Final Primary Election Results and the September Council meeting
Friends of Carefree, this was the second council meeting to be held at the Holland Center. As a reminder and until further notice, all future meetings of the Council and Planning & Zoning Commission will be held at the Holland Center, Building B, Quail Room located at 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85266.
Considering the time of year and the fact that no positions were contested, the August 30th Primary Election had a surprisingly large number of votes cast. Close to 1,000 ballots were cast and all candidates were elected, thus eliminating the need for Carefree to hold a Town financed General Election in November.
EV Votes Total Votes % Votes
Peterson, Les* 874 970 100.00
Crane, John* 753 833 17.35
Kroyer, Cheryl* 751 829 17.27
Van Allen, Jim* 706 788 16.41
Farrar, Mike* 711 787 16.39
Orrico, Gene* 714 787 16.39
Krahe, Michael* 705 777 16.18
There will be a Special Council meeting at the Carefree Fire Station on September 13 at 4:30 p.m. to canvass the Primary Election results.
Town Council Meeting, September 6, 2016 at 5 p.m.
Items 1 – 10, Consent Agenda: All items were related to routine town business (meeting minutes, bills, financial reports, event permits, etc.), Approved 7 – 0.
Item 11, Call to the Public: MCSO Lt. Ryan Baranyos spoke about the 5th Annual Public Safety Fair which will be held on Saturday, October 8. The event is being sponsored by Daisy Mountain Fire Department, MCSO, and HonorHealth. It will be held at the Desert View Bible Church, 105 W Carefree Hwy, in Phoenix. Simulations, demonstrations, K9, Swat, Fire Trucks, Police vehicles (including helicopters), will all be available for public viewing from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Jim Van Allen addressed the town’s July 2016 financials. He stated this July produced the lowest sales tax revenue of the past 13 years. He went on to say the sales tax revenue was down by substantial amounts from the prior year and 2014 as well. Court fines were also down to just over $6K when for the past or 2 years they have ranged from $14K to 18K per month and town marketing, at $59K, was 12.7% of all revenue for the month. He also noticed on the P&L statement (included in the council meeting packet), that there was about a $252K shortfall of revenue over expenses. Gary Neiss later explained that about $245K was a lump sum payment for the WIFA loan made each July. The Water Company will reimburse the town throughout the remainder of this fiscal year. Jim said we are starting the year $250,000 in the hole – not a great way to start a new fiscal year. [Review of current and past P&L statements shows the WIFA loan payment of $216,701 this year and just slightly lower payments in the two prior years. The July deficit last year was only $159,690 vs $252,812 this year.]
Marty Holmes, new owner of the Black Mountain Water Company, expressed his concern over food trucks serving the same types of food during town events that our own restaurants offer. The food trucks only pay a small $60 fee, don’t have any of the other overhead expenses Carefree businesses carry and they don’t provide any other revenue to the town. They compete with our restaurants and have an unfair advantage over our businesses that serve residents and visitors on a regular basis, not just on special days.
He mentioned that the Amphitheater is empty most of the year. He knows of musicians who would love to perform there, for minimal cost and suggested the town look into something like ‘open-mic’ events to attract more year-round activity. Marty went on the compliment his friend Councilman Miller for all the work he has contributed to the town over the years and wondered who would now do the tasks Glenn has handled in the past.
Item 12, Current Events: None mentioned.
Item 13, Part Time Magistrates for the Court: The council approved, 7 – 0, the 3 candidates screened by the Carefree-Cave Creek Court Presiding Judge, Stephanie Olohan. The Magistrates (Tara Fuller, Alicia Lawler, and Denise Scammon) can be used to fill in as needed for court proceedings. Council approved, 7 – 0.
Item 14, Town Council Updates: Councilwoman Price inquired if a committee would be formed to address the sign issue. Gary Neiss said it would be addressed by P&Z. The mayor added that he spoke with several other mayors in our region who faced similar issues and he would be receiving copies of their ordinances which Carefree could use as a guide.
The Mayor asked for an update on the Gateways. Councilman Miller advised that the Gateway project should be completed by the end of September. Lighting and landscaping tasks will complete the project.
The corrective procedures at the roundabouts should be finished in the next two weeks. Re-striping on Tom Darlington and Cave Creek Road will complete the work.
Vice Mayor Crane advised that Bashas’ will have a grand opening to celebrate their remodeling project and the new Starbucks on October 5 from 8 – 9 a.m.
Item 15, Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:25 p.m.
Last Month’s Question: How do you feel about the 26 additional LED Street lights that have been added to the town core? The comments were once again almost exclusively not in favor. A few samples highlight a common theme of the not in favor mail: “Why when we have such strict restrictions on the “dark sky” lighting on our homes is the town permitted to light up like Walmart’s parking lot….” And, “hi! I feel about the lights much the same as about the arches….and all the other big-spending, not the proper function of government, – just STOP!”
On the other side of the coin we heard, “I am a new resident to Carefree… In response to your question about the 26 new lights, I like them very much. I walk through the gardens & town center often at dusk/dark & I appreciate them. We moved here in Nov 2015.”
Question of the Month – 2 Parts: Bashas’ has been an icon in Carefree for many years. 1) What do you think about the current renovations taking place, and 2) where do you do the bulk of your food and general shopping?
We do receive good suggestions for future questions. Please feel free to keep ‘em coming!
Let us hear from you.
Respectfully submitted by Jim Van Allen and John Traynor
Don’t forget to visit CarefreesFutureMatters.com
