[{"_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",6028997,"mediaKeyId","5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee","parentId",5668637,"title","Residents urge scrutiny of proposed large solar and battery project on state trust land","audioSeconds",313,"startMs",5784000,"endMs",6097000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee&start=5784&end=6097","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee/thumbnail_5784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6028997/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Residents-urge-scrutiny-of-proposed-large-solar-and-battery-project-on-state-trust-land","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6028997-8de56770c92b6467a0fa5f4d1c136396/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218389&Signature=BvkyaHU9c2K6NRQ7YublwhU5hJnTyM6yNPnA2wyOroPAtShQQWZ9ynhiV13ro6FKLtjLjlSnTOa19lWiCotJtqLtViUu51Hp4ugSBDof3I7q13PatVmX2Ha74PEvCmACEhkH01-cWeR4FvtPM2J-n25XtyX9KYkEJ3mf4LnN8JNtRz6NxCExeKTU5TCEvi4dopXn9cq3Dw2PU-d2f6pM9ODhKuaHjUTu0qIFlNKQeAZJSCJS7vpIHMOD9didFC5WTCsjGCRk2lOC-YrbJCdsLumWoyWbBuJAkgQzlpThp5r6iqGMDl4~yQr0VK69ZwBy2VnGf5sYIBQ2mEOLxLG3yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Apache Junction, Arizona","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the public‑comment period at the May 6 meeting to urge the council and residents to scrutinize proposed large solar and battery projects on nearby state trust land.

Donna Carr said a California‑based company (identified at the public meeting as Silver King Solar and Arvia Power in different materials) is pursuing use of thousands of acres of state trust land for solar with battery storage. She told the council she is opposed and raised multiple concerns, including impacts to birds and bats, heat effects and the risk that leaking batteries could contaminate the aquifer.

“California based solar company wants to use 9,000 acres of state trust land to put in a solar company with battery storage,” Carr said. She added that batteries pose recycling and leakage risks and said, “if any of their batteries happen to leak, it will contaminate the water all the way down to Tucson.” Carr also cited local skydivers’ observations that solar fields can produce localized heat effects.

Staff and the council did not take action on the matter at this meeting. Carr said the project has not yet been scheduled on the Pinal County agenda but will go before a Pinal County zoning hearing; she urged residents to attend that hearing.

Kathleen Mink also spoke during public comment to thank staff and volunteers for community activities and encouraged continued civic involvement; her remarks were general and supportive rather than focused on a single project.

The comments were part of the meeting’s public‑comment time; no council directive or staff action on the solar project was recorded during the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Apache Junction Council Meeting - 5/06/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters told the council May 6 they oppose or want close review of proposed large solar and battery facilities on nearby state trust land, citing bird and bat impacts, heat production and potential groundwater contamination from battery leaks.","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},6029002,"Youth Advisory Council reviews year of service; veterans honor graduating members",889,1925000,2814000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee&start=1925&end=2814","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee/thumbnail_1925000.jpg","/articles/6029002/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Youth-Advisory-Council-reviews-year-of-service-veterans-honor-graduating-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029002-03a0a878154e9a4fce8d084603b9d880/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218389&Signature=kR1iD1nWNGEHYwbyljMgpSIcXW1ToN7GuvkIBmofv7X3MmxmZXd0kOCbMmBAamK~A2TntVvGhcHGZw7CuL8ifw5p9B4esH5OxF375pelRkzPOfRGhslHCt0h80v4W35KaebPsTXk8iSKPLbCzmNFVSckWYvysYMqu1-nO1TlmQ8363O721Tyhujrxe73-TNswzpeCs~MqCiTON1~nz~~TaBRzDBY9G1L4PX~m4c4E2B7TEta-Bzs2tYHN7XbKj1Ws~qW5khyHs-tHdeLj7dY-1J5Qi1SC048FmiIk9019T9199Aq8fpLlvj6wajacYFdeTBJr~8q02y-UmWVp0O~TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Apache Junction Youth Advisory Council delivered a year‑end presentation May 6 outlining their activities, volunteer hours and plans for recruitment as several members prepare to graduate.

Recreation Coordinator Jody Dutra, who oversees the program, said the council was created in 2016 to give teens a voice in local government and opportunities to develop leadership skills. The council’s president, Jake Gerardo, summarized the board and officers and reviewed events and tours the group attended.

Gerardo told the council the YAC participated in state youth programs, attended a teen leadership symposium, visited Central Arizona College and ASU, toured local public safety facilities and volunteered at community events. Council members listed volunteer events including the holiday program, Halloween festival, Shop with a Cop, Superstition Mountain Food Bank, a mud run and Make a Difference Day. “Altogether, the YAC members have volunteered over 400 hours of community service,” presenters said.

Dutra introduced the group’s board and noted 11 members are graduating; the youth council plans an active recruitment push including classroom presentations, tabling at events and a teen survey adapted from another city. The council also described a student art competition for a traffic box across from Apache Junction High School; five submissions were to be voted on with a $100 prize for the winner.

The meeting included a recognition segment: two veterans auxiliaries — Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary 7968 and auxiliary 9399 — presented certificates of achievement to graduating YAC members. The council and mayor paused for photographs and thanked the youth for their service.

","Apache Junction’s Youth Advisory Council presented its year‑end report May 6, detailing tours, volunteer events and more than 400 hours of community service; two veterans auxiliaries presented certificates to graduating members.",{"_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},6029006,"Council approves consent agenda; authorizes city engineer to execute internet agreement",153,183000,336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee&start=183&end=336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee/thumbnail_183000.jpg","/articles/6029006/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Council-approves-consent-agenda-authorizes-city-engineer-to-execute-internet-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029006-d61e53919f141da70fe463105cea7f52/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218389&Signature=mUHtW5af8U3hZv8tt~m3HtaDYS~w7mNDVP4NB5JZWYXtfZa5phxcNEq4MgNj9clch9bBleD1A9e3Can4uZFoXEiFrLuEEP2zrcKOypfcvxlXfLW~BJi5Hv4hFZHBy9PzhJYawRIPJxvCgyAD4ulEK0QHSk3~XWjQzGqh3yar3hbHT8YdcilMhrTyBaFojaWW6uao-I1HxozOuRKzacRwXcbBqR6v9qzizYV6fUXdOol2KO0LlP5NcIZmylpH9G3uHvYxQt4ErNdcqNwAlx9bqz~2mBYGGhRRYKimKEXQ6AIlOrlKw7kTk6jo7Qc4BByFLTieMbZKKuYew~QXR7alVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Apache Junction City Council approved its consent agenda May 6 by motion and roll call, with no items removed for separate discussion. The motion to accept the consent agenda authorized City Engineer Emil Schmidt to execute the agreement with Flying Bull Internet LLC listed under item number 3.

A revised consent agenda was noted on the dais before the vote. A council member moved to accept the consent agenda, and the motion was seconded. The council conducted a roll call and the motion passed unanimously.

The consent agenda covers multiple routine administrative items; the council’s action authorized the city engineer to finalize the Flying Bull Internet LLC agreement. The council did not debate the contract on the record at this meeting.

","The Apache Junction City Council approved the consent agenda May 6 and authorized City Engineer Emil Schmidt to execute an agreement with Flying Bull Internet LLC listed as item No. 3 on the consent agenda.",{"_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},6029011,"Council directs staff to review fortune‑telling permit language, fees in city code",1306,4968000,6274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee&start=4968&end=6274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee/thumbnail_4968000.jpg","/articles/6029011/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Council-directs-staff-to-review-fortunetelling-permit-language-fees-in-city-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029011-559ef0d9c34329fbb57c29879687564c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218389&Signature=o6ErHEt2zInvpIoknEE0j1EWWvvnGXxy3jqfgnubgI~g-NRkFRLG-Sf8-00Ko2iJ3czlfOU90JEu~4PKAXh8RZNq-4wlWzyxcrI9Te1RmLCtszUVpbQsUwhp9B8b~stb4mUnvxG~YG6Xietb7K~5-UbzpzVm~OS-59AYHCheYFSHOOeg5EOmBnoHqF0GCayx0W~yEniaspavjRa3ssRzS2yyQDQczgETCE9jJVEBUoyRY9u3KL0MgmIoGP8rosCt8wWOnVzjMLjDca4Puw5D1rsl-NN9QHgU8tzr2DS4rFkA2pjr7A7Tvtz4AqvCtK5cd1e9uG99i~Iw5ih0w4vIXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Apache Junction City Council voted May 6 to direct staff to review and consider updates to City Code Volume 1, Chapter 8 concerning fortune‑telling businesses and the permit fee that historically has been set at $1,200 annually.

City staff said the code currently contains a broad definition of “fortune telling” and a line requiring a special permit and approval by the director of public safety; staff reported the $1,200 fee has not been used specifically to cover background checks or other identified services. The council authorized staff to prepare ordinance options for council consideration.

Nick (city staff) summarized the existing rules and staff’s recommendation. “We have…a pretty inclusive definition for fortune telling,” he said, and noted the code requires an additional permit with an annual $1,200 fee but does not explicitly authorize use of that fee for background checks. He said staff’s review found the fee “wasn’t specifically used for background checks” and recommended removing the extra permit language so fortune‑telling businesses would be subject to standard business licensing instead.

Council members debated whether to handle carnivals and circuses — which the current code also lists separately — in the same review. One council member said carnival operators require more inspection because of temporary equipment and suggested staff analyze how other cities treat temporary amusements; another council member urged adding circuses and carnivals to the research. The clerk’s office staff said a separate review of temporary amusement permits could be scheduled if the council wished.

The motion as moved directed staff to review and consider updates to the city code section and the prescribed permit fees and to return with ordinance options. The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Staff indicated options could include eliminating the extra permit and fee, reducing the fee, or maintaining the current structure and adding an explicit public‑safety background‑check requirement; the council did not adopt a final ordinance at the meeting.

","The council voted unanimously May 6 to ask staff to review Apache Junction City Code Volume 1, Chapter 8 provisions for fortune‑telling businesses, including a longstanding $1,200 annual permit fee and the code language that requires director of public safety approval.",{"_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},6029016,"Apache Junction highlights 640‑acre state‑land site, pushes multifamily near downtown to attract retail",368,3961000,4329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee&start=3961&end=4329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5668637-42927196eb1dd197acb733d7df69bbee/thumbnail_3961000.jpg","/articles/6029016/Apache-Junction/Pinal-County/Arizona/Apache-Junction-highlights-640acre-stateland-site-pushes-multifamily-near-downtown-to-attract-retail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6029016-9df325f4845672fcc8256c0b1581f6db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218389&Signature=LbtcKbMeEFimoQrArns8xO8fcxwn6rOcVMHuy5NycxMESuvQQ4l4R5hjk~necGg0Aa~C8YFJJjAWmgTTK8WmLJ2xF9zEEr8rdXZ3zqMbl9QIkMtbzun2o0Xz-2BcTH4~wnrRpd7BE4JzSzDKlHr2mkBPvlnICSYZojmT2-9kZHIOrSiallTVAfsXaQWWKAxBvya8Vyqk93B-qAkqjqa25Eu10~gSNPWXiqcEHoLnkhNvJEnnDtG6RdCvy8wZnXDMhuEOPs4fWP0mAPxGpvo3nDdx4-jzWwz8Avf6BU2LhRlewIFm4~7mdx5ufY9K7O6LrIc7Zf~chDnk5pS83y0QIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Apache Junction’s economic development director presented data May 6 highlighting a 640‑acre state‑land parcel near 24th Street and Ironwood Drive as a top recruitment target and urged the council to support housing that would make downtown more attractive to retailers.

City officials said the presentation, led by Economic Development Director Ryan Kaup, matters because the city is competing with neighboring East Valley communities for commercial and industrial projects that could bring jobs and sales tax revenue. Kaup described available land, vacancy rates and demographic data and said the city’s recent growth and affordability are selling points for developers.

Kaup told the council that “this piece of land about 640 acres at 24 and Ironwood…is, in my opinion, one of the top five economic development sites in the state.” He said Apache Junction’s overall build‑out is about 58 percent and that recent housing permit totals signal continued residential growth, which could support more retail and service businesses.

Kaup walked the council through commercial market statistics he said staff shares with brokers and developers: roughly 500,000 square feet of industrial inventory and 200,000 square feet of office space, low vacancy in older retail and a 10.5 percent overall retail vacancy rate contrasted with a 1 percent vacancy for buildings constructed in the last 15 years. He said the downtown area the city owns (about 10 acres) plus adjacent privately held parcels such as the Bella Flores site and East Valley Shopping Plaza are central to a downtown revitalization strategy.

Kaup also stressed infrastructure needs. “Getting the water, the sewer, these new roads…we were meeting regularly with SRP to talk about power,” he said, adding that staff is coordinating with SRP and Southwest Gas to prioritize utilities for development corridors. He said the economic development team will provide data and permitting support to potential investors.

Council members asked whether the city should continue converting commercial parcels to housing. Kaup replied that multifamily near downtown is often a catalyst for retail and hotel development, citing examples in other East Valley cities: higher residential density can make commercial projects economically viable. He also said the city is targeting medical office and manufacturing for job growth, and that the 640‑acre state‑land tract could attract advanced manufacturing because of its size and proximity to regional infrastructure.

Council members praised the presentation and asked staff to continue outreach to developers. Kaup said the city has submitted the 640‑acre site to regional economic development partners and plans continued marketing to brokers and site selectors.

The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken. Council discussion emphasized the need for infrastructure planning and careful sequencing of residential and commercial development to maximize the chances of attracting retail and employment projects.

Kaup said staff will return with project‑level updates as proposals move forward.

","Economic development director Ryan Kaup told the City Council May 6 that a 640‑acre state‑land parcel at 24th Street and Ironwood Drive is a priority for industrial jobs and that adding multifamily housing near downtown will help attract retail and hotels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge scrutiny of proposed large solar and battery project on state trust land

Youth Advisory Council reviews year of service; veterans honor graduating members

Council approves consent agenda; authorizes city engineer to execute internet agreement

Council directs staff to review fortune‑telling permit language, fees in city code

Apache Junction highlights 640‑acre state‑land site, pushes multifamily near downtown to attract retail