Thomas Adkins

The meeting primarily addressed two agenda items requiring Commission action. The first item involved a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP 25-14) to allow a health and fitness center, specifically a self-defense indoor training facility operating with laser-based or CO2 powered simulated firearms, located in a general commercial zoning district. Staff recommended approval with stipulations related to noise mitigation and conformance with the site plan. The second set of items involved a General Plan Amendment (GPA 25-01) and rezoning request (Z 25-01) to change the land use designation to high-density residential and rezone to planned area development for a multi-family development intended for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This proposal included site elements like a community garden and building, gated access, and specific design measures to buffer adjacent single-family homes, such as restricting building height to one story near the northern property line. Staff recommended approval for both GPA 25-01 and Z 25-01 with stipulations related to development conformance with the narrative.

Key discussions centered on project capacity and resource constraints affecting capital improvements. Specifically, the renovation of fire station 155 and the foothills police station was postponed due to resource constraints, as mentioned by council member Tomlchoff.

The primary focus of the workshop was to consider zoning options for a 1.48-acre remnant parcel currently zoned A1 Agricultural, located at 5450 West Northern Avenue. Staff presented two main options: rezoning to PAD (Planned Area Development) or rezoning to C2 (General Commercial), following a prior direction to pursue a hybrid strategy involving entitlements prior to marketing. The discussion involved a detailed comparison of various commercial zoning districts (NSC, RO, GO, CO, C1, C2, PAD) and the permitted land uses within each, including financial institutions, medical offices, retail/convenience uses, entertainment facilities, and hospitals. Council members expressed a preference for the flexibility of the PAD designation but emphasized the need to establish basic exclusions (such as adult entertainment) early in the process to manage public perception during subsequent entitlement reviews.

The meeting addressed several key agenda items, commencing with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council approved the minutes from the June 14, 2022 voting meeting. Key actions included approving recommended appointments to the Community Development Advisory Committee. A significant portion of the meeting involved the discussion and separate voting on item 19, authorizing a professional services agreement with Intellus Inc. for engineering design services for the 91 Cardinals development project (formerly the Black Lot project). The council also addressed numerous consent agenda items (3-18, 20-23, 24-33, 35) covering intergovernmental agreements for School Resource Officers, FAA Airport Improvement Program grant authorization, transit services, a development agreement for GV Echo Owner LLC, and adoption of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System pension funding policy. Item 34 required an amendment to designate Vicki Rios as the Chief Fiscal Officer for submitting the FY2022 expenditure limitation report, replacing the departing Lissette Camacho. Finally, the council addressed bids and contracts, including awarding a five-year contract for road materials to Vulcan Materials Company, which one council member noted opposition to due to the contract length.

The meeting, which was noted as a special meeting intended for discussion rather than voting, focused on public health practices associated with the City of Glendale emergency proclamation concerning COVID-19. Discussions centered on the rising trends in COVID-like illness and positive test rates within Arizona following the state reopening. City management detailed internal actions for employees, requiring face coverings in common areas starting June 22nd where social distancing is not possible. Council members discussed the need to flatten the curve, referencing data from the Arizona Medical Association supporting mask-wearing as a critical preventive measure. The primary debate involved whether and how to mandate face coverings in public spaces, considering details from peer city proclamations (e.g., Scottsdale, Avondale) and distinguishing between public spaces versus places of public accommodation like retail stores and restaurants. Specific considerations were raised regarding exemptions for patrons while seated in restaurants.