Council approved the purchase of a compact Caterpillar hydraulic excavator using vehicle replacement funds; the motion passed unanimously (7–0).

Notes: Where roll calls were recorded the clerk recorded member votes in the transcript. For district budgets and the professional services agreement the boards repeatedly recorded unanimous ayes (Chairman/Chair recorded 7–0). Council votes on capital items and minutes showed unanimous support on the certified items noted above.

Ending: The approvals provide staff authority to execute contracts and purchase budgeted equipment; staff must still return to council with project scopes and outreach plans for high‑profile capital work such as Palomino Boulevard.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 Town Council Work Session, Special and Regular Session","oneSentenceSummary","During the June 3 meetings the council and maintenance/district boards approved fiscal year budgets for Cottonwoods and Eagle Mountain districts, a landscaping services contract for the Cottonwoods Maintenance District, and vehicle purchases for the fire and public‑works departments.","taxTitle","Fountain Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",58389,"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},6530522,"Maricopa County deputies warn rising financial scams; new Squad 5 and co‑responder set for community policing",890,6823000,7713000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6&start=6823&end=7713","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6/thumbnail_6823000.jpg","/articles/6530522/Fountain-Hills/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Maricopa-County-deputies-warn-rising-financial-scams-new-Squad-5-and-coresponder-set-for-community-policing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530522-e733a27d8690681502725d5af3449c01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170381&Signature=MR~Ag7kfFS7f5mo0WdRJeTeQfmCXXHtd-9xsapt76mAEKihkr7A8-p85uVAqoTcvdsJ4-uQEIvnEOOaikNtq7I7gEaqK8Mz5~Gk~mXoJbA5lsJUfO04rV1wCP96GjB~CYPzEuwFWue2OP3VsH4mtyuWad9vwLdYxfBk2Epm-wkBoMxxNcSTfn0NrvIYc7AGF6ZauujgQ85mDFfXFaWFcmqWGPuTx0PW3mtj3RGmnBFXxtCDTWW7d7ns78moEDO5IpVU8DSlTVao3rsvERRzM3suc5gooIHX7U-HsCGsqCB2ahvYrJscfi014G9eYZ9OvTEMQ5Lv6JEEz7VM1iBt49Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) officials presented a three‑part update to Fountain Hills council on June 3: a summary of local calls for service, planned schedule and staffing adjustments that will add a flexible Squad 5 for proactive community policing, and a warning about an uptick in sophisticated financial scams that are challenging to investigate.

Captain Thomas, newly assigned to District 7, said the district has 20 deputies, seven sergeants and two deputy service aids, and that the office will soon on‑board a Fountain Hills resident as an additional deputy service aide. He also described a co‑responder with mental‑health training assigned to the district who will respond to behavioral health calls where a non‑sworn, clinical approach is more appropriate.

Thomas reviewed call patterns (Jan–May) and response times by beat and told council that calls typically rise during daytime hours and peak in mid‑afternoon. To align staffing with demand and to free deputies for higher‑priority responses, MCSO will implement a schedule change to 4‑10 and 3‑13 shifts and create Squad 5, which will overlap with existing patrol to boost visibility, community engagement and targeted responses to recurring problems such as vandalism or stop‑sign violations.

Detective Roberts briefed council on financial and courier scams affecting county residents. He said many recent cases involve callers coercing victims to withdraw large sums of cash or to buy gold or cryptocurrency, which couriers then collect. The investigations are often cross‑border and complex; the detective said education and prevention remain the best tools because many incidents are reported only after funds have left the jurisdiction.

MCSO and town staff announced a community education session on scams scheduled for June 26, 4–6 p.m. at the Fountain Hills Community Center and said the department will make its financial‑crime presentation available to local HOAs and service groups.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff encouraged residents to attend the June 26 session and to use MCSO materials for local HOAs; Captain Thomas said the new Squad 5 and the boarded co‑responder will begin in June and that regular reporting on calls for service will follow.","The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told Fountain Hills council that financial scams are up and difficult to investigate, and described plans to add a local Squad 5 for targeted community policing and to staff a local co‑responder with mental‑health training.",{"_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},6530525,"Council approves one‑year extension and price increase for residential trash service after split vote",429,13964000,14393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6&start=13964&end=14393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6/thumbnail_13964000.jpg","/articles/6530525/Fountain-Hills/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Council-approves-oneyear-extension-and-price-increase-for-residential-trash-service-after-split-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530525-0ec060df43ca38a10988126e75b4e413/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170381&Signature=bT81IYDeKyMTFAM8Dqa7qukLtRJrhBRvqfllJNDepl9UQyQ~gV85HBPmBxu~-YxRH5Q13zji5gi0-hSqu2kebuRnRXkBd9XbvSO~QIO-wU2bnZK~eoSyAoBcKpBGXl0aO~mz1HZcNMbC~b4KFZbnbCpzez~NPPz0PpEkjKcVipbpWITYxgGad20SZthifPcYHzXgv6tX2dZ-mTwn242mwJXa9v2P8dpOZhAMuvE6MCOaPQuQMw5c-Az3qrKxbzQiySG6Ywzr4p~Jkjc1wbAqAVh6r0yk1-dGesMh8C9wloQ60-mhBbkNqKO3J8daPIQSJ8-H53~A7PrCi5V1AgREBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fountain Hills Town Council approved a one‑year extension of the town's residential curbside waste and recycling agreement with Republic Services on June 3, including a price increase that the company said reflects five years of increased operating costs.

Sadiq Young, general manager for Republic Services' North Phoenix market, told council the company's operating costs for transportation, vehicle parts and maintenance, and labor had risen substantially since the contract was amended in 2019. Republic requested an additional 10.5 percent price increase for the extension year that would raise a typical combined waste and recycling monthly rate from $17.67 to about $20.14.

Young presented index comparisons that showed the town's contracted 3.5 percent annual escalation lagged actual business cost increases; Republic said a full cost‑recovery approach would have produced a higher rate. The company and staff also highlighted that Fountain Hills' rate remains lower than many neighboring jurisdictions.

Councilmembers debated whether to deny the proposed increase and immediately open the service to competitive bids (which staff warned could produce higher rates and would be administratively intensive) or to approve the one‑year extension to buy the town time to prepare a thorough RFP. After motions and amendments on the floor, council ultimately approved the extension and price increase in a recorded vote, 5–2.

Town staff noted that the extension takes the town to January 2027 and that an RFP will still be needed next year. The vote preserves continuity of curbside service while affording staff roughly a year to prepare a procurement and to consider contract terms such as whether grants and community‑support programs included in the current agreement should be continued or excluded in future solicitations.

Ending: Council approved the one‑year extension for Republic Services and the higher rate; staff will plan and issue a competitive RFP next year as the contract extension approaches its January 2027 end date.","After discussion and a divided series of preliminary votes, Fountain Hills approved Republic Services' final extension for curbside trash and recycling with a one‑year rate increase, while noting an eventual request for proposals will be required.",{"_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},6530530,"Fountain Hills adopts FY2026 budget after council debate; Palomino reconstruction set for further review",3489,6999000,10488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6&start=6999&end=10488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6/thumbnail_6999000.jpg","/articles/6530530/Fountain-Hills/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Fountain-Hills-adopts-FY2026-budget-after-council-debate-Palomino-reconstruction-set-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530530-dab4c0a43f693b0f7a791ddc94cdf74e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170381&Signature=DRh1mDM-fn705tTogaoBFBYgJvfnOmmY-CU8ETwUZfQwUB9g59sqiiVE87SWQqcuS9UhpHJGkC796eDZlOikAmSk03KV4Plln9iTgQSbtP9ZUeqlZ1iQ2m0wq5sbe4KZxQsX0e~pLXX1nD-LmeZMqlKoSQTBAEcB22AaHe3yX2IdXE3qwYi54mq0SSTFWPP83rYDvJuKKTOknjXa9PqWCVadoWVL4eMCeU7DEyqAa1AYHNxAjvDONwOlRMdIzWcaC9biVhT9VRzm92UoEAxgTA1RKjnaEnixY1kBxe4jtJB9A6OGcvqZ0cHtqh4Oas0NNuWZ83Nd3UTGykWjFUTDtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fountain Hills Town Council adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget on June 3 after a day of public comment and extended discussion about capital projects, including a contested Palomino Boulevard reconstruction plan.

Town Finance staff briefed council that the final budget totals about $53.4 million across all funds, including approximately $26.05 million in the general fund and an increased capital program. The council set a general fund contingency above $1.1 million and retained a $5 million pavement management allocation plus a $5.4 million appropriation in the capital projects fund for a segment of Palomino Boulevard reconstruction that staff proposes to reimburse from the streets fund.

Town Manager Rachel Goodwin and Department of Public Works staff said the budget was designed to be at or just below the state expenditure limitation, while preserving funds for priority capital projects and a larger facilities reserve. The capital projects fund includes 22 projects discussed in a prior work session; staff said many expenditures are contingent on grants and future spending authorizations.

During the public comment period, more than a dozen Palomino Boulevard residents urged the council to pause or redesign a proposed plan that would narrow the driving lanes, install a temporary granite strip, and prepare for a future sidewalk. Residents raised concerns about: driveway extensions and matching existing driveway surfaces, the location and replacement of customized mailboxes, long temporary gravel sections that could last five to 10 years, slope and erosion control on steep front yards, safety for pedestrians on loose aggregate, and possible negative impacts on property curb appeal and value.

Public Works Director Justin Weldy told the council the town's concept calls for narrowing the curb by 5 feet on each side — an approach designed to calm traffic and reduce the square yards of base and asphalt required — and to leave room for a future sidewalk should grant funding become available. Weldy said no property takings are planned and that landscaping would be matched to existing materials. He also said an initial procurement for a surveyor received no responses and the earliest construction would be about 12–15 months away; staff recommended returning to council with additional alternatives.

Council members took public sentiment and staff input into account and agreed to adopt the budget on a 6–1 roll call, while directing staff to bring Palomino options back for a future agenda item and for further public outreach. The adopted budget preserves funding authority for Palomino in FY2026 but does not commit the town to a final design; council members asked staff to develop alternatives that would preserve driveways and existing landscaping, compare a plain resurfacing option against the narrower curb design, and show cost differences.

Ending: Council adopted the FY2026 budget after the public hearing and directed staff to return with additional Palomino design alternatives and community outreach plans; staff emphasized that some line items (including a proposed grant pass through for the International Dark Sky Discovery Center) would only be spent if grant awards materialize.","Council approved the town's fiscal year 2026 budget after discussion about capital projects and a residents'led dispute over a planned Palomino Boulevard reconstruction and sidewalk proposal; staff will return to council with more design options.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530536,"Fountain Hills holds work session on updated land‑use assumptions, consultants flag big jump in potential development impact fees",3989,355000,4344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6&start=355&end=4344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3650813-8b972874fd9f2d10d3b4a3fa57d7afe6/thumbnail_355000.jpg","/articles/6530536/Fountain-Hills/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Fountain-Hills-holds-work-session-on-updated-landuse-assumptions-consultants-flag-big-jump-in-potential-development-impact-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530536-c87f92cb53a4fb6e2ceb40b51490df6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170381&Signature=l~71TwOVSdS14R-Am00fEhOaIr6eRrxlVyrbH9hTlbOlw0-VeGA8gEu3jXNzRIq4aXM2Xz2siN6POpLTLjgI9akd1u74TTXPCNoeSEXTlupph481bip9o~a2vE0uY6ZNhxR~peOkXja49HFfr90Ws5ZdmMcYybh~~kp0d2CF2rlVpgPRS5lxUs-Y-5jWX7R3SB0FUQYZsj63KIDlh1a5zagdwGKsYXElQfawzycbxGCMcvSeixi1iv2dPe5zC7d9Ztv4rvjCS-BiO-wKiEa1-cjxq4ca05o1YaP5ZuvdaUyZV37T5bG2DVh6uRXqzOw8oRWweZsCCN~u-zNby4zR3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fountain Hills town staff and consulting firm TischlerBise presented a draft update to the town's five‑year land use assumptions and Infrastructure Improvements Plan on June 3, outlining how higher construction costs and revised growth projections could substantially raise development impact fees for streets, parks and fire services.

The work session, presented by a town staff member identified as Paul and Ben Griffin of TischlerBise, was intended as an informational briefing; no ordinance or fee schedule was adopted. Paul told the council the town has charged development impact fees for about 25 years and must update the land use assumptions every five years under Arizona law.

Consultant Ben Griffin reviewed how impact fees work, the required legal demonstrations of need and benefit, and three methods commonly used to compute fees: cost recovery, incremental (present level of service), and plan‑based (future CIP). Griffin said the draft uses a single townwide service area and an incremental approach for most components, but the Shea Boulevard widening is handled as a plan‑based street project.

Griffin showed residential occupancy factors (single‑family 2.23 persons per household, multifamily 1.58) and MAG and ITE demand factors used to translate projected housing and square feet into persons, jobs and vehicle trip demand. Using the town's 2025 baseline (about 28,000 peak population; ~14,500 housing units), the consultants projected roughly 1,300 new housing units over 10 years, adding roughly 2,500 peak population and about 75,000 square feet of nonresidential development.

On fire services, the presentation showed three fee components: facilities, apparatus and equipment. Maintaining current levels of service would produce roughly 1,300 additional square feet of fire facilities and about $1.3 million in growth‑related cost, plus smaller apparatus and equipment totals. Griffin illustrated how a proposed new fire facilities component could add roughly $1,000 to the single‑family fee.

For parks, the draft assumes the town will primarily invest in improving existing parkland rather than buying new land; consultants estimated a need to improve about 8.5 acres at roughly $40,000 per acre and to add about 92 amenity units, producing an estimated $4.1 million in fee‑eligible park amenity costs and raising an example single‑family parks fee to about $4,000 (from roughly $1,900 now).

The largest single change came in streets. Consultants showed a plan that scales Shea Boulevard to 3.94 lane miles costing roughly $29.3 million, of which about $8.8 million would be growth‑share after credits and MAG adjustments. The draft factors the town's existing $900,000 fund balance and current MAG participation; because construction cost estimates for Shea have risen sharply since the last update, the street component drives most of the proposed fee increase. Griffin and staff noted that if the town adopted the IIP as presented, revised fees could take effect in April 2026 after required public hearings and adoption steps.

Council members asked multiple technical and policy questions about: methodology choice (incremental versus plan‑based), the effect of limited developable land on phasing, whether fees could be held at current levels by readopting the existing study, where credits or developer‑provided parkland would be applied, and how the single‑family versus multifamily fee gap arises primarily from trip‑generation differences used for streets. Griffin said much of the increase reflects nationwide construction cost growth since the town's last update in 2020 and that many peer jurisdictions that updated more recently now show higher fees.

Paul and staff emphasized the process steps still to come: stakeholder outreach during the 60‑day advertisement window, a public hearing on land use assumptions and the IIP likely in September, and a separate public hearing and adoption step for the development fees later in the fall and winter. If the schedule holds, an adopted fee ordinance could take effect April 2026.

The session ended with council affirmation that the draft should be distributed to stakeholders and presented in public hearings; staff and the consultant will return with the draft documents and a recommended schedule for public outreach and formal adoption.

Ending: Staff said they will advertise the draft, conduct stakeholder outreach during the 60‑day window and return with public‑hearing materials in September; the council did not take action at the work session and directed staff to continue outreach and bring the IIP and associated fee schedule back for formal hearings.
","Consultants and town staff presented a draft update to Fountain Hills' land use assumptions and infrastructure improvement plan that could raise development impact fees sharply for streets, parks and fire facilities; no action was taken at the work session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Fountain Hills council and boards approve district budgets, contracts and equipment purchases

Maricopa County deputies warn rising financial scams; new Squad 5 and co‑responder set for community policing

Council approves one‑year extension and price increase for residential trash service after split vote

Fountain Hills adopts FY2026 budget after council debate; Palomino reconstruction set for further review

Fountain Hills holds work session on updated land‑use assumptions, consultants flag big jump in potential development impact fees