Casa Grande council approves school gym MOU, landfill scale replacement, pickleball design and Clayton annexation

At the meeting, the Casa Grande City Council approved a package of items that included a memorandum of understanding with the Casa Grande Elementary School District for youth sports gym access; a contract award and expenditure for a new inbound landfill truck scale; a design agreement for additional pickleball courts at Dave White Regional Park; and two ordinances to annex and zone the Clayton annexation area.

The council approved Resolution No. 5751 authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Casa Grande Elementary School District to allow access to school gymnasiums for the city’s youth basketball and volleyball programs. Community Services staff said volleyball participation rose from 139 participants in 2023–24 to roughly 56% higher this season, and basketball participation increased from about 318 in 2023 to 376 in the current season. The MOU covers use of school gyms at McCartney Ranch, Palo Verde, Desert Willow and Casa Grande Middle School with practice hours proposed Monday through Thursday, 5–8 p.m.; the resolution authorizes execution of the agreement by the city manager. The council approved the resolution by roll-call vote; every listed councilmember voted yes.

Council also approved Resolution No. 5752 to accept a bid for replacement of the inbound landfill truck scale. Staff said the existing inbound scale is about 30 years old and causes traffic and operational delays when it is out of service. The city budgeted $115,000 for the project; the low bid was $90,305 and staff requested authority to use the remaining budgeted amount as a contingency to cover potential foundation or installation issues. Staff told council the landfill’s estimated remaining life is about 20 years and that the new scales are set on foundations and could be relocated if the city moves landfill operations. The contract award and expenditure were authorized by the council with a unanimous roll-call vote.

The council approved Resolution No. 5753 to contract with General Acrylics Inc. for engineering design services for additional pickleball courts at Dave White Regional Park, not to exceed $63,009.80. Staff said the project, included in the FY 2025 capital improvement program, envisions 12 new dedicated pickleball courts north of the park’s existing courts (in the area now used for volleyball). Staff said the design phase will identify site grading, drainage and lighting needs and that a full construction cost estimate will follow completion of the design. The resolution passed by unanimous roll call.

On land use matters, the council adopted Ordinance No. 3456 annexing territory identified in the transcript as the Clayton annexation, pursuant to Title 9, Chapter 4, Article 7 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and authorizing initial city zoning of Urban Ranch for specified properties within the annexation. The council also adopted Ordinance No. 1178.46 amending the city zoning ordinance by changing the zoning of the annexed land from Pinal County’s general rule zoning to the City of Casa Grande Urban Ranch classification. Both ordinances passed by roll-call votes with every listed councilmember voting yes.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution No. 5751 — MOU with Casa Grande Elementary School District for youth basketball and volleyball gym access. Motion: (as moved on the floor). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: Romo — yes; Dugan — yes; Bedellin — yes; Edwards — yes; Huddleston — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Herrmann — yes; Mayor Fitzgibbons — yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution No. 5752 — Accept bid/contract for replacement inbound landfill truck scale (Southwest Scales Company Incorporated / Southwestern Scale Company — name variants appeared in the meeting record). Motion: (as moved on the floor). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: Romo — yes; Dugan — yes; Bedellin — yes; Edwards — yes; Huddleston — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Herrmann — yes; Mayor Fitzgibbons — yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution No. 5753 — Design services with General Acrylics Inc. for additional pickleball courts at Dave White Regional Park, not to exceed $63,009.80. Motion: (as moved on the floor). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 3456 — Annexation (Clayton annexation) and initial zoning to Urban Ranch pursuant to Title 9, Chapter 4, Article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes. Motion: (as moved on the floor). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: adopted. - Ordinance No. 1178.46 — Amendment to zoning ordinance to change zoning from Pinal County general rule to City of Casa Grande Urban Ranch for annexed properties. Motion: (as moved on the floor). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: unanimous yes. Outcome: adopted.

Council comments and staff notes: staff said increased youth participation and volunteer coaching drove the need for additional indoor gym access; landfill staff emphasized operational impacts when the inbound scale fails; parks staff said current pickleball courts are “maxed out,” especially in winter, and design work will inform construction costs and siting. Staff noted the pickleball project is funded in the FY25 CIP; the landfill replacement was budgeted with contingency authority requested; and the annexation followed state statutory procedures spelled out in Title 9, Chapter 4, Article 7 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

The meeting moved on to council reports and community events after the votes and concluded with adjournment.