Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris Judd

FINANCES

City officials start budget talks Feb. 19

The city of Surprise FY2020 budget-building process kicks off at the City Council work session 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza.

This will be the first in a series of presentations to council by the city’s Finance Department regarding the overall development of the budget. This presentation will review the major revenue sources focused mainly on general fund operations, including sales tax and stateshared revenue.

Future council work sessions and regular meetings will include presentations related to department operating and capital budget development.

The recommended budget is scheduled for release in April, followed by council and public review, which will result in the adoption of a balanced Fiscal Year 2020 budget in June. FY2020 begins July 1, 2019.

Council agendas are posted online at www.surpriseaz. gov/agendas at least two business days before each meeting. City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris Judd

If you’re looking for an excuse to get cozy with your sweetheart, it will be another rainy Valentine’s Day in Phoenix.

A moisture plume is expected to bring significant rainfall and potential flooding Thursday through early Friday, the National Weather Service Phoenix said in a tweet Thursday.

It’s the second year in a row that the Valley has had a gloomy Valentine’s Day.

And northern Arizonans may want to stay inside catching up on binge-worthy TV shows, as forecasts call for of rainy days, cold temps and flooding.

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff is urging caution on roadways amid flooding and expected heavy rainfall. Starting Wednesday night, rain will begin to fall lightly, but become heavier by Thursday morning and continuing through Friday.

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris Judd

City Center development accelerates

LAND USE

Design firm to deliver master plan this summer; public outreach continues

By Matt Roy

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Momentum appears to be growing in the decades-long effort to develop the empty land, which surrounds the city’s civic core.

After years of legal wrangling and contentious debate over the property’s future, landowners and city leaders are finally collaborating to create a master plan for the roughly square mile of dormant desert bounded by Bell and Greenway roads, Litchfield Road and Bullard Avenue.

Scott Phillips, vice president of Scottsdale- based Carefree Partners, confi rmed his group has selected a design firm to oversee the development of a master plan for the more than 500 remaining acres awaiting development at the City Center.

He said requests for proposals had been issued to seven top firms last fall and, after considering responses from five of those, the landowners selected

>> See Development on page 3

Mayor Skip Hall

Scott Phillips

Joel Thomas

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris Judd

Summary of Arizona Gun Laws

Arizona is a shall-issue state with concealed weapons permits issued at the state level by the Department of Public Safety. 

There is no permit, background check or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual. A purchaser must be at least 18 years old to buy a gun from a private individual. The minimum age to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer is 21.

Open carry is legal in Arizona for any person who is at least 18 years old and who can legally possess a firearm. Some areas are off-limits, including schools and liquor stores that have posted “no weapons” signs.  

Anyone at least 21 years old may conceal carry a firearm without a permit. Arizona Concealed Weapons Permits (CWP) are issued to residents and non-residents and require a firearms training course that has been state-approved. 

Arizona is a Castle Doctrine state. There is no duty to retreat before defending yourself in Arizona. If you’re not engaged in an unlawful act and you’re in a place you have a right to be, you don’t have to retreat when someone threatens or assaults you. Nevertheless, you can only use proportional and reasonable force when immediately necessary to protect against potentially deadly force. Deadly force is not permitted to prevent theft or vandalism except when deadly force would otherwise be justified. There is no civil liability for justified conduct.

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris JuddMayor Skip Hall

CONCEPT MEETING GUIDELINES

Overview: A Concept Review Meeting is required to take place prior to submitting design review of a project, including but not limited to, zoning, preliminary or final plats, site plans, and improvement plans. This meeting acts as an opportunity for the City to provide a general overview of the development process and provide preliminary feedback on development proposals. It is recommended that the applicant and their technical team attend the meeting. Prior to this meeting, representatives from various departments will evaluate the project and will then provide comments at the meeting. These departments can include Planning, Engineering, Fire-Medical, Building Safety, Real Property, Land Survey, Water Resource Management, Transportation Planning, Traffic Engineering and GIS. Concept Meeting: The intent of this meeting is to provide more specific information and guidance for property owners, developers and project designers who are considering development within the City of Surprise. Following the meeting, a Concept Meeting Summary will be provided to the applicant which provides:  A general outline of comments and issues related to planning and infrastructure requirements  Submittal requirements and fees  Information about the review process  Information about public hearing and Council processes Comments will be preliminary in nature. Additional comments may be provided during staff review of the formal submittal. Scheduling: Concept Meetings: Meetings are scheduled every Thursday between the hours of 8:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. The meetings are allotted 45 minutes and meeting times may be reserved by submitting all required documents to the Development Center Information Counter at City Hall. Materials must be received on or before Wednesday at 4 p.m. two weeks prior to the Concept Meeting date. One hard copy of all items and one CD in pdf format are required. Meeting times are filled on a first come, first served basis. Meetings will not be scheduled without the required items. If the desired week’s schedule is filled, the applicant will receive the first available spot on the following week’s schedule. Fees: Concept Meeting: $300 For questions, please contact the Project Coordinator below: Elsa De Moss at elsa.demoss@surpriseaz.gov (623) 222-3133 or Allysa Robinson at allysa.robinson@surpriseaz.gov (623) 222-3099

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris JuddMayor Skip Hall city of surprise

Why is the City seeking to purchase CCWC?

One of the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goals is to “Ensure sufficient water resources for current and future needs.” In order for the City’s Water Utility to meet that goal, it must continue to expand its access to more water and increase its water portfolio, particularly its access to Colorado River water delivered through the Central Arizona Project (“CAP”) canal system.

CCWC is a small water service company located in the northern part of Surprise’s future planning and water service area. In addition to its infrastructure and customer base, CCWC also has a sizable CAP allocation which, if acquired, would greatly grow the City’s ability to access more Colorado River water. Having greater access to renewable water supplies affords the City the ability to meet future demands and avoid shortfalls.

By Matt Roy, Independent Newsmedia May 15, 2018

Surprise voters last night approved city plans to purchase a water company from a neighboring community.

With 18,319 mail-in ballots cast, four-out-of-five participants in the May 15 municipal election supported a measure, which empowers Surprise City Council to move forward with negotiations to purchase Circle City Water Company.

According data presented by city staffers during a November 2017 presentation, the small water company currently serves only 168 customers in the rural community of Circle City, which lies 14 northwest of Surprise along U.S. 60.

The purchase will add 3,932 acre-feet per year to Surprise’s allocation of Colorado River surface water pumped from Central Arizona Project canals.

                                  ARIZONA SUPREME COURT                                          ORAL ARGUMENT CASE SUMMARY          

High light below

CITY OF SURPRISE v. ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION; LAKE PLEASANT 5000, LLC CV-18-0137-SA

Mayor Skip Hall – CM Roland Winters – CM Nancy Hayden – CM David Sanders – CM Patrick Duffy – CM Ken Remley – CM Chris Judd

What’s the quality of my water?

The data presented in these reports is a combination of analysis results from nationally recognized water quality labs and commercial laboratories, all certified in drinking water testing by the State of Arizona Department of Health Services.

Mountain Vista Systems – PWS ID: 04-07-500 Questions? Call 623.222.6000
Desert Oasis System – PWS ID: 04-07-523 Questions? Call 623.222.6000
EPCOR – PWS ID: 04-07-695  Questions?  Call 800.383.0834

COUNCILMAN DAVID SANDERS

Is all water in the City of Surprise chlorinated? No, some private water companies, private wells, and co-ops may not chlorinate the water. You should contact your water provider to determine if they are chlorinating. Type your address to find your water provider.

City begins FY20 budget discussions Feb. 19

The City of Surprise FY2020 budget building process kicks off at the City Council Work Session on Tuesday, February 19. 

This will be the first in a series of presentations to Council by the City’s Finance Department regarding the overall developm..

Join Mayor Skip Hall for a lunchtime reception celebrating the start of the 17th annual Spring Training season in the City of Surprise!

Hear from members of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers management teams while enjoying hors d’oeuvres a…

Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic leads off baseball season in Surprise

Come see the 2018 College World Series National Champions, the Oregon State Beavers, as they make their 2019 season debut right here in Surprise, Arizona.

The Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic will take place February 15-24 at the Surprise Stadium, f…

The first Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month in the City Hall Council Chambers at 6 p.m. All meetings, are open to the public, and will be televised on Surprise TV and online at www.surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv.

Texas Rangers Pitchers