Town Manager's Weekly Update for January 14, 2022

For the Week Ending

January 14, 2022

The Post Office and Town Hall will be closed

Monday, January 17th

in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dayy

2022 Legislative Session Begins

The 2022 Legislative session is underway in Arizona. Lawmakers reported for duty starting this week.

As usual, the Mayor and Council are very engaged in the legislative process in order to ensure the best for PV residents. At the very top of our legislative priorities is rectifying the Town's tight restrictions on regulate short-term rentals due to 2016 legislation signed by Governor Doug Ducey which prevents reasonable zoning and local control.

Rep. Walt Blackman of Snowflake has introduced HB 2069 which would repeal the 2016 statute. Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff has introduced the same legislation in the Senate as SB 1026.

Sen. J.D. Mesnard is planning to introduce a measure that would give more local control over noise and other violations to address "party houses". His legislation would not repeal the current statute.

We are in early days of the session and we are sure there will be other developments. We will be watching closely and working with our legislative delegation to provide Paradise Valley residents with the best solutions.

MLK Celebration Goes Virtual - January 17th at 11 AM

The annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is going virtual this year due to the surge in COVID cases.

The program will take place on January 17th at 11:00 am. While there is no in-person event this year, you can link here to watch the livestream.

Paula Cullison is this year's recipient of the MLK Diversity Award for her work as an activist for women's rights, social and environmental justice, and peace.

You can visit mlkparadisevalley.org for more information.

Update on EPCOR Water Rates

Thanks to the testimony from the Mayor, Council and several residents, the Corporation Commission has continued its hearing and final decision on its EPCOR rate case, now tentatively set for January 26th. PV's testimonies contributed to the continuation of the meeting and the Commission pulling from their consideration an amendment that would have significantly increased rates for Paradise Valley EPCOR water customers. We are headed in the right direction as of this week.

Here's the background..

In June 2020, EPCOR Water Arizona Inc. filed a request to increase its water rates, including a request to consolidate its 11 water districts, including the Paradise Valley Water District. The hearing before an Administrative Law Judge concluded in May 2021, and the ALJ issued the Recommended Opinion and Order(“ROO”) in November. The ROO made various technical findings and also recommended full consolidation of EPCOR’s water districts for rate setting purposes (excepting the two Mohave districts that are subject to a condemnation proceeding by Bullhead City).

The five elected commissioners on the Arizona Corporation Commission are the final decision makers. The commissioners considered the ROO at their Open Meeting this week. The commissioners heard public comment, and discussed the EPCOR rate case and the ROO on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The commissioners approved several amendments on various issues, but they did not make a decision on question of consolidation. The commissioners will discuss and likely decide the consolidation issue at their Open Meeting on January 26. Revised rate impacts based on the amendments to the ROO approved this week are expected to be filed in the public docket at least one week before the January 26 Open Meeting.

PV residents who are served by EPCOR are encouraged to make their opinions known to the Commission. The Town has requested that EPCOR’s Paradise Valley Water District remain a stand-alone district for rate setting purposes, and there are two proposed amendments that would make that change to the ROO. O’Connor Alternative Proposed Amendment No. 1 and Olson Proposed Amendment No. 4 would each leave Paradise Valley as a stand-alone rate district.

Written comments may be submitted via the Arizona Corporation Commission’s website or letters may be sent to one or more of the Commissioners.

Paradise Valley Town Council Elects Vice Mayor for 2022

At the January 14th Town Council Meeting, Council Member Anna Thomasson was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Mayor for 2022. Vice Mayor Thomasson is in the fourth year of her first term on the Council.

The Town's Vice Mayor is chosen every January by the Council from amongst their peers. The Vice Mayor assumes additional duties such as participating in Council agenda setting meetings and filling in during absences for the Mayor at meetings or events.

Council Member Mark Stanton served as Vice Mayor during 2021. We thank both outgoing Vice Mayor Stanton and incoming Vice Mayor Thomasson for their time and commitment to the Town of Paradise Valley. Both received high praise from their Council colleagues.

Below (l to r): Vice Mayor Anna Thomasson, Council Member Mark Stanton

Breakout the Golf Clubs and Casual Attire - The World Has Two New Retirees!

Corporal Steve Larsen

Corporal Steve Larsen retired after 20 years of Law Enforcement service to the residents of Arizona. Corporal Larsen served the residents of Paradise Valley for nearly six years and previously spent 14 years with the Peoria (AZ) Police Department.

Steve plans to spend more time with family during retirement. Congratulations, Steve, on your well-deserved retirement!

Bob Lee

After a 15 year career with the Town of Paradise Valley, Building Safety Manager and Fire Marshal Bob Lee has retired. In addition to his years at the Town, Bob spent a combined 15 years in Cave Creek, Prescott and Flagstaff. In 2018, he was named "Arizona Building Official of the Year" by AZBO (Arizona Building Officials).

Bob and his wife Liza love to travel the world in search of new fine wines to try. We have no doubt that they will excel at retirement.

Thank you, Bob, for your service and hard work.

Chuck Ransom, who currently serves as plans examiner and building inspector, will step in as interim Building Official. Chuck has over 30 years of experience in municipal government including 15+ years as the Building Official in Litchfield Park.

Summary of the January 13th Council Meeting

The Town Council discussed during its Study Session the:

upcoming legislative agenda which includes continued focus on STR legislation;
Town's limited code changes under current State law that will be considered on January 27th; and the
General Plan Update which included the removal by the El Chorro property owners of an application to change the land use designation on a third of an acre residential lot.

The Town Council also took the following actions at its January 13th meeting:

Adopted Resolution Number 2022‑02 Designating the Chief Financial Officer to Submit the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report
Approved a Lot Line Adjustment for Area C of the Five Star Development project, subject to stipulations
Approved an agreement with the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and authorized funding in the amount of $50,000 paid in two installments
Adopted Resolution 2022-03 authorizing the abandonment of all right, title, and interest in a certain easement in the vicinity of 6824 N. Highlands Drive
Approved the Town of Paradise Valley 2022 Legislative Agenda
Unanimously elected Anna Thomasson Vice Mayor for the year 2022