Apache Junction to hire consultant to update development fees, other plans

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

The Apache Junction City Council on May 20 is to vote on paying $67,440 to consultant TischlerBise of Bethesda, Maryland, to update the city’s development-fee study, land-use assumptions and infrastructure-improvements plan.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

Arizona revised statutes require the development-fee study, land-use assumptions and infrastructure-improvements plan be updated every five years, Planner Kelsey Schattnik told the council during a May 5 work session.

“So why now? Current fee structure is outdated because the last update was in 2022. Costs of infrastructure have significantly increased throughout the last few years. There have been significant development changes since the last update and the possibility of the risk of underfunding critical infrastructure,” she said.

Development fees are one-time costs imposed for new development and are used to fund infrastructure and services — such as parks and recreation, streets, police and the library — impacted by growth, she said.

“It ensures growth pays for growth rather than burdening existing taxpayers as well as ensuring the maintenance of current levels of service throughout the community,” Schattnik said.

The update will take more than a year to complete. Staff recommends the professional agreement with TischlerBise be approved, she said.

“Assigning that contract would kick off the beginning of the study and give TischlerBise the green light to gather all the information they need and then we would anticipate a representative from TischlerBise would be here in late fall (or) early winter to provide a very detailed overview of the development fee update process as well as their initial findings,’ Schattnik said.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.