El Mirage council recommends liquor license for Walmart fuel station, approves consent agenda and votes to enter executive session

The El Mirage City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 19 recommended approval of a beer-and-wine license for a Walmart fuel station and approved routine consent items, then voted 4–2 to move into executive session after one council member expressed concerns about whether some topics should be discussed in open session.

Police and city staff presented a liquor-license review for the Walmart Fuel Station #4336 at 12900 W. Thunderbird Road and reported no objections to the application. The presenting official said the city’s review included a check of the business with the Arizona Corporation Commission and found the applicant in good standing.

John Curtis, an attorney representing Walmart, told council the fuel center is set to open next week and that the beer-and-wine sales are for the convenience store adjacent to the Walmart. “I don’t have anything to add to the presentation,” Curtis said from the podium, and he offered to answer questions.

Vice Mayor Parsons moved to recommend approval to the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control for license number 318724 for Walmart Fuel Station #4336 at 12900 West Thunderbird Road; Councilmember Dorsey seconded. A city staff member corrected a transposition in the license number on the record; the council then voted to recommend approval. The council’s recorded vote on the recommendation was in favor; the matter will be decided by the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control.

Before the liquor-license vote, council approved the consent agenda — described in the motion as items 6.1 through 4 — with a correction to the regular meeting minutes for Feb. 4, 2025 (item 7-1). The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Vice Mayor Parsons, seconded by Councilmember Dorsey, and passed unanimously on voice vote.

At the end of the meeting councilors voted on a motion to adjourn into executive session, with the city manager, city attorney and city clerk in attendance. The motion to go into executive session was moved and seconded and carried on a 4–2 vote. One council member objected on the record, saying they were concerned that the topics to be discussed could be covered by city code and therefore should be discussed in open session; that council member said they had discussed the matter with the city attorney. City staff responded that the agenda item permits executive-session discussion and that the city attorney would provide guidance in the session.

The council did not provide a public return time for the executive session and adjourned chambers at about 6:50 p.m.