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Town Council approves $15 million park land purchase; Padilla objects
Summary
Queen Creek Town Council approved a land purchase for a new park (consent item 8E) after splitting the consent agenda. The council approved the consent agenda without 8E, then separately approved 8E 6-1. Councilmember Padilla voted no and urged restraint on further park acquisitions.
Queen Creek Town Council voted to approve a park land purchase listed as consent agenda item 8E after removing the item from the omnibus consent vote for separate consideration.
Mayor Wheatley opened the consent portion of the meeting and the council first approved the consent agenda with item 8E removed. Councilmember Brown then moved approval of item 8E; Councilmember Benning seconded. The motion to approve item 8E passed 6-1. Councilmember Padilla cast the lone dissenting vote.
The item as presented included a land acquisition for a park with a purchase amount the council described in the meeting as “nearly $15,000,000.” During the separate discussion, Councilmember Brown urged approval. Councilmember Benning said residents have been clear they want more parks and supported completing the purchase. Councilmember Padilla said he opposed adding more park acreage now because he believes the town’s existing level of service is sufficient and that additional park purchases increase ongoing maintenance obligations; he said he would vote no for that reason.
A member of the public, Noah James Markham of Tempe, spoke during public comment urging a “no” vote on item 8E and recommending consideration of affordable housing and accessible parking in discussions about town-owned property.
The motion to approve the remainder of the consent agenda (items excluding 8E) carried earlier in the meeting without dissent.
Council members did not take additional substantive direction on park design or maintenance funding at the time of the vote; staff will proceed with the transaction as approved.
The separate votes related to the consent agenda items were reflected in the official proceedings and recorded in the meeting minutes.
Looking ahead, the approved purchase will be included in the town’s capital planning and maintenance forecasts and was referenced during subsequent budget discussions that addressed park operations and overall town spending.
