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THANK YOU SO MUCH WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR MEETING.
[ Call to Order]
WELCOME TO OUR NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024 STUDY SESSION.LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER CLERK, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL.
[1. Agreement No. CM4-920-4664, Multi-Language Translation Technology, Services, and Support Move City Council approve Agreement No. CM4-920-4664, with TranslateLive, LLC, for multi-language translation technology, services, and support, in an amount not to exceed $85,000, for the period of one year, beginning November 1, 2024, through October 31, 2025, with the option of up to four one-year extensions. Council Focus Area(s):]
HAVE BEEN CALLED IN FOR PRESENTATIONS AND UM, I WAS THE FIRST I'D LIKE TO CALL UP NIKKI TAPIA FOR, UH, PRESENTATION.AND, UM, HOW IS THIS BEING RECEIVED AND EXPANDED WITH THE MULTI-LANGUAGE TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGY ITEM NUMBER ONE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY ON THE INSTANT LANGUAGE ASSISTANT TRANSLATION DEVICE OR ALA I WAS, I I WILL BE REFERRING IT TO IT IN THE REST OF THIS PRESENTATION.
THESE DEVICES WERE DESIGNED WITH ONE OVERARCHING GOAL TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ACROSS OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
FIRST, A BACKGROUND ON THE ISLA DEVICE, UM, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO.
IT'S A POWERFUL LANGUAGE ACCESS TOOL THAT ALLOWS REAL TIME ON DEMAND CONVERSATIONS IN OVER 200 LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS, BOTH IN PERSON AND REMOTELY.
EACH DEVICE COMBINES COMPLIANT AI PRESET PHRASES AND ACCESS TO LIVE A SL INTERPRETERS, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH LANGUAGE BARRIERS, MOBILITY LIMITATIONS, AND OTHER ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS.
WE CONDUCTED A CITYWIDE ASSESSMENT FROM AUGUST 23 TO FEBRUARY 24, IN WHICH WE ROTATED FOUR DEVICES ACROSS 10 DEPARTMENTS.
THESE DEVICES HELP CITY STAFF ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE OR DISABILITY.
SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL GOALS WE HAD FOR THESE DEVICES WERE, UM, TO REMOVE COMMUNICATION BARRIERS, IMPROVE COMM CUS CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ALSO SUPPORT THE CITY'S LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY PROGRAM UNDER TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
TITLE SIX AIMS TO PROVIDE TIMELY, MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
NOW LET'S UNDERSTAND THE, UM, INSIGHTS FROM THE DATA ASSESSMENT DATA.
DURING THE ASSESSMENT, WE ROTATED FOUR DEVICES ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FOR ONE MONTH EACH.
YOU COULD SEE THE TOP USERS IN THAT ORDER, LIBRARY, CITY CLERK, POLICE RECORDS, AND, AND, UM, CITY COURT.
WE HAD 560 FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS TOTAL, EVEN WITH JUST A FEW DEVICES.
THE DATA HIGHLIGHTS HOW EFFECTIVE THESE TOOLS ARE FOR COMMUNICATION ON AVERAGE.
EACH, EACH INTERACTION TOOK JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN FOUR MINUTES.
THESE QUICK, CLEAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LANGUAGE DEVICE NOT ONLY PREVENT MISCOMMUNICATION, BUT THEY ALSO MAKE COMMUNICATION MORE EFFICIENT, ESPECIALLY ON IMPORTANT TOPICS LIKE PASSPORT APPLICATIONS, COURT INFORMATION, AND POLICE RECORDS.
SPANISH WAS THE MOST COMMON LANGUAGE ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 50% OF THE DEVICE'S INTERACTIONS.
ENGLISH WAS SECOND MOST FREQUENTLY USED WITH MANY RESIDENTS USING THE DEVICE'S TALK TO TEXT FEATURE TO READ ALONG.
A HUGE HELP FOR THOSE WITH HEARING DISABILITIES.
ALTHOUGH WE ONLY HAD TWO A SL INTERACTIONS, THOSE WERE BOTH IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
UM, WE HAD, UM, A GREAT RESPONSE WITH BOTH THE RESIDENT AND THE EMPLOYEE SAYING HOW EASY IT WAS TO USE.
AS DEVICES ARE STATIONED AT LOCATIONS LONG-TERM, WE HOPE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THIS FEATURE.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO CAN BENEFIT THESE DEVICES ALSO OFFER OPTIONS TO ADJUST FONT COLOR, SIZE, AND BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT LOW VISION AND COLORBLIND USERS, ENSURING THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LOOKING AHEAD WITH OUR YEAR ONE OF IMPLEMENTATION, OUR GOAL IS TO ROLL OUT THESE DEVICES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
STARTING WITH YEAR ONE, FIRST YEAR, WE PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE 20 DESKTOP DEVICES AND FIVE PORTABLE UNITS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU WHERE THOSE ARE GOING TO ARE, UM, DRAFTED TO BE, UH, DISTRIBUTED.
THE FUNDING WE'VE ALLOCATED WILL COVER BOTH THE DEVICES AND NECESSARY ACCESSORIES.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'LL CONTINUE COLLECTING MONTHLY DATA ON RESIDENT INTERACTIONS TO MEASURE THE IMPACT AND IDENTIFY AREAS WE CAN FURTHER IMPROVE COMMUNICATION CITYWIDE.
SO HERE'S THE LIST OF WHERE THE ITEMS OR WHERE THE DEVICES ARE PLANNED.
WE HAVE 20 DESKTOP DEVICES THAT WILL BE PLACED IN KEY LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE HIGH USERS, CLERK COURTS, UTILITIES, LIBRARIES, POLICE RECORDS.
THIS YEAR WE ALSO HAVE FIVE PORTABLE DEVICES.
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GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS DIRECTLY IN THE FIELD.FOR EXAMPLE, CODE INSPECTOR OR WATER CONSERVATION SPECIALIST.
YOU'LL SEE ON THE GRAPH THAT THE WATER CONSERVATION WAS NOT PART OF THE ASSESSMENT, BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ASSESSMENT STAFF CONTACTED US TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY VISIT, UM, PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES TALKING ABOUT LEAKS AND TALKING ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION AND HOW THIS DEVICE WOULD BE VERY, VERY USEFUL TO THEM.
SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO, UM, INCLUDE THEM ON YEAR ONE WITH A PORTABLE DEVICE.
UM, AS WE GATHER MORE DATA OVER THE COMING YEARS, WE'RE CONTINUE TO ASSESS WHERE THESE DEVICES CAN BE MOST HELPFUL TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THE ASSESSMENT TAUGHT US A LOT IN FOUR MONTHS, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MUCH MORE WE CAN LEARN WITH THIS LARGER ROLLOUT.
AS WE, UH, PREPARE TO DEPLOY UP TO 20 DEVICES AND PORTABLES EACH YEAR, WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST OUR DEPLOYMENT BASED ON RESIDENT NEEDS AND USAGE PATTERNS.
THIS APPROACH ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEVICES AS NECESSARY, ENSURING THAT THE RESOURCES ALIGN CLOSELY WITH THE ACTUAL DEMAND.
UM, IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THANK THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR CRITICAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE ASSESSMENT AND WORKING WITH TRANSLATE LIVE TO HELP FINALIZE THIS CONTRACT.
IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH THEM AS PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING MAKE RESIDENTS AWARE OF THESE DEVICES, ENSURING THEY KNOW, KNOW WHERE AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM.
WE'LL BE UTILIZING THEM A LOT WITH THIS LARGER ROLLOUT.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT CHANDLER'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF IMPLEMENTING THIS TECHNOLOGY, ATTRACTING IN INTEREST NOT ONLY FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEIGHBORS, BUT FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND I'VE TALKED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST PART OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO MANY HAVE REACHED OUT NOT ONLY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE DEVICES, BUT THEY WANNA KNOW ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT AND OUR LARGER DEPLOYMENT.
UM, WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I, I REALLY WANTED THIS FOR A PRESENTATION 'CAUSE I THINK THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.
I RECENTLY SPOKE ALONG WITH, ALONG WITH OUR AWESOME STAFF IN THE BACK THERE, OUR IT STAFF TO A TRANSVERSE IN TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
AND, UH, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF POSITIVE, UH, INQUIRIES AND, AND BUZZ ABOUT THIS.
I, I THINK IT FITS US AND OUR DESIRE TO BOTH COMMUNICATE WELL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING RESIDENT INPUT, BUT ALSO IMPLEMENTING INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TO DO SO.
SO, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
EXPANDING COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS RELATED? ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU MS. NIKKI FOR, FOR THINKING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY THAT IS SO DIVERSE, UM, THAT WE PROVIDE THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN INCLUDE ALL OUR RESIDENTS AND THEY HAVE FEEL THAT THEY ARE PART OF THIS.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING AT THE COUNTER AND SPEAKING INTO A DEVICE AND THE DEVICE SPEAK TO THE PERSON BEHIND THE COUNTER, AND THEN IN TURN, UH, THE VOICE SPEAK BACK TO THE PERSON.
I CAN SEE THIS EVEN BEING USED INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD, YOU KNOW, FOR US IN DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW IT'S GONNA SPREAD OUT INTO THE CITY.
AND, UH, WE WERE THE FIRST ONE WHO STARTED IT, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
YEAH, JUST WANTED TO, UM, JUST SO WE CAN HAVE, UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA, WE HAVE A DRAFTED LIST OF WHERE THESE, UM, COULD POTENTIALLY GO.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAVE, UH, IF COUNCIL, UH, IF THERE'S A DEVICE HERE TODAY OR WILL WE START, UH, KEEPING A DEVICE ON SITE CONSIDERING THAT WE DO HAVE LIKE A DA COMPLIANCE ITEMS ON OUR WALLS, BAR EXITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE ROLLOUT HAPPENS, THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A DRAFTED MACHINE HERE ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
YEAH, I, I THINK AT, AT LEAST WHEN WE HAVE COUNCIL ONE OF THOSE PORTABLE UNITS WOULD PROBABLY, IF, IF IT'S AVAILABLE, WOULD PROBABLY SERVE US WELL.
I, I, I THINK IN THIS CASE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW FOR HERE, BUT, UH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
[7. Introduction and Tentative Adoption of Ordinance No. 5113, City Code Amendments, PLH24-0025 City Code Amendments-State Housing Mandates, amending Chapter 14 Animals, Chapter 35 Land Use and Zoning, and Chapter 48 Subdivisions, Pertaining to State Bills Signed Within the 2024 Legislative Session Move City Council introduce and tentatively adopt Ordinance No. 5113 approving PLH24-0025 City Code Amendments-State Housing Mandates, text amendments pertaining to backyard chickens, accessory dwelling units, final plats, and establishing review timelines for residential zoning applications, as recommended by Planning and Zoning Commission. Council Focus Area(s):]
ITEM CALLED UP WAS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, ORDINANCE 5 1 1 3 STATE HOUSING MANDATES IF LAUREN, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LAURENS CAN COME FORTH.LAUREN SCHUMANN AND COUNCIL MEMBER POST AND ASK FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, THIS IS A CITY CODE AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO, UH, STATE HOUSING MANDATES.
UH, SO EARLIER THIS YEAR IN MAY OF 2024, UH, GOVERNOR HOBBES SIGNED IN A SERIES OF HOUSE AND STATE BILLS, UH, WITH HOPES TO EXPAND HOUSING OPTIONS
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AND TO HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF RISING COSTS TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYDAY ARIZONANS.UM, AS PART OF THIS CODE AMENDMENT, WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT BILLS, UH, THAT I WILL BE WALKING YOU THROUGH.
UH, THE FIRST HOUSE BILL, 27 20 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, UH, UNDER THIS BILL, UH, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR SINGLE FAMILY LOTS TO, UH, PERMIT AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT BY RIGHT UNDER THIS BILL, A LOT WITH A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON IT COULD CONSTRUCT ONE ATTACHED A DU AND ONE DETACHED A DU, UH, AND IF THE LOT WAS LARGER THAN AN ACRE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT A THIRD A DU IF IT WAS DEED RESTRICTED FOR, UH, AFFORDABLE.
THE BILL, UH, THE BILL STATES THAT ADUS ARE LIMITED IN SIZE TO EITHER 75% OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE PRIMARY HOUSE OR A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
WHAT IS EVER, WHICH HAS EVER LESS.
UM, THIS BILL WOULD PRECLUDE US FROM, UH, SETTING SETBACKS GREATER THAN FIVE FEET FOR A REAR OR A SIDE YARD.
UM, THE, THE BILL DOES NOT ALLOW CITIES TO REQUIRE ADUS TO MATCH THE PRIMARY UNIT OR HOUSE.
UM, THE BILL ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW FOR CITIES TO REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE FOR, UH, A DS.
AND IT PROHIBITS, UH, ALLOWING CITIES TO RESTRICT SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHIN ADUS.
UH, THIS BILL HAD A DEADLINE OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025.
UH, SO WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH OUR CODE AMENDMENT, UH, FOR THIS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
UH, IT WOULD BE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 FOR LAND USE AND ZONING.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, YOU ACTUALLY APPROVED A CODE AMENDMENT WHICH PERMITTED ADUS WITHIN THE CITY BY RIGHT, UH, THAT BECAME EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR, MARCH OF 2024.
UM, SO WHAT WAS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY IS YOU WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE A DU ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT, UH, BUT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED YOUR ACCESSORY BUILDING AND IT WOULD HAVE TO MEET SETBACKS OF THE PROPERTY.
IT WAS LIMITED TO 15 FEET IN HEIGHT AND IT HAD TO MATCH THE, THE DESIGN OF YOUR HOUSE.
UM, UNDER THAT CODE, WE REQUIRED, UH, ONE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE, EITHER COVERED OR UNCOVERED, AND THERE WAS LANGUAGE THAT WOULD, UH, PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UH, WITH THIS BILL, UM, WE HAVE TO SCRATCH ALL THAT AND AMEND OUR CODE, UH, TO ALIGN WITH IT.
UM, THE NEXT BILL IS STATE BILL 1162 ZONING SHOP CLOCK IN A HOUSING ASSESSMENT.
UH, THIS BILL IS USED TO ESTABLISH ZONING APPLICATION SHOP CLOCK FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLETENESS AND PROCESSING TIMELINES FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO ANY PROJECT THAT'S RESIDENTIAL, UH, IF IT RE REQUIRES A REZONING OR A PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN, ONCE THEY FILE THAT APPLICATION, WE HAVE TO GET IT TO THE COUNCIL WITHIN 180 DAYS FOR A VOTE.
UH, THE TIMELINES INCLUDED, UH, WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF THAT APPLICATION.
STAFF MUST DEEM IF THAT APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, DO WE HAVE ALL DOCUMENTS NEEDED IN ORDER TO PROCESS IT? AND, UH, RESUBMITTAL FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLETENESS IS 15 DAYS.
UM, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT EITHER APPROVED OR DENIED WITHIN 180 DAYS.
UH, THE BILL DID ALLOW FOR A 30 DAY EXTENSION, BUT IT HAD TO BE REQUESTED AT THE APPLICANT.
UH, CURRENTLY WE, THIS IS LIKE A POLICY THAT WE, WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR, FOR YEARS.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, PER THE STATE BILL, IT REQUIRED THAT WE CODIFIED IT WITHIN OUR CODE.
UM, UNDER THIS BILL, IT ALSO SAID THAT CITIES NEED TO DO A HOUSING ASSESSMENT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UH, WE CURRENTLY BELIEVE LAST, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, A RF OR A CONSULTANT WAS APPROVED FOR THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, AS WELL AS, UH, THAT CONSULTANT WILL BE TAKING LEAD ON A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING STUDY, WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETE ON JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
UH, THAT REPORT IS NEEDED TO BE, UH, SUBMITTED TO THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.
THE NEXT BILL, STATE BILL, UH, 1103 ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW APPROVALS AND DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR, UH, AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL TO
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REVIEW AND APPROVE PLATS WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING.UH, SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE WERE BEFORE YOU IN A WORK SESSION, UH, DISCUSSING PLATS, UH, PRELIMINARY PLATS AND FINAL PLATS, AND AS DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL.
UM, IT WAS DEEMED THAT, UH, PRELIMINARY PLATS SHOULD STILL GO BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.
'CAUSE GENERALLY THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH A ZONING CASE.
SO FOR THIS REVISION, IT'S NOT A STATE MANDATED ONE.
UM, BUT WE ARE STRIKING LANGUAGE WITHIN CHAPTER 48 SUBDIVISIONS, WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE FINAL PLANS TO BE VOTED ON BY A CITY COUNCIL.
THEY WOULD BE APPROVED AND SIGNED BY A CITY ENGINEER AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR IN LIEU OF THE MAYOR.
AND LASTLY, UH, HOUSE BILL 2325 BACKYARD FOUL.
UM, THIS BILL WOULD PROHIBIT MUNICIPAL MUNICIPALITIES FROM RESTRICTING CHICKENS WITHIN SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.
IN JANUARY OF 2023, UH, BACKYARD CHICKENS BECAME EFFECTIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF CHANDLER.
THE ONLY THING THAT THIS BILL'S CHANGING IS, UM, IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT FROM FIVE.
WE, UH, IN 2023, IT WAS APPROVED TO ALLOW FOR FIVE HENS.
THE BILL IS STATING THAT, UH, A RESIDENT CAN HAVE UP TO SIX HENS.
ROOSTERS ARE STILL PROHIBITED.
AND, UH, THERE'S NO CHANGES TO THE CO UH, RESTRICTIONS.
YOU KNOW, COOPS WITHIN CHANDLER ARE LIMITED TO 120 SQUARE FEET, LIMITED TO THE HEIGHT OF THE PROPERTIES PERIMETER FENCE, AND MUST BE SET BACK FROM, SET BACK FIVE FEET FROM SIDE AND REAR YARDS.
AND WITH THAT, I OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR ANY, ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER POST, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL HAS WORKED, UH, A LONG TIME AS ALONG WITH CITY STAFF ON A LOT OF THESE CODES, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING FORWARD WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE APPROVED AND WHAT IS MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE IN THESE CASES, OUR HANDS ARE TIED NOW BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE STATE MANDATES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU SORT OF EXPLAINING SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENCES.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT QUITE A BIT WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, THAT WE WANNA KEEP THAT LOCAL CONTROL BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD COME UP WITH SOME, UH, PROCESSES THAT WERE VERY GOOD WITH THE INPUT OF OUR CHANDLER RESIDENTS AND WERE VERY SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF CHANDLER, UM, IN TERMS OF SOME OF THEM HAVE MORE EFFECT THAN OTHERS.
MY QUESTION, MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS, DO ANY OF THESE, AND I ACTUALLY, THE A DU, DO THEY AFFECT HOAS OR IS THIS ONLY GOING TO AFFECT OUR TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS? CAN OUR HOAS EXEMPT THEMSELVES? UH, GREAT QUESTION.
UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POSTON, UM, AS WE READ THROUGH THE BILL, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, HOAS, IF THERE'S RULES IN PLACE TO PROHIBIT, UH, ADUS, UM, THEY'RE NOT, UM, EXEMPT OR THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS BILL.
SO YES, UH, TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE AFFECTED BY THIS, UH, HOUSE BILL THAN, UH, HOA REGULATED, UM, SUBDIVISIONS.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THAT SHOCK CLOCK, YOU DON'T EXPECT MUCH CHANGE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH STANDARD OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
WE GENERALLY TRY TO GET APPLICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS, SO.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING OUT THOSE DIFFERENCES.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THOSE CLARIFIED SINCE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE CODES FOR SO LONG AND NOW ALMOST THE MINUTE THAT WE IMPLEMENT THEM, THEY'RE CHANGING.
UM, OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART.
SO ON THE, ON THE LAST ONE, OUR, OUR CODE DOESN'T RUN AFOUL TO THE CURRENT STATE CODE, DOES IT? THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART? NO, NO.
UM, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THE HOUSING, ALL THESE HOUSING INITIATIVES CAME FROM? WAS IT, WERE THESE NEIGHBORS THAT CAME TO THE STATE AND SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED ADUS, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME, SOME CHANGES IN, IN OUR CODE SO WE CAN GET ALL THESE THINGS DONE? OR WAS THIS INITIATED BY SOMETHING ELSE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, I GUESS MY DEEPER QUESTION WAS, WHAT, WHAT PROBLEM WERE WE TRYING TO FIX HERE FROM YOUR, YOUR EXPERTISE? MAYBE THIS IS A RYAN PETER'S QUESTION.
I IF YOU WOULD ASK ME, I, I'M GONNA GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, THE GOVERNOR DID SAY IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE UNITS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN AND HOPEFULLY BRING DOWN THE COST, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN ARIZONA, BUT THERE'S MORE
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GAVE UP ON IT, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, WE'VE ALL HEARD, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HOW HOUSING'S A BIG CHALLENGE.AND THERE'S INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN THE MAIN PROPONENTS BEHIND THIS.
A LOT OF STATE LEGISLATORS WERE ELECTED ON THIS ISSUE.
AND SO AS THE CULMINATION OF A NUMBER OF EFFORTS FROM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY, UH, VARIOUS, UM, INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES.
AND REAL QUICK, HOW MANY HAVE, HOW MANY APPLICATIONS HAVE WE, HAVE WE RECEIVED SO FAR FOR, FOR THIS? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IS IT GONNA BE AN ISSUE? UM, YOU KNOW, SO SINCE, UH, MARCH OF 2024, SO MARCH OF THIS YEAR, UH, WE'VE SEEN, UH, 12 PERMITS COME IN FOR ADUS.
UM, WITH SB 10 62, UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS 180 DAYS TO APPROVE OR DENY.
ARE THERE ANY, UM, HANDCUFFS ON, ON CONDITIONS OF DENIAL ON THESE? IS IT, IS THAT CONSIDERED NARROW OR IS THIS TO BE, IF IT JUST DOESN'T FIT IN THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THIS IS BEING PLACED, IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE COUNCIL COULD VOTE TO DENY THAT AS WELL AS P AND Z IN OUR CURRENT PROCESS.
IS THAT, IS THAT PROCESS STILL INTACT, OR HAVE THERE BEEN SOME HANDCUFFS PLACED ON THAT, ON THE FREEDOM OF THAT MAYOR? GREAT QUESTION.
UM, NO, WE ARE NOT HANDCUFFED TO THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE WORK WITH APPLICANTS, AND IF, IF THEY'RE NOT MEETING OUR COMMENTS, UH, AND WE'RE STILL AT A PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T GET BEHIND MAKING A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL AND THEN SO FORTH, THE, THE P AND Z VOTE AND THEN TO THE COUNCIL.
AND SO IF THIS, AGAIN, EITHER IN THEIR DESIGN OR, OR YOU KNOW, JUST AN OVERALL LOCATION OR FOR WHATEVER REASONS, I KNOW SOMETIMES COUNCIL KEEPS IN MIND, UH, WHAT'S THE BEST USE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY? SO COUNCIL STILL HAS THE FREEDOM TO DENY, IS WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY? THAT'S CORRECT.
ANY, I, I FOUND IT INTERESTING, YOUR LAST COMMENT RELATED TO HOAS, THAT HOAS HAVE MORE PROTECTIONS THAN THE CITIES THEY RESIDE IN.
IS THERE ANY, ANY THOUGHT ON THAT AS OPPOSED TO WHY PARTICULAR, I REALIZE THEY HAVE COVENANTS AND LAWS, BUT SO DO WE THAT IN TERMS OF ORDINANCES IN SHORTER CITIES? SO THERE'S CERTAINLY THE, UH, THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE CITIES, BUT IS IT, IS IT JUST BY LAW THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO OVERRIDE, UH, THE, THE COVENANTS OF HOAS, IF I MAY, MAYOR CITY ATTORNEY? SO HOAS ARE A CONTRACT AMONG THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON HOW THEY'RE GONNA DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY.
AND THAT IS PROTECTED UNDER THE STATE LAW.
STATE LAW COULD CHANGE SOME OF THAT AND HAS CHANGED SOME OF THAT BY DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE PARKING ON STREETS.
UM, BUT THROUGH THIS BILL, UM, THEY DID NOT IMPACT THE HOAS.
SO THE HOAS CAN STILL HAVE MORE STRICT REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS THAN THE CITIES, UM, AT THIS TIME.
YEAH, THAT, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
I GUESS I'M JUST, IT, IT, I'M JUST WONDERING WHY IN PARTICULAR, BUT I GUESS WE DON'T FULLY KNOW.
WELL, AND MY GUESS WOULD BE IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE BUY AND AGREE TO THAT CONTRACT AMONG THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
SO I GUESS THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO KEEP THAT INTACT, THAT AGREEMENT INTACT.
BUT WHEN YOU AGREE THAT WHEN PEOPLE MOVE INTO CHANDLER, THEY ALSO BUY AND AGREE TO CERTAIN COVENANTS IN TERMS OF THE LAW OF THE LAND.
SO IT'S, I MEAN, THERE IS, YEP, ABSOLUTELY.
THEY'RE ALSO LIABLE TO NOISE TO WHAT THEY CAN DO ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THAT IS CORRECT,
[30. Agreement No. PW3-925-4631, Amendment No. 4, with Hazen and Sawyer, P.C., for the Water System Upgrades Program Consultant Services Move City Council approve Agreement No. PW3-925-4631, Amendment No. 4, with Hazen and Sawyer, P.C., for the Water System Upgrades Program Consultant Services, increasing the agreement amount by $11,598,345. Council Focus Area(s):]
IN, UH, ITEM 30 BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART ON WATER SYSTEM UPGRADES.SO, UM, ITEM NUMBER 30 THROUGH THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, I BELIEVE, UH, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT ASKED FOR THIS ONE.
UM, THIS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 30 IS, UH, REALLY A KIND OF A CULMINATION OF ABOUT A YEAR'S YEAR LONG WORTH OF WORK, UH, FROM OUR CONSULTANT HAZEN SAWYER AND OUR STAFF AT THE, UH, WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, OVER THIS PAST YEAR, THEY'VE DONE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF STUDY AND ASSESSMENTS OF THE PLANT.
UM, AND WE HAVE JUST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY AND DECREASE THE TRIHALOMETHANE FORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN OUR SYSTEM THAT, UH, CAUSES US DIFFICULTY AND WILL ALSO IMPROVE
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THE TASTE OF CHANDLER WATER.SO, UH, IMPROVE QUALITY, IMPROVE TASTE, IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FACILITY.
SO OUR PLANT IS ABOUT 35 YEARS OLD.
UH, IT'S, UM, IT, IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK.
AND SO WE HIRED, UH, HAZEN SAWYER TO COME TAKE A LOOK.
UM, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS, UH, THAT WAS DISCOVERED, UM, THE PLANT IS RATED AT 60 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, AND WE'VE RUN THE PLANT AT 60 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
UH, AND THAT THE PLANT REALLY STRUGGLES TO HIT THAT 60 MGD.
SO, AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO FIRST THING THAT HAZEN SAWYER CAME IN AND DID WITH OUR STAFF WAS THEY CONDUCTED A STUDY OF ALL THE FILTERS, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE, THE BOTTLENECK AND DETERMINED THAT THE FILTERS COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A HIGHER THROUGHPUT THAN WHAT WE WERE RATED FOR.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE THROUGHPUT IN THOSE FILTERS.
UH, AND BY DOING THAT, WE'VE ELIMINATED THE NEED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL FOUR FILTERS TO THAT PLANT, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN PROBABLY CLOSE TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF COST.
SO, AND WE'VE NOW GOTTEN THOSE FILTERS, RERATED WITH THE STATE.
AND SO IT REALLY HAS, UH, IT'S MADE THAT PLANT A, A REAL 60 MILLION GALLON PER DAY PLANT, AND IN, IN THE END, SAVED US MONEY FROM HAVING TO EXPAND OUR FILTER GALLERIES, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT, THAT WAS DONE.
ANOTHER WAS, UH, DETERMINED THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING ANOTHER UNIT PROCESS.
IT'S CALLED THE, UH, UH, GRANULATED ACTIVATED CARBON CONTACTOR, WHICH IS A POST FILTRATION PROCESS.
IT'S AT THE END OF THE LINE AND IT ACTS TO FINALLY CLEAN UP THE WATER, JUST THAT LITTLE BIT EXTRA.
UH, WE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN ABOUT 2005 AFTER THE BIG, UH, FIRES UP ON THE SALT RIVER PROJECT WATERSHED, AND WE BEGAN TO GET A LOT OF ORGANICS INTO OUR WATER SYSTEM.
AND THE ORGANICS AND THE TURBIDITY IN THAT CANAL IS WHAT CAUSED US DIFFICULTY.
AND SO THE PLANT WASN'T REALLY ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO HANDLE THAT TYPE OF WATER.
AND SO THESE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WHICH ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THE DESIGN FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS? UH, WHEN THE DESIGN WORK IS COMPLETED, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN.
UH, AND CONSTRUCTION, UH, FOR ALL OF THIS WORK WILL BE RIGHT ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
UH, THAT WILL COME TO COUNCIL FOR LATER APPROVAL, UH, WILL PROBABLY COME THROUGH, UH, IN THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT PHASES FOR THIS WORK.
BUT IT'S REALLY A, A, A FANTASTIC, UH, STEP FORWARD FOR THAT PLANT AND A GREAT WAY TO, UH, IMPROVE, UH, THE CITY OF CHANDLER'S WATER AT A VERY AFFORDABLE, UH, PRICE TAG.
I KIND OF GET NERDY ABOUT THE WATER STUFF, UM, AND, AND KIND OF THE, THE, THE SPECIFICS ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S $11 MILLION.
YOU KNOW, WE WANNA KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY IS HEADED, BUT WHAT I LIKE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR WATER.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN, WE'VE SEEN THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES AND OTHER CITIES, AND, UH, WE'VE GOTTA STAY AHEAD OF THIS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM CONTINUING TO BRING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FORWARD.
AND IF IT'S GONNA TASTE BETTER, RIGHT? THAT'S A GOOD THING.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO SEEING NONE, THANK YOU, MR. KNUTSON.
COUNSEL, THOSE WERE THE ITEMS CALLED IN TONIGHT.
WE'LL SEE YOU THURSDAY WHERE WE WILL BE VOTING ON THESE AND THE REST OF OUR AGENDA.