[ CALL TO THE PUBLIC At this time any member of the public is allowed to address the Town Council on any issue within the jurisdiction of the Town Council, except for items scheduled for a Public Hearing at this meeting. The speaker may have up to three minutes to speak. Any persons wishing to address the Council must complete a speaker card and deliver it to the Town Clerk. Individuals addressing a meeting at the Call to the Public will not be provided with electronic technology capabilities beyond the existing voice amplification and recording capabilities in the facilities. Pursuant to the Arizona Open Meeting Law, at the conclusion of Call to the Public, individual members of the Council may respond to criticism made by those who have addressed the Council, and may ask staff to review the matter, or may ask that the matter be placed on a future agenda.]

AT THIS TIME, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THE TOWN COUNCIL ON ANY ISSUE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, EXCEPT FOR ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS MEETING.

THE SPEAKER MAY HAVE UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER CARD.

DO WE HAVE ANY? YES, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE TEN SPEAKER CARDS.

TEN SPEAKER CARDS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN WE'LL DO.

WE HAVE TEN SPEAKER CARDS. WE'LL DO 30 MINUTES.

SO PROCEED. ALL RIGHT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DAVID MORALES, FOLLOWED BY LLOYD KIRSCH.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. IT'S ON NOW. SHE TURNED IT ON FOR YOU.

IT'S ON. YES, SIR. OKAY. THIS TOWN COUNCIL IS VERY FORTUNATE.

I SEE THE TOWN HALL. I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM 87 TO 91.

YOU GUYS HAVE STAFF? WE DIDN'T HAVE STAFF. MEETINGS USED TO GO TO 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

I WAS ASLEEP FOR TWO HOURS, GET UP AND GO WORK AT THE MINE AND HANDLE DYNAMITE.

I MEAN, THOSE WERE SOME ROUGH TIMES. NOW I AM A SERVICE OFFICER FOR THE DAV CHAPTER 4.

THAT FLAG. I REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT DEFENDED THAT FLAG AND THEY'RE WOUNDED.

PTSD, ALL KIND OF WEIRD DISEASES. BUT I ENJOY IT.

2012. THINK ABOUT THAT FLAG EVERY TIME YOU MAKE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

THE PEOPLE THAT FOUGHT FOR THAT FLAG. OKAY. TO CONTINUE ON THE HISTORY OF MARANA. IN 1960S, THE COTTON MACHINES TOOK OVER MARANA.

THERE WERE NO MORE [INAUDIBLE] AND MIGRANT CAMPS.

THEY ALL DISAPPEARED BECAUSE THE COTTON PICKERS.

SO THEY DIDN'T NEED THE LABOR NO MORE. IN 1961, THE TOWN WAS DESTROYED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE FREEWAY. THINK ABOUT IT.

EVERYTHING GOT DESTROYED. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE SCHOOL, THE CHURCH, SAINT CHRISTOPHER,

[00:05:03]

IT HAD TO MOVE TO HONEY HEIGHTS. THE TOWN WAS NO MORE.

READING THE THING, THE. [INAUDIBLE].

SO THE TOWN WAS NO MORE. THE CITY OF TUCSON WAS BUYING UP THE WATER RIGHTS.

I MEAN, THEY WANTED TO TURN MARANA INTO A TUMBLEWEED PLACE AS THEY WERE DOING IT IN AMBER VALLEY.

THE LEADING PEOPLE OF MARANA WAS PAT GARRETT AS A SPOKESMAN TO PROTECT THE TOWN FROM BEING A TUMBLEWEED. WAS A LEADING PERSON, AND THE TOWN WAS NO MORE. THE CITY OF TUCSON WAS.

I'M NOT GOING TO FINISH. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK ANOTHER DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.

OKAY. BYE, BYE, DAVID. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LLOYD KIRSCH, FOLLOWED BY ELISE KELMAN.

MAYOR POST, VICE MAYOR ZIEGLER, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR DATA CENTER LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES.

HOPE OF THIS TOPIC IS SO COMPLEX AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING THAT WE NEED MORE TIME TO REVIEW THIS SUBJECT IN GREATER DETAIL WITH MARANA CITIZENS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE PUSHING IT OFF FOR THE FUTURE.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL DELAY TONIGHT'S VOTE TO AGAIN PUBLICLY REVIEW CODE REVISIONS AND RECEIVE PUBLIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

I HAVE A LIST OF BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TOWN, WHICH I'LL PRESENT TO THE TOWN CLERK FOR DISTRIBUTION.

ON JUNE 17TH AT THE TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM HELD AT THE HERITAGE HIGHLANDS BALLROOM, I ASKED FOR YOUR AGREEMENT AND ACTION FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.

DEALING WITH ADEQUATE AND SAFE FOOD FOR ICE DETENTION INMATES, ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE, ADEQUATE LEGAL COUNSEL, ACCESS TO THE FACILITY FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.

AND BECAUSE OF MANY INCIDENTS AT ICE FACILITIES REQUIRING IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR ASSAULT BY A PRISON EMPLOYEE UPON A DETAINEE TO MARANA POLICE. SINCE BEFORE 100 MARANA CITIZENS, THOSE PRESENT, INCLUDING MAYOR POST AND COUNCILMAN KAI, AFFIRM THEIR AGREEMENT AND SUPPORT.

I NOW ASK THAT YOU HONOR THOSE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND TAKE ACTION.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT SCANDAL INVOLVING MTC AND WARDEN JEREMY CASEY FALSIFYING THEIR 2023 PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT FACILITY ORDER REPORT BY NOT DISCLOSING PRISON OFFICER ON INMATE SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THIS COMPLETELY DESTROYS MTC AND WARDEN CREDIBILITY.

YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS NON-BINDING RESOLUTION INFORMS YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU HONOR THOSE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND TAKE ACTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELISE KELLMAN, FOLLOWED BY JULIE PRINCE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LIZ KELLMAN.

AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DATA CENTER ORDINANCE SENT TO YOU FROM THURSDAY NIGHT'S PLANNING MEETING, LIGHT A LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS THAT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED, DESPITE THE ENGAGEMENT OF MD ACOUSTICS, WHICH I THANK YOU FOR. I HAVE A DUAL ACADEMIC BACKGROUND IN NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANIMAL SCIENCE AND MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN ALZHEIMER'S,

[00:10:01]

PARKINSON'S, MELANOMA, AND DERMATOLOGIC DISEASE.

I HAVE ALSO BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF DERMATOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM WITH A BUDGET EXCEEDING 300 MILLION.

DURING MY CAREER, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING LABORATORIES LOCATED WITHIN THE SOUND AND VIBRATIONAL IMPACT ZONES OF ANIMAL FACILITIES.

WHEN A BUILDING RENOVATION INCLUDED AN ANIMAL FACILITY, THEY REFERRED US TO OTHER FIRMS. MD ACOUSTICS REFERRED US TO OTHER FIRMS. THAT HAD MORE APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S NOT THAT THE TOWN DID NOT MAKE AN EFFORT TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE ACOUSTICAL ANALYSIS, IT'S THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASK THE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS ON THE EXPERTISE. THE CULTURAL. SO THE CURRENT AMENDMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE WILDLIFE, AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMALS IN THE PROPOSED, WHICH CAN IMPACT THE PROPOSED RACETRACK IN OUR HISTORIC LIVESTOCK.

AND BY EXTRAPOLATION, OUR WORKERS AND RESIDENTS.

THE PROJECT'S BIOLOGICAL DOCUMENTATION IDENTIFIES MULTIPLE SPECIES THAT ARE AT RISK, INCLUDING MIGRATORY BIRDS THAT ARE ALSO PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

THESE ARE NOT HYPOTHETICAL IMPACTS. FEDERAL ANIMAL WELFARE STANDARDS PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC BENCHMARK.

THE FEDERAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES, TOGETHER WITH NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL GUIDES FOR THE CARE AND USE OF LABORATORY ANIMALS, RECOGNIZES FOR NOISE AND VIBRATION AS ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES CAPABLE OF AFFECTING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, PHYSIOLOGY, AND REPRODUCTION. THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO LABORATORY ANIMALS, BUT ALSO TO HUMANS.

AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL GUIDANCE SIMILARLY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTROLLING ANIMAL STRESSORS, ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS, AND LIGHT MATTERS TOO.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS AFFECTS SLEEP DISTURBANCES, AND RESEARCH CONDUCTED THROUGH PENN MEDICINE AND PENN VETERINARY SCHOOL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT CAN ALTER BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES.

PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS BASED ON THE PROPOSED CAMPUS FOOTPRINT AND LOOKING AT THE DARK SKIES RULES FOR PIMA COUNTY, OR APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION LUMENS OF OUTPUT PER EVENING, NEGATIVELY AFFECTING RESIDENTS, ANIMALS AND ESPECIALLY OUR LIVESTOCK. I'M NOT ASKING THE TOWN TO ASSUME THAT THESE IMPACTS WILL OCCUR.

I'M ASKING THE TOWN TO REQUIRE THE APPROPRIATE EXPERTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL, AND TO SET APPROPRIATE LIMITS FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SIZES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT MARANA REQUIRE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT ADDRESSING LOW FREQUENCY AND TONAL NOISES, GROUND VIBRATION, NIGHTTIME LIGHTING, WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND THE IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND EQUINE RECEPTORS.

THE EVALUATIVE AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF THESE ON CURRENT AND FUTURE PROPOSALS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE PRINCE, FOLLOWED BY DANIELA UGAZ.

GOOD EVENING. AS I STATED TWO MEETINGS AGO, THE ICE DETENTION FACILITY HAS BECOME A REALITY, AS YOU ALL KNOW. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

AND AS I STATED AT THE TIME, AND APPARENTLY MAYOR POST, YOU'RE SURPRISED THAT IT WILL BE UP AND RUNNING BY NOVEMBER 30TH.WELL, AS YOU HAVE NO DOUBT SEEN, THAT IS THE CASE NOW.

THEY HAVE TWO MONTHS FROM THE CONTRACT SIGNING, WHICH WAS ON SEPTEMBER 29TH TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING.

SO EVERYTHING THAT I SAID IS HAPPENING, AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE, TO BE HONEST, LIED TO, YOU DON'T KNOW, OR YOU JUST DON'T CARE TO FIND OUT.

AND I FEEL AS OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOU SHOULD CARE TO FIND OUT.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED. PEOPLE HAVE THEIR FEELINGS FOR AND AGAINST, BUT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED.

I'M PERSONALLY WORRIED ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS BEING ARRESTED.

I'M PERSONALLY WORRIED ABOUT BEING STOPPED AND THE SHOCK GLOVES COMING OUT.

YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID I SPEAK SPANISH. ALSO, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT.

LET'S SEE. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO LOSE IT. DARN IT.

WELL, REGARDING, THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE THE TRANSITION PERIOD IS OVER.

[00:15:04]

AND THE TRANSITION PERIOD IS NOVEMBER 30TH. AND PART OF THAT IS AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL AND STATE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE HOSPITALS AND WHATNOT. AND I'M WONDERING IF TERI ROZEMA COULD SHARE THOSE WITH US WHEN THOSE ARE PREPARED.

THOSE ARE PUBLIC INFORMATION, IF IT INVOLVES OUR POLICE FORCE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT ALL THOSE AGREEMENTS ENTAIL, AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY PLANS THAT THE TOWN HAS IN PLACE.

SHOULD THERE BE RIOTERS? SHOULD THERE BE AN ICE SHOOTING? GOD FORBID AND PEOPLE COME OUT AND THERE'S A BIG RIOT.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND BURYING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND IS NOT HELPING.

AND IGNORING THE SITUATION ISN'T GOING TO HELP.

PEOPLE WANT INFORMATION. MAYBE YOU SAY YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT THERE IS THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT GIVING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC WHEN THE PUBLIC HAS ASKED REPEATEDLY TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIELA UGAZ, FOLLOWED BY CAROLINE ISAACS.

GOOD EVENING. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DHS DETENTION CENTER WITH MTC IS UNDER CONTRACT TO OPERATE OUT OF THE OLD MARANA PRISON. IN UNDER 60 DAYS, DHS PLANS TO OPEN THIS DETENTION CENTER WITH CAPACITY TO HOLD OVER 1300 PEOPLE.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE RUN BY MTC, A COMPANY WITH A SHOCKING RECORD OF MISMANAGING FACILITIES RESULTING IN ESCAPES, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND DEATH. AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU ALL KNOW MORE THAN WE DO, OR WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF YOU'VE GREEN LIT THIS SIGNIFICANT PROJECT WITH AS LITTLE INFORMATION AS WE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE.

I HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS I WOULD PERSONALLY WANT ANSWERED BEFORE THIS DETENTION CENTER OPENS, AND I INVITE YOU TO STOP ME WHEN WE GET TO A QUESTION YOU HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO.

WHO IS GOING TO BE HELD IN THIS FACILITY? WE'VE HEARD MEN.

WE'VE HEARD WOMEN. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ELSE.

AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DHS IS EXPANDING ITS USE OF FAMILY DETENTION.

WILL CHILDREN BE HELD IN THIS DETENTION CENTER? THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS OF AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF PREGNANT WOMEN HELD IN DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW THERE ARE PLANS OF POSSIBLY HOUSING WOMEN AT THIS FACILITY.

WILL PREGNANT WOMEN WOULD BE HELD IN THIS DETENTION CENTER.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE HELD IN THIS FACILITY? WE'VE HEARD 500, 700. AND FRANKLY, YOU ALSO SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN DHS ANNOUNCED THEY COULD HOLD UP TO 1300 PEOPLE HERE.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE OVER 1300 IMMIGRANTS HELD IN MARANA? WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL CARE WILL BE PROVIDED AT THIS FACILITY? WILL LOCAL HOSPITALS BE EXPECTED TO SHOULDER THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF EMERGENCY CARE FOR OVER 1300 PEOPLE? HOW WILL OPERATION OF THIS FACILITY AFFECT OUR ALREADY LOW AND FRAGILE AQUIFER? HOW WILL THE LIGHTING AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE DETENTION CENTER AFFECT MARANA'S DARK SKIES? WHAT SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE MTC DOES NOT UNDERSTAFF THE FACILITY OR UNDERPAY ITS WORKERS? THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD DEAL FOR MARANA, RIGHT? AS IT HAS PREVIOUSLY DONE IN OTHER FACILITIES, WHICH LED TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR DETAINEES AND WORKERS ALIKE.

WHAT SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE MTC ADDS APPROPRIATE SECURITY MEASURES SO THAT ANOTHER ESCAPE DOESN'T HAPPEN UNDER ITS WATCH, AS HAPPENED IN KINGMAN, ARIZONA, WHICH RESULTED IN THE MURDER OF TWO PEOPLE? THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CAROLINE ISAACS, FOLLOWED BY ALEX RANDALL. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CAROLINE ISAACS.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I EMAILED YOU MY CONCERNS ABOUT MTC IN LIGHT OF THE LATEST SCANDAL THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT OF UNREPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE MARANA FACILITY. AND YOUR RESPONSE READ, QUOTE, THE TOWN DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE PROPERTY OR THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING THIS PROJECT. THAT STATEMENT IS CATEGORICALLY FALSE.

THERE ARE, BY OUR CURRENT RECKONING, FIVE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION ON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SPEAK TO ONE OF THEM.

THE REST ARE IN YOUR PACKETS THAT I THINK YOU JUST GOT.

MARANA CAN AND SHOULD DENY MTC A BUSINESS LICENSE.

[00:20:02]

PER THE TOWN CODE, A BUSINESS LICENSE MAY BE DENIED IF.

1. THE BUSINESS IS GUILTY OF FRAUD, DECEIT, MISREPRESENTATION OR MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT IN CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS.

MTC DID NOT DISCLOSE SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE MARANA PRISON TO FEDERAL AUDITORS.

MTC TOLD THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT IT HAD FIXED SECURITY PROBLEMS IN THE KINGMAN PRISON, BUT INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED NINE MONTHS LATER.

2. ITS BUSINESS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN A MANNER THAT CONSTITUTES A BREACH OF THE PEACE, OR A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE. MTC WAS FINED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF ARIZONA OVER FAILURE TO PROPERLY STAFF ITS FACILITIES IN ARIZONA.

MTC HAS BEEN HIT WITH OVER 25 LAWSUITS OVER FAILURE TO PROPERLY PAY STAFF.

MTC FAILED TO FIX SERIOUS SECURITY FLAWS, INCLUDING BROKEN CAMERAS, DOOR LOCKS AND ALARMS IN A PRISON WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ESCAPES THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT.

THIS IS AN ACTION YOU COULD TAKE TO DAY AT ANY TIME.

YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND WE HOPE FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE THAT YOU DO THAT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX RANDALL, FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN M. HI. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ALEX. I'M THE WHISTLEBLOWER IN THIS CASE AGAINST MTC.

I WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AS AN ACCOUNTING CLERK, AND WHILE I WORKED THERE, THE WARDEN BROUGHT ME INTO AN OFFICE AND TOLD ME ABOUT A SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT TOOK PLACE. I'M GONNA BE HONEST.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS IF THEY WEREN'T REOPENING AS AN ICE DETENTION CENTER, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE JUST ASSUMED THEY DID THEIR JOB PROPERLY.

HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT DIGGING, I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING REPORTED ON THEIR PRE-AUDIT.

AND THIS IS NOW ESCALATED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE DEPUTY CHIEF HAS THIS IN HAND AND SHE IS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATING IT.

I SHOULD LEARN LATER THIS WEEK OR MONDAY WHICH DIRECTION THIS IS TAKING.

BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT THE TWO OPTIONS THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE.

THEY WERE INVESTIGATING A SEXUAL ASSAULT TWO WEEKS BEFORE PRE AUDITORS CAME.

TWO WEEKS. SO IT WAS CURRENT. AND THEN THEY CERTIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT AUDIT.

AND THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT HELPS IDENTIFY AND ERADICATE SEXUAL ASSAULT IN PRISONS.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AUDITS FOR A PRISON.

AND THEY OMITTED THREE SEXUAL ASSAULTS. SO RESPECTFULLY, I MEAN, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THAT SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL. I KNOW ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES IS LOOKING INTO WHO DROPPED THE BALL, BUT I THINK YOU ALL NEED TO DO THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL YOU ALL. MARANA KNEW THAT THESE SEXUAL ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE BECAUSE I WAS THERE AT THAT PRISON, AND BLUE AND RED LIGHTS WERE THERE FROM EVERY SINGLE JURISDICTION.

SO I DON'T KNOW. RESPECTFULLY, THIS IS ALSO ON YOU ALL.

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU LOOKED INTO IT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN M, FOLLOWED BY MIKE GREEN. GOOD EVENING.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE TOWN CODE AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ZONING TONIGHT. I'M A BIT OF A NERD FOR IT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARINGS LIKE THIS, AND I REALLY LOVE ZONING AND TOWN CODES, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A STRANGE THING TO LIKE, BUT TO ME, IT'S THE ESSENCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO GIVE INPUT AND COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW LAND IS GOING TO BE USED.

AND THAT'S A VERY CAPACIOUS GENERAL TERM. BUT LAND CAN BE USED IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS.

IT CAN BE USED FOR PARKS, IT CAN BE USED FOR BUSINESSES, IT CAN BE USED FOR HOUSES.

AND IT ALLOWS EVERYBODY TO HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION, BUT EVENTUALLY COME TOGETHER WITH CONSENSUS. THE WAY THAT THE MARANA TOWN CODE IS STRUCTURED IS MUCH LIKE OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THERE IS A USE MATRIX, WHICH IS A LIST OF USES OF LAND THAT ARE PRE-APPROVED.

THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HAS A NEW IDEA OF HOW TO USE LAND, AND USES THAT ARE NOT ON THAT MATRIX ARE PRESUMED PROHIBITED UNLESS THEY GO THROUGH A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ON THIS COUNCIL ISSUE FINDINGS WITH REASONING THAT CAN BE CHALLENGED IN COURT AND CAN ALSO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT OVER WHAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE DECIDED IS GOING TO BE DONE WITH LAND THAT IS IN THEIR TOWN OR NEXT DOOR TO THEM.

[00:25:02]

THERE ARE SOME ZONES THAT DON'T QUITE FIT INTO THAT TABLE.

ZONES A THROUGH E, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE TOPIC OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

THESE HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED LEGACY ZONES IN THE TOWN CODE, WHICH EXPLICITLY SAYS ARE INTENDED TO BE PHASED OUT OVER TIME.

LAND CANNOT BE REZONED INTO LEGACY ZONES. AND YET, AS PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, THERE IS THIS PRISON THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE BUILT ON A PARCEL OF MARANA LAND. IT'S NOT JUST A REINSTATEMENT OF A PRIOR PRISON, IT'S A RADICAL EXPANSION OF IT.

IT'S TRIPLING THE CAPACITY OF A PRISON THAT ALREADY USED A WASTEWATER DETENTION POND THAT APPEARS TO BE A BLACK LAGOON AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARCEL, WHERE THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLAINTS. THIS SEEMS LIKE THE GROUND FOR POTENTIAL NUISANCE COMPLAINTS, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AN EXPANSION OF A NUISANCE BY THREE TIMES THE SIZE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT A USE LISTED IN THE MATRIX, THE TOWN HAS ISSUED NO FINDINGS, NO DETERMINATIONS AS TO WHY THIS WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE CODE, OR WHY IT WOULDN'T BE A NUISANCE. AND THE ONLY REASON GIVEN IS THAT IT'S ZONE C, BUT ZONE C, AGAIN, IS A LEGACY ZONE THAT IS EXPLICITLY STATED IN THE CODE IS INTENDED TO BE PHASED OUT OVER TIME.

HOW IS IT THAT A USE THAT WAS ABANDONED THREE YEARS AGO, THAT IS NOW PROPOSED TO BE RESTARTED, SUPERVISED BY A NEW GOVERNMENT AGENCY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND IS GOING TO REQUIRE TONS MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, INTRODUCE NEW PROBLEMS AND BE AN ENTIRE NEW BASIS FOR DETENTION? HOW IS THAT A LEGACY USE? YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS LOOKS.

PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE CYNICAL. THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE TOWN IS NOT ACTING IN THEIR INTEREST AND IS RUBBERSTAMPING A DECISION MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE LOCAL CODE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.

WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT BEING INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION? WHY ARE THERE NO DETERMINATIONS? WE WANT TO KNOW. [APPLAUSE].

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE GREEN, FOLLOWED BY PAULA PALOTAI.

CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. MY NAME IS MIKE GREEN AND I AM A RESIDENT OF MARANA AND I DO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS DETENTION CENTER THAT IS GOING TO SUPPOSEDLY GO UP AND PROBABLY WILL. I SPOKE IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND I GAVE A DESCRIPTION OF KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE PRIVATE DETENTION CENTERS IN GENERAL. AND I'D LIKE TO JUST REALLY QUICKLY GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

I WORKED IN THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 32 YEARS.

IT WAS A FACILITY OF MAXIMUM CUSTODY FACILITY OF INMATES/ MALE.

I WORKED AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND AN INVESTIGATOR, AND I LEFT THERE AS THE ASSOCIATE WARDEN OF ADMINISTRATION.

AND IN THE 1990S, WE HAD A LOT OF PRIVATE PRISONS THAT WERE STARTING TO COME INTO THE FOLD.

THEY CAME AND THEY WENT. BUT MOST OF THE STATE FACILITIES THAT HAD ANY TYPE OF REGARDS TOWARDS INMATE HUMANITY AND CARED ABOUT ANYTHING, MADE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T DO ANY BUSINESS WITH THEM.

AT THAT TIME IN THE 90S, MEDICAL CARE WAS HORRENDOUS.

THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE THAT VERY WELL. FOOD. I MEAN, IT'S A BASIC RIGHT.

SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A DECENT DIET.

THE PRIVATE PRISONS DIDN'T AUTHORIZE THAT. THEY DIDN'T CARE.

RECREATIONAL EXERCISES DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE HAD A CODE IN THE STATES, AND I'M NOT REAL SURE ABOUT THE STATE OF ARIZONA, BUT I'M SURE ARIZONA ALSO HAS A CODE OF HOW MANY HOURS INMATES ARE ALLOWED TO BE OUTSIDE TO RECREATE.

PRIVATE PRISONS DON'T HAVE THAT. THEY MAY LIE TO YOU AND TELL YOU THAT THEY DO IT.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S ALL A LIE.

THEY WILL NOT BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOU. THAT WAS THE 90S, OKAY? HERE WE ARE, 2026, AND WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES.

PRIVATE PRISONS ARE A PRISON FOR PAY FOR PLAY.

YOU GET PAID FOR HOW MANY INMATES ARE IN YOUR CUSTODY.

THEY WILL STACK THE PRISONS. THAT'S WHY IT WENT UP FROM 300 TO MAYBE 1300.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY COUNCIL KNOWS. I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE 300 THAT IT WAS STARTED WITH.

AND THEY GET PAID FOR EVERY INMATE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PER DIEM IS, BUT THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO BENEFIT IS BY STACKING THE PRISONS.

I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO, AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT YOU REACH OUT AND MAYBE TALK TO FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I DON'T KNOW.

LIKE I SAID, I'M REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO. WHEN I MOVED TO MARANA, I COULDN'T WAIT TO MOVE HERE. IT HAD A REPUTATION OF, I MEAN, GROWTH.

[00:30:01]

EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL. I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT MARANA? THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS DETENTION CENTER. ALL MARANA THAT'S THE FACILITY.

ICE FACILITY. THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE BRINGING PEOPLE IN.

WE MAY HAVE SOMEBODY DIE. AND THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY? OH, WE DIDN'T KNOW? YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD JUST STAND UP AND SPEAK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SURE. [APPLAUSE]. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE GOTTEN AN ADDITIONAL CARD SINCE I GAVE YOU MY LAST COUNT. SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAULA PALOTEI.

AND THEN I'VE ALSO RECEIVED ONE MORE. WE DECIDED ON TEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S.

ABOUT SOME ZONING TONIGHT. IF IT WAS ON THAT, I WOULD ALLOW IT.

BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE GOING TO CAP IT AT 30.

EXCUSE ME. 30 MINUTES AND TEN PEOPLE TONIGHT.

IF I OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO RUN IN AND FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD, SO I APOLOGIZE.

MA'AM. YEAH. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I WAS NOT. I CAME HERE BASICALLY FROM VIEWING THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND MARANA WAS MENTIONED. IT'S GOING TO BE MENTIONED AGAIN AND AGAIN, BUT I WASN'T.

I WAS JUST GOING TO COME HERE AND LISTEN UNTIL I HEARD THERE WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT AT ONE OF THESE.

AND THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY. I PRAISE AND APPLAUD THE WHISTLEBLOWER FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER IT'S MALE, FEMALE, ANYONE CAN HAVE ASSAULT.

AND I WOULD PLEAD THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE PEOPLE. THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON TV, PEOPLE ARE STANDING UP.

AND I RESPECT EVERYTHING YOU DO BECAUSE IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS COUNCIL.

BUT PLEASE LISTEN TO US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. PROCLAMATIONS. ITEM PR1. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH.

[ Proclamation Recognizing the Month of October as Fire Prevention Month (Jill McCleary)]

MR. MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE IF SOMEBODY IS HERE. OH, THERE YOU ARE.

GO AHEAD. ITEM PR1. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH.

WHEREAS, THE TOWN OF MARANA AND NORTHWEST FIRE DISTRICT ARE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS FIRE REMAINS A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOME WHERE MANY EVERYDAY DEVICES INCLUDING SMARTPHONES, LAPTOPS, POWER TOOLS, E-BIKES, SCOOTERS, AND TOYS ARE POWERED BY LITHIUM ION BATTERIES THAT CAN OVERHEAT, CATCH FIRE, OR EXPLODE IF DAMAGED, MISUSED OR IMPROPERLY CHARGED.

AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY SAFETY AND ENCOURAGES SAFE CHARGING PRACTICES, INCLUDING USING MANUFACTURER APPROVED CHARGERS, CHARGING DEVICES ON HARD, FLAT SURFACES, WATCHING FOR SIGNS OF OVERHEATING OR SWELLING, AND UNPLUGGING DEVICES WHEN FULLY CHARGED. AND WHEREAS NORTHWEST FIRE DISTRICT FIRE RESPONDERS ARE DEDICATED TO REDUCING HOME FIRES AND FIRE RELATED INJURIES THROUGH PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS THE 2026 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK THEME CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY, SAFE CHARGING IS A SUPERPOWER REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT MAKING SMART CHARGING CHOICES CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRES IN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I JON POST, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF MARANA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2026 AS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF MARANA AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT AND PRACTICE SAFE CHARGING HABITS.

[00:35:01]

YOU KNOW, THEY WORKED SO HARD TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN THEMSELVES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO TAKE CARE OF ANY EVENT, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M SO VERY PROUD OF THEM FOR DOING THAT.

SO HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PASS THAT ALONG TO EVERYBODY THERE AT THE FIRE STATION.

SURE WILL. AND HE HAS A CARD FOR YOU. THANK YOU.

IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU. JUST TO SAY, IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE THE TOWN OF MARANA.

IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE. AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. PRESENTATIONS. ITEM P1. MAYOR, WE NEED TO DO.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET AWAY WITHOUT DOING THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER CAVANAUGH.

[ MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WAS TOUCHED TODAY COMING UP, AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS.

TO THE RESIDENTS THAT I HEARD YOU TONIGHT AND I SHARE YOUR DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT THE ICE DETENTION CENTER.

THE WAY I SEE IT, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS ROOM TRULY WANTS THIS DETENTION CENTER IN OUR MIDST.

MARANA IS A SAFE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF YOUNG FAMILIES, RETIREES, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN.

A PRIVATE ICE DETENTION CENTER DOES NOT BELONG HERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FEAR IT EVOKES.

WHILE MTC OPERATES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY UNDER FEDERAL CONTRACTS, IT MEANS THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL CANNOT LEGALLY STOP IT FROM OPERATING. LIMITED AUTHORITY DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CAN LOOK AWAY.

I KNOW THE TOWN STAFF AND THIS COUNCIL WANT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY INFORMED AND PUT THE SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND OF OUR CITIZENS FIRST.

ONE MORE ITEM IF I COULD, MAYOR. SURE. WE ALL KNOW THAT AN 11 YEAR OLD 6TH SIXTH GRADE STUDENT AT TANGERINE FARMS K-8, WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY AN SUV WHILE RIDING HIS BICYCLE TO SCHOOL IN AUGUST.

THAT WAS A BIG TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED IN OUR TOWN.

ROUGHLY A MONTH LATER, TRAGEDY STRUCK THE COMMUNITY AGAIN WHEN A 15 YEAR OLD, CORY ROPER, A SOPHOMORE OF MARANA HIGH SCHOOL, DIED BY SUICIDE ON CAMPUS.

ANOTHER TRAGEDY. REMEMBERED FOR HIS LOVE OF MATH, SCIENCE AND VIDEO GAMES, THIS GUY WAS RARELY SEEN WITHOUT A SMILE, OFTEN KEEPING THOSE AROUND HIM LAUGHING WITH ENDLESS JOKES.

THAT'S WHO COREY WAS. BUT SUICIDE IS A SERIOUS MATTER.

IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE AND HELP IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING OR IN CRISIS, PLEASE CALL OR TEXT THE SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE.

AND IT'S AN EASY NUMBER. 988. THAT'S NINE EIGHT EIGHT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. COUNCIL MEMBER COMERFORD.

I HAD EXPENSIVE, OR. NOT EXPENSIVE. EXTENSIVE THREE WEEKS OFF HERE AND HAD A REAL GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAMBER AND GO BACK TO WASHINGTON, DC, AND MEET WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM AND SEE THEIR CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR US, AND THEN ALSO MEET WITH SITE SELECTORS AND DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SITES TO BRING IN THEIR INDUSTRY OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO COMMUNITIES.

AND IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK AT THAT WE'VE OVERLOOKED OR WE'VE, YOU KNOW, JUST MISSED, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

AND THE THINGS THAT WERE OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR US AND WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT MARANA IN THAT FUNCTION.

AND THEN ALSO TRAVELING AROUND AND SEEING ALL THE.

I HAPPEN TO BE GONE EVERY TIME IT RAINED REAL GOOD HERE, BUT COMING BACK HOME MEANS THERE WAS LOTS OF GREEN STUFF GROWING AND BEING BUSY JUST RIGHT HERE IN MARANA. GETTING OUT, VISITING THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND VISITING PEOPLE WITH MY BUSINESS AND SEEING HOW THEY LOVE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN MARANA.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE, AND I COMMIT TO MAKING US GROW

[00:40:01]

STRONG AS WE GROW. WE HAVE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID BACK THERE.

IF PLACES AREN'T THRIVING, THEY'RE DYING. SO WE'RE IN THAT.

WE'RE STRIVING TO GROW WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'VE PLANNED OVER THE YEARS, AND WE CAN KEEP DOING THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KAI. NO REPORT, MAYOR.

VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. SOME OF US HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CERRITOS STATE OF THE TOWN WITH MAYOR MURPHY DOWN THERE.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO PARTNER UP WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES AROUND US.

THE NEXT THING WAS, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT ARE COMING OUT AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, PLEASE GO IN. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE INITIATIVES SAY.

THE FIRST COUPLE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, ARE VERY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

I WENT TO ONE OF THESE CLASSES THAT THEY'VE HAD OUT THERE.

SO THOSE PROPOSITIONS ARE INITIATIVES ARE WRITTEN BY LAWYERS FOR LAWYERS.

SO IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM, AND THERE WAS A COUPLE I NEEDED TO HAVE EXPLAINED TO ME, PLEASE GO BEFORE YOU VOTE ON WHAT SOME OF THESE SAY. THIRDLY, WE CELEBRATED PHASE TWO OF THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY GROUNDBREAKING.

VERY GOOD FOR OUR TOWN. PHASE TWO IS GOING TO EXPAND THE FACILITY FROM 1.5 MILLION GALLONS TO 3 MILLION GALLONS. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ADJACENT RECHARGE BASINS.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT BACK IN 2000, I THINK IT WAS 18 WHEN WE BOUGHT THE FACILITY, I THINK THEY GAVE US, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS TO FAIL.

WELL, HERE WE ARE MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO START BUILDING. AND THAT WILL HELP THE GROWTH IN THIS TOWN. THE NEW RESIDENTIAL THAT ARE COMING IN AND HOPEFULLY ECONOMIC SECURITY.

I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS DO. AND IT IS ANONYMOUS.

IF YOU WANT TO CALL IN, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE OR YOU DON'T WANT TO BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID THAT OTHERS MIGHT RETALIATE AGAINST YOU, IT'S A VERY GOOD ORGANIZATION. AND OUR GENTLEMEN, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ATTEND THAT ALSO.

WHAT ELSE? WE CELEBRATED THE TWIN PEAKS CIP WIDENING AND RATTLESNAKE ART.

TWIN PEAKS FROM [INAUDIBLE] FROM OVER THE PAST INTO SAGUARO BLOOM.

THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE PLANNED FOR MANY YEARS AGO.

SO ANOTHER PROJECT FINISHED IN THE TOWN OF MARANA.

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SNAKE BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE SNAKES, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S KIND OF IMPRESSIVE OVER THERE, BUT ANYWAY. I WAS ALSO INVITED UP TO SCOTTSDALE TO ATTEND THE ANTI TRAFFICKING NETWORK BREAKFAST IN SCOTTSDALE.

IT'S PART. IT'S NOT PART OF, BUT THEY WORK WITH 88 CRIME.

SO IT WAS ABOUT 2.5 HOURS. IT WAS VERY GOOD ON HOW OUR MUNICIPALITIES GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO STOP TRAFFICKING, WHICH IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM UP IN PHOENIX THAN IT IS HERE.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR. AND I THINK I FORGOT TO SAY IT BACK EARLIER AT THE 88 CRIME.

SO LET ME BACK UP A MINUTE. I FORGOT TO SAY THIS.

AT 88 CRIME, OUR TOWN, OUR. I'M SORRY/ OUR POLICE OFFICERS GOT A AWARD. ANOTHER AWARD. IT WAS FOR PD OUTSTANDING TEAM OF THE YEAR.

SO OUR PD GOT THAT. I'M SORRY I MISSED IT ON 88 CRIME.

AGAIN, VERY PROUD OF THESE GUYS IN THIS TITLE.

AND I'M SORRY. BACK TO THE. I'M SORRY. BACK TO THE TRAFFICKING.

SO ANYWAY, IT'S VERY INTERESTING. I DON'T THINK WE DO A WHOLE LOT HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE, AT LEAST IN OUR TOWN OF MARANA.

BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THEY WANTED TO BRING US UP, GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE AREA, AND THAT WILL DO IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

[00:45:06]

COUNCIL MEMBER COMERFORD. HERE IT GOES. I FORGOT ONE THING, FOLKS.

I'VE BEEN VISITING THE FOOD BANK IN MARANA ON OCCASIONS, AND THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

THEY NEED OUR HELP. THEY NEED DONATIONS. AND IF YOU GO ONLINE, YOU CAN FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE ITEMS ARE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. AND MY CONCERN IS THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING.

WE HAVE IN OUR AREA A LOT MORE SENIORS THAT ARE NEEDING HELP AND HOPEFULLY BEING ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND OUT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WHO MAYBE NEEDS HELP, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AFRAID TO ASK OR LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND GO OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SEE THAT SENIOR THAT WE KNOW THAT LIVES THERE, IF THERE ISN'T SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM.

THAT'S THE ONE THING. THE OTHER THING IS THE CONTINUED FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO RUN THEIR TRUCKS AND LIGHT THEIR LIGHTS TO MAKE THE DELIVERIES THAT THEY NEED TO.

BUT A MONTHLY CASH DONATION IS HUGE TO THEM. AND WHAT'S HUGE IS $5, $10, $15, $25 A MONTH WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO THEM.

SO WE'RE PUSHING THAT CAMPAIGN AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT, TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED THAT HELP.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, I'M GLAD TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING OR AT ANY TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PATTI. SO I ALSO ATTENDED THE TRIP WITH SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAMBER TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOLLOWED BY NEW YORK. YOU KNOW, WE GOT INTO OUR HOTEL ROOM ABOUT 3:30 IN THE MORNING INTO WASHINGTON, D.C. WHICH MADE IT TOUGH BECAUSE I WAS THERE.

WELL, ASSISTANT MANAGER ANDREA DE LA CRUZ WENT ALONG.

BUT I ALSO WAS THERE WITH MAYOR MALDONADO FROM NOGALES AND SUPERVISOR RICK SCOTT, AND THEY KEPT THE THREE OF US BUSY THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE THERE. I MEAN, WE WERE BUSY.

IT WAS A GOOD TRIP. WE MET WITH OUR OUR CONGRESSWOMAN GRIJALVA, CONGRESSMAN CISCOMANI, SENATOR KELLY. SENATOR GALLEGO WAS A NO SHOW.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT HE CHOSE NOT TO SHOW UP.

BUT THEN WE, YOU KNOW, HAD LUNCH WITH SITE SELECTORS, MANY SITE SELECTORS, NOT JUST A FEW AT EVERY SINGLE TABLE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WENT THERE WERE EVERY OTHER PERSON WAS A SITE SELECTOR.

AND SO WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND BUILD IT UP TO THEM.

THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT THE THINGS HAPPENING IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

AND THEN SPENT AN ENTIRE DAY DOING INTERVIEWS IN NEW YORK CITY WITH DIFFERENT NEWS OUTLETS.

MYSELF, MAYOR MALDONADO, MAYOR SCOTT. AND WE WERE.

OH MY GOSH. WE WENT ALL OVER NEW YORK DOING INTERVIEWS AND TALKING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT MARANA, NOT JUST INTERVIEWS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE HERE IN THE US, BUT INTERVIEWS FOR INTERNATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATIONS.

AND SO WE REALLY WORKED HARD TO PUT MARANA FORWARD TO PEOPLE THAT COULD COME HERE, BRING JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO IT WAS AN EXHAUSTING FIVE DAYS, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT, I THINK.

YOU KNOW, I, TYPICALLY DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE MARANA, BUT ON OCCASION FOR IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE THIS, I CAN MAKE MYSELF GO. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CUT THE RIBBON ON THE WASTEWATER FACILITY.

YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THAT THAT'S A REALLY COOL THING.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S WASTEWATER FACILITY, IT IS A REALLY COOL THING.

THERE'S COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WORKED REALLY HARD IN STARTING IN ABOUT 2007, 2008 TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. YOU KNOW, I TRY TO DESCRIBE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

YOU KNOW, DAVID MORALES MENTIONED COUNCIL MEETINGS TILL 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

[00:50:03]

AND WHILE WE WERE GOING THROUGH SITUATION, TRYING TO ACQUIRE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, WE HAD LATE, LATE COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND, YOU KNOW, FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT AN AGREEMENT.

I MEAN, WE SUED EACH OTHER. WE HAD TO RUN A LEGISLATION.

I MEAN, JUST A WHOLE HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT WE HAD TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND MARANA.

BUT THAT IS REALLY WHAT HAS GIVEN MARANA THE ABILITY FOR ITS OWN DESTINY, NOT ONLY TO SAY WHAT WE WANT TO DO, BUT ACTUALLY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY WHERE WE RECHARGE OUR WATER, MARANA WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING, PERIOD. YOU KNOW, THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND SOURCE VERY LITTLE WATER BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO RECHARGE THE WATER THAT WE DO USE.

SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO 88 CRIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO GO IN SUPPORT OF OUR OFFICERS.

THEY DID RECEIVE AWARDS THAT NIGHT. AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I WENT TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICERS.

IT WAS RUBBER CHICKEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND THROUGH, BUT I WAS GLAD TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT OUR GUYS.

IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, SO. AND THEN SERPENTINA.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL. FUNNY STORY.

WE GET ALL THE KIDS, WE'RE ALL LINED UP. WE'RE ABOUT TO CUT THE RIBBON.

WE'RE ALL LINED UP, READY TO GO. THREE. TWO. ONE.

I CUT THE RIBBON. AND I MEAN, THE HEAVENS OPENED UP LIKE YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

THERE IS NO WAY TO DESCRIBE HOW INSTANTANEOUS AND HOW HARD IT STARTED TO RAIN.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE.

AND THEN IT JUST CONTINUED TO RAIN. I THINK WE ALL JUST GOT TO OUR VEHICLES DRENCHED AND WET.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THOSE POOR KIDS, I HAD LIKE FOUR ON EACH SIDE STICKING OUT OF THE TENT.

AND WITHIN 30S THEY WERE, I MEAN, SOAKING WET.

ANYWAY, THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE COUNCIL'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THINGS, WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BUILT AND READY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AS GROWTH CONTINUES. AND IT'S A STRUGGLE.

WE STRUGGLE WITH FINDING THE MONIES THAT IT TAKES TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE.

I KNOW THAT PROJECT PROBABLY DOUBLED IN COST FROM WHEN WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO DO IT TO WHEN WE FINISHED IT.

BUT IT'S AMAZING AND IT SERVES FAR MORE THAN JUST THE COMMUNITY THERE THAT LIVES IN SAGUARO BLOOM.

IT SERVES OUT INTO A VALLEY. PICTURE ROCKS. AND THAT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THAT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MR. ROZEMA. MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

[ MANAGER’S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS]

SEPTEMBER HAS COME AND GONE, AND WE HAD 49 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES PERMITS THAT WENT UP THIS PAST MONTH.

FOR 2025, THERE WERE 66. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKS MASTER PLAN UPDATE, THE TEN YEAR MASTER PLAN. WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THAT TEN YEARS.

AND SO WE'RE DOING AN UPDATE TO THAT. AND THIS COMING THURSDAY, SO IN A COUPLE OF DAYS HERE, ON OCTOBER THE 8TH, FROM 6 TO 8:00 AT THE MARANA AQUATICS AND RECREATION CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO INVITE THE PUBLIC THERE TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT ON THE PLAN. SO WE CERTAINLY HOPE WE GET A GREAT SHOWING FOR THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ON THE 10TH, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER ON SATURDAY THE 10TH, THE PD AND OUR GREAT FIRE DISTRICT WHO WAS RECOGNIZED EARLIER, ARE HAVING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. THIS OCCURS EVERY OCTOBER.

IT'S GOING TO BE HERE OCTOBER 10TH AT THE MARK FROM 4 TO 6 P.M.

SO WE HOPE PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THAT AND GET TO HANG OUT WITH OUR OFFICERS, WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS, ENJOY SOME REAL FUN STUFF OVER THERE. AND SPEAKING OF FUN STUFF, THE FALL FESTIVAL IS ALSO RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

OCTOBER THE 17TH, A WEEK FROM THIS COMING SATURDAY.

STARTS AT 2:00, GOES UNTIL 9. THERE'S GOING TO BE ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF THERE.

CARNIVAL RIDES. YOU GOT MUTTON BUSTING TERI. COUNCIL MEMBER MURPHY IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.

I THINK SHE'S OUT GATHERING UP MUTTON BUSTERS, BUT IT'LL BE A GREAT EVENT, SO.

SHE'S ALREADY RECOGNIZED BY A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.

JUST REALLY PROUD OF OUR PD FOR GETTING THE TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD.

SO TIP OF THE HAT TO CHIEF AND THE TEAM THERE AND.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. [APPLAUSE]. AND THIS IS, QUITE FRANKLY, SUPER COOL.

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, IT'S CALLED NOBLE.

[00:55:01]

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT.

RECOGNIZED JUST THIS PAST WEEK OUR VERY OWN CHIEF PRITCHETT AS THEIR SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. [APPLAUSE]. AND NOBLE IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

SO FOR THE NATION, HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR.

SO CONTINUE TO BE SO PROUD OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND LASTLY. ALMOST LASTLY. REAL TALK WITH THE TOWN.

WE DID AN EPISODE WITH THE MAYOR TALKING ABOUT HIS VISION FOR THE TOWN.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THAT, OR.

I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

AND LASTLY, WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE DOWNTOWN AND THE DEVELOPERS REACHED OUT TO US AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT THEY COULD GET A HOLD OF THE SILOS, THE HISTORIC SILOS OUT AT THE HERITAGE PARK.

AND WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THOSE TO THEM AND HAVE THEM BE A PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MOVE SILOS. I'VE NEVER MOVED A SILO BEFORE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

SO YEAH, PRETTY COOL STUFF. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. ROZEMA. ANY QUESTIONS? CONSENT AGENDA. SO MOVED. MOTION. TWO MOTIONS AND NO SECONDS.

[ CONSENT AGENDA The Consent Agenda contains items requiring action by the Council which are generally routine items not requiring Council discussion. A single motion and affirmative vote will approve all items on the Consent Agenda, including any resolutions or ordinances. Prior to a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, any Council member may remove any item from the Consent Agenda and that item will be discussed and voted upon separately.]

ROXANNE WAS FIRST AND COUNCIL MEMBER COMERFORD.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

MR. MAYOR, YOU SKIPPED THE PRESENTATION. ON PURPOSE? PROBABLY. NO, I'M SORRY, STEPHANIE. I REALLY WANTED TO SEE THIS.

I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WAITED UNTIL I WAS HERE TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.

AND THEN I GO AND SKIP IT. I KNOW, CRAZY. P1.

ITEM P1. RELATING TO TOURISM. PRESENTATION, UPDATE AND DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE TOWN OF MARANA TOURISM MASTER PLAN 2025

[ Relating to Tourism; Presentation, update, and discussion related to the Town of Marana Tourism Master Plan 2025-2035 (Stefanie Boe)]

THROUGH 2035. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IF I MAY, BEFORE STEPHANIE STARTS, I JUST WANT TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.

AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL IN JUNE OF 2025.

I SHOULD SAY THE FIRST EVER TOURISM MASTER PLAN.

AND THIS PLAN PROVIDES A TEN YEAR VISION FOR GROWING TOURISM IN MARANA.

THIS FIRST PHASE FOCUSES ON THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, AND AFTER JUST ONE YEAR, THE DISCOVER MARANA TEAM, LED BY STEPHANIE BO AND BRANDON MEJIA, HAVE ALREADY MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ADVANCING THOSE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN.

SO TONIGHT, STEPHANIE AND BRANDON WILL BE WALKING YOU THROUGH THAT PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK STEPHANIE AND BRANDON FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THIS YEAR.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE TOURISM MASTER PLANNING COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT.

AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STEPHANIE SO SHE CAN WALK US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS DE LA CRUZ. THANK YOU.

YES. THIS IS A LOT OF PRESSURE. YEAH.

I KNOW. OH MY GOSH. WELL, HERE WE GO. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL, MR. ROZEMA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME THIS EVENING FOR US TO COME AND GIVE YOU THIS UPDATE.

IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH WAITING FOR. THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE WAS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY ANDREA BROUGHT BACK FROM A CONFERENCE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT TOURISM IN A WAY THAT JUST REALLY RESONATED WITH ME. THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM.

AND SHE TOLD LOCAL OFFICIALS AT THIS EVENT THAT TOURISM ISN'T A LINE ITEM, IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON TODAY, THE INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO CREATING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALL OF OUR JOBS.

IT IS NOT JUST DISCOVER MARANA THAT DOES TOURISM, RIGHT? WE DON'T JUST DO TOURISM. WE ARE CREATING AN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER, ALL OF YOU, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, BEING A TRAILBLAZING COMMUNITY AND DELIVERING THAT FIVE STAR SERVICE IS NOT JUST FOR RESIDENTS.

IT'S ALL CONNECTED. EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY HOTEL, EVERY ROAD, AND RESIDENTS AND VISITORS EXPERIENCE IT ALL AS ONE MARANA.

THERE'S NOTHING SEPARATED. IT'S ALL TOGETHER.

AND WE LOVE BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER AS DISCOVER MARANA.

SO WE'RE TAKING THE PLAN THAT YOU APPROVED IN JUNE OF 2025, THAT 50 PLUS PAGE DOCUMENT, AND WE'RE TAKING IT FROM A PLAN AND WE'RE CREATING THE PLACE. AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS.

SO FIRST, I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO THE TOURISM MASTER PLANNING TEAM, PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

WE HAVE SOME HERE TONIGHT THAT DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[01:00:02]

MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE 2023. SO IF YOU ARE A TOURISM MASTER PLANNING TEAM MEMBER, IF YOU COULD STAND. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. OKAY. QUICK PRESENTATION OVERVIEW. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY TOURISM MATTERS, WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS.

WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR YEAR ONE SUCCESSES.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THEM ALL BECAUSE WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE HERE ALL NIGHT.

WHAT'S AHEAD IN YEAR TWO? WHAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY? AND THEN WE'LL WRAP UP AND OF COURSE, TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

SO WE HAVE SOME TERMINOLOGY THAT WE'LL BE USING.

I'VE GOT THIS IN YOUR PAMPHLETS THERE TODAY. SO YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE AT YOUR DESK, JUST IN CASE THERE ARE SOME TOURISM TERMS THAT WE THROW AROUND AND YOU NEED TO REFERENCE BACK. WE ALSO HAD THOSE AVAILABLE FOR THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

THE TOP ONE. DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

THAT IS WHAT DISCOVER MARANA IS. WE ARE THE OFFICIAL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

AND WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT PLACER AI THROUGHOUT.

THIS IS A TOOL THAT HELPS US REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR VISITORS, WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, HOW MUCH THEY'RE SPENDING, HOW LONG THEY STAY HERE. AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT TOOL THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

OKAY, SO WHO VACATIONS IN MARANA? THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

AND ACTUALLY IT'S ASKED TO ME MOST OF THE TIME AS LIKE WHO VACATIONS IN MARANA? AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE ALL LIVE HERE AND WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AND WE GO OTHER PLACES FOR OUR VACATION. MAYBE NOT THE MAYOR.

HE LIKES TO STAY HERE, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE ARE COMING HERE FOR SOME VERY SPECIFIC REASONS, AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT. BUT WE HAD 735,000 TRIPS FROM VISITORS MORE THAN 50 MILES AWAY IN FISCAL YEAR 2026.

IT'S A GREAT NUMBER OVERALL. WE JUST GOT SOME NEW DATA FOR PIMA COUNTY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

THAT'S ACTUALLY 6 MILLION VISITORS. AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE SOME MORE OF THAT PIE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

SO OUR TOP ORIGIN MARKETS WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM IS THE PHOENIX AREA.

THE ENTIRE METRO UP THERE, SIERRA VISTA, NOGALES AND MEXICO.

THE MEXICAN SHOPPER WHO COMES UP WITH. VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY.

AND LOS ANGELES. WE APPRECIATE THE CALIFORNIANS BRINGING THEIR MONEY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THE LAST TIME WE DID AN INDEPENDENT STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF TOURISM IN MARANA WAS IN 2023.

SO THESE NUMBERS ARE FROM 2023. $156 MILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING.

SO THAT'S THE DOLLAR THAT THE TOURIST IS PAYING AT A RESTAURANT OR, YOU KNOW, TO GO TO AN EVENT, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THAT MONEY THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, YOU DO A FORMULA OF 2.04 AND YOU GET $318 MILLION IN THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

BY AND LARGE, THIS IS GOING TO BE MUCH HIGHER NOW BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, INFLATION.

EVERYTHING IS COSTING MORE. SO IN 2026 AND 2027, THIS NUMBER IS LARGER.

WE'RE LOOKING TO DO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT STUDY IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO BED TAX REVENUE, THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS THE VISITOR PAYING THIS TAX.

AND THAT'S HOW OUR DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED. $1.9 MILLION GIVE OR TAKE IN FISCAL YEAR 2026.

SO WHAT IS TOURISM? IT COVERS SOME VERY SPECIFIC THINGS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS DINE, SHOP, STAY, PLAY AND RELAX. MY FAVORITE ONE THERE IS RELAX.

AND THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN IS. WE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU LAST YEAR.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN, WE SAY TO OURSELVES, WE ARE CLOSE TO EVERYTHING AND WE ARE FAR FROM ORDINARY.

MARANA HAS ITS OWN DESTINATION STORY TO TELL.

WE ARE NOT TUCSON. WE DON'T WANT TO BE TUCSON, BUT WE SUPPORT OUR WHOLE REGION TOO, SO JUST PLEASE STAY HERE AND DO YOUR HAVE YOUR FUN HERE IN MARANA. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN, JUST TO REMIND YOU OF HOW THAT WORKS. AND BRANDON'S GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY.

THANK YOU, STEPHANIE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND MR. ROZEMA. HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED AND KIND OF GIVE YOU THE BACKBONE AND THE PILLARS IN WHICH IT WAS BUILT UPON. THAT WELCOMING FAMILY TRAVEL, THAT EXCITING OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND UNIQUE AGRO WESTERN EXPERIENCES ARE WHAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THOSE OBJECTIVES THAT ARE INSIDE THAT MASTER PLAN.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL TEN OF THESE. LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, WE COULD SPEND PROBABLY THE WHOLE NIGHT TALKING ABOUT IT, AND WE'D LOVE TO, BUT YOU'LL SEE THESE POP UP THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION AND HOW THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE PLANS, THE STRATEGIES, THE PARTNERSHIPS WE'VE STARTED, SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE'VE CREATED, AND YOU'LL SEE HOW THAT MAYBE RELATES TO DEVELOPING THE NEW AMENITIES OR THE FAMILY TRAVEL. SO WE'RE IN PHASE ONE, THE FOUNDATIONAL PHASE.

[01:05:02]

THAT'S A FOUR YEAR ROADMAP FOR THIS FIRST PHASE.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY YEAR ONE IS DONE. WE ARE ENTERING YEAR TWO.

THE MOMENTUM IS HEAVY. YOU CAN HEAR IT IN MY VOICE, PROBABLY BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING FAST. WE'RE EXCITED. WE REALLY ARE.

AND THAT FIRST YEAR THOUGH, WE HAD A LOT OF WINS.

NOW, ONE STRATEGY WE'LL GET TO IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT BEFORE WE DO, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE YEAR ONE OF BUILDING THAT FOUNDATION.

AND GETTING INTO THAT POINT BEING THAT ONE STRATEGY IS COMPLETED.

WE HAVE PLENTY MORE UNDERWAY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE COUNCIL UPDATES AND THE UPDATES THROUGH OUR NEWSLETTER AND OUR WEB PAGE.

SO ON DISCOVERMARANA.ORG. WE HAVE OUR TOURISM MASTER PLAN WEB PAGE THAT KEEPS EVERYONE UPDATED.

AND IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE NEWSLETTER ON THE TABLE OUTSIDE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SCAN THE QR CODE.

AND WE HAVE ALL THESE UPDATES THAT KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WELL WHILE WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS TEN YEAR ROADMAP.

BUT KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE ONLY FOCUSING ON THAT FIRST YEAR AND NOW SECOND YEAR AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE CREATED? AND I'M SURE MAYBE YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEAUTIFUL COVER BEFORE OF OUR 55 PAGE VISITOR GUIDE THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS ALL THAT MARANA HAS TO OFFER. WE GOT THIS FROM THOSE LOCALS WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY TAKING THESE PHOTOS, BEING ABLE TO SUBMIT THEM. SOME PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AS WELL, BUT THEN USING THAT AS A TOOL TO PROVIDE A RESOURCE FOR OUR VISITORS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE TWO BUBBLES ON THE BOTTOM THERE.

SO THIS APPLIES TO THOSE OBJECTIVES, AS I MENTIONED, THE DATA AND STORYTELLING, THE SENSE OF PLACE, AND REALLY IDENTIFYING THAT THROUGH OUR VISITOR GUIDE AS A RESOURCE.

THAT VISITOR GUIDE THOUGH, EXCITINGLY ENOUGH, HAS MADE ITS WAY TO EVERY STATE IN OUR NATION.

ON TOP OF THAT, 23 COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF OURS HAVE RECEIVED THIS.

PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THIS VISITOR GUIDE FROM INQUIRING ON US TO SEND IT TO THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY CAN PHYSICALLY HAVE A COPY OF IT.

WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS FROM IT. 3500 COPIES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED.

I THINK WE'RE STILL COUNTING THE COPIES WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT TO CONTINUE TO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO WANT TO COME AND VISIT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE DOING IT THEMSELVES DIGITALLY ON OUR WEBSITE. THOUSANDS ARE COMING, THEY'RE CLICKING.

THEY'RE DOWNLOADING IT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS PIECE AND KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT MARANA SO THEY CAN PLAN THEIR VACATION.

IT DIDN'T STOP THERE, THOUGH. THE CALENDAR. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS HANGING ON YOUR FRIDGE OR IN YOUR OFFICE, WELL, WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE, BUT WE HAVE A NEW ONE COMING OUT FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL. THIS WAS A FANTASTIC IDEA, THANKS TO RACHELLE VALENZUELA. WE DO HAVE TO GIVE HER CREDIT FOR THIS.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE IT'S NOT JUST A CALENDAR.

IT'S A TOOL THAT THE VISITOR CAN USE TO PLAN THEIR EXPERIENCES.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE 70% OF OUR VISITORS ARE THOSE COMING TO VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THAT'S GRANDMA AND GRANDPA, MAYBE THE GRANDKIDS.

AND SO HAVING THIS TOOL AVAILABLE TO THEM ALLOWS THEM TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND ALLOWS THEM TO SHOW OFF THE BEAUTIFUL MARANA FALL FESTIVAL, OR PUT THEM IN A HOT AIR BALLOON IF YOU REALLY WANT TO. ON TOP OF THAT, THOUGH, WE CONNECTED HISTORY IN SOME REALMS WITH THE MARANA SPECIFIC ANZA TRAIL MAP.

THE JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANZA TRAIL THAT STARTED IN MEXICO, WENT ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

HAS MANY STOPS AND JOURNEYS IN MARANA, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY PINPOINT THOSE AND TAKE THOSE FOOTSTEPS IN HISTORY RIGHT HERE.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO CONNECT HISTORY SO MANY YEARS AGO TO THE PLACES WE SPEND TIME AT, LIKE THE MARANA HERITAGE ARENA OR THE MARANA HERITAGE RIVER PARK, EXCUSE ME, AND THE EL RIO PRESERVE.

PLACES THAT HAVE SUCH A CONNECTION TO HISTORY A WAY LONG TIME AGO.

I DO WANT TO TOUCH ONE MORE TIME ON THE 80 ARMED SAGUARO. GOING BACK TO THE IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT, WHICH IS ON THAT COVER OF THE VISITOR GUIDE. IT IS A HIGHLY TRAFFICKED AREA NOW. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE 80 ARMED SAGUARO, IT'S A MAGNIFICENT BEAUTY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND GOING AND VISITING IT. WE HAVE NOW PRODUCED A GUIDE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GO AND SAFELY VISIT THE SAGUARO FROM A DISTANCE.

KNOW HOW TO GET THERE BECAUSE BEFORE THAT IT WAS TWO CATTLE GUARDS AND LOOK TO THE LEFT.

AND NOW THERE'S NO WAY TO ACTUALLY GET OVER THERE AND SEE IT.

AND TO PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE HISTORY OF THAT CACTUS THAT IS JUST A BEAUTY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALREADY.

CONTINUING WITH THE HISTORY, THIS YEAR WAS A MONUMENTAL YEAR FOR THE UNITED STATES, BUT ARIZONA ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO HONE IN ON THAT WITH A ARIZONA TRAVELING MUSEUM THAT CAME THROUGH EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF THE LIBERTY BELL THAT LIVES AT OUR STATE CAPITOL.

MARANA WAS THANKFULLY ONE OF TWO COUNTIES. OR SORRY.

ONE OF TWO PLACES IN PIMA COUNTY TO HAVE THIS TRAVELING MUSEUM ON DISPLAY.

IT WAS A TWO DAY EXHIBIT, AND WHILE USING PLACER AI, WHAT WE USE TO GET THE DATA THAT TELLS US WHO CAME AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM, WE WERE ABLE TO SAY THAT A THOUSAND PEOPLE CAME OUT TO SEE THIS TRAVELING MUSEUM, AND NEAT ENOUGH, 15% OF THOSE TRAVELERS WERE FROM LA AND PHOENIX.

IT'S ANOTHER REALLY COOL EXAMPLE OF HOW MAYBE A LOCAL EVENT CAN DRAW THAT REGIONAL ATTRACTION, FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO COME AND SEE A LIVING PIECE OF HISTORY IN OUR BACKYARD.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT, IT WAS AWESOME. THEY HAD REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS OUT THERE DRESSED UP AND IT WAS JUST A NEAT MOMENT. THIS MAY BE MY FAVORITE SLIDE OF THE WHOLE PRESENTATION.

BECAUSE DINE AND DISCOVER ENTERED ITS FOURTH YEAR, AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL ELEMENT TO IT.

YOU CAN NOW CHECK INTO THESE RESTAURANTS ON YOUR PHONE, AND IN RETURN, YOU COULD UPLOAD THESE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF YOUR DONUTS OR THE FACE WE MAKE WHEN WE HAVE OUR ICE CREAM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US READY TO EAT RIGHT THERE.

[01:10:03]

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE BROKE RECORDS WITH THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR, IN REASON, BECAUSE OF THAT DIGITAL ELEMENT THAT WE HAD.

367 CHALLENGE COMPLETERS, ALMOST 500 DIGITAL CHECK INS, AND ALMOST 1500 RESTAURANTS VISITED.

ALL THAT EQUATING TO ABOUT $73,400 IN ESTIMATED DIRECT SPENDING.

THAT'S THOSE WHO WENT OUT TO EAT IN THOSE RESTAURANTS AND PAID WITH THEIR HARD CASH TO GO AHEAD AND EAT.

AND WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACES TO EAT, IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD WE HAVE.

SO WHEN THE VISITOR COMES, WHETHER IT'S YOUR GRANDMA, YOUR GRANDPA, OR YOUR GRANDKIDS, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN TAKE THEM. AND WE WERE JUST HAPPY TO ENTER ANOTHER YEAR. I KNOW, MAYOR, YOU LIKE THE HATS AND THE MERCHANDISE THAT, OF COURSE, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE AS SWAG. AND WE HAVE SOME NEW IDEAS MOVING FORWARD INTO YEAR FIVE, AND WE'RE JUST REALLY PROUD OF THE SUCCESS WE HAD IN YEAR FOUR.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO STEPHANIE, WHO'S GOING TO TOUCH ON SOME PARTNERSHIPS AND THE MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU, BRANDON. OKAY. ONE OF THE MONUMENTAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED FOR US THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE REGIONAL CYCLING INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT GOT SIGNED WITH ORO VALLEY. SO, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON YOUR BICYCLE, RIDING AROUND OR IN YOUR CAR, YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE SOMETIMES BETWEEN MARANA AND ORO VALLEY.

YOU'RE JUST RIDING YOUR BIKE. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE FOR THE VISITOR.

AND SO COMING TOGETHER WITH ORO VALLEY, THIS IS BOTH A STRENGTH FOR BOTH OF US.

SO WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER IN THIS SPACE. AND THIS ALL STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO WITH THE TUCSON BICYCLE CLASSIC, THE MARANA TIME TRIAL. AND PROUD TO SAY WE HAD A 6% INCREASE IN THAT EVENT LAST YEAR WITH RIDERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND AGAIN, 42 STATES AND 6 COUNTRIES.

ALSO THIS PAST YEAR, WE INTRODUCED THE LIGHT TUNNEL, THE DISCOVER MARANA LIGHT TUNNEL AT THE HOLIDAY FESTIVAL AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY THE PART THAT WE ARE MOST INVESTED IN IS THE MONTH AFTER THE TREE GETS LIT.

THIS IS A FREE SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND VISITORS TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE LIGHT SHOW ANY NIGHT THEY'D LIKE.

THEY CAN GO GRAB HOT COCOA AND COME OVER AND WATCH THE SHOW AND WALK THROUGH THE LIGHT TUNNEL.

THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE DOUBLE IN SIZE. AND SO WE JUST RAN THESE NUMBERS AS WELL FOR 2025.

WE HAD 2300 PEOPLE COME DOWNTOWN WHEN NOTHING ELSE WAS HAPPENING AND SPEND TIME AT OUR TREE.

AND 25% OF THAT WAS TOURISM. SO GREAT NEWS, THAT'S REALLY STARTING TO CATCH ON AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MARKET THAT TO OUR LOCALS AND VISITORS. WE ARE REALLY NOT VERY GOOD AT TAKING PICTURES OF OURSELVES, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAW HOW OFTEN WE SHOW UP, BRANDON AND I, AT EVENTS FROM TOUR TO COOKIE, WHICH IS A ROTARY EVENT THAT ALSO HAS AN ELEMENT OF TOURISM.

OF COURSE, WE WERE AT COCOA WITH THE COUNCIL.

WE COME TO THE STATE OF THE TOWN EVERY YEAR. WE REALLY FIND IT VERY USEFUL TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT TOURISM AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE TO GO EAT WHILE THEY'RE HERE.

AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY HONE IN ON THANKS TO PLACER AI, IS WE HAD 38 EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, SO ONLY FOUR OF THOSE WERE TOWN EVENTS.

THE REST OF THEM WERE OTHER EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO 53% OF THOSE EVENTS INCLUDED MEASURABLE TOURISM.

SO WE HAVE SO MUCH ROOM TO GROW IN THIS SPACE.

WE COULD HAVE A FESTIVAL EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ATTRACT PEOPLE.

AND SO WHAT DOES THAT EQUATE TO IN DOLLARS AND CENTS? THAT'S $6.5 MILLION IN THAT DIRECT SPENDING FROM PEOPLE JUST COMING FOR OUR EVENTS AND FESTIVALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OKAY. THAT WAS A LOT. I DO HAVE A HANDOUT WITH ALL THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL IN YOUR PACKET, BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS.

I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO MEMORIZE THAT. SO FOR YEAR TWO, WE'RE GOING FROM THAT FOUNDATION.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DISCOVERY OF NUMBERS AND HOW MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOW WE'RE BUILDING ON THAT EXPERIENCE. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE DESERT BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, WHICH IS A FESTIVAL THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN MARANA FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THEY'VE OUTGROWN THEIR SPACE AT GLADDEN FARMS COMMUNITY PARK AND ARE MOVING TO THE MARANA PUMPKIN PATCH. HOPEFULLY I WAS ALLOWED TO SAY THAT.

FOR THEIR NEXT EVENT IN 2027. THIS IS REALLY EXCITING.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THE CREDIT FOR THE GROWTH OF THIS FESTIVAL, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN STARTING TO MARKET THEM OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND REALLY PARTNERING WITH THEM TO HELP THEM TELL THEIR STORY. ALSO, DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST ROCK CLIMBING EVENTS IN THE STATE RIGHT HERE IN MARANA? THE OLD PUEBLO CLASSIC HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT IS ANOTHER EVENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HELP GROW,

[01:15:03]

CONTINUE TO DO EXCITING THINGS AT ROCK SOLID.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DOWN BY COSTCO IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR, THE BAJA SAE EVENT IS COMING BACK.

SO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BUGGIES. THE STUDENTS BUILD THOSE FROM UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THEY TEST THOSE BUGGIES AND THEN THEY COME AND DO REAL WORLD TESTING.

SO BAJA SAE. THAT SAE IS THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.

SO THIS IS A TOOL THAT LARGE COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD COME AND HIRE THEIR FUTURE ENGINEERS.

SO THIS IS A GREAT THING FOR US TO GET A CHANCE TO, YOU KNOW, THEY GO TO IN-N-OUT BURGER WHILE THEY'RE HERE AND THEY REALLY LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GETTING RECRUITED BY A LOCAL COMPANY AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MARANA THEIR HOME.

SO THIS IS A FANTASTIC THING THAT I'M SO PLEASED TO SEE THIS COMING BACK AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR US.

SO LET'S GO. AND DOWN IN THE BOTTOM CORNER. THAT'S OUR THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S FALL FESTIVAL.

KICK UP YOUR BOOTS AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THAT.

WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL THINGS PLANNED. ALSO IN YEAR TWO AND BUILDING THAT EXPERIENCE, WE'RE CREATING SOME NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH TOHONO CHUL, AND SO YOU CAN COME TO THE MARANA VISITOR CENTER.

AS WE'RE SHOWING HERE, YOU CAN COME SEE SALLY AND SHE'LL GIVE YOU A DISCOVERY PASS FOR A TOHONO CHUL FOR TWO PEOPLE, AND YOU GET TO GO FOR FREE. YOU HAVE 14 DAYS FROM THE TIME YOU GET YOUR PASS.

AND THE HOPE IS THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND VISIT THE VISITOR CENTER AND FIND OUT ALL OF THE FUN THINGS TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE UP ON A ROAD FROM I-10, AND THEY'RE GOING TO STOP FOR GAS.

MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO STOP AND HAVE A BURRITO OR A TACO SOMEWHERE.

AND THEN THEY'LL GO ENJOY TOHONO CHUL AND MAYBE HAVE DINNER ON THEIR WAY BACK HOME.

SO IT'S A WIN WIN FOR TOHONO CHUL AND FOR US.

OKAY, WE'RE BRINGING THE REFRESHED BRAND TO LIFE.

I SWEAR I'M ALMOST DONE. BUT THIS IS GOOD STUFF.

WE REFRESHED OUR BRAND IN FISCAL YEAR 26, AND NOW WE'RE REALLY ROLLING IT OUT.

AND SO THESE ARE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ADS WE HONE IN ON FIND YOUR ADVENTURE AND FIND YOUR SPACE.

AND YOU'LL SEE THESE IN PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THIS IS THANKS TO THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM CO-OP PROGRAM.

SO WE BROUGHT ALMOST $50,000 TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.

AND SINCE I WAS HIRED IN 2023, WE HAVE BROUGHT $200,000 IN MARKETING SPEND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DOUBLE THE IMPACT OF OUR DOLLARS.

AND THIS IS A HALF AND HALF, SO THEY'LL SPEND HALF ON AN AD AND WE'LL SPEND THE OTHER HALF.

SO IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU, AOT. ALSO USING INTERSTATE 10 AS AN ASSET.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WE HAD BILLBOARDS. WE'VE CONTINUED TO USE THOSE TWO BILLBOARDS AND WE'VE ADDED ONE MORE.

YOU KNOW, I-10, WE LIKE TO MAYBE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TANGERINE SQUEEZE A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT IS A GREAT ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVE BY EVERY DAY. AND MY FAVORITE, THIS IS MY FAVORITE SLIDE OF THE NIGHT.

DOWNTOWN IS IN DESIGN AFTER SO MANY OBSTACLES.

SO EXCITING TO HEAR THAT BREAKING NEWS ABOUT THE SILOS GOING AS PART OF THIS PROJECT AS WELL.

SO, MAYOR, AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THAT, YOU KNOW, TOURISM DOLLARS ARE PART OF THIS PROJECT.

AND SO THE TOURISM MASTER PLANNING TEAM REALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE TOURIST IS BEING THOUGHT OF, AND I KNOW THE DEVELOPER HAS THAT SAME THOUGHT THAT THIS IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION FOR US.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO JULY 1ST OF 2027.

OR. YES, 2026 FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. I FOUND MYSELF IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

AS PART OF THE TEAM FOR ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM, AND WE MANNED THIS BOOTH.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BOOTH, BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS ON THE WALLS.

IT WAS SO PACKED IN THERE. SO THIS BOOTH WAS PART OF THE GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR ON THE MALL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND IT WAS VERY LAST MINUTE. AOT NEEDED HELP.

SO MARANA ANSWERED THE CALL ALONG WITH PINAL COUNTY.

AND WE SAW AN ESTIMATED 16,000 PEOPLE IN THOSE THREE DAYS AND MANY, MANY MORE OVER THE COURSE OF THE EVENT CAME THROUGH.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK IS PROMINENT IN THAT THIRD ROOM, BUT PEOPLE WOULD WALK THROUGH.

IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THEY WERE IN ANTELOPE CANYON, AND THEN THEY WALKED IN AND SMELLED THE SMELL OF THE PONDEROSA PINE.

IT WAS REALLY COOL. AND THEN THEY WOULD WALK IN AND SEE THE STARS.

[01:20:01]

AND SO THIS VIDEO ALSO GOT TO PLAY ON THE SCREEN.

SO WHILE THEY WERE WAITING IN LINE TO GET INTO THE BOOTH, BECAUSE WE WERE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BOOTHS, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING, ARIZONA WON BEST IN SHOW AS WELL.

SO THEY GOT A TASTE OF MARANA ON THE SCREEN. WE GAVE THEM MARANA STICKERS AND VISITOR GUIDE CARDS SO WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET THEM HERE FOR A VISIT.

THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING. EVERYONE WAS JUST SO HAPPY WE WERE THERE AND SO IN AWE OF WHAT THE STATE DID.

AND REALLY WE WERE JUST SELLING WHAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO END TONIGHT REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS.

SO AS I WAS IN THE ROOM IN THE BOOTH WHERE WE HAD SOME CURTAINS AND YOU WALKED THROUGH THE CURTAINS AND YOU SAW THE STARS OF SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK AND THE CACTI AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WOW. OH MY GOODNESS, DO YOU REALLY GET TO SEE THE STARS WHERE YOU LIVE? AND THAT REALLY STRUCK ME. I BROUGHT THAT HOME WITH ME, BECAUSE WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE IN ARIZONA RIGHT IN OUR BACK DOOR. SOMEONE JUST SAID TO ME YESTERDAY THAT IT BECOMES ENVIRONMENTAL WALLPAPER.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO DESCRIBE THAT. IF WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT WE'VE GOT, WE'RE LOSING OUT.

PEOPLE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO COME HERE AND SEE IT.

AND SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING AS PART OF THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN, EVERYTHING THAT WE BRING TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE FROSTING ON TOP OF THE CAKE WE ALREADY HAVE, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT.

AND I JUST CHALLENGE ALL OF US TONIGHT WHEN WE WALK OUT THE DOOR TO GO LOOK AT THE STARS ON THE WAY TO OUR CARS.

AND SO JUST WITH THAT, I WANT TO REMIND US ALL THAT GREAT PLACES TO VISIT ARE GREAT PLACES TO LIVE, AND THAT GOES THE OTHER WAY. GREAT PLACES TO LIVE ARE GREAT PLACES TO VISIT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THAT WAS EXCELLENT, STEPHANIE.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER? YEAH, I HAVE A FEW, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, MULTIPLICATION. 2.04. WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? BECAUSE I KNOW ECONOMIC IMPACT IS HUGE. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

MAYOR, COUNCIL. THAT IS MATH FROM ECONOMIC PEOPLE.

I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHERE THAT ALL COMES FROM. I'M NOT THE ECONOMIC TEAM, BUT THAT IS A FORMULA THAT'S USED AS STANDARD ACROSS.

YEAH. WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING WHAT IS ALREADY USED AS AN INDUSTRY PRACTICE.

WHAT'S THE PLACER AI? IS THAT CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY? PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH GATEWAYS? THEY KNOW YOU'RE COMING AND GOING? IS THAT IT? YES, SIR. YES, AND IT IS VERY ACCURATE.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CROSS-REFERENCE THAT AGAINST REAL PHYSICAL LIKE TRAIL COUNTERS AND THINGS.

SO WE DO HAVE REALLY GOOD INSIGHTS FROM THAT PLACER AI TOOL.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT IN OUR BACK POCKET.

VERY GOOD. AND I LOVE THE FIND YOUR ADVENTURE.

THANK YOU. IT STIMULATES YOU. YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT ADVENTURES MORE THAN MOST.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THINGS, COME HERE.

AND ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME ABOUT LIVING IN MARANA, WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY, MAJOR VARIETY.

THE HIKING PARKS, THE MOUNTAINS, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN MENTION SUNSETS.

I KNOW. AND THEN ARE YOU LEVERAGING THE RITZ CARLTON AT ALL? WE ARE. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE REALLY INTERESTING PART OF BEING A GOVERNMENT FUNDED DMO, RIGHT? SO IF YOU'RE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT, DMO, YOU CAN DO MORE THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES.

WE TRY VERY HARD TO BE, YOU KNOW, VERY EVEN FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT PLAYING FAVORITES.

THAT BEING SAID, THE MARKETING THAT WE ARE DOING NOW REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE IT CAN REACH THAT RITZ CARLTON CUSTOMER.

PREVIOUS THINGS WE WERE DOING, WE JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE ELEVATING ENOUGH.

BUT MAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WANTS THAT FEELING OF FIND YOUR SPACE.

IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT RESONATES FROM THE LUXURY TRAVELER ALL THE WAY TO THE BUDGET TRAVELER.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THANK YOU, STEPHANIE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER COMERFORD. SO, STEPHANIE, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS.

I MEAN, WHAT YOU'VE DONE, WHAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW? AMAZING. THIS PUBLICATION IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

AND IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN IT, IT IS JUST AMAZING.

I MEAN, I LIVE HERE AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO COME.

ANYWAYS, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A WHILE, AND IT'S JUST THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE HERE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. IT MAKES ME EXCITED FOR MARANA'S FUTURE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF US WHO LIVE HERE ARE LEARNING TO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

[01:25:02]

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE? WELL, STEPHANIE, I THOUGHT YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

TODAY I HAD A ZOOM MEETING WITH ROBIN FROM ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, AND THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHOWCASE MARANA AND SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US BRING IN MORE TOURISM. AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CAN GET WORK ON THAT AND WE CAN HAVE MARANA ON ARIZONA HIGHWAYS TV SHOW.

THAT'D BE REALLY NEAT.

MAYOR, YES, INDEED. LIKE THAT IS ACTUALLY A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME.

WE HAVE OUR ADS IN, YOU KNOW, ARIZONA HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE.

WE PAY FOR THAT. THANK YOU, ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM.

WE CAN AFFORD IT. BUT THAT IS A SHOW THAT IS ICONIC AND HAS BEEN ON NETWORK FOR DECADES.

AND SO TO BE ABLE TO BE SPOTLIGHTED IS PRETTY WELL.

SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED TO DO SOMETHING FOR MARANA.

THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE CHARGE.

THEY'RE EASY TO TALK ABOUT MARANA WITH HER, SO.

ABSOLUTELY. WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

DID I FORGET ANYTHING ELSE? CAN I MOVE FORWARD? YEP. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. L1. ITEM L1. RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

[ Relating to Liquor Licenses; recommendation to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control regarding an application for a multi-license acquisition of control for one Series 9 Liquor Store license for Walgreens Store No. 9952, located at 12050 N. Dove Mountain Blvd., Marana, Arizona, 85653, and two Series 10 Beer and Wine Store licenses for Walgreens Store Nos. 05156, located at 7800 N. Cortaro Rd., Marana, Arizona, 85743, and 07209, located at 3800 W. Ina Rd., Marana, Arizona, 85741, submitted by Andrea Dahlman Lewkowitz on behalf of Walgreens (Jill McCleary)]

RECOMMENDATION TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR LICENSES AND CONTROL REGARDING AN APPLICATION FOR A MULTI LICENSE ACQUISITION OF CONTROL FOR ONE SERIES 9 LIQUOR STORE LICENSE FOR WALGREENS STORE NUMBER 9952 LOCATED AT 12050 NORTH DOVE MOUNTAIN BOULEVARD.

AND TWO SERIES 10 BEER AND WINE STORE LICENSES FOR WALGREENS STORES NUMBER 05156, LOCATED AT 7800 NORTH CORTARO ROAD AND 07209 LOCATED AT 3800 WEST INA ROAD. SUBMITTED BY ANDREA DAHLMAN LEWKOWITZ ON BEHALF OF WALGREENS.

MR. MAYOR, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND IT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

A2. ITEM A2. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-076. RELATING TO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[ Resolution No. 2026-076: Relating to Police Department; approving and authorizing the Mayor and the Police Chief to execute an Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Joint Formation and Operation of Specialized Law Enforcement Teams Among Public Agencies Within Pima County; and Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-045 (Jeffrey Pridgett)]

APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF TO EXECUTE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT REGARDING JOINT FORMATION AND OPERATION OF SPECIALIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS AMONG PUBLIC AGENCIES WITHIN PIMA COUNTY AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-045.

MR. UDALL. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

IN JUNE. ON JUNE 16TH, AN AMENDMENT TO THIS IGA WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

THIS WAS VIA RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-045. BEFORE THE AMENDMENT WAS FULLY EXECUTED, THOUGH, AFTER WE EXECUTED IT, THERE WERE OTHER AGENCY PARTIES THAT REQUESTED CHANGES.

AS A RESULT, A NEW IGA WAS ACTUALLY SUBSEQUENTLY DRAFTED, ADDING SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE REQUESTED, INCLUDING PROVISIONS ACCOUNTING FOR THE CREATION OF A PIMA REGIONAL CRITICAL INCIDENT TEAM BOARD.

ADDING LANGUAGE HIGHLIGHTING THAT THE PARTIES ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO DEPLOY ASSETS TO.

SORRY. TOWARD ANY REGIONAL TEAM WHEN CALLED UPON AND OTHER SIMILAR CLARIFICATIONS.

IF ADOPTED, THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF TO SIGN A NEW FIVE YEAR IGA WITH THOSE CHANGES, AND IT WOULD ALSO RESCIND THE JUNE RESOLUTION THAT ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT TO THE PREVIOUS IGA.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, AND WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. UDALL? ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CHIEF? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

A3. ITEM A3. RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-077. RELATING TO WATER.

[ Resolution No. 2026-077: Relating to Water; approving and authorizing the Mayor to sign a lease agreement for 4,800 AF of Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Indian Priority Central Arizona Project water (Heidi Lasham)]

APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR 4800 ACRE FEET OF FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION INDIAN PRIORITY CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT WATER. MISS LASHAM, HOW ARE YOU? I'M GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU, MR. MAYOR? THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

TONIGHT IS RESOLUTION 2026 077. I PULLED IT OFF CONSENT SINCE IT'S RELATED TO ANOTHER WATER PURCHASE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

SO JUST TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND, THERE WAS FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION HAD PUT OUT A PROPOSAL FOR WATER, AND SEVERAL ENTITIES HAD PUT IN THEIR PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE THE WATER.

AND WE WERE ONE OF THE LUCKY RECIPIENTS FOR A ONE YEAR LEASE FOR THE CAP INDIAN PRIORITY WATER.

[01:30:03]

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT PURCHASING 4800 ACRE FEET OF WATER.

SO THIS RIGHT HERE IS. THE TERM IS ONE YEAR FOR 4800 ACRE FEET.

IT IS ABOUT $3.7 MILLION. AND THE FUNDING IS IMPACT FEES.

THE BENEFIT IS THAT WE ACTUALLY GET THE WET WATER TO BE TRANSPORTED DOWN HERE.

THAT'LL HELP US WITH OUR AQUIFER HERE LOCALLY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. SO HEIDI, THIS WATER SINCE IT'S INDIAN WATER IS FIRMED.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS FIRMED, CORRECT. OKAY.

SO WE WILL GET IT. SO WE WILL EITHER GET WET WATER.

AND IF THERE'S A PORTION THAT MIGHT NOT BE FIRMED, WE'D GET LONG TERM STORAGE CREDITS.

THAT ARE ALREADY CURRENTLY HERE. YES. IS THAT CORRECT? WE WOULD GET THE LONG TERM STORAGE CREDITS FROM THE BANK.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE ENDED UP TAKING THIS OFF CONSENT.

I THINK IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT OUR WATER DEPARTMENT HAS JUST BEEN DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB, QUITE FRANKLY, OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BRING WATER TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A GREAT WATER PORTFOLIO, AND THEY'RE JUST MAKING IT BETTER.

WORKING WITH THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, WORKING ON DEALS LIKE THIS, WORKING WITH STATE LAND.

LOTS OF THINGS IN THE HOPPER. AND I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF WELL INTO THE FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO WATER RESOURCES. THANK YOU.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. AND THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP, MR. ROZEMA.

ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER CAVANAUGH. YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IS THIS COMING DOWN TO THE CAP? IT WOULD COME DOWN THROUGH THE CANALS.

YES. OKAY, GREAT. AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT. I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE, BUT IT'S WATER.

IT'S WET WATER. IT IS WET WATER THAT WOULD COME DOWN.

AND SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE IT WHEN WE CAN GET IT.

YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR LIKE THE TOWN MANAGER SAID, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WATER PORTFOLIO TO EXPAND IT AND HAVE MORE SOURCES.

ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY AVENUE WE CAN TO GET THAT WET WATER DOWN HERE FOR OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO THE ONE YEAR LEASE.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ONE YEAR? CAN WE RENEGOTIATE OR DO WE WALK AWAY? OR DO THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF MECHANISM WHERE WE CAN DO ANOTHER ONE YEAR LEASE IF THINGS ARE SUCCESSFUL? MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A ONE YEAR LEASE.

WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY MIGHT OPEN IT UP AGAIN NEXT YEAR, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THAT WHEN IT COMES OUT.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A ONE YEAR LEASE. THANK YOU.

AND HEIDI, JUST WHAT'S THE COST COMPARISON TO.

OKAY. SO.

YES. GREAT. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES.

[ Relating to Strategic Planning; presentation outlining the planning process and timeline for Strategic Plan VI; discussion and possible direction regarding proposed focus areas (Julia Cramer)]

D1. ITEM D1. RELATING TO STRATEGIC PLANNING. PRESENTATION OUTLINING THE PLANNING PROCESS AND TIMELINE FOR STRATEGIC PLAN VI, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION REGARDING PROPOSED FOCUS AREAS.

JULIA. MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD REAL QUICK. I'M SORRY, JULIA, I DIDN'T GIVE YOU A HEADS UP.

I WAS GOING TO DO THIS. YOU ALL WELL KNOW THIS IS OUR SIXTH STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME WE DO THIS, WE GET JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

AND THE LAST TIME WE HIRED A CONSULTANT AND OUR VERY OWN ANDREA DE LA CRUZ ENDED UP TAKING THAT OVER BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN WE DIDN'T LIKE HER. WELL, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO A FANTASTIC JOB, AND I JUST WANT TO TIP MY CAP TO JULIA.

SHE CAME IN HERE A VERY SHORT TIME AGO AND HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THIS AND HAS JUST DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB MEETING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. AND SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL HERE, SO.

WOW. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO START WITH THAT? WE'RE JUST GOING TO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT ON STRATEGIC PLAN VI.

SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO COVER THREE THINGS. THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FOCUS AREA REFINEMENTS, WHERE I'D WELCOME YOUR DISCUSSION.

AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE FOR DRAFTING INPUT AND REVIEW OF THE PLAN.

[01:35:02]

AS YOU KNOW FROM PRIOR CYCLES, THE STRATEGIC PLAN SERVES A FEW CORE FUNCTIONS.

ONE IS TO REFLECT EVOLVING COMMUNITY NEEDS, TO GUIDE DEPARTMENT WORK, AS WELL AS TO STRENGTHEN COHESION BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNCIL, STAFF AND COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION.

THIS DOES MARK THE SIXTH STRATEGIC PLAN THAT MARANA WILL HAVE TO DATE AND WILL COVER FISCAL YEARS 2028 THROUGH 2030.

THIS WILL BUILD ON THE STRONG FOUNDATION THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED BY PRIOR PLANS, AS WELL AS BRING TOGETHER COUNCIL PRIORITIES ADOPTED PLANS LIKE THE TOURISM MASTER PLAN THAT STEPHANIE AND BRANDON PRESENTED ON THIS EVENING, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY INPUT INTO ONE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.

SO TONIGHT IS ABOUT CHECKING ALIGNMENT AND ENSURING THAT THE PROPOSED FOCUS AREA REFINEMENTS REFLECT YOUR PRIORITIES.

SO AS A REMINDER, THESE WERE THE FOCUS AREAS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN STRATEGIC PLAN V.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THE WORDS ON THE SLIDE, BUT AS A BRIEF REMINDER, THOSE AREAS WERE CHERISHED HERITAGE, VIBRANT COMMUNITY, THRIVING COMMERCE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND PROACTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES.

AND SO STAFF BRINGS FORWARD SOME REFINEMENTS TONIGHT TO ENSURE CONTINUED ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THOSE FOCUS AREAS THAT I JUST HIGHLIGHTED.

AND ON THE RIGHT ARE THE SUGGESTED FOCUS AREAS FOR STRATEGIC PLAN NUMBER SIX.

CHERISHED HERITAGE, THRIVING COMMERCE AND PROACTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES STAY EXACTLY AS THEY WERE IN THE PREVIOUS PLAN.

YOU'LL SEE THAT FOR VIBRANT COMMUNITY WE'VE ADDED THE WORDS AND SAFE.

THIS BOTH ACKNOWLEDGES THE ROLE THAT SAFETY PLAYS IN PROVIDING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS ALLOWS US TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURTS, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE ADDITION OF FUTURE READY INFRASTRUCTURE.

AGAIN, NOT ONLY DOES THIS ALLOW US TO BRING FORWARD THE WORK OF PUBLIC WORKS, WATER AND WATER RECLAMATION, BUT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE LONG TERM INVESTMENTS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS MAKING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR MARANA'S GROWTH.

FINALLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES IS NO LONGER A FOCUS AREA BECAUSE THOSE GOALS ALIGNED REALLY NATURALLY WITH THE VIBRANT AND SAFE COMMUNITY.

SO THEY'VE BEEN INCORPORATED THERE. NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT.

THEY JUST ALIGNED REALLY NATURALLY IN THAT FOCUS AREA AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO ASK, DO THESE SUGGESTED FOCUS AREA REFINEMENTS REFLECT YOUR PRIORITIES FOR STRATEGIC PLAN VI? YES. ANYONE ELSE? YEARS? YEAH, I JUST SAW IT, SO I NEED A DAY. SURE. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER INITIAL REACTIONS? I WAS CERTAINLY.

I LIKE THESE FOCUS AREAS A LOT. I THINK IT'S PERFECT FOR STRATEGIC PLAN VI.

I MEAN, THESE ARE IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.

I'LL MOVE ON. SO I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY OVERVIEW THE ENTIRE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

AND VICE MAYOR, LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY JUST THE START OF THE PROCESS.

I'D WELCOME YOUR CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK AS WE MOVE FORWARD DRAFTING THE PLAN, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH AND EVEN CONTINUING ON THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT WHAT WE WANT TO KICK OFF IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER IS ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A SECOND. IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, TOWN COUNCIL AND STAFF WILL WORK TOGETHER TO REVIEW AND REFINE THE PLAN BASED ON THAT FEEDBACK, WITH THE GOAL OF ADOPTING THE PLAN IN MARCH OF 2027.

COMMUNITY INPUT IS ESSENTIAL TO THIS PROCESS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SURVEY, AND YOU SEE I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING HERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE MORE RESIDENTS ENGAGE WITH THAT SURVEY, BECAUSE IT ALIGNS IN THAT TIMELINE.

WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO HOLD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AS WELL AS TOWN HALLS.

AND WE VALUE YOUR HELP IN CONNECTING US WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS LIKE HOAS AND CHURCHES.

AND THAT WAY WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING RESIDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT.

SO WITH THAT, THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO CONTINUE INCORPORATING YOUR FEEDBACK INTO THE DRAFT PLAN, KICK OFF THOSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES NEXT MONTH, BRING A DRAFT OF THE PLAN FORWARD EARLY NEXT YEAR.

AND AGAIN, HOPEFULLY ADOPT THE PLAN IN MARCH OF 2027.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JULIA? YEAH, MAYOR, I.

TOWN MANAGER ROZEMA, HE MENTIONED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE MARC TO DISCUSS THIS.

[01:40:01]

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEXT MONTH, OKAY? LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

PLAN B, PLAN V AND PLAN VI WERE GOING. WHAT MAJOR INITIATIVES ARE UNFINISHED PRIORITIES FROM STRATEGIC PLAN V ARE STAFF RECOMMENDING ROLLING INTO PLAN VI OR VERSUS SUNSETTING? IS IT JUST KIND OF THINGS WE HAVEN'T QUITE FINISHED YET? WE'LL GO INTO VI. SURE. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAVANAUGH.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TIME TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU THE FULL PICTURE, BECAUSE I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT ANOTHER TIME.

I THINK IT'S BOTH. THERE'S SOME UNFINISHED THINGS.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF'S WORK THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS WERE FINISHED OR TOOK SHAPE, SUCH THAT WE NEED TO REVISE THE LANGUAGE.

SO IF WE WERE JUST STARTING SOMETHING, MAYBE NOW WE'RE EXPANDING UPON IT.

AND SOME THINGS THAT WERE UNFINISHED WILL ROLL OVER INTO THE NEXT PLAN.

SOME THINGS THAT WERE UNFINISHED ARE NO LONGER IN THE PRIORITIES. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY WEREN'T TAKEN UP LAST TIME. SO I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF A YES AND RESPONSE.

I'M HAPPY TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT. BUT ALL OF THE ABOVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS EVER FINISHED, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU? I MEAN, IT'S MORE OF A ROUTE THAT WE GO DOWN, ISN'T IT? IT'S MORE OF A GOALS. OR NOT NECESSARILY GOALS, BUT JUST DIRECTION.

YES. MR. MAYOR, ABSOLUTELY. SO STRATEGIC PLANNING AS A WHOLE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING ON.

AND THAT'S WHY I KNOW ASSISTANT MANAGER DE LA CRUZ DID A WONDERFUL JOB LAST TIME, KIND OF KEEPING UP THAT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH I HOPE TO CARRY FORWARD INTO THIS ONE AS WELL.

AND SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT MIGHT FEEL COMPLETE.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THE FOCUS ON THESE AREAS IS NEVER COMPLETE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY LIVE IN THE PLAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER KAI. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THAT PLAN VI, THE FUTURE READY INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO PUT A LOT OF WORK IN THAT AREA. YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO ATTRACT MANUFACTURING OR ANY FACILITIES FOR JOBS, MARANA, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEM READY TO GO.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH THAT. YEAH. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER KAI.

WE AGREE COMPLETELY. AND IT'S NOT THAT THESE GOALS WEREN'T IN THE PLAN, THEY WERE JUST NESTED IN OTHER AREAS.

A LOT OF THEM LIVED IN PROACTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES BEFORE.

SO ADDING IT AS A FOCUS AREA SPECIFIC TO INFRASTRUCTURE, STAFF FEELS LIKE IT'S A GREAT WAY TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT BOTH THE WORK, BUT ALSO YOUR DIRECTION AS FAR AS GUIDING THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, LAST THING. I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN A PRESENTATION IS MADE BY AN EMPLOYEE OR STAFF MEMBER THAT THEY CAN RELATE IT BACK TO AN ITEM IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND YOU KNOW WHERE IT FITS. HEY, WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT ALSO FITS THIS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND I THINK I LIKE THAT WHEN THAT IS ABLE TO HAPPEN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. NICELY DONE. OKAY. AM I FORGETTING ANYTHING? EXECUTIVE SESSIONS? YES. TWO EXECS? MR. MAYOR, WE NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM E2.

[ EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters.]

E2. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ARE ADJOURNED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. I NEED A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF AS DIRECTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'LL SECOND IT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

NEED A. WELL, IS THERE ANY ITEMS OR ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? NOPE. HEARING NONE. I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS

MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS

PRESENTATIONS

LIQUOR LICENSES

COUNCIL ACTION

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE ACTION

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters.

Oct 06, 2026 Council Meetings

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS

MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS

PRESENTATIONS

LIQUOR LICENSES

COUNCIL ACTION

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE ACTION

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council may vote to go into executive session, which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters.

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

PROCLAMATIONS

PRESENTATIONS

LIQUOR LICENSES

COUNCIL ACTION

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE ACTION

Oct 06, 2026 Council Meetings

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

PROCLAMATIONS

PRESENTATIONS

LIQUOR LICENSES

COUNCIL ACTION

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / POSSIBLE ACTION

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